University of Birmingham
England's first civic redbrick university, on a green Edgbaston campus with its own railway station.
- International
- 35%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 14.6:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £32,160
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1900
About Birmingham
The University of Birmingham received its royal charter in 1900, making it the first of England's civic redbrick universities to do so, and it grew out of older Birmingham institutions going back to 1825. It is a member of the Russell Group and Universitas 21, and says it has more than 40,000 students from over 150 countries. The main Edgbaston campus is a single green site a few miles from the city centre, anchored by Aston Webb's domed Great Hall and the Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, known on campus as Old Joe.
Teaching and research are organised into five colleges: Arts and Law; Engineering and Physical Sciences; Life and Environmental Sciences; Medicine and Health; and Social Sciences. Birmingham reports winning 1 billion pounds in competitive research awards over four years, and its strongest QS subject results include Sport (top 10 worldwide) and Dentistry, Education, English, Theology, Anatomy and Physiology and Linguistics (top 50).
Birmingham suits students who want a full campus experience inside a large, diverse city: lakeside halls at The Vale, a big students' union (the Guild of Students), museums such as the Barber Institute of Fine Arts and the Lapworth Museum of Geology on site, and a graduate-employer profile the university highlights heavily. It is a strong fit for applicants aiming at medicine, dentistry, sport science, computer science or the humanities who want a Russell Group degree without London prices.
Per Ardua ad Alta
“Through efforts to heights” — university motto
Why students choose Birmingham
Sport at Birmingham is ranked in the global top 10 in the QS 2026 subject tables, the university's best subject result.
Computer Science ranked first in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2026 and is accredited by the British Computer Society.
First-year undergraduates are guaranteed a room in university accommodation if they firm Birmingham on UCAS, meet their offer and apply by the Guarantee Scheme deadline.
The university reports that 80 percent of its 2024 graduates were in graduate-level jobs or further study 15 months after finishing.
Admissions
Entry in September 2027 (UCAS 2027 cycle)
Selectivity
Birmingham does not publish a single undergraduate admit rate. Offers are course-specific: for example Computer Science asks for A*AA and Medicine for AAA, and Medicine also requires the UCAT and an interview.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific, e.g. A*AA including Mathematics at A for Computer Science BSc; AAA including Chemistry plus a second science for Medicine MBChB |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | Offers are set on three Higher Level grades with a minimum of 32 points overall: A*AA = 7,6,6 at HL; AAA = 6,6,6 at HL |
| GCSEs | English and Mathematics at grade 4 or above are generally required; some courses ask for more (Medicine asks for grade 6/B in English, Maths and the sciences) |
| English language | IELTS 6 Example: Computer Science BSc asks for IELTS 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5. Requirements vary by course. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine and Dentistry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal consideration date for most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses; the Birmingham MBChB page confirms 15 October 2026 for September 2027 entry.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applies to all other undergraduate courses. Applications received by 30 June 2027 are still forwarded but considered only if places remain.
Dates are UCAS's published 2027-entry deadlines. After 30 June 2027 applications go into Clearing, which opens on 2 July 2027.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS (up to five choices, one personal statement, one reference). Medicine and Dentistry applicants must also sit the UCAT and attend an interview if invited.
What admissions looks for
- Predicted or achieved grades that meet the course's typical offer, including named subjects (for example A-level Mathematics for Computer Science, Chemistry for Medicine).
- For IB applicants, performance in the three Higher Level subjects matters most, with at least 32 points overall.
- GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 or above as a baseline of literacy and numeracy.
- For Medicine: UCAT performance, interview performance and being at least 18 by 1 October of the year of entry because of clinical placements.
Tips for applying to Birmingham
- 1 If you are applying to Medicine or Dentistry, book the UCAT for summer 2026 and submit your UCAS application by 15 October 2026.
- 2 IB students should focus on the three HL grades named in the offer; the 32-point total is a floor, not the main target.
- 3 Firm Birmingham on UCAS and apply for accommodation before the Guarantee Scheme deadline (30 June for UK students, 31 July for international students in the 2026 cycle) to secure a first-year room.
- 4 Check each course page for required subjects and GCSE conditions; Medicine, for example, does not accept General Studies, Critical Thinking or the EPQ as a third A-level.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in GBP
UK undergraduates can borrow the full tuition fee and a maintenance loan through the Student Loans Company, and the university offers additional scholarships, grants and bursaries. International applicants can apply for region-specific High Fliers Undergraduate Scholarships; the university says more than 7.5 million pounds in scholarships is available to international students.
