Museum Tours
Monday 5 June, 12:00-13:00, Lapworth Museum of Geology - Earth Sciences Building
Suitable for all students
Join Museum staff and volunteers for a guided tour of the Museum.
Dumbfounded by dinosaurs, confused about clastics, puzzled by pyrite? Why not join us on our tour of the Museum and get the chance to see behind the scenes!
All tours are free of charge and are run on a first come first served basis - please meet at reception.
Free Weights and Conditioning class
Monday 5 June, 13:00-13:45, Studio 2, Sport & Fitness Centre
Suitable for all students
Join a free Weights and Conditioning class as part of Sport & Fitness' Destresstival, a programme of free classes and social sport sessions to help you de-stress this exam period. Places are limited, so you will need to book in advance using the Sport & Fitness app or book at Reception when you arrive.
Not used Sport & Fitness before? Follow the booking link for more information, including what to wear, lockers and changing rooms, and where to ask for directions, as well as the full Destresstival programme!
Book now
PGR Development: Writing clearly and concisely
Tuesday 6 June, 10:00-11:30, online
Suitable for postgraduate research students
This workshop discusses what it means to write clearly and concisely at postgraduate research level and provides practical advice on sharpening up your own writing to communicate your research and ideas more effectively. It will be most useful for those who have draft texts.
This workshop will also take place in-person on Tuesday 20 June.
Book now
Guild of Students: Student Activities Focus Group
Tuesday 6 June, 15:00-16:00, Beorma Bar, Guild of Students
Suitable for all students
The Guild of Students are looking for students to attend a hands-on focus group to discuss skills sessions, social events, and new experiences open to students in the next academic year. They'll be asking what kinds of activities you'd like to take part in, and looking for feedback on current plans.
Attendees will be given a £10 Morrisons voucher as a thank you for participating. Please register for a free ticket, as places are limited.
Register now
FREE Bike Valet
Tuesday 6 June, 16:00-18:00, South Gate (near Sport & Fitness)
Suitable for all students
Come to campus by bike during National Bike Week! Gear Up will be offering a FREE valeting service on the commute home. Just drop in!
The valeting service will include a bike check, tune-ups of brakes and gears, and clean and relubrication of the drivetrain. We will also be joined by colleagues from the Community Safety team who will be talking bike security, marking bikes, and demonstrating good locking practices.
Free Body Combat class
Tuesday 6 June, 18:00-18:50, Studio 2, Sport & Fitness Centre
Suitable for all students
Join a free Body Combat class as part of Sport & Fitness' Destresstival, a programme of free classes and social sport sessions to help you de-stress this exam period. Places are limited, so you will need to book in advance using the Sport & Fitness app or book at Reception when you arrive.
Not used Sport & Fitness before? Follow the booking link for more information, including what to wear, lockers and changing rooms, and where to ask for directions, as well as the full Destresstival programme!
Book now
Parents' and Carers' Fortnight: Time to Write
Wednesday 7 June, 10:00-12:00, Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library
Suitable for students with parental or caring responsibilities
It can be difficult for parent/carer writers to find time to write. Without opportunities to indulge our creativity, our mood can very quickly deteriorate, and life can lose its spark.
With that in mind, Time to Write carves out some dedicated writing time, free of nappy changing, tantrums, and unreasonable demands for a tenth biscuit. Whether you are working on a novel, a poem, or your latest scholarly monograph, bring your project and paper and pen or a laptop and immerse yourself in your writing with like-minded parents and carers.
This event is open to UoB students and staff as part of Parents' and Carers' Fortnight 2023.
Book now
Bake Bread & Eat with Bread & Belief
Wednesday 7 June, 13:00-15:00, Oasis Lounge, St. Francis Hall
Suitable for all students with an interest in Christian faith traditions
Join chaplains from the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy will mix flour into dough and share stories; stories from our lives and from the Bible. There will also be time to pray, before you leave with your bread.
We make the bread from scratch and ingredients are provided. All people and perspectives are welcome.
