News and insights

Blog | OJ vs Coca Cola: a dietitian's response

Confused by conflicting advice on healthy food and drinks? Megan Bridger, Lecturer in Dietetics at University College Birmingham, takes a look at the most recent controversy: is coca-cola a healthier choice than the humble glass of orange juice?

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UCB students are prawn pioneers

Food and Consumer Management students have been challenged with finding a new cold water prawn recipe for UK foodservice as part of a live project and competition run by fishing company Royal Greenland.

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UCB hosts celebrity chef 'Taste it Don't Waste it' competition

The University hosted a celebrity cook-off event in order to help raise awareness of how households can save money by using leftover food to create delicious meals.

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Focus on your future, not your funds

Our Cost of Living Allowance returns for 2026.

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Prioritising potential, not paperwork: University lifts support allowance to £6,000

The Cost of Living Allowance is rising to £6k for new students.

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New Two-Day Degree launched to remove biggest barriers to study

University College Birmingham has launched its Two-Day Degree study model for September 2026, opening doors to higher education for those locked out of university by cost, irregular timetables or work and caring responsibilities.

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Hospitality students are star Showmakers

UCB’s food and bakery students may have won big at the NEC Hospitality Show, but it was the Hospitality students who were really running the show.

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Boost to new student finances in the face of bill rises

Cost of Living Allowance is one of many measures the University offers to help ease new student financial stress.

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James makes the grade to secure a job at Purnell's

Inspirational student James Hood is living proof that hard work really does pay off.

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Rhian's research work opens door to a master's degree

A research scholarship with a top London institution has led to a former UCB student starting a master’s programme.

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NSS Success

Lucky students scooped big cash prizes for taking part in the 2014 National Student Survey (NSS).

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Students praised by The Chartered Institute of Marketing

Marketing students at University College Birmingham have been praised for their outstanding performance by a prestigious professional body.

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Students work with MasterChef champ to serve up five-course VIP meal

Students from University College Birmingham had a lesson like no other when they got to work with MasterChef: The Professionals winner Dan Lee to prepare a five-course feast for VIP guests from across Birmingham.

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Student Blog | The weird and wonderful traditions of Christmas

Today I want to share with you a few of the many weird and wonderful Christmas traditions around the world…

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UCB English lecturer wins Teacher of Year at national awards

A UCB lecturer won Teacher of the Year at a set of UK awards celebrating outstanding, pioneering and innovative work in the development of English.

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UCB English lecturer wins Teacher of Year at national awards

A UCB lecturer won Teacher of the Year at a set of UK awards celebrating outstanding, pioneering and innovative work in the development of English.

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Young Birmingham chefs put on silver service at World Cup

The Birmingham-based England junior chef team is celebrating after scooping silver at the Culinary World Cup.

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UCB Team win Silver at ScotHot

A team of students from UCB formed the Junior England Team at the WACS Junior Culinary Grand Prix.

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Employability Agenda Forms the Basis of the First School 'Educators Conference'

Academics from UCB's School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events Management joined Birmingham business professionals at a new Educators Conference.

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UCB students accept AVA product development challenge

Culinary Arts Management students have been challenged to create innovative new products for the Automatic Vending Association (AVA) to be in with a chance of winning £1,000.

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University breaks convention with Midlands' first sustainability UnConference

Over 300 guests attended the Sustain UnConference, an unconventional audience-led event designed to spark conversation on sustainability, net-zero, and environmental challenges across businesses, government and the non-profit sector.

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Toybox Celebration Cake Fit For a Prince

UCB assistant dean Dawn Gemmell created a spectacular “toybox” celebration cake for the future king, Prince George.

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Team UCB jet off to make their mark at Culinary World Cup

A team led by UCB lecturer Mathew Shropshall is on its way to Luxembourg to take part in one of the world’s leading competitions for chefs.

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Food and Nutrition student Christie does her bit for World Hunger Day

According to Oxfam, 1 in 6 parents have gone without food to afford to feed their families. Even more concerning, almost 40% of the population are just one heating bill or broken washing machine away from poverty.

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Chef Goldsmith's top ten turkey tips

Chef lecturer Gary Goldsmith turns top turkey guru to guide you through the perfect way to prepare your Christmas dinner this year.

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Eleny Wood

Eleny embarked on the Culinary Arts Management Degree at University College Birmingham in 2012 and is now a lecturer.

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Melanie's success at the Cross at Kenilworth

NVQ Hospitality alumni Melanie Harris now works full-time at The Cross at Kenilworth, a Michelin star pub restaurant owned and run by award-winning chefs.

