UCB Ahead
University College Birmingham
Prepare for success
UCB Ahead is a one-week on-campus course designed to prepare international students for their higher education programme at University College Birmingham.
The course takes place two weeks before students start their academic programme.
Students will develop essential academic skills and gain an insight into university life to ensure a successful and comfortable start to their studies with us.
UCB Ahead is completely free of charge, although students will need to cover the cost of their accommodation if they do not qualify for free accommodation at The Maltings. Further details below.
Overview
Course dates: 2 February 2026 to 6 February 2026
Free accommodation dates: 24 January 2026 to 14 February 2026
Location: On campus in Birmingham.
What you will learn
You will attend sessions hosted by various teams across the university. Sessions will cover:
- An introduction to UCB
- Expectations of you as a student
- Academic culture in the UK
- How you will be assessed and what assignments will look like
- How to improve your academic writing
- How to access extra academic support, should you need it.
Why attend UCB Ahead?
- Develop your academic and writing skills
- Learn about UK academic culture and what to expect with assignments
- Find out about the support you can access
- Give yourself the best chance of succeeding academically
- Meet other new students and build connections with members of staff
- Familiarise yourself with the university and the city of Birmingham.
You may also be eligible for free accommodation for the duration of UCB Ahead. See details below.
Free accommodation
International students who have paid their fees in full by stated deadlines will be offered free accommodation at The Maltings for the duration of UCB Ahead, plus the week before and after the course.
That's a total of three weeks free accommodation.
The Maltings is our university-owned accommodation located in the heart of Birmingham. It’s the perfect place to spend your first week as a student and you will benefit from:
- Secure and safe environment
- En suite rooms with free bedding
- 15-minute walk from campus
- WiFi and bills included at no extra charge.
Please note that free accommodation is subject to availability.
Students who are not eligible for free accommodation at The Maltings must arrange, and pay for alternative accommodation.
Who can attend UCB Ahead?
To apply for UCB Ahead, you must:
- Be an international student
- Be starting a full-time course at University College Birmingham in February 2026
- Have paid at least 50% of your tuition fee and have your CAS.
You will be able to add three weeks of free accommodation in your application; however, only students who have paid their full tuition fee will be offered a room.
How to apply
If you meet all the above criteria, you can apply for UCB Ahead via the form below. If you have any questions about UCB Ahead, please contact the international team: international@ucb.ac.uk.
In your spare time
You can also take part in fun activities outside of your UCB Ahead timetable. Our timetable of activities for February 2026 will be released in January 2026.