Your first step into university
Applying to university can be daunting. Many of Birkbeck’s students are returning to study many years after having last stepped into a school or college.
Am I ready?
- At Birkbeck, we encourage applications from students without traditional qualifications, and you can apply for most of our courses without previous study experience. (Find out more about our entry requirements.)
- Our London team of experienced staff organise and attend a range of events to support you as you decide whether Birkbeck is for you.
Can I afford it?
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From 2012, for the first time, getting a university education is accessible and affordable for everyone, whether you choose to study part-time or full-time.
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For most Birkbeck students, university will be free at the point of study, as you will be able to access government student loans to cover the full cost of tuition fees.
Preparing for entrance to degree study
- We offer several Certificates of Higher Education specifically designed to prepare you for entry to university at undergraduate level (BA/BSc/LLB):
- Higher Education Introductory Studies: offers pathways in: social sciences; social work and social care; nursing, midwifery and health studies; business studies; cultural studies (humanities); and contemporary studies (arts and media). If English is not your first language, the core Approaches to Study module is offered with an English language support option.
- Legal Methods: provides a thorough grounding in the range of skills required to study law at degree level. If you successfully complete this course, you can progress directly to the Birkbeck LLB and gain credit for one LLB module.
- Life Sciences for Subjects Allied to Medicine; Mathematical Studies; and Physics and Mathematics: these provide excellent academic preparation for a wide range of BSc degrees and related professional training.
Course-specific advice
- To find out more about a particular subject or certificate or module, including details of teaching, assessment or progression, and programme requirements such as compulsory or option modules, please contact the course team – their contact details are listed with each course description.
- It may also be possible to download a course outline for individual modules from our website, giving details of course structure and reading lists (if available, these will be included with our module descriptions).
- Alternatively, book for an Open Evening, where you can talk to our course experts face-to-face.
Contact the My Birkbeck enquiry team
- You can find out more at the My Birkbeck Helpdesk, where staff can provide general advice and information about Birkbeck.
- If you need more specialist advice, they will be able to refer you to the right person for more in-depth support.
Watch a video presentation
- If you can’t make it to one of our talks, you can watch our study at Birkbeck video on our Youtube channel to find out more about studying at Birkbeck.
Careers advice
- Our Careers Workshops are designed to help you in the process of applying to higher education. A qualified careers advisor will help you consider the implications for your career path, and to think about the potential challenges and opportunities of returning to study.
Get Ahead Stay Ahead
- You can also go through our online Get Ahead Stay Ahead tutorials to see whether university study is for you, to get an idea of what studying at Birkbeck will be like and to prepare for university by improving your study skills such as academic reading and writing.
Orientation
- Once enrolled, you will be invited to attend Birkbeck’s orientation to help get your studies off to a flying start.