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TV chef Glynn Purnell and SORTEDfood's Ben Ebbrell back search for UCB Young Chef of the Year 2018

Celebrity chef Glynn Purnell and internet cooking star Ben Ebbrell have been unveiled as judges for the final of University College Birmingham's Young Chef of the Year 2018.

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Amazing Canadian placement took Naomi out of her comfort zone

Naomi Morris always wanted to go to Canada but feared the costs, visa difficulties and her limited kitchen skills would hamper a “long-haul” student hospitality placement.

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Masterclass pupils cook up a treat with maple syrup

Masterclass pupils cook up a treat with maple syrup A group of Dudley schoolchildren were the latest to experience a UCB culinary masterclass as they worked with chefs to cook spicy jerk chicken burgers with maple slaw.

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Luke is a star chef in the making

Level 3 Professional Cookery student Luke Dcaccia has gained valuable work experience in the kitchens of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire.

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UCB Assistant Dean completes marathon in memory of brave niece

University College Birmingham is feeling inspired by Assistant Dean Nicky Millard’s Brighton Marathon success.

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"Everyone wears a mask…" Vote for Joanna Strange's "alter ego"

A UCB make-up graduate hopes an “alter ego” creation, depicting her battle with a form of bipolar disorder, will win a place in the final of a prestigious competition.

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Areejah celebrates GCSE maths resit success as UCB beats national trend

Students have been celebrating after passing their resit in GCSE maths - and for one dedicated student in particular, it was a moment well worth waiting for.

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Areejah celebrates GCSE maths resit success as UCB beats national trend

Students have been celebrating after passing their resit in GCSE maths - and for one dedicated student in particular, it was a moment well worth waiting for.

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Birmingham and Black Country universities join forces for Birmingham Pride

Six higher education institutions from across the city region will be sharing a message of unity with a joint float at this year’s Birmingham Pride parade.

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College stars conquer Covid challenges to celebrate record GCSE results

University College Birmingham students are celebrating today after scooping record results in their GCSE examinations in November.

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Former Mayor visits Bluebell Wood to see the vision made real

Sir Andy Street enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the project.

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Sports Management degree becomes first in the world to gain DMI accreditation

University College Birmingham's Sports Management degree has become the first course of its kind in the world to be accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI).

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Heat is on to find best young chef in the Midlands

University College Birmingham is calling on talented young cooks to enter its annual Young Chef of the Year competition.

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Jack hits the heights in Young Chef of the Year final

A UCB student is celebrating a top three finish in the prestigious British Culinary Federation Young Chef of the Year 2015 competition.

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Students showcase new vending concepts

UCB Culinary Arts Management students joined forces with the Automatic Vending Association (AVA) to highlight the opportunities that exist for the vending industry.

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Brilliant bakers scoop score of awards at ABST Competition

Budding bakers have bagged a big haul of more than twenty medals for University College Birmingham at one of the baking industry's top national competitions.

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There's no business like show business at SHMM's Employability Day

UCB’s Specialist Hair and Media Make-up course has drawn experts from across the country to deliver demonstrations, workshops, and trade secrets in a day-long event devoted to employability in the make-up and special FX industries.

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Exciting new judges lined up for UCB Young Chef of the Year - entries now open!

Acclaimed street food star Lee Desanges - who achieved fame for cooking over charcoal under the bonnet of a 1964 Mini Cooper through his Baked in Brick business - is one of the exciting, new judges for University College Birmingham’s…

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Stourbridge schoolgirl wins University College Birmingham Young Chef of the Year 2020

A Stourbridge schoolgirl has roasted the competition to win University College Birmingham’s Young Chef of the Year and the chance to cook at Raymond Blanc OBE’s Michelin-starred restaurant.

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Students use their loaf to beat food waste

Crumbs! Students from University College Birmingham used their culinary skills and imagination to turn leftover bread into delicious dishes.

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Culinary Olympics bid coincides with International Chefs Day

England’s junior culinary team is taking on the best in the world with the help of three chefs who began cooking as schoolboys at University College Birmingham.

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"Authentic" hospital placement wins at Student Nursing Times Awards

An "authentic" hospital placement opportunity available to University College Birmingham nursing and physiotherapy students – designed and implemented as part of a wider collaboration – has won at the national Student Nursing Times Awards.

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Top of their game alumni return to share journeys with CAM students

The boss of a renowned Latin American casual dining chain, the only fully-certified, female sommelier in Birmingham and the restaurant manager of celebrity haunt The Ivy - three UCB alumni had students on the edge of their seats when they…

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Chelmsley Starters and Bluebell Wood officially opened by Saqib Bhatti MP

Saqib Bhatti MP joins other guests and VIPs at the official opening event for the Chelmsley Starters culinary school and its sister eatery, Bluebell Wood at Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre.

