AFS City Guides

The complete student guide to Birmingham

8 min read·Last updated: 8 April 2026

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Curated and written by

Rhyana Anghel

AFS Content Creator

Studying at Aston University

8 min read

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My favourite thing about being a student in Birmingham is the fact that it has the perfect amount of everything. There are many different food spots dotted around everywhere, going from affordable to luxury, British cuisine to Mexican delicacies, small study cafés to fancy dress-up restaurants, and eat in or take out; There is 100% something that will suit you! Another great example is the nightlife, which also gives you a lot to choose from, as you can pick from bars, clubs, or even have a beverage at a late closing restaurant.

“In some places it can be hard to find halal food but in Birmingham there are plenty of halal food options!”

AAAyesha AyazBirmingham City University

Why study in Birmingham

So much to explore
You can spend hours at the Bullring & Grand Central, shopping, eating, or playing some fun mini golf and other activities, or take a calmer moment at the Library of Birmingham, where the rooftop gives you one of the best views in Birmingham. Cadbury World is a must-visit for chocolate lovers and if you’re into art or history, the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery has a really nice mix of classic and modern pieces. The Jewellery Quarter is full of fun, with independent shops and cosy cafés.
Affordable city
Birmingham offers a significantly lower cost of living, with rent prices for accommodation remaining reasonably affordable, allowing students to study and enjoy a high quality of life without London prices. Being able to study without costing yourself of experiences is important (and usually what helps students love their time at university even more.)
If you know where to go, you can use student discount and eat out for cheap too! Student night is a great time to drink and party with lower prices as well.
Diverse, welcoming and vibrant
Known as one of the most multicultural cities in the UK, 42% of Birmingham’s population come from a non-white background. This providing an inclusive and safer environment for international students, allowing them to feel more welcomed. It also increases the vibrant scene of the city, with different cuisines and culture awaiting to be experienced on every corner.
The city boasts a lively atmosphere, including numerous restaurants, bars, one of the best shopping centres in the UK, many museums, aquariums and so much more.
Excellent study/career prospects
Universities in Birmingham feel like a close-knit community where everyone is encouraged to grow both academically and personally. What I love most is how practical and career-focused the learning is because the lecturers genuinely care about helping you apply your knowledge in real life situations. With so many opportunities for networking, teamwork, and personal development, the university really pushes you to become confident and ready for the future.
Its location also allows the opportunity to travel if necessary to internships further afield.

Key facts about Birmingham

Student life in Birmingham

I’m in my second year and live in a student-friendly flat in Selly Oak and I must say my favourite place has to be the small, homely cafés. I love spending time in them as they make me feel so warm and cosy, whether I am with my partner, my friends, studying alone or just simply wanting a bite to eat or a drink. My top two recommendations are either Café Face or Heybrew. (They do amazing food, drinks and bites. Perfect for any occasion.) They are also the top spots where students go, so it is so easy to fit in, be comfortable or even make new friends! There are cafes like this dotted around all of Birmingham, especially in the city centre, but these are my personal favourites linking to where I currently live. I must start off by saying Birmingham is the place to be on a night out. Filled with life, filled with laughter and filled with fun, Birmingham offers the best nightlife dotted all around the city. In Selly Oak, you have two student clubs called Circo and The Guild, and two bars called The Goose and the Pear - students usually end up getting a Subway next door at 3am when they want to indulge in some food! On Broad Street, you have Rosie’s and Barbaras (Also known as Heidi’s) and then some nice pubs and drinking (and food) places including Wetherspoons, O'Neill's, Slug and Lettuce, The Alchemist, BeAtOne. In the Arcadian, most of the places have now been closed down but a couple of the good remaining ones are Sobar (an affordable club), and China White as a more bougie club. In Chamberlain square (also known as Gas Street) you have the one and only Alberts Schloss which is unbeatable! If nightlife isn’t your thing, don't worry - if you live in or near Selly Oak, you are never too far from a beautiful walk, whether it’s Selly Oak Park or the nice canal-side walk. There are also other parks dotted around all of Birmingham. Winterbourne House is a garden located in Edgbaston, just minutes from the city centre, where you will find woodland walks, a hazelnut tunnel, a Japanese bridge and plenty of calm, relaxing spots to chill out or drink some tea. Whatever food you’re craving – Japanese, Malaysian, Halal, or British – the streets of Birmingham have you covered. My favourites are: Satori or Yo! Sushi, The Mayan, Tiger Bites Pig, or Toby Carvery for a roast dinner.

