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Acceptance Pack————

Your Music Career Starts Here

bimm.co.uk

Year 2020/21

Welcome————

To Your BIMM Institute Birmingham

Welcome to your BIMM Institute Birmingham 20/21 acceptance brochure. I would like to congratulateyou on your successful place at the UK’s leading provider of modern music education and ask that you please take some time to read through all the relevant information here to help your transition into college life.

BIMM Institute Birmingham is the seventh college in the BIMM group, opening its doors to the first cohort of students in September 2017. Our portfolio of degree programmes include Popular Music Performance, Songwriting, Music Production and Music Business, Event Management and Music Journalism, Music Marketing, Media and Communication and we now offer a Joint Honours degree. This combination of disciplines creates an effective microcosm of the music industry for you to network within and start your journey towards ultimate success.

BIMM’s tutor roster is made up of music industry professional musicians, songwriters, producers, artists, managers and entrepreneurs, who have not just learnt how to do it but are actively out there doing it. This means that their experience in the real word yesterday, will be relevant in your lectures today, ensuring that the curriculum is always at the cutting edge, to best prepare you for your own future in the industry.

We believe that everything you do while at BIMM is preparing you for your career. For that reason, your career doesn’t begin when you leave, it begins now. We will provide you with numerous opportunities, and I encourage you to make the most of every single one – whether they be gigs in local venues, performing at our open days, producing tracks foryour fellow musicians, working at festivals, auditioning for record labels, or promoting a local venue – these all give you valuable experience whichyou can use to demonstrate your ability to future employers or clients.

The degree programme will be challenging at times, and you will need to work hard to get the most from your time at BIMM, but never forget that you are not alone, we are here to help you when you need it. You are also surrounded by many other students in the same boat, who will also be happy to assist. The person you help today, will be the person who canoffer you an important gig in the future.

I’m looking forward to working with you this academic year, and I can’t wait to hear and see what you can achieve.

Antony GreavesCollege Principal

Congratulations On Being Offered A Place!------

Contents ------

Induction and Enrolment 5

Student Support 8

Student Life 12

Transport 15

Get Connected 17

Freshers’ Guide 19

Faculty Information 21

Induction And Enrolment

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Useful Contacts------Admissionsadmissions@bimm.co.uk

Student Supportstudentsupportbirmingham@bimm.co.uk

Financefinanceenquiries@bimm.co.uk

Online Enrolment For Your Course------All students are required to complete an online form as part of the enrolment process. You will have been sent an e-mail with a link to the enrolment portal, which will guide you through all the required processes.

Below is a list of things that MUST be completed:

- Enrolment form – must be completed in full and submitted – the link to this form will have been sent to you by e-mail.

- Passport style photo – this will be used for your student ID card. Please follow the guidelines on the enrolment portal. You will not be able to enter BIMM buildings without an ID card.

- Proof of ID – if you have a biometric document you can validate your ID online via the app (info to be provided). If you do not have a biometric document, please upload a colour scan of your ID to the portal. This ID will need to then be validated by BIMM.

- Online Enrolment Courses – you will be given access to complete a series of short online courses and tasks to become enrolled, further details will be sent to you via email.

The online enrolment form must be completed in full before you can become an enrolled student at BIMM Institute.

In order to prepare you for studying at the BIMM Institute Birmingham, we would like you to attend an enrolment session.

You will be sent instructions on how to pre-enrol onto your course. You will be asked to complete a pre-enrolment form and upload some essential personal information, as detailed at the bottom of this page. It is really important this part of enrolment is completed before you come in for your actual enrolment session.

You will be asked to attend an enrolment session at some point during the week commencing 14th of September. You will be informed of the exact date once you have completed your pre-enrolment. At your enrolment event you will receive important information about the College and your course, including your timetable and Course Handbook plus you will get the opportunity to meet your course leader and your future class mates.

From the 14th of September, we will also be holding Induction and Freshers’ Events, which will be a fantastic opportunity to meet and network with lots of BIMM students and enjoy some brilliant bands and DJs.

Term Dates------

Enrolment Week Commencing 14/09/20 - 25/09/20

Term 1: 28/09/2020 - 18/12/20Term 2 :25/01/21 - 26/03/21Term 3:12/04/21 - 21/05/21

If you do not attend your enrolment session, you will not be able to start your course. Induction event information will be provided at enrolment.

BIMM Mentor Scheme ------

The BIMM Mentor Scheme is a peer to peer support service for new students prior to and during the first year of study.

