Universities in Birmingham, England UK
- Rankings & Reviews -

Latest ranking updates related to universities in Birmingham
  • 06 Mar, 2024: Latest Scimago Institutions Rankings from Scimago Institutions. 3 universities from Birmingham appear in this ranking.
  • 25 Jan, 2024: Publication of THE World’s Most International Universities. University of Birmingham ranked #35.
  • 19 Dec, 2023: Publication of URAP World Ranking - University Ranking by Academic Performance. University of Birmingham with highest ranking among universities in Birmingham ranked #102.
  • 15 Dec, 2023: Publication of Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments - ShanghaiRanking (Sport Science). University of Birmingham ranked #22.

Birmingham is a popular destination among international students when they’re assessing their options for where to study in the UK. It’s home to one of the nation’s densest and largest populations, and in many cases is chosen as a study destination over London due to its radically more affordable costs of living when it comes to renting a flat, and even the price of everyday food! This is a city that is used to having large numbers of domestic and international students move into the city, so it’s easy to find student discounts when it comes to eating out, nightlife, and entertainment options such as checking out a movie in the cinema. Birmingham also has some world-renowned universities, making it a strong candidate for anybody who is looking for a prestigious degree.


Rankings of universities in Birmingham, England UK 2024

  • #10 
  • #101 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #17 
  • #22 
The Times Good University Guide
[Published 15 September, 2023]
  • #29 
  • #37 
The Guardian League Table
[Published 09 September, 2023]
Show 25 more rankings of University of Birmingham and subject specific rankings for 14 subjects

Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0 (448 reviews)
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  • #34 
  • #401 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #30 
  • #38 
The Times Good University Guide
[Published 15 September, 2023]
  • #20 
  • #25 
The Guardian League Table
[Published 09 September, 2023]
Show 16 more rankings of Aston University and subject specific rankings for 9 subjects

  • #56 
  • #601 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #89 
  • #110 
The Times Good University Guide
[Published 15 September, 2023]
  • #76 
  • #95 
The Guardian League Table
[Published 09 September, 2023]
Show 8 more rankings of Birmingham City University and subject specific rankings for 12 subjects


Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0 (171 reviews)
  • #102 
  • #125 
The Times Good University Guide
[Published 15 September, 2023]
  • #90 
  • #113 
The Guardian League Table
[Published 09 September, 2023]
  • #103 
  • #125 
CUG The Complete University Guide
[Published 08 June, 2023]
Show 4 more rankings of Newman University and subject specific rankings for 5 subjects

#5
England UK

University College Birmingham

Student satisfaction: 4.1 / 5.0 (189 reviews)
  • #114 
  • #5421 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#6
England UK

The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education



#8
England UK

South & City College Birmingham

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Highest subject rankings of universities in Birmingham

Creative Writing CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#1 
University of Birmingham
Chemical Engineering The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#3 
Aston University
Education The Times Good University Guide by Subject
#6 
University of Birmingham
Sports Science CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#6 
University of Birmingham
Computer Science CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#7 
University of Birmingham
Theology & Religious Studies CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#8 
University of Birmingham
Dentistry The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#8 
University of Birmingham
Geology The Times Good University Guide by Subject
#9 
University of Birmingham
Italian The Times Good University Guide by Subject
#11 
University of Birmingham
Marketing CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#16 
Aston University

Student Opinions About Studying in Birmingham

“I’ve been a part of Brimingham’s student community for almost three years now, and it’s been an unforgettable time for me. It’s a good place to live, but I will say that you should have a basic idea of which areas to avoid because not all of them are equally safe. The Brummies of Birmingham tend to have a good sense of humour, and I’ve found them welcoming towards me even though I’m clearly not a local.”

“Since Birmingham is a student city, if you feel like socialising then you’ll always be able to meet new people. The most common situation was to go out for dinner and then a couple of drinks in the bar, and the locals are always happy to start up a conversation. There are usually activities to do, and the music events here are fantastic.”

“Anybody moving to Birmingham should be prepared for the Brummie accent, as it’s not the easiest to understand! Students should be aware of the crime rates so we avoid going to certain places alone, but to be fair, during my entire time here I haven’t felt scared or intimidated.”

Birmingham Key Facts for International Students

PROS

  • There are many social options for students, from bars and cinemas to concerts and sports events.

  • Birmingham is well located between London, Manchester and Leeds, with train connections that allow students to explore beyond the city area and discover new places and landscapes.

  • Nightlife is known for being intense, so it’s definitely a good place if you're intending to enjoy the typical student lifestyle.

CONS

  • Birmingham is often criticised for its high crime rate. However, students are told where to go and what places to avoid as soon as they get to the universities.

  • The city is not known for its great architecture, instead, you mostly see newer buildings and business districts, so it’s probably not the best option if you’re looking for a historical city.

  • The Brummie accent is hard to understand, unless you’re English-born, so universities often provide free English classes to help with this.


5 out of 8 Universities in Birmingham Ranked in at least one ranking

30 Different Rankings list Universities in Birmingham (21 institution and 9 subject rankings)

26 Global Rankings rank Universities in Birmingham Among TOP 200

Population: 1142000

Time: GMT +0

District/province: England, City and Borough of Birmingham

Living costs for students in Birmingham:

* 100 = prices in London

  • Living costs without accommodation 90* (10% cheaper than London)
  • All costs including accommodation 68* (32% cheaper than London)
  • Meals (grocery & lower cost restaurants) 88* (12% cheaper than London)
  • Average Big Mac price 3.55 £
  • Plug Type G
    • Residential voltage: 230 V
    • Frequency: 50 Hz
Nobel prize laureates:
Norman Haworth (Birmingham City University, 1937)

Map with location of universities in Birmingham

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Student Life in Birmingham.

