University College Birmingham Chooses Thesis SM to Power Student Lifecycle Transformation

Following a competitive tender, University College Birmingham partners with Thesis SM to stream-line student data-led operations across higher and further education, built around the people who use it every day.

University College Birmingham (UCB) has selected Thesis SM, following a competitive tender process, to deliver a modern Student Records System (SRS) supporting a business process transformation across its higher and further education provision.

The selection reflects UCB’s strategic focus on creating a more connected, efficient, and future-ready student experience, underpinned by a single platform spanning the full student lifecycle. From admissions through to graduation, every step of the student data journey will now be managed through one system.

For an institution like UCB, which delivers both higher and further education within a single organisation, that kind of coherence isn’t just operationally useful. It matters for students.

One System. Built for the Realities of Modern HE.

UCB came to this decision with a clear brief: replace fragmented systems and manual processes with a platform that genuinely reflects how the institution wishes to work within a modern easy to use system. The new SRS will streamline core processes across admissions, student records, assessment, and progression, improving visibility, consistency, and operational control across the board.

“We needed a single system to manage both our higher and further education student data, and the learner journeys that go with them. We were looking for a modern and easy to use system, built for the realities of how our institution actually works. What we’re ultimately looking for is better efficiency, more automation where it makes sense, and a better experience for both our staff and our students. The Thesis SM team gave us confidence that they understand how to deliver all three, and that they’ll work alongside us as a long-term partner.”

- Victoria Grey, Director Student Systems, Data and Information Reporting, University College Birmingham

What a Supported Sandbox Session Actually Looks Like

One of the moments that defined UCB’s decision was the supported sandbox session during procurement. Rather than sitting through a polished sales demo, the UCB team wanted the chance to get hands-on with Thesis SM in a real, working environment, easy to access, quick to get started, and immediately intuitive to use.

That’s by design. Thesis SM’s supported sandbox sessions are built around the idea that the best way to evaluate a system is to use it. Prospective institutions are given access to a fully configured environment, supported by the Thesis SM team, so they can explore real workflows, test real scenarios, and make decisions based on actual experience rather than slide decks.

For UCB, it was the change management proof point they needed.

“The supported sandbox session during procurement gave us something rare, the chance to actually use Thesis SM in a hands-on user evaluation session which was easy to access and swift to use. What stood out immediately was how intuitive it is to use. From a change management perspective, people who’ll rely on this system day-to-day said they could pick it up and work with it straight away, which is exactly what we needed. That told us everything about how Thesis SM approaches their product: they’ve built it for the people who use it; staff and students. That’s the kind of thinking we want alongside us as we move onto the new system.”

- Ian Shakespeare, Head of Student Records, Attendance and Timetabling, University College Birmingham

Platform Flexibility Without the Complexity

As academic models become more flexible and responsive, institutions increasingly need systems that can adapt without introducing additional operational burden. Thesis SM addresses this through a platform built for configuration rather than customisation, enabling institutions to evolve processes while maintaining a stable, supported core.

This is what the Higher Education Model (HEM) delivers in practice: out-of-the-box configurations and best-practice, field-led processes that reduce time to value and avoid the long, costly implementation cycles that have historically made SRS transitions difficult. Institutions like UCB can respond to changing academic, regulatory, and operational needs without increasing long-term system complexity.

The open API architecture also means Thesis SM fits into an existing campus ecosystem rather than disrupting it, connecting seamlessly with finance systems, learning environments, and third-party applications to reduce duplication and keep data flowing where it’s needed.

A Partnership, Not Just a Platform

Beyond the technology, UCB selected Thesis SM for its partnership-led approach to delivery and long-term collaboration. Thesis SM works closely with institutions throughout implementation and beyond, supporting continuous improvement and ensuring alignment with ongoing sector change.

It’s a model that mirrors the way UCB thinks about its own relationship with students: not transactional, but built for the long term.

“We’re pleased to have been selected by University College Birmingham through a highly competitive process that reflects the growing demand for systems that can truly adapt to the realities of modern higher education. I’m particularly proud that hands-on engagement with the system was a key proof point in the decision. At Thesis SM, we enable flexibility without adding complexity, giving institutions the freedom to evolve their processes without being constrained by their technology. Our collaboration with UCB goes beyond implementation. Together we’re building a long-term partnership to support continuous change, improve outcomes for students, and help UCB continue to adapt in a fast-moving sector.”

- Louise Thorpe, CEO, Thesis SM

About University College Birmingham

University College Birmingham’s mission is to ensure its students can follow their passion, while learning the industry skills employers want from graduates that meet today’s skills agenda.

Enterprise and practical experience are a key focus across the University’s degree courses, covering health and nursing, education, sport and physiotherapy, business and tourism, computing and cyber security, engineering and sustainable construction, food, psychology and creative services.

Based in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, UCB has a diverse student population, around 70% of home students are from the West Midlands wider region. The University has invested over £300 million in its facilities over the past decade and works with over 1,000 employers locally, nationally, and globally. In 2024, UCB won best university in the West Midlands at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards, coming out top in the region for student support, postgraduate and international.

Read the full press release, here.