BIMM Mentors are selected and trained recent alumni who have ‘BIMM there, done that...’ These alumni are experts on BIMM life, and know how to get the best out of your experience and the city you have chosen to study in.

The Mentor Scheme is open to all students, via our very own safe and secure BIMM Connect app. Once you have accepted your BIMM offer we will give you instructions on how to access BIMM Connect andgive you more details on the scheme.

Mentees can engage in a range of online connections on BIMM Connect prior to the start of semester one and more in person connections later in the term and the academic year.

These interactions include one on one and group chats and you can also access up to date local information, FAQs and handy tips on student life. The Mentors will also be around during Freshers and parts of induction so you can see a familiar face who can offer invaluable advice on BIMM and local information from a student perspective.

More information will be circulated about the scheme soon, so keep your peepers peeled.

Student Support

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Student Support Services------We are committed to helping students fulfil theirpotential during their time at BIMM Institute Birmingham and we place an emphasis on supporting the development of our students both academically and personally. With this in mind, the Student Support team is available at every step of the student journey to offer confidential support and guidance on issues such as stress, disability and learning support, depression and anxiety issues, family/friends/relationship problems, smoking, alcohol and drugs, sexual health, eating disorders; as well as on-goingacademic and practical learning support and advice.

We also offer a wide range of additional support services that are designed to meet students’ academic and welfare needs to enrich the BIMM Institute Birmingham experience.

Pastoral Support------The Student Support team holds individual one-on-one sessions with students to discuss any issue they may be struggling with. These are strictly confidential and can include any topic ranging from personal issues, attendance and assessment related queries, discussion of special considerations we may need to take into account to support your studies and booking into one of the other support services we offer. We actively encourage students to book appointments to come and meet us at any point during their studies for extra support; the Student Support team are always available on site for a chat when the college is open.

Counselling------BIMM Institute Birmingham offers counselling to any student in need of the service with it’s own dedicated full time student counsellor. This free and confidential provision offers individuals the opportunity to explore a wide range of emotional and psychological issues.

The counselling service provided is hugely experienced and abides by the British Association for Counselling Code of Ethics.

Disability And Learning Support------BIMM Institute Birmingham is committed to a policyof equal opportunities and provides confidentialadvice and support to students with varyingdisabilities and specific learning difficulties.

We are committed to ensuring that students with specific needs are provided with equal access to their chosen course of study and facilities. The College is working towards removing any barriers which might prevent an individual from actively participating in student life.

If students indicate on their application and/or pre-enrolment form that they require further support,then a member of the Student Support team will be in contact to arrange an individual consultation. This is to ensure all requirements are catered for.

Students with registered specific Learning Difficulties and an official Educational Psychologist Report completed after the age of 16 may be eligible for DSA (The Disabled Students’ Allowance).

DSA can fund additional support such as specialist one-to-one mentoring, reasonable adjustments and technological aids. Students who do not have an up to date Educational Psychologist Report, or just suspect a specific learning difficulty should contact the Student Support or Learning Support teams, who can assist with the relevant assessments and advice on accessing support.

You can find more information regarding DSA(including eligibility and application forms) herewww.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas/overview

We advise that students apply for this as early aspossible to ensure that support can be put in place at the start of the academic year, though there is no formal deadline for applications to be received.

If you require any additional information or would like to discuss this further with one of the Student Support team, please contact studentsupportbirmingham@bimm.co.uk

We work with students with a wide range ofdisabilities, including but by no means restricted to:

• Specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia,dyspraxia, ADHD)• Mental health difficulties (such as depression,bipolar disorder, anxiety)• Students with autistic spectrum and asperger’ssyndrome• Long-term medical conditions (such as HIV, cancer,multiple sclerosis)• Unseen disabilities (such as diabetes, asthma, epilepsy)• Sensory impairments (such as visual/hearingimpairment)• Mobility or physical impairments (such as paralysis,arthritis)

Academic Tutorials------Students are encouraged to book regular one-to-one tutorials to work on technique, master their academic writing and discuss their skills, development and long/short term career goals. Tutorials give students a unique opportunity to be individually guided by the most experienced industry professionals in the country.

It is encouraged that you can book tutorials with any member of the BIMM Birmingham faculty, even if they are not specific to teaching on your course.

