BIMM University

{{Short description|Music institute of nine colleges in the UK, Ireland and Germany}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}{{Infobox university | name = BIMM University | image = BIMM University logo.png | former_name = Brighton Institute of Modern Music (2001–2010)<br />British and Irish Modern Music Institute (2011–2017)<br />BIMM Institute (2018–2022) | established = 2001 | type = Creative industries university | vice_chancellor = Olivier Robert-Murphy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bimm.university/governance-and-quality/executive-management-group/|title=Executive Management Group|website=BIMM University|access-date=8 February 2026}}</ref> | city = Berlin, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Dublin, Essex, Leeds, London, Manchester | students = 8,300 | campus = Multiple sites | language = English | website = {{URL|https://bimm.university}} }}

'''BIMM University''' ('''BIMM''') is a private university specialising in music, film, performing arts and creative technology. The university is principally based in the United Kingdom with other centres in Ireland and Germany.

It is organised into four academic schools: BIMM Music Institute, Performers College, MetFilm School, and MetStudios. Courses are delivered at nine city-based campuses located across the UK, Ireland and Germany.

It was founded in 2001 as the '''Brighton Institute of Modern Music''', changing its name to the '''British and Irish Modern Music Institute''' in 2011 upon the opening of its Dublin campus, before shortening to '''BIMM Institute''' in 2018.

It was granted university status in 2022, and the name changed to the present one.

==History== BIMM was founded in 2001 by Damian Keyes, Kevin Nixon, Bruce Dickinson and Sarah Clayman who subsequently sold the institute to Sovereign Capital in March 2010.

In 1983, Drumtech was founded by Francis Seriau, later becoming Tech Music School. In 2010, BIMM acquired Tech Music School London and in 2014 Tech Music School changed its name to BIMM London.

BIMM was purchased by Intermediate Capital Group in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last= Pople |first= James |title= DC Advisory advised ICG plc on the acquisition of BIMM |date= 20 November 2020 |url= https://www.dcadvisory.com/news-deals-insights/deal-announcements/dc-advisory-advised-icg-plc-on-the-acquisition-of-bimm/#gref |website=Dcadvisory.com |access-date= 2 November 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Ficai |first= Francesca |title= BIMM sold to ICG |date= 23 November 2020 |url= https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/bimm-sold-to-icg-61419030 |website=Spglobal.com |access-date= 2 November 2022 }}</ref>

Due to changes in student demand, BIMM Hamburg closed at the end of the 2023 academic year.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.bimm.ac.uk/news/bimm-institute-hamburg-closure-announcement/ |title= BIMM Institute Hamburg closure announcement |website=Bimm.ac.uk }}</ref>

=== Timeline === * 1983 – Drumtech is founded (now BIMM London) * 2001 – Brighton Institute of Modern Music is founded * 2008 – BIMM Bristol opens * 2010 – BIMM acquires Tech Music School (formally Drumtech) * 2011 – BIMM Dublin opens (name is also changed to the British and Irish Modern Music Institute) * 2013 – BIMM Institute Manchester opens * 2016 – BIMM Institute Berlin opens * 2017 – BIMM Institute Birmingham opens and the Brighton Institute for Contemporary Theatre Training (BRICTT) is founded * 2018 – BIMM Institute acquires Brighton Film School * 2019 – BIMM is granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers in the UK by an Order from the Privy Council. BIMM Institute Hamburg opens, BRICTT becomes the Institute for Contemporary Theatre (ICTheatre) and Brighton Film School is renamed Screen and Film School. BIMM also acquires Performers College * 2020 – BIMM acquires Northern Ballet School and opens ICTheatre Manchester * 2021 – Screen and Film School Manchester, Screen and Film School Birmingham, and Performers College Birmingham open * 2022 – BIMM is awarded university title and changes its name to BIMM University * 2024 - ICTheatre merges with Performers College * 2024 – BIMM University acquires Met Film School

== Organisation and academic life == BIMM University is the second largest provider of creative industries higher education in the UK, with around 8,300 students. It offers courses in a wide range of music, film, performing arts and creative technology subjects.

Courses are offered at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The university is organised into five academic schools: BIMM Music Institute, Performers College, MetFilm School, MetStudios and BIMM University Berlin. Courses are delivered at nine city-based campuses located across the UK, Ireland and Germany.

==Course and accreditations== BIMM Institute was granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers in the UK by an order from the Privy Council on 14 March 2019, having demonstrated that it met the criteria to become a recognised body for awarding degrees in the UK. As such, BIMM Institute has overall responsibility for the academic standards and the quality of the qualifications they offer, and are able to award their own undergraduate and master's degrees. BIMM degrees were previously accredited by the University of Sussex.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bimm.ac.uk/academic-excellence/|title=Academic Excellence|website=BIMM|language=en|access-date=2019-10-08}}</ref> BIMM Dublin courses are validated by Technological University Dublin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bimm.co.uk/dublin/courses |title=Music Courses & Degrees available at BIMM Music College | Dublin |publisher=BIMM |date=21 June 2013 |access-date=25 August 2013}}</ref>

BIMM was granted full university status by the Department for Education in 2022.

