Birkbeck, University of London
London's evening university: most classes run from 6pm to 9pm so students can work or intern during the day.
- Students
- 7,420
- International
- 43%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 17.3:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £19,320
- 2027-28
- Founded
- 1823
About Birkbeck
Birkbeck is different from almost every other UK university: it was founded on 11 November 1823 as the London Mechanics' Institute to educate working people, and it still teaches mainly in the evening. Most courses run classes between 6pm and 9pm, and most degrees can be taken full-time or part-time, so students can hold a job, an internship or caring responsibilities during the day. It admitted women from 1830, nearly 40 years before Oxford and Cambridge, and joined the University of London in 1920 on condition that it keep offering evening study.
The campus is in Bloomsbury, central London, and degrees are awarded by the University of London. Teaching is organised into schools including Birkbeck Business School, Birkbeck Law School, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, Historical Studies, Natural Sciences, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.
Birkbeck suits motivated students who want to combine a degree with work: 44% of its students are full-time undergraduates under 21, alongside mature students and working Londoners. Entry is flexible, with typical full-time offers around BBB or BBC and the option to waive formal requirements based on academic potential. Note that part-time study is not available to Student visa holders, so international students study full-time.
In nocte consilium
“Advice comes at night” — university motto
Why students choose Birkbeck
Most classes run between 6pm and 9pm, and the library, cafés and support services stay open in the evening, so you can work or intern during the day.
Most degrees can be taken full-time (three years, applied via UCAS) or part-time (usually four years, applied directly to Birkbeck).
Entry is flexible: Birkbeck considers experience as well as qualifications and may waive formal entry requirements based on academic potential.
84.7% of Birkbeck students are in work or study 15 months after graduating, according to the university.
Admissions
2027 entry (October 2027 start)
Selectivity
Birkbeck does not publish an offer rate. It welcomes applicants without traditional qualifications, assesses experience as well as grades, and may waive formal entry requirements based on academic potential.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels (full-time) | UCAS tariff by course for 2027 entry, e.g. 120 points such as BBB (Law LLB, Economics BSc), 112 points such as BBC including a maths or science subject (Computer Science BSc); foundation year routes 48 points |
|---|---|
| Part-time degrees | Standard requirement of at least two A-levels or equivalent; Access to HE Diplomas and relevant experience are also considered |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 IELTS Academic 6.5 with no sub-test below 6.0 for courses such as Law, Computer Science and Economics; other English tests are accepted. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Only relevant if you also apply to Oxford, Cambridge or courses in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Equal consideration deadline for full-time courses; applicants before this date hear by early May, and later applicants by July.
- UCAS last date before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received by this date are sent to universities if courses still have places; after it, applications go into Clearing.
- International (Student visa) application deadline Non-binding20 July (2026 cycle)
For the October 2026 intake the main deadline was 20 July 2026 (13 July for nationals who must submit financial documents before CAS). 2027 dates not yet published.
UCAS dates are for 2027 entry. Birkbeck's own visa deadlines published so far are for October 2026 entry. Part-time applications are made directly to Birkbeck.
How to apply
Full-time undergraduate degrees (including foundation-year routes) are applied for through UCAS, institution code B24, whatever your age or background. Part-time degrees (usually four years) are applied for directly on Birkbeck's website, with applications opening around September for the following autumn. International students needing a Student visa must study full-time and meet Birkbeck's visa deadlines.
What admissions looks for
- Academic potential shown by qualifications or by knowledge and skills developed outside the classroom, such as work experience.
- For full-time degrees, around 112-120 UCAS points depending on the course, with subject requirements such as maths or science for Computer Science.
- GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or equivalent for many courses.
- A personal statement that explains your commitment and ability, especially if your qualifications are older or non-traditional.
Tips for applying to Birkbeck
- 1 Decide early between full-time and part-time: full-time goes through UCAS, part-time is a direct application to Birkbeck.
- 2 If your A-levels or BTECs are more than three years old, the UCAS tariff does not apply to you, so use the personal statement to show your ability and commitment.
- 3 Use Birkbeck's Personal Statement Tool, which lets you send a draft for feedback.
- 4 Plan your daytime around a 6pm-9pm timetable: many students use the day for paid work or internships, which Birkbeck presents as a career advantage.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
Full-time and part-time Home students can take government tuition fee loans, and part-time students starting after 1 August 2018 can also get maintenance loans. Birkbeck runs a cash bursary scheme, a financial support scheme for new students, a hardship fund, a Foundation Year Success Bursary and sanctuary scholarships; international students have access to a number of internal and external scholarships.
