Your College Student Bulletin - 14 May 2026
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and we’ve got plenty of ways for you to take action. Check out our student tips on how to move more, or take a moment to switch off and enter our David Attenborough prize draw. Win one of three activity books to help you destress and celebrate Sir David’s 100th birthday.
If you’re planning on joining us at Birmingham Pride Parade on Saturday 23 May, sign up to march with UNIfied at Pride and create a wave of support for students, staff, and the wider community. Send your photos in to lesstudentcomms@contacts.bham.ac.uk for a chance to feature in our June bulletin celebrating Pride Month.
In this edition, read on to discover:
- Partnership perks with Warwickshire County Cricket Club
- A chance to volunteer at Gardeners’ World Live
- Free tickets to an improvised murder mystery at Winterbourne
Your voice makes a difference
Time’s running out to have your say with the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES). Let us know about your UoB experience, and what has made a difference to you. Five lucky people will win £150, so make sure you Have Your Say.
News
Summer of Cricket
We’re now the Official University Partner of Warwickshire County Cricket Club! Get an exclusive £5 ticket offer to watch the Bank Holiday double-header vs Somerset. Book tickets
UoBe Ready
Exam season has started and we’ve got everything you need to ace your assessments, from stress management to students’ top tips. UoBe Ready
Sekine Quartet return to the Lapworth
Monday 8 June | 6pm and 8pm
Legends of Rock - 6pm
Enjoy a string tribute to legendary rock songs by Metallica, Nirvana, David Bowie, AC/DC and more. Book tickets to Legends of Rock
A String Tribute to Queen and ABBA - 8pm
Listen to classical covers of Queen and ABBA's most iconic songs. Book tickets to Queen and ABBA tribute
Looking for a behind-the-scenes experience? Discover the volunteer opportunities currently on offer at the Lapworth.
UoB Xtra and Summer Term
8 – 26 June 2026
UoB Xtra is coming up quickly, with plenty to look forward after exams. Check out our College level activities and remember to sign up to secure your spot!
LES Make a Difference Research Talks
Ever wondered how your studies impact the world around you? Join us as we explore everything from bacteria to the science of hangovers and hear from your internationally acclaimed lecturers about their research. Sign up for talks.
Skills, success, and what comes next
Year 1 UG: Critical thinking for Assessment Success | Wednesday 11 June 10am-12pm
That’s your 1st year done and dusted, what’s next? Take a deep dive into how you can analyse, question, and structure your work to ace your 2nd year assessments. Sign up here
Year 2 UG: How to Get a 1st in Your Dissertation | Friday 19 June 10am-12pm
Hit the ground running with your final-year dissertation. We’ll show you everything you need to do to get top marks in your dissertation and how to manage your work effectively. Sign up here
Final Year UG: From Classroom to Career: Alumni Perspectives | Tuesday 9 June 1-3pm
Hear from Alumni speakers followed by an informal networking event with pizza. Sign up here
Step Forward
Thursday 11 June, 11am-1pm Lapworth Museum
Improve your CV and explore opportunities that fit around commuting, work, and life. Sign up here
Campus Quest
Get ready to explore campus through a LES lens. Discover secret spots and snap a few selfies to complete this online scavenger hunt and compete for prize vouchers. Join the Quest
LES Garden Party
18 June 1-4pm | Biosciences Undercroft and Courtyard
Join us for the hottest event of the summer with games and treats for you to enjoy. Sign up here
Supporting you
Pause@uni
The Pause@uni team have created a short video, packed with top tips for studying and managing exams - it’s quick, practical, and well worth a watch. Watch the video.
UBHeard 24/7
Whatever you’re going through, we’re here to help. UBHeard is a free, confidential listening support service that’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call 0800 917 9379 or use the Wisdom App live chat to speak to a trained counsellor. And if English isn’t your first language, we use qualified interpreters to give advice and support in over 200 languages. Contact UBHeard
Opportunities
Future Focused Micro Internships
Apply before Sunday 17 May for our Future Focused Micro Internships. Taking place during UoBXtra, delve into experiments and develop valuable transferrable skills across themes of forest research, sustainability and human health and wellbeing. Apply for a micro internship
Become a Green Impact Lab Auditor
Training and audits will take place Tuesday 9 - Thursday 11 June, a fantastic opportunity to add to your work experience, build your networks, and develop transferable skills. As a volunteer student auditor, you’ll be granted access to discounted ISEP student membership and be recognised for the Birmingham Award. To find out more about Green Impact check out SOS UK’s website and complete our application form by 1 June.
Volunteers needed at Gardeners' World Live
Volunteer at Alice Roberts' Evolution Garden at the NEC, featuring ancient swamps and full-scale animal models built by the Lapworth. Welcome guests to the garden and share insights in Earth history and evolution, plus get a chance to walk through 500 million years of life on earth.
Contact Anna Leppänen (a.z.a.leppanen@bham.ac.uk) by Friday 15 May to register your interest.
