UCB Ahead
University College Birmingham
Prepare for success
UCB Ahead is a one-week on-campus programme designed to prepare international students for their higher education course at University College Birmingham. 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
Teaching dates: Monday 15 to Friday 19 September 2025
Conditional free accommodation dates: Saturday 13 September to Saturday 20 September 2025
Location: University College Birmingham
Cost: Free (excluding accommodation)
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 1 September 2025 will be offered free accommodation at The Maltings for the duration of UCB Ahead.
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.
You are allowed to check in from Saturday 13 September. Check out is Saturday 20 September. You can check in and check out on any day between 13 and 20 September.
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 September 2025
- Have paid at least 50% of your tuition fee and have your CAS.
You will be able to add one week 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.