- More than 7.5 million pounds
- Scholarship funding for international students
- To be confirmed by the university
- Home fee for 2027 entry
Academics
Sport and Exercise Sciences
Sport is Birmingham's highest-ranked subject, in the global top 10 of the QS 2026 subject rankings.
Medicine and Surgery MBChB
Medicine is in the QS 2026 top 100 and the course combines UCAT-based selection with early clinical placements in the West Midlands.
Dentistry
Ranked in the QS 2026 top 50 for Dentistry.
Computer Science BSc
First in the Russell Group for Computer Science in the National Student Survey 2026 and BCS-accredited.
English and Theology
Both sit in the QS 2026 top 50, supported by the Cadbury Research Library's rare books and manuscripts.
Research
- The university reports 1 billion pounds in competitive research awards won over four years.
- The Cadbury Research Library holds more than 200,000 rare books and around 4 million manuscripts.
- The Barber Institute of Fine Arts and the Lapworth Museum of Geology are both on the Edgbaston campus.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts and Law
- College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences
- College of Medicine and Health
- College of Social Sciences
80 percent of 2024 graduates were in graduate-level employment or further study 15 months after graduating (Graduate Outcomes, as reported by the university).
Student life
Most first-years live in university villages close to campus, the largest being The Vale, a lakeside village of around 3,500 students with its own shops and bars. Campus life centres on the Guild of Students, the Aston Webb buildings and the green spaces around Chancellor's Court, and the University railway station on campus puts the city centre a few minutes away. The student body is broad: 85 percent of home undergraduates come from state schools and 30 percent are the first in their family to go to university.
- The Vale village houses about 3,500 students around a lake, with catered and self-catered options.
- The Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, Old Joe, is described as the world's tallest free-standing clock tower.
- The Barber Institute of Fine Arts and the Lapworth Museum of Geology are on campus.
- The Guild of Students runs the students' union, societies and student-led events on campus.
Housing. First-years are guaranteed university accommodation if they firm Birmingham, meet their offer conditions and apply before the Guarantee Scheme deadline.
Location
Birmingham is the UK's second-largest city, young and diverse, with a big food and music scene and fast rail links to London and the rest of the country. The university sits in leafy Edgbaston, south-west of the centre, and has its own railway station, so the city centre is a short train ride away. Living costs are generally lower than in London.
Nearest airport: Birmingham Airport (BHX)
Notable alumni
- PN Paul NurseNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2001; BSc in Biology from Birmingham
- MW Maurice WilkinsNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1962 for work on the structure of DNA; PhD in Physics from Birmingham
- MI Mo IbrahimMobile telecoms entrepreneur and founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation
- JR Jim RatcliffeFounder and chief executive of the chemicals group Ineos
- VW Victoria WoodComedian, writer and actress
- TC Tim CurryActor and singer
- SB Simon Le BonLead singer of Duran Duran
- MJ Mike JacksonFormer Chief of the General Staff, head of the British Army
Frequently asked questions
What is the University of Birmingham's QS ranking for 2027?
Birmingham is 68th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and equal 10th in the UK, its highest position in a decade according to the university.
When is the application deadline for Birmingham in 2027?
For most courses it is the UCAS equal consideration deadline of 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time. Medicine and Dentistry applications must be in by 15 October 2026.
What IB score do you need for Birmingham?
Birmingham sets IB offers mainly on three Higher Level grades, for example 7,6,6 for an A*AA course or 6,6,6 for AAA, with a minimum of 32 points overall.
How much are tuition fees at Birmingham?
UK students starting in 2026 pay 9,790 pounds for the first year; the 2027-entry fee has not yet been confirmed. International fees vary by course: for 2026 entry, for example, 32,160 pounds for Computer Science and 32,580 to 52,080 pounds a year for Medicine; 2027 international fees are still to be confirmed.
Does Birmingham guarantee accommodation for first-year students?
Yes, provided you firm Birmingham on UCAS, meet the terms of your offer and apply for accommodation by the Guarantee Scheme deadline.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- University of Birmingham news: QS World University Rankings 2027 (68th)
- University of Birmingham league tables
- THE World University Rankings 2026: University of Birmingham
- University of Birmingham: Our community
- University of Birmingham: Undergraduate tuition fees
- University of Birmingham: Undergraduate fees and funding
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Birmingham in the QS World University Rankings 2027.