Cost of living in Birmingham

Wondering how much it costs to live in Birmingham as a student? We’ve broken down typical monthly expenses and compared them to the national average, so you can plan your budget with confidence.

Expense	Birmingham average	National average	Difference
Rent (monthly)	£615	£907.91	£292.9132% less
Utilities (monthly)	£103	£111.91	£8.918% less
Bus pass (monthly)	£53	£62.64	£9.6415% less
Groceries	£15.82	£15.26	£0.564% more
Gym pass (monthly)	£27.82	£35.63	£7.8122% less
Takeaway coffee	£3.53	£3.62	£0.093% less

Rent (monthly)
Birmingham average
£615
National average
£907.91
Difference
£292.9132% less
Utilities (monthly)
Birmingham average
£103
National average
£111.91
Difference
£8.918% less
Bus pass (monthly)
Birmingham average
£53
National average
£62.64
Difference
£9.6415% less
Groceries
Birmingham average
£15.82
National average
£15.26
Difference
£0.564% more
Gym pass (monthly)
Birmingham average
£27.82
National average
£35.63
Difference
£7.8122% less
Takeaway coffee
Birmingham average
£3.53
National average
£3.62
Difference
£0.093% less

“Stirchley Area, Bournville. There are also loads of bars & pubs, microbreweries, and restaurants worth visiting.”

PRPhil RichardsUniversity of Birmingham

Universities in Birmingham

Aston University

Located in Birmingham City Centre, Aston University dates back to 1895. Today the student population at Aston is over 14,000.

Read guide →

Birmingham City University

In the city of Birmingham, this university has a lot to offer, it is the second largest of 5 universities within the city and is known for its outstanding Health and Social care courses.

Read guide →

Newman University

Newman University is based on a single-site campus on Birmingham which focuses on interactive teaching, personal wellbeing and high academic standards.

Read guide →

University College Birmingham

The University College Birmingham, is one of five higher education institutions in Birmingham. It is renowned for its vocational courses in hospitality, management and catering.

Read guide →

University of Birmingham

Located in the city of Birmingham, the university has the 4th largest student population in the UK and has one of the largest medical schools across Europe.

Read guide →

Getting around Birmingham

Birmingham is a very walkable city and is pedestrian-friendly, but here are some alternative options in case you don’t fancy spending all of your time wandering.

Buses

A shuttle called the Selly Express is the bus that will take you from campus to your student home in Selly Oak for free.
Local bus service routes that cater for University of Birmingham students include: 61, 63, 41, 48, 76, X21, X22, 19, X20 - the route passes by campus, linking the University to the city centre, local train stations and neighbourhoods. Student tickets are only available to buy with an in-date student ID.

Cycling

Hireable bikes and e-scooters are available on campuses. With beryl you can ride from 20p per minute, you'll just need to download the Beryl app on your phone to start your journey. Day or Flexi passes are also available and can save you money if you plan on making several journeys.

Metrolink

West Midlands Metro connects Birmingham to Wolverhampton. Hop on and off to make your way across the city and beyond.

Trains

Birmingham New Street is the main station (so big that it looks like an airport on the inside), from here you can travel anywhere in the UK.
Birmingham International Station will help you get to Birmingham Airport.

Taxis/car

To drive around Birmingham, you’ll have to apply for a permit with your university to park on campus.

Life after uni

As the UK’s second largest city there are 43,000 companies on your doorstep in Birmingham, and therefore plenty of employability opportunities.

Employer demand
The University of Birmingham ranked as #1 most targeted by top graduate employers in the UK according to Graduate Market 2025). As a result, many major companies actively recruit at UoB, through: careers fairs, campus events, internships and placements.
Key sectors
The major job sectors include: finance and professional services, engineering and manufacturing, retail and logistics, as well as the public sector (NHS, education, government).
Graduate retention
Around 50% of students stay in the city after they graduate to make the most of the job opportunities available here.