In the QS World University Rankings, the University of Birmingham improved from 91st in 2023 to 84th in 2024 and 80th in 2025.
Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed it at 108th in 2023, 101st in 2024, and 90th in 2025.
The U.S. News Best Global Universities ranked it 94th in 2025. Subject-wise, it secured the 6th position in Sports, 22nd in Dentistry, 26th in English, and a top 50 ranking in Theology and Anatomy.
University of Birmingham Rankings 2022-25
University rankings offer valuable insights into an institution's strengths, helping you align your academic and career goals with the right university.
Below is a table summarizing the University of Birmingham's positions in major global rankings from 2023 to 2025:
Ranking Bodies
Ranking 2023
Ranking 2024
Ranking 2025
QS World University Rankings
91
84
80
Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings
108
101
93
U.S News & Reports Ranking
N/A
N/A
94
The numbers highlight the University of Birmingham’s consistent rise in global rankings. The following visual representation provides a clearer view of this upward trend.
The University of Birmingham has shown a steady improvement in global rankings over the past three years. In the QS World University Rankings, it advanced from 91st in 2023 to 80th in 2025, reflecting its growing academic reputation.
Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings also highlight this progress, with the university climbing from 108th in 2023 to 90th in 2025. In the U.S. News & World Report Rankings, the university ranks at 94th place in 2025.
These rankings reflect the University of Birmingham's consistent performance and reputation in the global academic community.
Subject-Wise Ranking of University of Birmingham 2025
The University of Birmingham ranks among the top globally in multiple disciplines. It holds the 6th position in Sports and a top 50 ranking in Theology and Anatomy in QS Subject Rankings.
In THE rankings, Psychology stands at 70th, while Engineering is within the top 100. U.S. News ranks the university's Physics program at 48th and Surgery at 26th.
These subject-wise rankings highlight its academic strength across research-intensive and applied fields.
QS Rankings 2025
The University of Birmingham excels in QS subject rankings, securing the 6th spot in Sports and the 22nd in Dentistry. It also ranks within the top 50 in Theology and Anatomy, while Performing Arts stands at 49th.
Below is a table highlighting the University of Birmingham's subject-specific rankings in the QS World University Rankings by Subject:
In THE rankings, the university ranks 70th in Psychology and within the top 100 in Engineering. Arts and Humanities perform well at 63rd, while Education is positioned at 73rd globally.
Based on the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, the University of Birmingham's subject-wise rankings are as follows:
Subject Area
Ranking 2025
Arts and Humanities
63rd
Business and Economics
101–125th
Clinical and Health
66th
Computer Science
176–200th
Education
73rd
Engineering
96th
Law
101–125th
Life Sciences
101–125th
Physical Sciences
101–125th
Psychology
70th
Social Sciences
126–150th
U.S. News Rankings 2025
U.S. News places Surgery at 26th and Physics at 48th, showcasing its research strength. Clinical Medicine ranks 65th, while Economics and Business stand at 101st, reflecting its balanced academic reputation.
According to the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings, the University of Birmingham's subject rankings are as follows:
These rankings underscore the University of Birmingham's strengths across a diverse range of academic disciplines.
Miscellaneous Ranking 2025
The University of Birmingham has achieved notable positions in various rankings for 2025, reflecting its commitment to sustainability, diversity, and community engagement.
Below is a table summarizing these achievements:
Ranking Bodies
Ranking
Description
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025
38th
This ranking evaluates universities on their environmental and social impact, assessing their commitment to sustainability.
People & Planet University League 2024
68th
An independent ranking of UK universities based on environmental and ethical performance.
The University of Birmingham's 38th position in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025 highlights its strong global commitment to addressing environmental and social challenges.
In the People & Planet University League 2024, the university is ranked 68th among UK institutions, indicating room for improvement in specific areas of environmental and ethical performance.
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University of Birmingham: Excellence and Achievements
The University of Birmingham has been awarded a 2:2 rating in the People and Planet University League, marking a 51-place rise from previous results.
