Birmingham – where it’s home (by Razan)

Posted by BiBer | Filed under Uncategorized

Here is a personal account describing the University of Birmingham, Aston University and the city of Birmingham, written by one of our students here, Razan.

This is what I promised some of my juniors back home in Brunei; a glimpse of Birmingham. A place of Guaranteed satisfaction. Over here is just like another London but with a less hectic environment/crowds/noise.

The two main Universities in Birmingham for Bruneians are University of Birmingham and Aston University.

Let me just start with University of Birmingham since that’s the one I go to.


This is Grange Road Gate. The university entrance that is the nearest to the Engineering, Law and Chemistry Schools and the Sports centre. It’s also near to Uni accommodation, mainly Victoria Hall, Jarratt Hall (where I lived last year, which is just 5 minutes walk) and Douper Hall.

UoB layout is circular,the Clock tower marks the centre of the Uni. That’s the Rugby/Soccer field.

The Clock Tower.

On the right is the Art Building and on the left is Physics.

This is Aston Webb, where plays, concerts, talks are held and where the freshers usually go to for registration.It’s a big building with several big assembly and lecture halls. Admin/Finance offices are also situated here.

Mechanical Engineering Building.

This is the Main Library. Situated just next to the Art Building, it’s a 5-floor library. Internet access and online archives are available.

This is the Medical School.Its practically isolated from the rest of the world… wahaha. What I meant was, it’s situated outside the Uni circle. They have quite a tight security ,probably because medical reasearch students are very dangerous? Hehe.. but the have their own cafeteria, library, prayer rooms and car parks. Moreover, they have all their lectures in that building. Unlike some of us, e.g. ME. I’m a Chemical Engineer but I don’t usually have my lectures in my School, for ECS (elec stuffs) I have them in the Physics Building, and lectures to do with Mechanics, I have them in the Mechanical Building.

The University’s Sport Facilities.

Place for hockey, futsal, rugby, soccer and football.


This is the scenery just outside the library. It’s also the hangout place for students during spring/summer till mid autumn, when the sun’s up the longest during the day.

I get to chill around with Nisa and Azrul, both my seniors, during autumn last year. You don’t get to do that in Brunei yeah? LOL. The building at the back is the University centre. Banks, gift shops, a salon, Spar, cafes, PC/Phone shops are located here.

The Chemistry Building(Howarth).

Far Right is the E-learning Centre, a building full of computers. It opens until late. Students who take the train home prefer to do research here than the in the Main Library.

Between the E-Learning Centre and Medical School is The University Station. It’s a very, very convenient means of transport in Birmingham, besides buses. It makes stops in the city as well, namely Five Ways and New Street Station.

BRISTOL ROAD

Just on the other side of Grange Road is Bristol Road. Along Bristol is also the South Gate.

As for me, Jarratt Hall is practically the best place to stay, besides being close to the University. If I’m not in the mood to cook, I can just go out to Bristol Road and have a choice of five to ten Halal restaurants or fast food outlets.

I can shop for groceries nearby. There’s convenience stores like Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Premier and a 24-hour Tesco in just walking distance.

Flower shop in Bristol Road as well.. LOL.

In Bristol Road, there are frequent buses to the city and to Pershore Road as well. Pershore Road is where most of BiBers live. From there it’s a 30 minute walk to South Gate, or 5-10 minutes by bus.

CITY CENTRE

This is the main train station in Birmingham. Miss your friends who are studying someplace else? Just take a train on the weekends and spend a night or two at your friends. The station is right in the city itself. There are bus stops right in front of it.

Birmingham’s FAMOUS  Bullring. The place for shopping!




Inside the Bullring.



Other individual outlets outside the Bullring.






The Indoor Market. A place where you can buy meats and veggies. Halal meat is available here and somewhere in Pershore Road too.

ASTON UNIVERSITY

I do apologize for the lack description for this Uni. I can’t say much about the pictures here because I haven’t any idea which building is what. The only place I go to at Aston Uni is the Woodcock Sports Centre. BiBers play badminton and netball alternately almost every week.

Aston University is located in the City itself. Bruneians studying in Aston take a bus from Pershore Road to the Uni.

Tha’st the lake, it’s in the middle of the Uni. There are goose and ducks around it every day.

I guess that’s the clock tower, or should I say Clock Building?








Why apply to study at Birmingham?

Birmingham has its own airport! Eurotrip anyone? You don’t need to go to London Airport first, you can go straight from Birmingham. Birmingham’s the second biggest city after London. So any event, like celebrities/plays/concerts, Birmingham is for sure on the list. It feels like home here, it’s convenient for Muslims. There’s even a Chinatown here for you to get whatever you want. Maggi? Chilli sauce? Yeo’s? Spices? Everything is available here. There are approximately 40 Bruneians in Birmingham and we look out for each other. We’re very close friends. Undergrads, Postgrads, PhD, seniors, juniors, we know each other very well. We even have friends coming over to Birmingham to spend their holidays with us so that they don’t really miss home. We celebrate all occasions- Hari Raya, Christmas, Chinese New Year. Whichever race you are, your occasions are guaranteed to be celebrated! Oh, and we have surprise birthday parties for everyone. EVERYONE. I’m glad I chose Birmingham. I never felt like an outcast even on my first day here. So do apply to Birmingham. Doesn’t matter which Uni because the society is a whole Birmingham. Hehehe…

BiBers! During Takbir Raya.


This is a photo in UoB, me and Nisa joined Christmas Carols and we sang in Japanese..wahahaha!

Permalink | May 8th, 2009

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