Birkbeck, University of London

Birkbeck was founded in 1823 by George Birkbeck as the Mechanics Institution, offering higher education for working Londoners. Became part of the University of London in 1920 on condition it continued to provide flexible, evening teaching. In 2007 Birkbeck took its flexible teaching provision to Stratford, east London, with a selection of courses. In July 2012 the Privy Council gave Birkbeck the power to award taught and research degrees, a recognition of the quality of the College’s teaching and research and ability to set and maintain academic standards and procedures. Birkbeck will continue to award University of London degrees for the forseeable future. In autumn 2013 Birkbeck opened University Square Stratford, a £33-m purpose-built campus in Stratford, east London.

Part of the University of London central London precinct in Bloomsbury, London (WC1). Served by excellent bus, tube and rail links; Stratford courses are taught at the University Square Stratford campus (a few minutes' walk from Stratford Station). The main central London campus is surrounded by world-class research sources and specialist library collections, including the British Museum, the British Library and Senate House library. London is the economic and cultural capital of the UK. Students apply direct to the College for the four-year evening taught part-time course, and go through UCAS for three-year evening taught full-time courses. Over 21 year olds are assessed individually.

Under 21 year olds need to meet normal university entry requirements. Visit the website for more details. 

A total student population of 18,744 broken down by 12,826 (UG), 5,918 PG Taught and Research.

Majority of students are working professionals who attend classes in the evenings. Students can form professional networks, and share professional experience of the subject being studied.

Diverse, cosmopolitan, non-traditional student body, 49% men, 51% women, with 94% of undergraduates mature students, average age 35. 23% of students achieve firsts, 44% achieve 2:1 and 29% achieve 2:2.

Seventy-two part-time (four-year), evening taught undergraduate degrees; more than 200 postgraduate programmes (available both part-time and full-time, mostly in the evenings). Forty-nine full-time (three-year), evening taught undergraduate programmes.

Some courses are also offered in Stratford, east London.