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College students resitting GCSE maths and English to benefit from new COVID funding support

Teenagers striving to achieve a good pass in their English and maths GCSEs while studying for their college qualification at University College Birmingham are to benefit from new COVID-19 funding support.

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Guest Blog | How can I get tax-free university fees for my child?

As we head closer to the start of the new academic year, many soon-to-be university students are getting ready to move away from home for the first time and embark on the next step in their educational careers.

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Blog | National Apprenticeship Week spotlight – Kennedy Bowman

For National Apprenticeship Week, we’re putting the spotlight on some of our incredible apprentices like Kennedy Bowman, a Senior Nurse now on her Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor apprenticeship to boost her all-round knowledge and support for patients.

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Student Blog | Considering university Clearing? Here's my story...

Samantha joined us through Clearing and knows exactly what it's like on results day. In this throwback blog first published just before she started her second year, she shared some insight into what it was like...

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Vaishnavi flies flag for bakery innovation as Dawn Foods junior product developer

A bakery and patisserie graduate who rose to the occasion as a student ambassador for one of the industry’s top global manufacturers and ingredients suppliers has been taken on by the company as a junior product developer.

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Student lands job offer as University launches new internship scheme

A new internship scheme has given hospitality and tourism students at University College Birmingham the chance to gain invaluable industry experience – with one even being offered a job.

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Creative student team gets Commonwealth Games athletes ready for the cameras

From flag nail art and make-up to barbering and Afro braiding, a creative team of University College Birmingham students is getting the world’s top athletes ready for the cameras at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

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Graduate jobs and placements are go at virtual careers fairs

University College Birmingham and employers have worked closely together to bring students a series of virtual careers fairs and give them a whole host of opportunities to get them on the ladder to success.

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Asymptomatic testing centre opens on campus to help get students home for Christmas

A Covid-19 asymptomatic testing site of lateral flow tests has opened at University College Birmingham to help students return home safely for Christmas.

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Principal congratulates college students at recognition lunch

Six students were invited to the College’s first-ever Student Recognition Lunch at our award-winning restaurant on campus as part of a new scheme celebrating student success.

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Student volunteers help Team India stars feel at home during Commonwealth Games

Indian students at University College Birmingham were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close with their country's stars competing at this year's Commonwealth Games.

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Graduate named Young Chef of the Year as College of Food quartet star in BCF final

Four young chefs from University College Birmingham have showed their culinary class after going head-to-head in the final of a national cooking competition – with one taking the top prize.

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Bakery students kick-start student ambassador role with spooky Halloween recipes

Two trainee bakery technologists from University College Birmingham have been busy creating Halloween recipes for everything from petrifying pumpkin profiteroles to bleeding brain muffins to kick-start their role as student ambassadors for a global bakery supplier.

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Staff’s 24-hour sports endurance challenge raises thousands for charity

Determined staff at University College Birmingham have sweated it out for a full 24 hours in an endurance event on campus to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

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‘Once in a lifetime’: How our university embraced city's Commonwealth Games

From providing services and support for athletes to volunteering at venues and even performing in ceremonies, University College Birmingham's community thoroughly immersed itself in the unique opportunities of this year's Commonwealth Games.

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Lecturer

Ola Mardawi

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Bluebell Wood

Bluebell Wood is an informal, affordable eatery based in the heart of the community at Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre, next door to Chelmsley Starters, our this purpose-built culinary school.

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World

Whether you want to work in hotels, hospitality and events or explore the world of aviation, tourism and travel, our Department of Hospitality and Tourism runs a range of courses to help you pursue your ideal career.

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English language entry requirements

Find out more about the English language requirements.

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Speak out and support

Find support, guidance, and reporting options for sexual misconduct, harassment, abuse, or related concerns. We're here to listen, support, and help you stay safe.

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Student Ambassadors

Our Student Ambassador scheme provides opportunities for flexible, part-time work that will fit around your studies while you enhance your CV.

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Lecturer

Eleny Wood

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Day In The Life Of An Adult Nurse Webinar

Join our online ‘day in the life of an adult nurse’ taster session, where a member of our adult nursing teaching team will provide you with an insight into the daily tasks and duties of a community and hospital adult…

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Early Childhood Studies Explorer Webinar

Discover the wide range of topics explored in our Early Childhood Studies university course and the array of rewarding career choices that the course can open doors to.

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Have a Go

Each session gives your students a flavour of life at University College Birmingham and the opportunity to find out more about our vocational college courses through practical sessions with our expert team of staff.

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Masterclasses

These sessions give you and your students an interactive taster of our degree courses from our academic teaching staff.