- £10,050
- Full-time Home fee 2027-28
- £7,530 per year
- Part-time Home fee 2027-28
- Ten scholarships for forced migrants
- Compass Project Sanctuary Scholarship
Academics
Law (LLB)
Three years full-time (UCAS code M100) or four years part-time, with daytime, evening and online classes depending on the module; 120 UCAS points.
Computer Science (BSc)
Full-time with an optional placement year, or part-time; 112 UCAS points including maths or science.
Economics (BSc)
Evening-taught economics you can combine with work; 120 UCAS points and GCSE Maths required.
Psychology
Taught by the School of Psychological Sciences; Birkbeck's Centre for Brain Function and Development won a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2005.
Law with Foundation Year
A four-year full-time route for applicants with around 48 UCAS points, with a reduced Home fee of £5,760 in the foundation year.
Research
- The Centre for Brain Function and Development won a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2005 for its brain research.
- Birkbeck and UCL run the Institute of Structural Molecular Biology, including the Bloomsbury Centre for Structural Biology (1998).
- Kathleen Booth wrote the first assembly language while at Birkbeck.
- J. D. Bernal, Roger Penrose and David Bohm are among the scientists who have worked at Birkbeck.
Schools & faculties
- Birkbeck Business School
- Birkbeck Law School
- School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences
- School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
- School of Historical Studies
- School of Natural Sciences
- School of Psychological Sciences
- School of Social Sciences
- Birkbeck Centre for Counselling
84.7% of Birkbeck students are in work or study 15 months after graduating, according to the university.
Student life
Birkbeck's campus in Bloomsbury is as busy in the evening as in the day, with the library, cafés and support services open late. Classmates range from school leavers who work during the day to career changers and people returning to study, and 44% of students are full-time undergraduates under 21. Birkbeck's arts buildings in Gordon Square include Virginia Woolf's former home, and the Birkbeck Cinema and Peltz Gallery are there too. Because Birkbeck is part of the University of London, students can also use University of London facilities.
- Evening timetable, typically 6pm to 9pm, with late-opening library and cafés.
- Degrees awarded by the University of London, with access to its facilities.
- The Birkbeck Cinema and Peltz Gallery in Gordon Square.
- Offer Day in March for applicants who applied before the January deadline.
Location
Birkbeck sits between Malet Street and Woburn Square in Bloomsbury, the university district of central London. Studying here means London living costs, but the evening timetable makes it easier to earn money during the day. Many classes are taught in other Bloomsbury buildings nearby, and many students are working Londoners who come to campus after their day jobs.
Nearest airport: London Heathrow (LHR)
Notable alumni
- RM Ramsay MacDonaldFirst Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; studied science subjects at the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution in 1886-87
- KB Kemi BadenochLeader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2024; LLB from Birkbeck
- MG Marcus GarveyFounder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association; took evening law classes at Birkbeck
- AB Annie BesantSocial reformer and theosophist
- JL James LovelockScientist who developed the Gaia hypothesis; attended evening classes at Birkbeck before studying chemistry at Manchester
- TE Tracey EminArtist; studied philosophy at Birkbeck for a time
- D DidoSinger-songwriter; read law at Birkbeck but did not finish the degree
- SB Simon BirdActor and comedian; MA in cultural and critical studies
Frequently asked questions
Is Birkbeck only part-time?
No. Most courses can be studied full-time (three years, through UCAS) or part-time (usually four years, applied directly), but most classes are taught in the evening between 6pm and 9pm.
Can international students study at Birkbeck?
Yes, full-time. Student visa holders cannot enrol on part-time courses. For 2027-28 the full-time international fee for courses such as Law, Computer Science and Economics is £19,320 a year.
What grades do I need for Birkbeck?
Full-time courses typically ask for 112-120 UCAS points (for example BBC or BBB), but Birkbeck considers experience and may waive formal entry requirements.
How much does Birkbeck cost for UK students?
For 2027-28, £10,050 a year full-time or £7,530 a year part-time, with government tuition fee loans available for both.
How do I apply to Birkbeck?
Full-time degrees go through UCAS (code B24); the equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Part-time degrees are applied for directly on Birkbeck's website.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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