The Brum Bulletin - your student newsletter

Assessment Support Week begins on the 10 May 2021 and will run for two weeks, prior to the assessment period in semester two.

A variety of activities will take place during this period to support different types of assessment such as different forms of exam and ongoing in-course exercises. These resources will be found via the dedicated Canvas page,  you can also book onto workshops run by the Academic Skills Centre, workshop subjects include improving your academic writing, critical thinking and top tips for sitting an online exam.

More information regarding academic integrity, progression, graduation rules and exam boards will follow in the next coming weeks.  

Assessment update

Have your say 

Student Alex Lee, talks about the importance of the National Student Survey(NSS) and why you should complete it if eligible. For Postgraduate students there are also the PTES & PRES surveys.

Watch now

Student Spotlight: Student wins story competition 

Congratulations to Microbiology PhD student Ms Farhana Alam Burnett, who recently won 1st prize in the Coccus Pocus Microbiology short story competition with her story titled "Persisters".   

Read the winning story

National Express student portal

Developed in collaboration with the University, National Express and Guild, this student portal allows you to get flexible travel passes at great prices, good for helping you get around the city in a sustainable way. You can also get £5 credit towards a pass when you register an account.

Access the portal

Short term gym memberships

UoB Sport & Fitness on campus and Tiverton Gym in Selly Oak now have a huge range of short-term student memberships available, perfect for those who are around campus and want a flexible fitness option. 

Join today

Medical School/Selly Express 

These free bus services are still operating. If you're staying late on campus don't forget to take advantage of the Medical School and Selly Express buses for students.

Find out more

Spring into Summer @UoB

Coming up this week you can join creative craft sessions, an online mindfulness project group and enjoy the usual tasty food stalls and outdoor games. Spring into Summer @UoB will run until the end of June. 

Spring into Summer @UoB

Student Social: Spring into Summer @UoB

We hope you're enjoying the food and activities on campus (and the online events). Don't forget to share your images and tag the University @unibirmingham and you could win a food voucher for one of the tasty stalls. Here's a great shot by @eleanorb1393.

Spring on campus

Intranet top tip: Your Student Community 

Find out more about your student community and how you can get involved with groups here at Birmingham, including the Guild, Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, accommodation team and the Equality and Diversity Team. 

Your campus

There's just a few days left to complete the National Student Survey (NSS)

This is the opportunity for you to reflect on your experience during your time here at Birmingham. Your feedback will help improve the quality of teaching and student experience for future students.

This year’s survey will also include additional questions specifically about the pandemic, giving you the opportunity to give your feedback more specifically on the impact of the pandemic on your university experience. Complete the survey here.  

Dates for your diary 

Flora Domestica: A Social History of Indoor Plants
Thursday 29 April (19:00 - 20:00)

Join this talk which traces the history of indoor plants and the complicated relationship we have with them. House plants were once a status symbol of wealth and power; over the centuries they have been the victors and victims of changing fashions as new introductions have arrived from far flung places. As our living habits have changed so have the plants we surround ourselves with. Brought to you by Winterbourne House & Gardens.

Book here 

Degas, De'Anne & Miss La La, live performace by De'Anne Crooks
Wednesday 5 May (18:00 - 18:45)

Birmingham-based artist De’Anne Crooks will present a live desktop performance engaging with themes of spectatorship, strength and Blackness, drawing on 'Miss Lala at the Cirque Fernando' by Edgar Degas. Brought to you by the Barber Institue of Fine Arts. 

Book here 

Spring into Summer @UoB
Monday to Friday, until end of June

Enjoy a range of outdoor activities on campus and online including arts and crafts, yoga, outdoor games and food stalls. Book onto an activity here.

PG corner

Postgraduate Corner at Spring into Summer @UoB

As part of Spring into Summer @UoB on campus, the UGS is hosting 'PG Corner', a dedicated space for postgraduates, every Thursday! Join us for outdoor yoga, crafternoons, mindful meditation, information drop-ins with the Careers Network and University Graduate School, and more, through April, May and June! More info and sign-up.

PG events

Our calendar of online skills workshops, PGR and PGT Shut Up and Work, and all other UGS events through the summer are up on our website. More info and sign-up here.

Win a UoB sweatshirt

To celebrate the re-opening of the Print Me shop on campus we are giving away a UoB sweatshirt. To enter, all you need to do is the following: follow and like the Print Me Facebook page and share this post by Friday 7 May.  You can also purchase a sweatshirt from the UoB shop. 

Share and win

Treasure Hunt Birmingham

Explore the city centre on your very own treasure hunt. Solve satisfying clues and follow beautiful maps sent to your phone. A fun activity you can do while social distancing. Use code BRUM-UNI-10 for a 10% discount exclusively for UoB students. 

Explore Birmingham

And finally...

• Disposable masks available on campus. If you ever forget your face mask you can collect a disposable mask from the following locations on campus; the Library, Guild, Gym,  Medical School,  Security, Selly Oak and Vale Village receptions.  When using a disposable mask please remember to ensure you dispose of it responsibly.  You can also pick up reusable face mask from the Aston Webb Student Hub. 
• Win a £50 voucher for 5 minutes of your time.  There's still time to complete the student energy survey (in collaboration with Siemens plc.) Complete the survey by 5 May, for a chance to win a £50 voucher. You can also find out more about being sustainable through the Birmingham Energy Society. 
• Deadline for the climate change writing competition has been extended to Sunday 9 May. Submit your article on tackling climate change to be in with a chance of winning £500 (two runners up will also receive £250). Find out more and enter here. 
• Passionate about tackling climate change and inequalities? Join the Forum for Global Challenges Online Communityfor events and discussion in the run up to our inaugural conference in May 2022.  Help us co-create the Online Community as a hub of information, ideas and collaboration to drive solutions forward. Find out more and join.
• Accessing home testing kits from campus? With more students preparing to return to campus, we want to ensure that everyone is able to access asymptomatic testing as easily as possible. Please let us know using this Instagram poll if you would be interested in using home testing kits available from campus.