- Libraries:
- The Main library is huge, with over 2,500,000 books and 2500 study places. Many departments also have libraries, there are 13 in total.
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- Computing:
- Computer facilties are fairly good with 2,500 PCs and an astonishing, and slightly questionable, 17,000 internet connection points on site. Free e-mail and internet facilties. However, don't count on getting a computer easily during essay times.
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- Sports:
- On campus there is the Munrow Sports Centre which boasts a sports hall, a karate dojo, two gyms, a dance studio, and a mulitgym. Nearby, but outside, is a floodlit pitch, a running track, tennis courts and two water based astroturf pitches.
At West Hills, about 20 minutes from campus there are 70 acres of sports fields. Even further away, over 160 miles in fact, at the Lake District, is Coniston Water the Univeristy's sailing facility.
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- Disabled Students:
- On the whole, disabled facilities are quite good and "mobility maps" are available showing the positions of ramps etc. Though many of the newer buildings are mobility friendly, the older buildings can be a hassle, or even impossible.
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- Student Welfare:
- Both the Unversity and the Student Guild provide welfare facilities. The University has a health centre with full time doctors and nurses. The Guild also has a useful information centre.
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- Parking:
- Birmingham itself is a nightmare for traffic with the infamous spaghetti junction, awful one-way systems and fairly expensive parking. However, with the unversity a little out of town, it is possible to have a car without too much hassle. It costs 80p to park in the university south car park for the whole day, and it is free during the weekends.
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- University Shops:
- When it comes to the range of shops, Birmingham University ranks as excellent. The Guild, which is very profit-minded anyway, has a CD store, a SPAR, a travel agency, photo shop, print shop, opticians, hairdressers, a grocery shop, a branch of Endsleigh Insurance, a job zone, 2 clothes shops and a second hand bookshop.
There is another building called University Centre which has a bigger SPAR, a sandwich place and a pizza/pasta outlet.
At the Vale there is a Costcutter - Monday-Friday open 08.00-21.00 Saturday open 10.00-19.00 Sunday open 10.00-16.00. Sells all basic needs such as milk, frozen food, sandwiches, bread, alcohol, etc.
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- University Bookshops:
- As well as all the other shops, there is a branch of Waterstones selling most of the course texts.
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- Banking:
- There are an amazing four banks on campus: HSBC, Natwest, Barclays and Lloyds TSB. So you will never be short of cash to spend in the Guild...just the way they like it.
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- Transport Policy:
- Buses run regularly from Giffen Close and Five Ways where some of the Halls are. There is also a train station in Five Ways connecting with the rest of the city and country. As for cars, Birmingham is basically a major UK junction...with several motorways combining to form Spaghetti Junction. However, don't expect to move very far, very fast most of the time.
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- Green Areas:
- Both the campus and the Halls are surrounded by greenery and lakes. The city itself is a little less green, tending to opt for 1960s concrete construction at the worst places. However, even in the city there are green areas.
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