Book now
Barber Student Workshop: Print Club with Laura Onions
Wednesday 7 June, 14:00-16:30, Barber Institute
Suitable for all students
Get messy with the Barber Print Club, a hands-on monthly printmaking workshop with local artist Laura Onions.
Laura will guide you through the skills needed to create your own beautiful, printed artwork inspired by the Barbers collection. No previous printmaking experience is required.
Spaces cost £3 per student.
Book now
Student Mentors: Relaxation Workshop
Wednesday 7 June, 15:15-16:15, Hampton Room, Chamberlain Tower
Suitable for students living in University accommodation
In our busy lives where stress is a daily companion, it's difficult to stay at ease or perform well in exams and studies if the body and mind are tense.
Join the Student Mentors for this Relaxation Workshop to discuss stress and its impacts, get information on different techniques on how to relax, talk about the benefits of relaxation, and try a relaxation exercise.
During this relaxation exercise you are asked to lay down on a yoga mat, whilst Student Mentors read a peaceful relaxation script to help relax your mind and guide you to imagine your own peaceful safe place. This place will be an imaginary area that you can visualise to help calm and relax your mind whenever you are feeling stressed.
Comfortable clothing is recommended, although this workshop does not include exercise.
Register now
FREE Bike Valet
Wednesday 7 June, 16:00-18:00, Grange Road Gate (near Bournbrook Pavilion)
Suitable for all students
Come to campus by bike during National Bike Week! Gear Up will be offering a FREE valeting service on the commute home. Just drop in!
The valeting service will include a bike check, tune-ups of brakes and gears, and clean and relubrication of the drivetrain. We will also be joined by colleagues from the Community Safety team who will be talking bike security, marking bikes, and demonstrating good locking practices.
It’s More Than Bricks and Mortar: exploring home through poetry
Wednesday 7 June, 18:00-20:00, The Exchange, 3 Centenary Square
Suitable for all students aged 18+
How do people who are typically excluded by society experience home?
Join poet Beth Abbott (Been There Done That CIC) and academics from the University of Birmingham’s SPRINT Project, which brings sports psychology ideas to new contexts, for a free reflective and creative workshop where you can explore different realities of home through poetry.
You will look at youth homelessness through the lens of those who have experienced it and write your own poem based on the concept of home. You don’t need to have written poetry before – everyone is welcome.
This event is presented as part of A Place to Call Home – a new public programme of exhibitions, activities and events exploring what home means to all of us. Understand diverse experiences through the eyes of people who have lived through them and find out about the latest social justice research at the University of Birmingham.
This event is suitable for over 18's only. Free, booking recommended.
Book now
PGR Development: Reviewing the literature
Thursday 8 June, 14:00-15:30, online
Suitable for postgraduate research students
A literature review is an analysis, critical evaluation and synthesis of previous research on a topic. Writing a literature review is an important part of postgraduate research and this workshop or online course will help you understand the nature of a quality literature review and provide advice on constructing an effective synthesis of the literature you have read.
Book now
Free Body Balance class
Thursday 8 June, 17:00-18:00, Dojo, Sport & Fitness Centre
Suitable for all students
Join a free Body Balance class as part of Sport & Fitness' Destresstival, a programme of free classes and social sport sessions to help you de-stress this exam period. Places are limited, so you will need to book in advance using the Sport & Fitness app or book at Reception when you arrive.
Not used Sport & Fitness before? Follow the booking link for more information, including what to wear, lockers and changing rooms, and where to ask for directions, as well as the full Destresstival programme!
Book now
FREE Bike Valet
Thursday 8 June, 16:00-18:00, West Gate (near University station)
Suitable for all students
Come to campus by bike during National Bike Week! Gear Up will be offering a FREE valeting service on the commute home. Just drop in!
The valeting service will include a bike check, tune-ups of brakes and gears, and clean and relubrication of the drivetrain. We will also be joined by colleagues from the Community Safety team who will be talking bike security, marking bikes, and demonstrating good locking practices.
