Lonely Planet launches Birmingham student guide

2nd March 2010

A guide to student life in Birmingham has been published by the city’s five universities. The publication is the first of its kind in England, and has been launched as part of the Student Birmingham campaign which raises the profile of the city as a student destination.

Marketing Birmingham has joined forces with Aston University, Birmingham City University, Newman University College, The University of Birmingham and University College Birmingham to produce the guide in response to increased demand to study in the city, with all five institutions seeing an increase in applications this year.

Birmingham: Your Life Starts Here’ is a 96 page booklet published by Lonely Planet and contains everything students need to know about life in the city from where to bag a bargain, get a culture fix or bite to eat. It also has hints and tips from current students and graduates, including Birmingham City University graduate Jabbar Khan, MD of Lasan restaurant, the winner of Channel 4’s F-Word.

Emma Gray, Head of Marketing at Marketing Birmingham, says:

“Our Student Birmingham campaign focuses on attracting more students to the city and encouraging them to stay and build their careers here as graduates. The new guide will be a valuable tool in promoting these aims and the partnership with leading travel publisher Lonely Planet lends authority to the publication.

Stewart Comfort, Director of Marketing at Aston University, says:

“Birmingham is a real asset for us in our recruitment activities as the city has so much to offer students and graduates. The challenge for us is to spread that message to as many young people as we can, and to establish Birmingham in their minds as a ‘Student City’. We already do that individually, but we felt that together we had a more powerful voice. With the brand credibility that Lonely Planet brings, we believe this booklet will be an invaluable marketing tool for Aston University and the other partners in the city.”

A total of 175,000 guides will be produced and copies distributed to the universities to send out to prospective candidates. Marketing Birmingham will be sending copies to sixth form students who are investigating university locations. Prospective students can also head to www.studentbirmingham.com to register to receive a copy.

ENDS

Notes to editor:

• The Lonely Planet student and graduate guide is funded by Marketing Birmingham as part of their Student Birmingham campaign, and the city’s five universities – Aston University, Birmingham City University, Newman University College, The University of Birmingham and University College Birmingham.

• Student Birmingham campaign is funded by Marketing Birmingham with support from Advantage West Midlands.

• Birmingham’s five universities Aston University, Birmingham City University, Newman College, The University of Birmingham and University College Birmingham have seen a total 16% increase in applications this year compared to 2009, according to figures from UCAS.