University Information - Birmingham

There are three universities located in Birmingham as outlined below.

1. The University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
United Kingdom
Tel : 0121 414 3344

This is one of the leading research-based universities in the UK; an emphasis upon research in all schools is one of the distinctive characteristics of the university.

In the 1996 UK Research Assessment Exercise, the University of Birmingham was the fifth most successful in the UK for research excellence. Thirty-eight areas were rated at the highest levels indicating research of national and international excellence. The university is a founding member of Universities 21, which is an elite group of top research universities throughout the world. The university is one of only 25 European institutions to be awarded the distinction of a Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence by the European Commission, in recognition of interdisciplinary expertise in European Affairs.

The main university campus at Edgbaston is spacious and attractive with lawns, trees and a lake. A variety of programmes are also available at the self-contained Westhill campus which is located in Selly-Oak.

It offers Schools in the following:

• Arts, Languages, Literature and History
• Business, Commerce and Economics
• Social Sciences, Government and Politics
• Law
• Engineering
• Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
• Science

2. Aston University

Aston University
Aston Triangle
Birmingham B4 7ET
United Kingdom
Tel : 0121 359 3611
Fax : 0121 359 6350

Birmingham New Street Station is the nearest main-line station to Aston University, just 12 minutes walk away. Direct services arrive there from all parts of the UK.

There are four schools:

• Aston Business School
• School of Engineering and Applied Science
• School of Life and Health Sciences
• School of Languages and European Studies

The campus lies to the north of the city and offers Halls of Residence and privately rented shared accommodation to suit individual needs.


3. The University of Central England in Birmingham

The University of Central England in Birmingham
Aldridge Road Perry Barr
Birmingham
B42 2SU
Tel : 0121 331 5000
Fax : 0121 331 6358

The buildings are spread over eight sites throughout Birmingham, the main campus being at Perry Barr.

There are eight schools:

• Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
• Built Environment
• Business School
• Computing, Information and English
• Education
• Health and Community Care
• Law and Social Sciences
• Technology Innovation Centre

Birmingham City

Birmingham lies at the heart of the West Midlands and is conveniently central to an extensive network of motorways and railways. Getting around the city can be on bus, taxi, tram or train. The city centre is almost completely pedestrianised making walking simple.

Birmingham’s Chinatown boasts a wide range of restaurants and interesting specialist supermarkets. Birmingham is also known as the ‘Balti’ capital for its large array of Indian/Asian eating outlets.

The city hosts many festivals throughout the year including street entertainment and themed weekends at the Arcadian Centre in China Town. The National Exhibition Centre and National Arena host many of the country’s major events and exhibitions including The Motor Show, Clothes Show and The Mega Mela.

Shops catering for Asian diets and needs are widespread and plentiful offering a wide selection of fresh foods and ingredients.

There are over 40 mosques and Islamic Centres in Birmingham. There are at least 2 Shia mosques, one belonging to our Khoja community. 


Pharmacy Degree

A pharmacist is fundamentally an expert on drugs and medicines. Becoming a pharmacist involves science-based training in the preparation and supply of medicines for the treatment and prevention of disease. Pharmacists use their expertise to ensure the safe dispensing and sale of medicines and to advise patients, doctors and other health professionals on their correct use. A pharmacist needs a wide portfolio of skills including an extensive scientific knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological properties of drugs and the production, evaluation and biological properties of medicinal products.

There are 16 Schools of Pharmacy offering the four-year degree course in the UK. On graduation, the student must undertake a pre-registration training year with an exam at the end set by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. On successful completion the graduate can then practise as a pharmacist in one of the three main branches of pharmacy.

Community Pharmacy
Opportunities range from working in small independent community pharmacies to working for national chains such as Boots or Lloyds or in a supermarket chain.

Hospital Pharmacy
Hospital pharmacy encompasses a wide range of career opportunities in a clinical or patient context or pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality assurance, radio pharmacy and drug information.

Industrial Pharmacy
The pharmaceutical industry is a major contributor to the UK economy and carries around 70% of all medicine research and development in the UK. Pharmaceutical activities include manufacture, research and development, formulation, clinical trials, quality assurance and regulatory affairs.

Starting salaries are usually around £24,000 for newly qualified pharmacists.

Course Structure

A brief outline of areas studied is given below. Studying is through formal lectures, laboratory classes, seminars, tutorials and workshops. In addition, most universities offer hospital visits to discuss the care of patients with staff on ward rounds and visits to local pharmaceutical companies.

Areas of study:

• Biochemistry and Cell Biology
• Physio-Chemical Properties of Drugs
• Medicines Design and Manufacture
• Drug Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion
• Medical Microbiology 
• Therapeutics
• Identification and Assay of Pharmaceuticals
• Pharmacy Law and Ethics
• Sterilisation, Asepsis and Radio pharmacy

Follow up studies can include post-graduate diplomas in Community/Hospital/Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacy (2 years), which can be continued with a research project resulting in a Ph.D.