The University of Birmingham has over 100 years of challenging academic minds but with all this experience one thing often asked is, is it a Russell Group university?
Founded in 1900 as the UK’s first civic university, today it is a truly global institution and a vibrant international community, employing 8,500 staff, teaching more than 38,000 students, and with over 35,000 alumni.
Is Birmingham A Russell Group University?
Yes, the University of Birmingham is in the Russell Group.
The Russell Group is a catch-all term for a group of universities with a shared focus on research and a reputation for academic achievement.
The group was started in 1994 and was made up of 17 universities – including the original six red brick universities that were started in the Victorian era and based in cities that were big industrial powerhouses following the Industrial Revolution.
Now the group consists of 24 universities:
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- Cardiff University
- Durham University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Exeter
- University of Glasgow
- Imperial College London
- King’s College London
- University of Leeds
- University of Liverpool
- London School of Economics & Political Science
- University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford
- Queen Mary, University of London
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University College London
- University of Warwick
- University of York
But does it actually make a difference? Well, lots of universities choose not to apply to be part of the group, however, a careers adviser for The Uni Guide, Gill Sharp, said: ‘By banding together, Russell Group universities are able to put more funding, contracts, grants and awards their way. Why does that matter to you? Because success breeds success.
‘With more money to invest in research and other projects, the knock-on effect is that these unis are better equipped to attract the top staff and students, which then further cements their academic prestige.’
Is Birmingham a good university?
League tables and rankings are one way to look at how ‘good’ a university is, another is asking the people who experienced it what they think.
Birmingham has been given a total of 4.5 stars out of five on the Student Crowd after receiving more 376 student reviews – though, rankings do come in again as this meant it was ranked fifth out of the 140 UK unis.
Most reviews praise the aesthetic of the campus, professional teaching staff, and facilities on offer – taken from reviews in the last six months when written. One student wrote: ‘The business school is brilliant and the staff are friendly and helping.’
Another said: ‘I value the opportunities that the university has given me to learn from the world-leading academics and meet other like-minded students.’
Others commented on the living spaces available for students and the social aspects including the wide variety of societies and student nights.
One thing that shines through in many reviews is the multicultural community Birmingham has and the facilities the city has close by for students.
WhatUni reviews from students complimented the ‘endless’ opportunities the university has for students as one person who’s currently enrolled on the Civil Engineering BEng (Hons) course said: ‘The opportunities as a UOB student are endless, constantly getting emails about events and extra curriculars that I can participate in is so exciting.
‘I’m in my first year here and I’ve already been offered the opportunity to study abroad, fully funded over the summer and there’s so many more similar opportunities. The campus is a lovely environment and everyone is so friendly; genuinely has become one of my happy places.’
What is the ranking of University of Birmingham?
The University of Birmingham may not be the oldest in the world but it is a founding member of the Russell Group and has been ranked as one of the top 100 universities in the world.
Birmingham is ranked 90th in the QS World University Rankings 2022, maintaining its position in the top 100 universities globally and placing it 14th amongst UK universities.
Not only this, but according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings Birmingham is positioned 105th out of 1,400 universities across the globe, and 12th out of the 100 UK universities ranked. The rankings use 13 performance indicators to provide a comprehensive and balanced comparison between institutions.
Birmingham has even ranked in the US, according to the US News and World Report: Best Global Universities Birmingham went and ranked an impressive 91st in the world out of more than 1,500 universities across 81 other countries that are considered in the table. Out of the 87 UK universities ranked in this list Birmingham was placed 9th.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University World Rankings also ranked Birmingham as being in the top 101 – 150 (calculated rank 126th) out of 500 universities, this meant it was established as 12th out of the 36 UK universities to appear in the top 500 on their list.
On the Complete University Guide for 2022/2023 intake Birmingham went up five places from the previous year to the 14th spot with an overall score of 77%.
How many Universities in Birmingham?
Although it’s a top university University of Birmingham might not be what you’re looking for, even if the city of Birmingham is. If that’s the case you’re in luck UOB isn’t the only one – there are five universities in Birmingham city.
Alongside UOB there’s:
- Ashton University
- Birmingham City University
- Newman University
- University College Birmingham
University College Birmingham is affiliated with the University of Birmingham, which awards all its undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The university college specialises in the areas of hospitality and the culinary arts, hairdressing and beauty, tourism, business, marketing, accounting, sports management and more.
Newman University is a Catholic University, but welcomes students of all religions and backgrounds and is based on the outskirts of the city. The uni is known for its quality courses and for having one of the best graduate employment rates of UK colleges and universities.
Aston began as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School in 1895, evolving into the UK’s first College of Advanced Technology in 1956. Now the uni is best known for its leading business courses as it is currently top 100 in the World for Business and Management in the 2020 QS World Subject Rankings and top 200 for Accounting and Finance in the same publication.