  • What Do Students Love About Living In Newcastle?
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FAQ

University of Birmingham ranks #1 in Birmingham in our meta ranking composed of 112 university rankings.

Among all universities in Birmingham University of Birmingham is listed in the largest number of rankings. See all 38 rankings where University of Birmingham is listed.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Arts Visual & Performing (Creative Writing). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

Aston University is ranked best in Birmingham for Engineering (Chemical Engineering). See all rankings for the Aston University.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Education (Education). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Sports Science (Sports Science). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Computer Science (Computer Science). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Social Studies & Humanities (Theology & Religious Studies). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Medicine & Health (Dentistry). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Natural Sciences (Geology). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Languages & Literature (Italian). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

Aston University is ranked best in Birmingham for Business (Marketing). See all rankings for the Aston University.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Mathematics (Mathematics). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

Birmingham City University is ranked best in Birmingham for Design (Graphic Design). See all rankings for the Birmingham City University.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Law (Law). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

Birmingham City University is ranked best in Birmingham for Architecture, Building & Planning (Architecture). See all rankings for the Birmingham City University.

Birmingham City University is ranked best in Birmingham for Journalism & Media Studies (Journalism). See all rankings for the Birmingham City University.

University of Birmingham is ranked best in Birmingham for Agriculture (Agriculture). See all rankings for the University of Birmingham.

Ranking publishers

4icu

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British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK

Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:

Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%

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Criteria used in ranking -QS Employability Rankings:

Employer reputation 30% Alumni outcomes 25% Partnerships with Employers per Faculty 25% Employer/Student Connections 10% Graduate employment rate 10%

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CWUR Center for World University Rankings

Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:

Research Performance: 40%

  • Research Output: 10%
  • High-Quality Publications: 10%
  • Influence: 10%
  • Citations: 10%

Quality of Education: 25%

Alumni Employment: 25%

Quality of Faculty: 10%

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Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands

Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:

Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity

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NTU ranking

Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:

Research Productivity: 25%

  • # Articles last 11 years: 10%
  • # Articles current year: 15%

Research Impact: 35%

  • # Citations last 11 years: 15%
  • # Citations last 2 years: 10%
  • Average # citations last 11 years: 10%

Research Excellence: 40%

  • H-index last 2 years: 10%
  • # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
  • # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%

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Nature Index

Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:

Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)

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Payscale

Criteria used in ranking -Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only):

Ranking is based on ROI

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RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)

Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:

Teaching: 40%

  • Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • World Teaching Reputation: 8%

Research: 40%

  • Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
  • Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
  • Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • World Research Reputation: 8%

International Diversity: 10%

  • International Faculty: 2%
  • International Students: 2%
  • International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
  • Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
  • International Level: 2%

Financial Sustainability: 10%

  • Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
  • Institutional Income per Student: 2%
  • Papers per Research Income: 2%
  • Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
  • Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:

Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:

Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%

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Scimago Institutions

Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:

Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%

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ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:

Quality of Education 10%

  • Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%

Quality of Faculty 40%

  • Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
  • Highly Cited Researchers 20%

Research Output 40%

  • Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
  • Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%

Per Capita Performance 10%

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StuDocu

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THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:

30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)

  • Reputation survey: 15%
  • Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
  • Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
  • Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
  • Institutional income: 2.25%

30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)

  • Reputation survey: 18%
  • Research income: 6%
  • Research productivity: 6%

30% Citations (Research Influence)

7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)

  • Proportion of international students: 2.5%
  • Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
  • International collaboration: 2.5%

2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"

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Criteria used in ranking -THE Global Employability University Ranking:

Employability (survey) 100%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World Reputation Rankings:

Research Reputation 66,6% Teaching Reputation 33,3%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World’s Most International Universities:

Proportion of international students 25% Proportion of international staff 25% Proportion of journal publications with one or more international co-authors 25% University’s international reputation 25%

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The Guardian News and Media Limited

Criteria used in ranking -The Guardian League Table:

Student to Staff Ratio: 15% Entry Standards: 15% Expenditure per Student: 5% Continuation 15% (non-medical subjects) OR 5% (medical subjects) NSS - Teaching: 8% NSS - Assessment & Feedback: 8% NSS - Overall Satisfaction: 4% Career Prospects: 15% Value added: 15%

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The Times and The Sunday Times

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The University League Tables

Criteria used in ranking -CUG The Complete University Guide:

Entry Standards 12.5% Student Satisfaction 18.75% Student-Staff Ratio 12.5% Research Quality 12.5% Research Intensity 6.25% Academic Service Spending 6.25% Facilities Spending 6.25% Graduate Prospects 12.5% Degree Completion Rate 12.5%

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Thomson Reuters

Criteria used in ranking -Reuters Most Innovative Universities Europe:

Patent volume 11.11% Patent success 11.11% Global patents 11.11% Patent citations 11.11% Percent of patents cited / Patent citation impact 11.11% Patent to Article Citation Impact 11.11% Industry Article Citation Impact 11.11% Percent of Industry Collaborative Articles 11.11% Total Web of Science Core Collection Papers 11.11%

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Urap

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Us News

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Webometrics

Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:

Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%

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