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Celebrating 10 Years of Online Degree Programmes at the University of Birmingham

3 Min Read

As well as celebrating 125 years as the original ‘redbrick’ University, this year also marks 10 years since the launch of our first 100% online postgraduate degrees. As one of the largest UK providers of distance and blended learning, we have spent the past decade building a globally respected portfolio of online programmes, designed from the ground up to deliver excellent education through digital technologies.

A Decade of Flexible, Future-Focused Learning

Today, the University offers several fully online postgraduate level programmes including:

These programmes illustrate the range available to students: whether they want to deepen technical skills, lead with policy, study law, or support mental health — all delivered through flexible distance learning.

Real Stories, Real Impact

Hear first-hand about student’s experiences of studying online with the University of Birmingham, past and present:

  • Amanda Abraham (India), who completed the Online MBA while working full-time, describes how the program helped her land a role at Boston Consulting Group in her final year. Later she progressed through several senior learning and development roles, culminating in becoming a Senior Learning Manager at CPA Ontario. Amanda credits the MBA with both expanding her skill set (strategy, organisational behaviour, etc.) and building confidence. Her thesis, completed just after the birth of her child, was a personal milestone.
  • Oliwia Karpinska, currently studying the Online MSc Bioinformatics, balances full-time work in biotech with her studies. She has been supported by a Women in STEM scholarship, which relieves financial stress and enables her to buy essential tools (new laptop, etc.) so that she can keep pace with programming, biology, and data science modules. She praises the structure: weekly drop-ins, frequent feedback, masterclasses, quizzes, and collaborative work — everything meant to scaffold learning even for those without a strong programming background before they began.
  • Elisa Samaniego (Singapore), currently studying the Online MSc Bioinformatics, combined her love of biology and genetics with her role as a mother and her software development work. The programme allowed her to study around her daily responsibilities. She appreciates not only the academic content but also the university’s support — from admissions and scholarship help to flexible scheduling.

These stories are typical of many online students at Birmingham: people committed to advancing their careers, often bridging disciplines, and needing an education provision that adapts to their lives. The online programmes are not second-best; they are whole, rigorous, and designed for the modern world.

Scholarship to Celebrate the Milestone

To mark this significant milestone, the University has launched the Online Birmingham Masters Scholarship for 2025: a £3,000 tuition fee discount for self-funded or government-loan-assisted students enrolling in eligible distance-learning master’s programmes.

Key points:

  • The scholarship supports what the University calls “the brightest and best” applicants to online master’s degrees.
  • It is open for many of the online master’s degrees, including (among others) the programmes listed in this article.
  • The selection is based on academic achievement and professional performance. Applicants must have applied for a course first, then complete the scholarship application.

This scholarship does more than mark a milestone—it lowers barriers for students whose careers or personal responsibilities require more flexible study models.

Looking Ahead

Over ten years, the University of Birmingham has shown that online programmes can be academically rigorous, career-enhancing, and deeply supportive. What’s more, they evolve: the University continually monitors technological trends and teaching methods so that the experience improves with each iteration.

For anyone considering postgraduate study but needing flexibility, or aiming to combine work with learning, the University’s online suite offers a breadth of options — and now this scholarship makes them more accessible. See how you could join our next student intake.

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