Student Belonging Plan
The School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication's Student Belonging Plan
Our Plan, developed in consultation with students and the Student’s Union, aims to promote student belonging and engagement at all levels of study. It is monitored annually by the Head of School and Education Leads by liaising with other relevant colleagues, students and the Student Union.
We commit to:
1. Inclusion
- Cultivating a welcoming, approachable and inclusive community that celebrates diversity
- Responding to the diverse needs of our students
- Offering collaborative learning opportunities in our teaching
- Enabling access to programme, School and College events
2. Connection
- Providing accessible and flexible teaching in line with Birkbeck's mission
- Creating opportunities to meet with students and staff
- Creating opportunities to meet with and learn from Birkbeck alumni, collaborators and partners
- Supporting programme, School and College extracurricular activities
- Introducing students to the cultural offerings of Bloomsbury and central London
- Working with the Students’ Union to enhance student experience
3. Participation
- Encouraging students to become Student Representatives to represent their peers and support them in doing so
- Empowering students to initiate events to create a sense of community, place and belonging
- Encouraging engagement in the existing programme of extracurricular events
4. Support
- Supporting the election and work of Student Representatives
- Offering Personal Tutors to all students
- Providing access to student services
- Providing access to Peer Mentoring for year 1 UG students
- Providing access to alumni and corporate mentoring
Examples of actions per level of study:
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Foundation Year
Annual induction and welcome
Inclusive Curriculum: We introduce, welcome and celebrate a range of perspectives in our teaching.
Interactive Teaching and Learning: We provide opportunities for students to engage with one another and their tutors, in person and online (or HyFlex).
Study Support Hub: Open Tuesdays from 3:30 to 8:30pm during term time for FY students across the College, BCB 305.
Involvement with degree subject, students and resources: Students have opportunities to meet with students and lecturers on their BA, and to take part in activities and events related to their subject programme.
Including of degree tutors in FY teaching: Students learn from those teaching on their BA degree programme to ensure they feel part of the Birkbeck learning community.
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Undergraduate
Annual induction and welcome: For all new, continuing and finalist students.
Inclusive Curriculum: We introduce, welcome and celebrate a range of perspectives in our teaching.
Interactive Teaching and Learning: We provide opportunities for students to engage with one another and their tutors in person and online (or HyFlex).
Social events: While we recognise that Birkbeck students are busy, and often have social lives outside of university, we encourage social connections and gatherings. For example: We run a finalist ‘tea’ at the end of Autumn term for students and staff.
Arts Week: UG students have the opportunity to present at and attend Arts Week every summer term
Careers and Employability: We offer work-oriented learning opportunities at all levels of study as part of our Careers and Employability commitment. Some of the events include:
Finalist careers talk delivered by a graduate, in collaboration with Development and Alumni (January).
Graduate panel talk in collaboration with Development and Alumni (June)
Student Union: We work with the Students’ Union so that they make their societies more visible to students and more attractive to join.
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Postgraduate Taught (PGT)
Annual induction and welcome: For full-time and part-time students.
Inclusive Curriculum: We introduce, welcome and celebrate a range of perspectives in our teaching.
Interactive Teaching and Learning: We provide opportunities for students to engage with one another and their tutors in person and online (or HyFlex).
Reading groups: We support the creation of self-directed reading groups
Social events: While we recognise that Birkbeck students are busy, and often have social lives outside of university, we encourage social meetings. For example: We run a finalist ‘tea’ at the end of Autumn term for students and staff; Students can also book the cinema, and other spaces, for events when then are not used for teaching.
Arts Week: PGT students have the opportunity to present at and attend Arts Week every summer term.
Careers and Employability: We offer work-oriented learning opportunities at all levels of study as part of our Careers and Employability commitment. Some of the events include:
Finalist careers talk delivered by a graduate, in collaboration with Development and Alumni (January).
Graduate panel talk in collaboration with Development and Alumni (June).
Student Union: We work with the Students’ Union so that they make their societies more visible to students and more attractive to join e.g. reinstating/Organizing subject specific societies, e.g. Birkbeck Applied Linguistics Society.
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Postgraduate Research (PGR)
Annual induction and welcome
Inclusive Curriculum: We introduce, welcome and celebrate a range of perspectives in our teaching and in students' research topics.
Interactive Teaching and Learning: We provide opportunities for students to engage with one another and their tutors in person and online (HyFlex).
Reading groups and research events: We support the creation of self-directed reading groups and research events.
Research Centres: PGR students can be affiliated with a Research Centre where possible.
Arts Week: PGR students have the opportunity to present at and attend Arts Week every summer term
Symposium: We support students in running an end of year research symposium.
Careers and Employability: We offer work-oriented learning opportunities at all levels of study as part of our Careers and Employability commitment. Some of the events include:
Careers talks delivered by PhD graduates including those working outside of academia.
Finalised on 2 July 2026