Basic Cycling Skills Course
Thursday 8 June, 17:00-19:00, meet on campus
Suitable for all students
Join a skills development course for cyclists who can ride a bike (pedal and glide) and want to learn correct techniques for braking, signalling and using gears.
The aim is to develop mastery in cycle handling in a off-road, supportive and enclosed environment and to prepare riders for cycling on the road. The course will take place in the enclosed top deck of the UoB Sport and Fitness Centre, which offers an off-road environment and privacy.
The course is one two-hour session, open to students and staff. Bikes will be provided or you can bring your own. Six participants maximum, with places assigned on a first come, first served basis. Student places cost £2. Email Edward Shelley to register your interest.
Parents' and Carers' Fortnight: Time to Sketch
Friday 9 June, 10:30-12:30, Winterbourne House & Gardens
Suitable for students with parental or caring responsibilities
Creativity is essential in maintaining wellbeing for many parents and carers, but it can be difficult to find the time for it. Without opportunities to indulge our creativity, our mood can very quickly deteriorate, and life can lose its spark.
With that in mind, Time to Sketch carves out some dedicated drawing time, free of nappy changing, tantrums, and unreasonable demands for a tenth biscuit. Whether you are a seasoned sketcher or a complete beginner, bring a sketchbook and drawing medium of your choice and capture the beauty of Winterbourne’s gardens like only you can.
This event is open to UoB students and staff as part of Parents' and Carers' Fortnight 2023.
Book now
Junkbusters - donate your unwanted clothes, books and household items!
Friday 9 June, 12:30-15:30, various locations - see below
Suitable for all students
Junkbusters is a joint project between the Guild of Students and the University. Every year, we go out into Selly Oak and collect your unwanted clothes, books and household items to raise money for the British Heart Foundation - since 2011, we have raised over £135,000!
All you need to do is fill up a bin bag with good quality, unwanted items and bring it to one of our stalls. You can find us every Friday until 30 June at:
- Bournbrook Pavilion, outside Starbucks (Aston Webb Blvd, B15 2GG)
- Corner of Raddlebarn Rd and Bournbrook Rd (B29 7DB)
- Corner of Dartmouth Rd and Heeley Rd (B29 6DR)
- Corner of Dawlish Rd and Exeter Rd (B29 6EU)
You can donate most things, but please no duvets, pillows, broken or dirty items, knives, coat hangers, food, bikes, or helmets.
Find out more
Barber Family Workshop: The Barber Bestiary of Fantastic Beasts
Saturday 10 June, 11:00-13:00, Barber Institute
Suitable for students with children or young relatives
Design your own marvellous monstrous creatures in this collage workshop led by artist Fiona Cullinan. Discover the animals that call the Barber home, then experiment with paper techniques to craft your own hybrid beast, whether it be a scaly dog, a horned lion, a winged rhinoceros – or even a whole new creature from your imagination! Play with shape and texture to explore the unique personality of your creation before setting them free into a wild habitat. Finally, we’ll gather all the animals together to create a temporary bestiary of fantastic beasts.
Perfect for families with children aged 6-11 years old. £3 per child with a supporting adult accompanying for free. Refreshments and all materials will be provided.
Book now
Come and Sing: Handel's Messiah
Saturday 10 June, 11:00-17:00, Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building
Suitable for students, alumni, and anyone previously involved in the University's choirs
Come and join choral conductors, singers, and staff past and present from the University of Birmingham as we come together in the Elgar Concert Hall for a singalong day on Handel’s much-loved oratorio, Messiah.
Open to current students, alumni, and anyone previously involved in choirs at the University, this day celebrates the University's unique position in the pre-professional singing world under the leadership of Professor Simon Halsey. An opportunity to reunite and reflect on some wonderful recent experiences - including world premiere performances, multiple visits to the BBC Proms, and – most recently – a debut recording with the CBSO.
Tickets cost £10.
Book now