Visiting Our Libraries: Home

If you are a Birmingham City University graduate, you can join the library for £35 a year.

This membership entitles you to:

• Unlimited access to our library study spaces during opening hours
• Borrow up to 4 library items at a time.
• Facilitated interlibrary service via the British Library (additional charges apply)

Please note that there is no PC/electronic resource access for external library users, but you may connect to the 'BCU Open Wifi' service on your own device.

To join, please complete the application form below.  

Alumni Application Form

Please note:  Applications will be processed within 5 working days.  After your application has been approved, you will receive an email from the library inviting you to visit the library during staffed hours to complete your registration.  On this first visit you will need to bring proof that you are a BCU graduate, as well as two forms of identification with your current address on, dated within 3 months.  You will be issued with your library card and PIN on this visit and will be able to borrow items immediately. Cards may be collected each day no later than 15 minutes before the Helpdesk closes.

Please be aware that once you have completed your registration you will have to bring your library card and proof of ID with you every time you visit the library in-order to enter the building. 

BCU welcomes members of other universities in the SCOUNL scheme to use the library.  To visit BCU libraries you must be both a member of the SCONUL scheme and complete the BCU application below.

SCONUL Access is a reciprocal scheme which allows many university library users to borrow or use books and journals at other libraries which belong to the scheme. The scheme covers most of the university libraries in the UK and Ireland.

If you are:

• a member of staff (both academic and support staff) on an open or fixed term contract
• a postgraduate research student registered for a PhD, MPhil or similar qualification
• a part-time, distance learning and placement student
• or a full-time postgraduate

and your university or college is a member of the scheme, you may be able to borrow from other college or university libraries.

If you are

• a full-time undergraduate student

and your university or college is a member of the scheme, you may be able to use the resources of other college and university libraries for reference.

To apply for the scheme, click here. Your home university library will send you an acceptance email, which tells you which band of user you are.  

Once you have received your acceptance from SCONUL please complete the application form below

SCONUL Member BCU Application Form 

You must have an application acceptance email from BCU before you visit.  You will not be able to access BCU buildings before you have received this email.

Please note:  Applications will be processed within 5 working days.  After your application has been approved, you will receive an email from the library inviting you to visit the library during staffed hours to complete your registration.  On this first visit you will need to bring your home institution ID, your acceptance email from SCONUL, as well as a form of identification with your current address on, dated within 3 months. Cards may be collected each day no later than 15 minutes before the Helpdesk closes. 

Please be aware that once you have completed your registration you will have to bring your library card and proof of ID with you every time you visit the library in-order to enter the building.

Please note that there is no PC/electronic resource access for external library users, but you may connect to the 'BCU Open Wifi' service on your own device.

Some Individuals associated with the institution (retired members of BCU staff,  External Examiners, RBCA life members, Birmingham University Students taught at BCU, and certain NHS employees who are affiliated with Birmingham City University) can apply for fee-exempt membership.  Fee-exempt membership is entirely at the discretion of Library & Learning Resources. If you would like to discuss whether you would be entitled to fee-exempt membership, please email us.or speak to us on 0121 331 5282

Membership entitles you to:

• use our study spaces
• borrow up to 4 library items at a time. 

Please note that there is no PC/electronic resource access for external library users, but you may connect to the 'BCU Open Wifi' service on your own device.

To join, complete the application form below:.

Fee Exempt Application Form

Please note:  Applications will be processed within 5 working days.  After your application has been approved, you will receive an email from the library inviting you to visit the library during staffed hours to complete your registration.  On this first visit  you will need to bring proof that you are entitled to fee-exempt membership, as well as two forms of identification with your current address on, dated within 3 months.  You will be issued with your library card and PIN on this visit and will be able to borrow items immediately. Cards may be collected each day no later than 15 minutes before the Helpdesk closes.

Please be aware that once you have completed your registration you will have to bring your library card and proof of ID with you every time you visit the library in-order to enter the building

Members of the public (over the age of 18) are welcome to apply for a reference-only card.

Please note that there will be restricted access for reference users during our exam period, 27th April-7th June inclusive. No reference members will be granted access to the library, and no new applications will be processed during this time. 

This entitles you to 5 visits in a 12-month period* (including initial visit), to use our study spaces and paper resources within the library.

Please note that there is no PC/electronic resource access for external library users, but you may connect to the 'BCU Open Wifi' service on your own device.

To join, complete the application form below:

Reference Application Form 

Please note:  Applications will be processed within 5 working days.  After your application has been approved, you will receive an email from the library inviting you to visit the library during staffed hours to complete your registration.  On this first visit  you will need to bring a passport sized photograph as well as two forms of identification with your current address on, dated within 3 months. Cards may be collected each day no later than 15 minutes before the Helpdesk closes.

Please be aware that once you have completed your registration you will have to bring your library card and proof of ID with you every time you visit the library in-order to enter the building.  Library cards which are defaced will be invalidated and any remaining visits will be forfeited. 

*12 month period beginning on the date of completed registration.