Birkbeck College truly lives up to its role as one of the finest universities in London. For one thing, it's part of the bigger University of London, the leading higher educational institution in the British capital. The school is built on the history and legacy of England's finest academic entity. At the same time, Birkbeck College especially allows and encourages its students to be socially and politically aware. Its approach to education lets its young students get engaged, allowing them to have more knowledge and awareness for when they finally step out into the real world.
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History of Birkbeck College
Birkbeck College's origins go all the way back to 1823. Sir George Birkbeck, an early pioneer of adult education, founded the
London Mechanics' Institute at the time, amassing around 2,000 students. The institute was met with controversy, however, with people accusing Birkbeck of “spreading evil thoughts to the public.” Two years later, he took the school to Chancery Lane. In 1830, they started welcoming female students. In 1858, the institute began its connections with the University of London. And in 1866, the school's name was changed to “Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution.”
What Does Birkbeck College Look Like?
Today, Birkbeck College is located on Malet Street in Bloomsbury, one of the
central neighborhoods of London. It's not a huge campus, complete with multiple schools throughout the area. They all include state-of-the-art facilities, spacious lecture rooms, and big common areas, all for the students' comfort and convenience. Moreover, the college has expanded into East London too, thanks to a partnership formed with the University of East London. The campus there is known as Birkbeck Stratford and opened in 2013.
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The Birkbeck College Student Body
Even with such an expansive campus, Birkbeck College is far from the biggest
university in London. In its student body alone, the school only welcomes about 11,500 enrollees per year. They include both new applicants and returning students who have yet to graduate, so it's unclear how many
new students the college accepts per year. What is clear, however, is the division between the undergraduates and postgraduates. Birkbeck College typically has around 6,700 undergraduates and almost 4,900 postgraduates. This comes as no surprise considering that the school has a 76% acceptance rate.
Birkbeck College's Best Programs and Courses
Birkbeck College is among the more diverse constituent schools of the University of London, so it's not exactly known for specializing in a specific field. Its many graduates who have gone on to become politicians have helped gain its law department a lot of prominence. The Birkbeck Law School offers a Bachelor of Laws in Law, a Bachelor of Laws in Commercial Law, a Bachelor of Laws in Legal Practice, and a Bachelor of Laws in Human Rights, among many others. Its most prestigious postgraduate programs, however, include A Master of Science in Computer Science and a Graduate Diploma in Mathematics.
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Birkbeck College’s Prerequisites
With a 76% acceptance rate, it's pretty evident that Birkbeck College is far from the hardest higher educational institution to get into. But that doesn't mean it's easy to apply here too. For one thing, you need at least 96-128 UCAS points/A-levels CCC-ABB or anything equivalent to qualify as an applicant. You'll also need the standard prerequisites, including a high school diploma for undergraduates and a Bachelor's Degree in any related field for postgraduates. Certain programs require further qualifications too. Birkbeck Law School, for example, requires applicants to have passed the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT) first.
How Much Does It Cost to Study at Birkbeck College?
Birkbeck College is among the more expensive schools in London. Its tuition fees typically range from around £10,200.00 to £17,900.00 per year. These prices are comparatively higher than those of other higher educational institutions in the UK, which usually begin at £9,000.00 per year. How expensive yours will be will depend on various factors. For example, the tuition for UK and EU students tends to be lower compared to the tuition for international applicants. Some courses—such as law, business, etc—are also more expensive than others. Don't forget about the high
living costs in London too.
Source: Birkbeck, University of London Facebook Page
Where is Birkbeck College in London?
As already mentioned, most of Birkbeck College's campuses are within the Bloomsbury district in the Camden Borough of London. The area is best known as a scholastic corner of the city, thanks to the many schools, colleges, and universities located here. Naturally, this includes Birkbeck College too. As part of the West End, Bloomsbury is also near London's famous theaters, hence it also gets its fair share of tourists and visiting locals. Fortunately, the neighborhood is largely residential, offering countless
luxury apartments to rent in London. They're the perfect places to stay when you study at Birkbeck College.
Birkbeck College's Famous Graduates
Birkbeck College has an impressive alumni list filled with prominent figures across various industries. In politics alone, the school taught Liberal Democrat MP Julia Goldsworthy, former MP Nick Palmer, Welsh MP Nick Smith, and even former Adviser to the President of Bangladesh Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury. Countless writers have also graduated from here, including Jennifer Donnelly, Samir El-Youssef, Oliver Kamm, Laura Solomon, and Sidin Vadukut, among many others. Unbelievable as it may seem, various celebrities also studied at Birkbeck College. Among the most famous are actress Daisy Ridley and TV presenter Bear Grylls.
Source: Birkbeck, University of London Facebook Page
Birkbeck College encourages its students to be socially and politically aware of their surroundings. It's a great higher educational institution that prepares its students for the real world, insisting on and encouraging their thirst for knowledge.
