Study Here Students Staff Alumni Business and Industry Research Undergraduate and Postgraduate Prospectus Why choose Birmingham? Fees and Finance Our Campus Accommodation International Students Communications Facilities News and Events

Research excellence

Birmingham is a research-rich university, with academic staff who are global experts in their field. Whether you take a taught programme or pursue a research degree, you will be studying with people whose work pushes forward the boundaries of their subject.

Our outstanding research record was demonstrated in the last national Research Assessment Exercise, in which 32 subject areas were awarded the top 5 or 5* ratings, denoting research of international excellence. More than 700 of our academics were judged to be of international standing, with a further 190 acknowledged as national leaders in their field. Seven subject areas subsequently received the highest possible accolade of 6* status for consistent 5* ratings over ten years.

Research at Birmingham is outward-looking and collaborative. We actively encourage interdisciplinary research that cuts across traditional subject boundaries and explores the connections between them. Learn more about research at Birmingham.

Teaching quality

Our teaching is regularly reviewed and achieves high scores and commendations. In 46 reviews undertaken by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education every department reviewed scored maximum points for the quality of its student support and guidance.

Research excellence enhances our teaching and your learning. Many of those who teach are also undertaking research at the leading edge of their field, and this ensures that the latest knowledge is integrated into our taught postgraduate programmes.

We aim to help you learn in the way that best suits you, and we have state-of-the-art learning tools and facilities available to support you. Birmingham is at the forefront of the development of new learning technologies, spearheaded by our Centre for Educational Technology and Distance Learning, a world leader in e-learning research and development.

Career prospects

Birmingham postgraduates are highly sought after by employers and, on average, 96% find employment six months after leaving the University. Top companies such as Accenture, Corus, Deloitte, Procter & Gamble and Unilever regularly visit the University and are keen to attract our graduates and postgraduates. Our long-standing links with business and industry mean that our research students are ideally placed to find commercial applications for their research.

Our careers team can offer you guidance and support at any time during your study. Their services include one-to-one advice, careers fairs and workshops, information on vacancies and skills training sessions tailor-made for postgraduates. Learn more about the career planning services we offer.

An international university

The University welcomes people from all over the world, and is currently home to more than 4,000 international students from 147 countries. Over half of these students are postgraduates, adding to the rich diversity of our research community. We provide a strong and specialised network of support for international students, helping you to settle in and get the best out of your stay in Birmingham. Learn more about what we offer international students.

We have active links with other universities across the world and our postgraduates have opportunities to join international research partnerships. As a founder member of Universitas 21, a global network of 20 research-led universities, we can provide support for postgraduates with suitable research projects to visit partner universities in Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden and the USA.

Facilities and resources

We continually invest in our teaching and learning environment, enhancing our facilities and resources to enable you to get the most out of your time here.

Over the last five years we have invested £225 million in new equipment, buildings and staff. Major capital developments include a new £16.4 million building and research facilities for our School of Sport and Exercise Sciences; the £20 million relocation and refurbishment of our Business School; and a new £11.5 student facilities building in our Medical School.

We have an extensive programme for the refurbishment of existing lecture theatres and seminar rooms, and are equipping our student group study rooms with PCs and a full range of audio equipment. We have recently invested £6 million on recruiting additional academic and research staff to ensure that you receive top quality teaching and research supervision.

The campus

Our Edgbaston campus is green and spacious, with a wide range of facilities on its 250-acre site.

Its central courtyard, late-Victorian buildings and fine works of sculpture make it a place to enjoy. With shops, cafés, banks, a doctor's surgery, dental practice and railway station, it has all the amenities of a busy town.

Adding to the quality of life on campus is the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, which has been described as one of the finest small art galleries in the world. Winner of the Good Britain Guide Art Gallery of the Year award in 2004, the Barber features major works by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Rubens, Degas, Picasso, Turner and Van Gogh, and also hosts regular musical events.

The Guild of Students is the focus of social life on campus and offers a dedicated forum for postgraduates and mature students. Learn more about the Guild of Students.

» Postgraduate 2007 home
» A–Z of programmes and research areas

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3344