- Accommodation
- Birkbeck College Research School (CRS)
- Birkbeck Registry services
- Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network
- Career Services
- Computer Services
- Disabilities
- Libraries
- Map of the college
- Medical facilities
- Nursery
- Self-Access Language and Film Centre
- University of London Union (ULU)
Accommodation
Consortium students are eligible to apply for places in the various University of London Halls of Residence. Many of these are independently run and applications should be made to the residence directly. For a list of independent hostels and halls of residence, see www.lcos.org.uk.
Information and advice about privately rented rooms and flats is available from the University of London Accommodation Office. Their website contains a database of properties, and lots of advice and information. Please note that student pressure on these offices and services is considerable so be prepared to be persistent.
In addition, flat shares and rooms for rent are advertised in various newspapers and magazines: for example, the Guardian’s Guide on Saturdays, the London listings magazine, Time Out and the newspaper LOOT.
Birkbeck College Research School (CRS)
Birkbeck’s College Research School (CRS) incorporates the academic staff, research staff and research students of the College. Its aims are to:
* Facilitate communication and collaboration between Schools in the provision of research training.
* Promote and ensure best practice in research supervision.
* Provide Birkbeck’s research students with the technical resources that they need in order to complete their research.
* Provide opportunities for interdisciplinary intellectual exchange for Birkbeck’s researchers.
* Offer Birkbeck’s researchers a forum in which they can discuss and evaluate their research experiences.
London Consortium students are particularly encouraged to make use of the CRS’s skills training courses. For full information about the CRS’s activities, including their skills training courses, visit the CRS website at www.bbk.ac.uk/crs.
Birkbeck Registry services
All London Consortium students are required to have enroled with Birkbeck College before attending classes. If students have not received enrolment papers by the start of term, please let the Consortium office know.
The Registry can issue letters embossed with the College stamp that confirm your enrolment with Birkbeck if this is required for visa or other official purposes; you should try to give them at least two days notice for this service.
The Registry is open from 12.00pm to 7.00pm from Monday to Thursday, and 12.00pm to 5.00pm on Fridays during term time, and from 12.30pm to 5pm at all other times. It is on the ground floor of the main Birkbeck building in Malet Street.
Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network
A collaboration between a number of higher education institutions based in the Bloomsbury area of London, the Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network was established to enable research students to participate in the generic skills training available at other institutions. The training provided includes both research-specific skills and personal, transferrable skills.
London Consortium students are encouraged to make use of this network to enhance their skills and to meet postgraduate students working in various areas from other Colleges. Visit the BPSN website at www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/bloomsbury.
Career Services
49-51 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PQ
The University of London Careers Service offers guidance and information, as well as holding a database of job vacancy in a variety of areas. For full information about the services available see the Careers Group website at www.careers.lon.ac.uk/sics.
Computer Services
Computer terminals are available for student use in most of the Birkbeck College buildings. Wireless access to the college network is also available in the Malet Street building. Students are required to register with the CCS (Central Computer Services) department (1st Floor, Birkbeck College, Malet Street) for a College log-in name. Registration as a Birkbeck computer user is necessary to gain access to the large range of online research sources to which Birkbeck subscribes. An excellent variety of computer courses, both introductory and advanced, are also available to students through the CCS office.
For full information about the College’s computer facilities see the Central Computer Services website at www.bbk.ac.uk/ccs/index.shtml.
Disabilities
Please visit www.bbk.ac.uk/disability/welcome.htm for full information about the range of provision for students with disabilities at Birkbeck. The College’s Disability Co-ordinator, Mark Pimm, can be contacted at m.pimm@bbk.ac.uk, on 020 7631 6315, or in his office at the Registry in the Malet Street building.
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- Consortium students have access to the following libraries:
- Architectural Association Library (reference only)Birkbeck College Library
- British Library (ask for letter from Consortium Office to apply
for readership) - Institute of Education Library (MRes students reference only)
- London School of Economics Library (MRes students reference only)
- Schools of Advanced Study (all students reference only)
- School of Oriental and African Studies
- Tate Gallery Library (ask for letter from Consortium Office to
apply for readership) - University College Library (MRes students reference only)
- Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine (all students reference
only)
Consortium students will need to pay for membership of the following libraries, but will be re-imbursed by the Consortium on production of a receipt:
- Architectural Association library for borrowing rights
- British Film Institute
- Senate House Library
Access to other libraries, archives, or other research resources will be arranged by the Consortium where necessary. Please contact the office in the first instance.
Map of the College
Medical Facilities
Students can register for the University of London Central Institutions Health Service. All full-time overseas students are eligible for free medical treatment under the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) for the duration of their studies. It is possible to have basic dental treatment on the NHS, although there will be a charge for every visit.
Medical Unit, 20 Gower Street, 020-7636 7628
(open 9am–5.30pm; always ring to make an appointment unless its an emergency)
Dental Unit, 18 Gower Street, 020-7636 9799
(They are no longer taking on new NHS patients)
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The College operates a well-equipped evening nursery at a moderate cost. The nursery is open in term time from 5.30 to 9.00pm and takes a maximum of 16 children per evening. Children two to ten years of age are accepted. For further information, please contact the Nursery Manager by telephone (020 7323 5475) after 5.30pm during term (answer-phone operates at other times).
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Self-Access Language and Film Centre
Birkbeck College
43 Gordon Square
Telephone: 020 761 6170
London Consortium students are strongly encouraged to support their research through the development of their language skills. Students may make use of a wide range of audiovisual materials housed in the Self-Access Centre in 43 Gordon Square. These include audio-tapes, off-air satellite TV from France, Germany and Spain, foreign news bulletins on video, as well as English and foreign feature films, documentaries and interviews. The Centre also has a video loan collection and is open every weekday evening (4.30-8.30pm) during term-time only. Attendance on language courses may be arranged by the Consortium on request.
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University of London Union (ULU)
All Consortium students are members of ULU, the University of London Students’ Union, which is next door to Birkbeck College in Malet Street. Please apply for your membership card at the Reception desk in the ULU foyer. ULU has a large range of leisure facilities (gymnasium and health club, spa room, swimming pool, saunas etc.) and a good selection of social support services, societies and clubs, plus two bars and a restaurant and snack bar. The ULU building is usually open seven days a week from 9.30am to 11.00pm. Visit the ULU webiste here.