BirminghamLife

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Birmingham is jam-packed with amazing live venues. Here are seven of the best… Sunflower Lounge, 02 Arena and Institute , The Mill, The Castle and Falcon, The Night Owl, The Flapper and, Dead Wax Digbeth Vinyl Bar, so you can spend less time searching and more time gigging.

Birmingham has long had a history of vibrant nightlife. From ‘60s Brumbeat venues like the Plaza Ballroom in Handsworth to ‘90s superclubs like Godskitchen and Gatecrasher, the city has always celebrated good live music. These days, though, Birmingham is fast gaining a reputation as one of the most exciting places in the UK to discover new music.

Whether you’re after intimate acoustic shows, booming B-Town indie rock or hands-in-the-air electronic beats.

Shopping------Birmingham with its iconic bullring centre that offers over 110,000sq m of retails space including the eye catching skin of the Selfridges store with its 15,000 aluminium disks. With the largest Chinatown outside of London and the biggest Jewellery Quarter in Europe. It’s little wonder it’s in England’s top 3 most visited places to shop. The Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market has over 200 stalls and brings an unrivalled sense of merriment to the city at Christmas time.

Throughout the year other highlights include the Mailbox complex and the grand central Birmingham with its flagship John Lewis store.

Eating Out------Birmingham boasts a flourishing and diverse restaurant scene. Catering to all budgets and tastes. Foodies flock to the Balti Triangle which is the home and birthplace of the Balti Curry.

Birmingham’s Chinese district sits alongside traditional pub grub, meaning you really are spoilt for choice, (Dining Club, Baked in Brick, Original Patty Men). For those with more expensive tastes Birmingham has a number of Michelin star restaurants including Turners at 69, Purnell’s and Simpsons.

Regular food festivals offer Michelin starred food at student prices throughout the city. Monthly food and farmer’s markets such as Moseley’s provide fresh,local produce.

The Great Outdoors------Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is home to the largest collection of pre-Raphaelite artwork in the world, as well as collections of silver, sculpture, ceramics and ancient and social history galleries. The Gas Hall Gallery houses a constantly changing programme of exhibitions. Entrance is free except for certain exhibitions. One of Europe’s leading contemporary art galleries, Ikon is stylish, progressive and recognised for its individuality. The Ikon exhibits the best international and British art in a changing programme of exhibitions and events. Admission is free. Birmingham Museums has extraordinary venues that provide a fascinating glimpse into Birmingham’s rich and vibrant past and showcase world class museum collections. Digbeth Dining Club started in 2012 and is a multi-award winning food, music and entertainment event, with dishes from £5 from over 22 traders every every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Transport------BIMM Birmingham is well connected to the rest of the city via public transport.

• Train - Birmingham has 8 local railways that cross the city and make moving between venues and attractions easy and simple. Birmingham New Street is the largest and busiest of the three main railway stations in the city centre of Birmingham. It is a central hub of the British railway system and makes travelling throughout the UK a breeze. Having gigs in the surrounding cities and towns is now easier than ever with the Midland Metro which will whisk you between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Network West Midlands provides online timetables, fares including day tickets and passes, ticket purchase and route planning. To visit the Centro website, use www. centro.org.uk

• Bus & Metro - There are busses to all suburbs and areas of Birmingham making Birmingham brilliant for easy affordable travel. There is a huge network that links everyone to everything. Night busses that go throughout the evening and early hours to places as far away as Coventry. Getting home from a gig is safe, cheap and easy. Network West Midlands has all the timetables and fair information online for easy ticket buying and route planning. More and more local buses have facilities such as low floors for easy access for wheelchair users and pushchairs. www.networkwestmidlands.com

• Taxi - Birmingham’s well-regulated taxis are especially convenient for those with heavy luggage or returning late from a night out. TOA taxis are Birmingham’s black cab operators. They can be hailed in the street or reached at one of the many taxi ranks in the city centre; the main ones are at New Street Station, Stephenson Street and Digbeth Coach Station.

• Bike - With miles of canals and a compact city centre, what better way to explore Birmingham and the wider region than by bicycle? There are cycle lanes or paths on many of the major routes into and across the city that take in some of the city’s beautiful parks and waterways en route. National cycle route 5 also runs through Birmingham.

Culture------1. Festivals The city hosts over 50 festivals a year, including the International Jazz Festival and Moseley Funk & Soul Festival.

2. The Birmingham Hippodrome is one of the most popular theatres in the UK and has over half a million people visit each year.

