Birkbeck University of London

I had an awful experience as a student in the Psychological Department at Birkbeck. The teaching was often with very little opportunities for hands-on learning, the academics were more concerned about protecting each others` interest than supporting their students. The Masters courses were badly organised, with overworked teachers, and crammed teaching rooms. If it was not for their 10-year old performance in the REF2014, they would be a lot of worse off. Don`t believe their claims in their marketing, they are just an average department with a lot of self-centered, average teachers, benefits from close to UCL. A handful of academics were brilliant, but unfortunately most were rude an unhelpful. The course represented very poor value for money and I recommend you look elsewhere.

I have studied computer science at Birkbeck and the experience was below average. Some lectures were taught in a very professional manner, where others were rather poor. Avoid concepts of computations and software development in practice as it is a waste of money.

Badly organised course and the lecturers were rude and unhelpful.

Unpleasant experience and poor standard overall, particularly in the Psychology Department.

Don’t really understand giving Birkbeck one star. I read law there (2006-2010); it enabled me to attend classes in the evening as the ethos of the college is not as the standard university might be.

The lecturers were all academics and experts in their field (Professors, Doctors, lawyers) all knew their stuff; and I considered them to be on the whole approachable, granted some more than others, but this is to be expected.

The only issue I had during the four years was to get through to one non-academic department at the beginning of term.

I now have a law degree which would not have been possible (for me) at any another institution in London.

I did a post graduate degree at this University and the staff were totally useless, arrogant, racist. (especially the Chemistry lecturers). I transfered to the Open University in my second year and what a difference, I got support from my tutors, excellent feedback from lectures on class assignments, excellent library facilities. I'm very happy with my progress and hope to do a PhD soon.

Birkbeck just take your money and leave you in the lurch if you have a complaint. Avoid this University at all cost.

I saved for three years to come to this place to do a foundation degree in Pharmacy and it was the worst waste of my valuable time and money EVER!!!! The support from tutors was non-existent, the attitude of the staff was as if we part time students were nothing but an annoyance to ignore as often as possible. Organisation was sporadic and the amount of times problems arose with classes, rooms, staff etc was amazing. I stupidly assumed this place was a highly organised place to study.

The course content was supposed to be at undergraduate level but is was barely above A Level. Chemistry, Biology, IT were all the same old s*** most people of my age did a few years ago but can still remember and understand. Plus the other courses such as Pharmacy Management and NHS Organisation blah blah was nothing short of an insult. The other students on the course looked as bored as I was each week. As the weeks went on, this basic s*** did not improve. It actually got worse. They were trying to get us to do presentations of all things!!! I'm 40 years old for gods sake........i've worked for some of the country's top companies and had some amazing training over the years but doing silly presentations in front of each other was downright shocking.

But worse was to come. If you find yourself becoming unwell or struggling to drag yourself all the way to the college, do not expect any help or support from the over paid tutors. They won't even answer a basic email asking for help.....

All in all, I wouldn't send my worst enemy to do a part time course at this place. Full time students may actually get treated so much better. If you want to further your education using your own money and sacrificing your time and can only study part time and are over the age of 30.....stay away from Birkbeck. There isn't much for mature students of pharmacy really. Maybe we will be catered for in the future.

Message to Birkbeck staff: You owe me £1350.00. I deserve a b**** refund after what you lot did or should I say didn't do..... and the ONLY reason you have earned any stars is because this site won't allow nill stars. Trust me, you deserve no stars