==Notable teachers==

Kirk Brandon of punk rock band Theatre of Hate was a tutor at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bimm.co.uk/brighton/tutors/kirk-brandon |title=Kirk Brandon – Bimm |access-date=2012-12-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314040550/http://www.bimm.co.uk/brighton/tutors/kirk-brandon |archive-date=14 March 2013 }}</ref> Robin Guy, drummer for Rachel Stamp and Sham 69, also taught at BIMM.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dunworth |first1=Liberty |title=Tributes paid after Rachel Stamp and Sham 69 drummer Robin Guy dies: "A tremendously talented drummer and a lovely bloke" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/tributes-paid-after-rachel-stamp-and-sham-69-drummer-robin-guy-dies-a-tremendously-talented-drummer-super-showman-and-a-lovely-bloke-3793546 |access-date=16 September 2024 |publisher=NME |date=13 September 2024}}</ref> Pat Garvey, drummer for Ozric Tentacles and one of the UK's most prominent player-educators is Head of Drums at BIMM.

==Notable alumni== {{more citations needed section|date=July 2024}}

=== Music alumni === {{See also|Category:Alumni of the BIMM Institute}} * George Ezra * James Bay * Tom Odell * Ella Mai * Fontaines DC * ADONXS * Ash Soan * Black Honey * Chip * Dani Wilde * Ed Drewett * Fickle Friends * Gary Madine * Iolanda Costa * Izzy Bizu * Jason Cooper * Kate Walsh * The Kooks * Lana Lubany * Luke Black * Luke Machin * Luke Sital-Singh * Marina Diamandis * Mimi Webb * Monika Linkytė * The Murder Capital * Pale Waves * Rachael Gunn<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Student Success |url=https://www.bimm.ac.uk/alumni/?searchpage=21/ |website=Bimm.ac.uk|access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref> * Sophie Lloyd<ref name="TMM">{{cite web|url=https://www.themusicman.uk/sophie-lloyd/|title=Sophie Lloyd Guitarist Composer and Performer from England|website=Themusicman.uk|date=18 November 2022|access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref><ref name="guitarguitar1">{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/news/141750/|title=9 Famous Female Guitarists and Their Signature Guitars|work=Guitarguitar.co.uk|date=18 November 2022|access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> * Ryan O'Shaughnessy * Scott Benton<ref name="auto"/> * The Xcerts * Ollie Wride

=== Film alumni === * Rina Yang – Cinematographer; credits include ''Euphoria'', ''Top Boy'', ''Nanny'', and ''Mother Mary''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rina Yang – Cinematographer |url=https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/alumni/rina-yang// |website=MetFilm School |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref> * Leopold Hughes – Co-producer of ''Knives Out'' and ''Glass Onion''; associate producer on ''Star Wars: The Last Jedi''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/alumni/leopold-hughes/|title=Leopold Hughes|website=Metfilmschool.ac.uk|access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref> * Adjani Salmon – MA Directing graduate; co-writer, co-producer, and lead actor in the BAFTA-winning series ''Dreaming Whilst Black''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/articles/creative-essence-taking-notes-dreaming-whilst-black-adjani-salmon/|title=Creative Essence, Taking Notes, and Dreaming Whilst Black with Adjani Salmon|date=22 August 2023|website=Metfilmschool.ac.uk|access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref> * Ibrahim Nash'at – Documentary filmmaker; director of ''Hollywoodgate''. (2023)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/articles/news/ma-documentary-and-factual-grad-ibrahim-nashat-nominated-for-prestigious-award/|title=MA Documentary and Factual grad Ibrahim Nash’at nominated for prestigious award|date=7 May 2025|website=Metfilmschool.ac.uk|access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref> * Guy Trevellyan – Assistant to Wes Anderson on ''The French Dispatch'', ''Asteroid City'', and ''The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar''; worked on ''Barbie'' and ''The Witcher''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/alumni/guy-trevellyan/|title=Guy Trevellyan|website=Metfilmschool.ac.uk|access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref> * Sameer Baria – Indian filmmaker and MetFilm graduate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/articles/news/ma-cinematography-student-sameer-baria-shoots-short-film-using-iphone/|title=Filming on an iPhone with Sameer Baria (MA Cinematography)|date=16 April 2025|website=Metfilmschool.ac.uk|access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref> * Aarsh Gyani – Indian actor and filmmaker; MetFilm graduate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://in.linkedin.com/in/aarsh-gyani-03589112a|title=Aarsh Gyani MA Directing|website=In.linkedin.com|access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref> * Marta Baidek – Visual effects production manager (virtual production)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/alumni/marta-baidek/|title=Marta Baidek|website=Metfilmschool.ac.uk|access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref> * Rachel Goacher – Screenwriter; MA Screenwriting alumna <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/articles/blogs/ma-screenwriting-student-coronation-street-placement/|title=MA Screenwriting Student Rachel Goacher earns Coronation Street Placement|first=Tom|last=Wilson|date=12 April 2024|website=Metfilmschool.ac.uk|access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref> * Alysha Siddiqi – Director; MA Directing alumna <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/articles/blogs/alysha-siddiqi-our-first-voices-that-matter-scholarship-recipient/|title=Alysha Siddiqi: our first 'Voices That Matter Scholarship' recipient|date=20 January 2020|website=Metfilmschool.ac.uk|access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.bimm.university/ BIMM University Website] *[http://www.bimm.ac.uk/ BIMM Music Institute website] *[https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/ MetFilm School official website] *[https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/metstudios/ MetStudios official website] *[https://performerscollege.co.uk/ Performers College website] *[https://www.bimm-institute.de/ BIMM University Berlin website]

Category:Education in East Sussex Category:Music schools in England Category:University of Sussex Category:Educational institutions established in 2001 Category:2001 establishments in England Category:Universities and colleges in the Republic of Ireland Category:Music schools in the Republic of Ireland