Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 2TT

Tel 0121 415 8900

admissions@bham.ac.uk

www.bham.ac.uk

Sunday Times ranking 23 (28)

Teaching excellence 64.7%

Student satisfaction 74.7%

Head teacher ranking 9 (16)

Peer ranking 24 (27)

Research quality 61%

A/AS-level points 404

A-levels for entry 81%

Unemployment 6.2%

Firsts and 2:1s 69.6%

Student/staff ratio 14.9:1

Dropout rate 6% (8%)

World ranking 90=

Undergraduates 16,485 (2,280)

Postgraduates 5,437 (6,523)

Teaching staff 1,282

Applications/places 40,322/5,263; 7.7:1 (+1.5%)

Clearing entry 4.4%

Bursaries 26%: £840

Scholarships Various: £1,000-£1,260

EU/overseas 2.6%/9.5%

Mature 11.6%

State school 77%

Lowest social classes 20%

Low-participation areas 9%

Live in 40% (95%) £74-£135

Just like the school captain, Birmingham is rather good at most things. One of our so-called redbrick universities, it is more accurately a fusion of its late Victorian origins and the ultramodern, all housed on a leafy 200-acre campus. With more than 20,000 full-time students and almost half as many again part-time, it is one of the biggest universities in Britain and one for which places are at a premium. Boosted by a top 10 ranking from leading head teachers, there were more than 40,000 applications last year and the numbers were up again for 2007 entry.

Teaching excellence is underpinned by a research profile that saw research in 32 subject areas rated of international class in all or part during the last assessments in 2001. Birmingham, one of the Russell Group of 20 research-led universities, hopes for even better results when the next ratings are published in 2008.

The university’s strength in science has been confirmed in the past year by a £6m grant to set up an atom research centre jointly with the University of Nottingham, plus a £6.3m grant to develop the use of hydrogen as a green fuel.

Sports science is one of Birmingham’s top-rated (5*) research areas and a £16.4m school of sport and exercise sciences was opened by Dame Kelly Holmes in June, the largest purpose-built facility of its kind in the UK.

Birmingham recruits almost one in four of its students from independent schools, but is aware of the need to widen access. Accordingly, last year 17 bursaries ranging from £1,000 to £1,500 were offered to those from the poorest financial backgrounds.

The university owns accommodation for more than 3,500 undergraduates and this city of canals now has so many waterside clubs and pubs that you cannot fail to end up beside one.

Open days Contact the university.

Student view Gary Hughes, guild of students’ president:

USP Our campus is a little island in Birmingham. You won’t want to leave.

Worst feature Because of all the students living locally, community spirit suffers.

Location Everything is on your doorstep.

Social scene One of the best outside London.

Rated excellent (28) Allied health professions (physiotherapy); American studies; archeology; classics and ancient history; computer science; dentistry; economics; electrical and electronic engineering; English; geography; geology; history; history of art; hospitality, leisure, recreation, sport and tourism (sport and exercise science); Iberian languages and studies; Italian; maths, statistics and operational research; Middle Eastern and African studies; molecular biosciences; music; organismal biosciences; physics and astronomy; politics; psychology; Russian and eastern European languages and studies; sociology; teacher training; theology and religious studies.

Degree of student satisfaction: 74.7%

Economics 84.6; Mathematical Sciences 82.2; European Languages and Area studies 82.0; Human and Social Geography 81.9; History and Archeology 80.2; Politics 78.8; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 78.0; Sports Science 77.7; Physical Science 77.6; Biology and related Sciences 77.2; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 76.0; Electronic and Electric Engineering 74.7; Psychology 74.4; Media studies 74.1; Computer Science 74.0; Medical Science and Pharmacy 73.2; Performing Arts 72.0; Education studies 71.7; Other subjects allied to Medicine 71.0; Philosophy, Theology and Religious studies 70.4; English-based studies 70.3; Business 68.4; Social Work 68.0; Civil, Chemical and other Engineering 65.6; Medicine and Dentistry 62.7

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