The University of Birmingham has a reputation for being one of the best universities in the United Kingdom. The university currently holds a position of being 76th in the world. It currently has a population of about 32,001 students, 11,067 of whom are international students from across the world.
Birmingham University has a total of 49 departments, 5 MBA and 41 master’s across diverse fields including research, medical, archaeology, Law, Arts, Life and Environmental science, and many more. The university is also a member of the Russell Group, a group of universities focused on research and academic excellence.
Heritage and Beginning
Founded in 1900, Birmingham holds the distinction of being the UK’s original “redbrick” university, one of a group of civic institutions established to bring world-class education and research to the heart of Britain’s industrial cities. Before receiving the royal charter to become an independent university, the University was known as the Mason Science College. Efforts from Joseph Chamberlain to bring universal higher education to everyone would eventually convince the royals to establish the university with Mason College as the nucleus of the University.
The university thus became the first one to fully incorporate a medical school within its campuses. Birmingham was also one of the first universities to accept female medical students since its inception in the 1900’s though some argue that since Mason College had been accepting female students since 1880, they were logically the first to do so.
It did not take long for Birmingham University to expand from just the sciences to other areas of study. In 1939, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, an art gallery, was opened by Queen Mary within the school premises. The gallery became the first art building to be purpose-built for the sole study of the arts in the United Kingdom.
Academic Achievements
Birmingham’s intellectual influence stretches far beyond the walls of its schools. Many of the research and projects that started from within its walls have gone on to expand humanity’s understanding of the universe. All in all, the university has produced ten Nobel Laureates amongst its staff and alumni. People who have made groundbreaking discoveries from the Higgs Boson to Gravitational Waves. The most recent awards presented in 2016 were to professors for their work in Physics in exotic matter and Chemistry for pioneering molecular machines.
The University has a reputation for spearheading the way for innovation. Birmingham’s research has influenced several lives, both for normal domestic activities and health-related issues. Birmingham University was where the first pacemakers and plastic heart were created, where allergy vaccines started, and where the cavity magnetron was developed.
This tradition of excellence continues in Birmingham University’s present approach to research. Across disciplines, from medicine, public health, and engineering to the humanities and social sciences, Birmingham continues to tackle global challenges proactively. Its work on health, climate, energy, leadership, and transportation delivers real-world solutions to millions.
The university is often in close partnership with industries and the government to help tackle problems. Notably, its Clinical Medicine and Public Health research achieved standout results in the UK’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
A Campus that Inspires
Birmingham University’s 250-acre Edgbaston campus is a beautiful blend of heritage and modernity. The redbrick buildings, including the iconic Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower (Old Joe), are positioned alongside state-of-the-art facilities and green open spaces. Many of the red-brick buildings are now Grade II listed buildings. Old Joe, however, has risen to become an emblem of the University and a landmark that can be seen from across the whole of Birmingham. The third-highest building in the city and one of the top 50 in the United Kingdom.
The Students who study at Birmingham benefit from exceptional resources, including:
- A world-class Sport & Fitness Centre offering everything from swimming to climbing. N.b. The University is the first to offer a sports degree, hence their state-of-the-art sports facilities.
- Extensive libraries, including a flagship main library with millions of volumes and digital resources.
- Modern lecture theatres, laboratories, and seminar spaces side by side with ancient historical buildings.
- Different comfortable on-campus accommodation options, with services that also support visiting families and young children through campus nurseries.
Aside from the Egbaston Campus, Birmingham also has the Selly Oak campus, which was formerly home to nine colleges but now serves as the home to the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts and the University of Birmingham School. The University also established an affiliate campus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2017.
A Global Community
Home to students from nearly 150 countries, Birmingham offers a remarkable international experience to its students. Its compilation of diverse student bodies creates a rich cultural level ground where different perspectives are celebrated and friendships are forged.
The hundreds of undergraduate and postgraduate programs are divided across five colleges: Medical and Dental Sciences, Engineering and Physical Sciences, Life and Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts and Law. Students can tailor their education to their individual passions.
The University is also affiliated with several research institutes and schools, including the University of Birmingham Medical School, the Shakespeare Institute, Birmingham Business School, the oldest business school in England, and many more.
Beyond academics, though, students can participate in more than 300 clubs and societies, countless social events, and exchange programs for a holistic experience.
Location: Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Average Tuition Fee: £9,535 (For Local Students)
£22,550 – £35,000 (For International Students)