Postgraduate Open Day
Saturday 27 June | Edgbaston Campus
Hear first-hand from our staff and students about studying a Masters, a research degree, or continuing your professional education. Register your place
Be a Student Rep next year
Build your communication and leadership skills, shape your course experience, represent your peers, and work with staff to make positive changes. Registration for returning Student Reps is now open, if you’ve been a rep this year we’d love to keep working with you. Sign up via the Guild of Students
Funding and scholarships
Bursaries and grants are a great way to help fund your studies. From external opportunities like the Viking Bursary and Royal Geographical Society student grants to our £2000 Alumni Scholarship, keep an eye on application deadlines via our Scholarship and Funding Database.
Nominations are open for the Paul Weston Prize
Nominate a final year student who has been an exceptional part of our School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences! They will be recognised for their outstanding contribution and will be awarded a cash prize at graduation. Make your nomination here before 5 June.
Student Spotlight
From Environmental Sustainability to a Career in HSE
Hear from Masters student Brooke Hawkins on how a shift in perspective opened up a whole new career path in sustainability and Health and Safety. Read the blog
PGT Corner
Final Year Postgraduate Taught Writing Retreat
Join our on-campus SportExR Writing Retreat for your chance to focus, write, and make real progress on your dissertation. Taking place Monday 8 June, with a bitesize workshop from the Academic Skills Centre and lunch on us! Book your spot here.
PGR Corner
Postgraduate Coaching
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is delighted to offer an exciting new programme of 1:1 coaching to support you in developing your strengths, and optimise your experience of postgraduate study. Discover PGR Coaching
Westmere House
Visit your dedicated PGR hub, offering a welcoming environment to study, connect, and unwind. Facilities include a lounge, seminar room, study room, kitchen, and a large garden with picnic tables. Discover Westmere House
Writing Academic Job Applications: Tips Tutorial
Tuesday 19 May, 2pm | Online
Learn more about how to write effective academic job applications and understand what academic hiring panels look for at this online seminar. Sign up here
Preparing for Academic Interviews: tips and techniques
Wednesday 27 May, 1pm | Online
Understand what to expect in a typical interview for an early-career academic job in the UK and get key tips on how to prepare and communicate your experience effectively. Sign up here
New notice of intention to submit form
Let us know you’ll be submitting your thesis via the new form and it will automatically notify your supervisor, no approval needed. If you’re hoping to submit earlier than 2 months prior to the minimum period of registration, you’ll need to complete an early submission request form for consideration. You can still submit Word versions via email until 1 June.
PGR thesis submission and examination portal
Track every stage of your thesis examination through our new portal, including progress, expected report dates, and correction deadlines. Check out our FAQs for more details: PGR Thesis Processing System FAQs
PGR Stories
The UDS PGR Stories Page is a dedicated resource to showcase the diversity of experience within our PGR community – and we are currently looking for new entries! Share your story and help inspire other PGRs. Submit a written or video testimonial.
Dates for your diary
For a full list of what’s on, see our Student Events pages
LGBTQ+ Wellbeing Drop In
Monday 18 May, 12.30-4pm (drop-in) | Wellbeing Lodge, by North Gate (R37)
Led by Birmingham LGBT and supported by Umbrella, drop-in for free sexual health advice, rapid HIV testing and wellbeing support. Find out more
Campus 3k Your Way
Wednesday 10 June, 10am | Meet on the Green Heart
Whether you’re donning your trainers for the first time, getting involved with some outstanding fancy dress or simply taking a stroll with your friends, anything goes – it’s 3K your way! Book your place
Top tips for a career in Clinical Psychology
Friday 12 June, 11am | Y3-G31
Join us to explore what you can do in Clinical Psychology, with a Q&A with current clinical trainees and add names to your network. No sign-up needed, open to all students.
Graduation Ceremony: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences | All programmes (excluding Physiotherapy)
Friday 10 July, 10am | Great Hall, Aston Webb
Graduation Ceremony: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences | All physiotherapy programmes
Friday 10 July, 3pm | Great Hall, Aston Webb
Graduation Ceremony: School of Psychology | Undergraduate Human Neuroscience programmes and all postgraduate programmes
Monday 13 July, 10am | Great Hall, Aston Webb
Graduation Ceremony: School of Psychology | BSc and MSci undergraduate Psychology programmes
Monday 13 July, 12.30pm | Great Hall, Aston Webb
Graduation Ceremony: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences | All programmes
Monday 13 July, 3pm | Great Hall, Aston Webb
Graduation Ceremony: School of Biosciences |All programmes
Monday 13 July, 5.30pm | Great Hall, Aston Webb
And finally...
Winterbourne ticket giveaway
We’ve partnered with Winterbourne House and Gardens to give away a pair of tickets to the 12 June performance of Murder on the Lawn. Fill in your details for a chance to unbox your picnic and pop open your drinks as Foghorn Unscripted ask you, the audience, to solve a very British ‘whodunit.’ Win tickets.
Bulletin giveaway prize winners
Congratulations to Amelie Graham (BSc Sport, PE + Coach Sci) and Alison Fulop (PhD Psychology Lab) on winning our free Social Sport passes in last week’s Bulletin giveaway.