3. The NEC holds over 500 events per year, ranging from art exhibitions to the Crufts dog show.

4. Home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Hall is one of the world’s greatest concert halls.

5. Birmingham is the birthplace of the legendary rock band Black Sabbath and is known as the Home of Heavy Metal.

6. Football clubs: hosting Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City FC there is plenty of games to enjoy.

7. The Belfry hosts the Ryder Cup Golf tournament and is the Headquarters for the Professional Golfers Association.

8. Edgbaston Cricket Ground is home to Warwickshire County Cricket Club and is also used for Test Matches and One Day Internationals.

9. The Alexander Stadium is an International Athletics venue that hosts major athletics events, and is currently preparing for the 2022 Commonwealth Games which Birmingham is hosting.

10. A thriving gay village on Hurst Street, with plenty of bars and nightclubs. The area is renowned for its vibrant and friendly atmosphere and is the heart of the city’s annual gay pride celebrations.

11. If you love to party then Broad Street is for you, with its half-mile stretch of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The Arcadian, set in the city’s China Town region, offers a more relaxed range of bars playing a variety of music.

12. The Library of Birmingham is located at Centenary Square, the city’s most important public open space in the heart of Birmingham’s city centre’s Westside. Free to use for all students - open till late.

13. Digbeth is a developing, bohemian district known for street art, independent bars and shops. It is home to the Custard Factory where you can attend creative workshops and Digbeth Dining Club where you can eat the best street food in the city.

GetConnected

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Networking Events------BIMM hold networking events in Term 1, which are a great opportunity to get together with other students from different courses that have similar musical interests. Not only is it a great way to find new friends and swap some phone numbers, but it’s also a good place to start finding band members.

BIMM Gigs------Once you’ve got your band together and had some rehearsals, you can audition for one of BIMM’s end-of-term gigs.

We have an End of Term gig every term and utilise the amazing venues that are on our doorstep.

These gigs are a great opportunity for students to get some live performance experience and put on a brilliant show for their peers, friends and families.

BIMM Album------The BIMM album is a showcase of BIMM’s best songwriting talent. Students have the opportunity to submit their demos to be reviewed by our Artist Development team, and a selection of these songs will be professionally recorded and available to buy as a CD or digital download.

Careers And Creative Industries Team------Your career in music starts here at BIMM and we have a dedicated Careers and Industry team looking forward to working with you.

We support the next generation of music performers and professionals in a number of ways, if you are a performer or songwriter, you will be invited to artist development tutorials where you will be advised on recording, gigs, your digital profile, photography, videos and promotion.

For industry professionals, there are numerous exciting placements at companies across labels and promoters, publishers, PRs and magazines. Book a Careers tutorial to get advice on your CV or on starting your own business. We also have a well established festival programme, from Glastonbury to the Great Escape, we have opportunities for you to get involved.

All students are welcome at the Careers Hub, this is where you will meet employers and A&Rs, lawyers and agents; lined up this year we have YouTube, Universal, Sony Music and more ready to come and network with you and your fellow students. Book a tutorial, get involved as soon as you get here, we’re looking forward to meeting you!

Masterclasses------Why Masterclasses are important. BIMM have some of music’s biggest stars on speed-dial and the pulling power to get them in front of you at our legendary masterclasses. Leave your autograph book at home and get ready listen to heavyweights such as Nile Rodgers, Stormzy, Jo Whiley, Brian May, and Mabel. Learn how they conquered the industry and how you can follow in their footsteps.

Our masterclasses are a mix of the world’s most successful industry professionals. From vocalists, songwriters, producers, guitarists, and drummers to label bosses and event managers. All ready to share insider advice that money can’t buy.

What do you Learn at a Masterclass?------Masterclasses are an excellent opportunity to learn directly from artists and music industry professionals who have already succeeded in the industry.

They will pass on their knowledge and hopefully allow students to learn from some of their mistakes. At the end of the masterclass, there is usually a Q&A session for students to ask the guest questions about their careers or advice.

Masterclasses also give you the chance to meet the human behind the musician. During which you’ll learn all about how they worked their way to the top of their game by being dedicated, determined, and hard-working.

Freshers’Guide

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Freshers’ events, at the beginning of the first term, are a great way to meet people and make friends; we’ll provide you with information about these at enrolment. You can expect club nights, gigs, networking events and plenty of drinks promotions.

Common Feelings

------When it comes to moving away from home to a newcity and starting University it is a really exciting opportunity for a big change. You get to make a whole new start in a new place with new people. You might feel a mixture of great excitement andnervousness – what will the course really be like? Will I get on with my housemates? Will I make friends?How do I look after myself?

Please remember that you are not alone in feeling this way. These are all questions that everyone in your situation is asking themselves. If you’re worried about making friends, or not knowing the city, or how to make a Bolognese; remember that every other person around you feels the same way, and within just a couple of days you will feel more at home and comfortable than you can even imagine.

Strategies For Coping------There are some important things to keep in mind when going through this experience of moving away from home. These will prepare you and help you to cope with any situation you stumble across.

Look after yourself – It takes time for new friends to really know you properly, which means you need toput your own welfare, health and safety at the top of your priorities.

Know yourself and what you can handle – This is a time when you can experiment and find a way of living that really suits you, but this can take time. Try not to be pressured or influenced by others’ opinions and actions. Try to make decisions about life choices in the cold light of day, so that you know how you want to respond if you end up in a tricky situation.

Confront difficulties – In a new environment it’s easy to waste time worrying about things you don’t understand or can’t control. Don’t be afraid to ask the Student Support team and many other agencies external to BIMM who are ready and willing to help you with any problem or query, big or small. Begin to

see challenging situations as a chance to overcome something rather than a problem in your way.

Be healthy – Maintain a good diet, get adequate sleep and try to be active when you can; people are often happier if they are healthy. Register with alocal doctor’s surgery so that if you fall ill you can get the right care. If you are feeling stressed or sad talk to the Student Support team, they will find you the right support; know when you need to get some extra help.

Make a budget – Work out how much money you have for the term, and how much you will have to spend on unavoidable costs like rent, food and bills.This way you will know how much you have left to spend on yourself. Doing this will avoid running out of money half way through the term, which can bevery stressful.

Don’t work all the time – As independent study is so important at University, it can sometimes be hard to give yourself time off. Give yourself regular breaks and occasional days off.

Do work some of the time – Being away from home and with so much to do in a new city, it can be easy to neglect your work and fall behind in the course. Make sure you find the time for your studies to avoid a stressful situation.

Be yourself! – People can’t get to know and like you for who you really are if you don’t act like yourself. There are so many people to potentially becomefriends with, be yourself and you will find the right friends for you.

FacultyInformation

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BIMM Birmingham------BIMM Institute Birmingham 93-96 Floodgate StDigbeth

(Main entrance is on Little Ann Street)

Student Cards------You will be issued with a BIMM student card andlanyard at the start of your course. It is compulsorythat you wear your student card at all times whenwithin BIMM.

Student Common Rooms------There is an abundance of student accommodation within a fairly short distance of the building, and plenty of house and flat shares run by private landlords in other popular student areas. Please take into consideration the cost of travelling and the time it takes to get to the College from where you choose to live. The following areas in particular are a good place to look for shared student accommodation:

- Birmingham City Centre - Selly Oak - Moseley and Kingsheath - Edgbaston

Birmingham is well connected through public transport services; frequent buses that run all through the night, rail and cycle lanes make it easy to get around. Please note there are no parking facilities available at BIMM Birmingham.

Hamburg

BIMM BIRMINGHAM

IT and Technical resources------To help you navigate your way through your studies at the BIMM Institute we have supplied you with a number of technical resources which are at your disposal during your time with us. Whether you want email on the go, a place to store all your data or just want to ask for technical support on all the various offerings available, we have you covered:

• A downloadable offline copy of the latest version of office 365• A terabyte of cloud data dedicated to you• An online self service password management tool• A virtual e- Library packed with resources to aid your studies• A student IT Support channel• A one stop dedicated student web page where all your resources are housed• Mac Labs with an extensive software estate for qualifying courses

Please help us help you during your time at the BIMM Institute by :

• Choosing a complex password that you will remember that incorporates… - 8 characters or more - Uppercase, lowercase, numerals and symbols - Combine words, don’t use one word - Make up a new word that’s not in the dictionary!• Always maintain software versions on your personal devices that match the software versions in the Mac Labs• Backup your important work in the cloud so it’s safe

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We are committed to helping you throughout your studies with us at BIMM Birmingham and offer a wide range of support services designed to meet your academic and welfare needs, don’t hesitate to speak tous whenever required.

We’re HereTo Help You————

receptionbirmingham@bimm.co.uk

08442 646 666

studentsupportbirmingham@bimm.co.uk

BIMM Institute93-96 Floodgate St

Birmingham, B5 5SR

bimm.co.uk