This recognition highlights the University of Birmingham's commitment to fostering an environment that supports academic achievement, community engagement, and cultural development.
University of Birmingham: Ranking vs. Acceptance Rate
The University of Birmingham has an overall acceptance rate of approximately 13%, reflecting its selective admissions process.
Below is a comparison of the university's QS World Rankings by program alongside their respective acceptance rates:
Program
QS World Ranking 2025
Acceptance Rate
Overall University
80th
13%
Dentistry
22nd
English
26th
Theology
Top 50
This data underscores the University of Birmingham's strong global standing across various disciplines, coupled with its competitive admissions process.
Ranking Methodologies
Different ranking bodies assess universities using distinct methodologies, prioritizing factors such as academic reputation, research output, faculty quality, and student outcomes.
While QS emphasizes employer reputation and international diversity, Times Higher Education (THE) places more weight on research impact and teaching.
U.S. News & World Report ranks institutions based on research performance, graduation rates, and faculty resources.
QS World University Rankings
QS World University Rankings assess universities based on six major indicators, with academic reputation (30%) and research citations per faculty (20%) carrying the most weight.
Employer reputation is also a key factor, accounting for 15%, highlighting how well graduates are perceived in the job market.
Additionally, QS considers global engagement, faculty-student ratio, and sustainability, reflecting a university’s overall influence in education and research.
Focus Area
Indicators
Weightage
Research and Discovery
Academic Reputation
30%
Citations per Faculty
20%
Employability and Outcomes
Employer Reputation
15%
Employment Outcomes
5%
Global Engagement
International Faculty Ratio
5%
International Research Network
5%
International Student Ratio
5%
International Student Diversity
0%
Learning Experience
Faculty Student Ratio
10%
Sustainability
Sustainability
5%
Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings
THE Rankings evaluate institutions across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry engagement. Research reputation (18%) and citation impact (15%) are the most influential metrics, demonstrating a university’s contribution to global knowledge.
Focus Area
Indicators
Weightage
Teaching
Teaching Reputation
15%
Staff-to-student ratio
4.5%
Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio
2%
Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio
5.5%
Institutional income
2.5%
Research Environment
Research reputation
18%
Research income
5.5%
Research productivity
5.5%
Research Quality
Citation impact
15%
Research strength
5%
Research excellence
5%
Research influence
5%
International Outlook
Proportion of international students
2.5%
Proportion of international staff
2.5%
International collaboration
2.5%
Industry
Industry income
2%
Patents
2%
U.S. News & World Report Rankings
U.S. News & World Report rankings prioritize research performance, faculty resources, and student success. Peer assessment (20%) and research impact play a crucial role in determining global rankings.
Graduation rates (16%) and first-year retention rates (5%) indicate student outcomes, while faculty salaries and full-time faculty ratios reflect institutional support.
Focus Indicators
Weightage
Graduation Rates
16%
First-year retention rates
5%
Graduation rate performance
10%
Pell graduation rates
5.5%
Pell graduation performance
5.5%
College grads earning more than a high school grad
5%
Borrower debt
5%
Peer assessment
20%
Financial resources
8%
Faculty salaries
8%
Full-time faculty
3%
Student-faculty ratio
4%
Standardized tests
5%
Each ranking body offers a unique perspective, emphasizing different aspects of university performance. Understanding these methodologies can help you make informed decisions when comparing institutions.
The University of Birmingham has steadily improved in global rankings, climbing from
91st in QS 2023 to 80th in QS 2025
and from 108th in THE 2023 to 90th in THE 2025.
In the U.S. News ranking the university stands at 94th place in 2025.
Subject-wise, it holds 6th in Sports (QS), 22nd in Dentistry (QS), and 26th in English (QS), reinforcing its academic strengths. Its 38th position in QS Sustainability Rankings 2025 reflects its growing environmental commitments.
While these rankings position Birmingham among top institutions, continued progress in research impact and subject-specific performance will be key to further strengthening its global reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does the University of Birmingham compare to the University of Manchester in the Medicine program?
The University of Birmingham ranks #66, while the University of Manchester ranks #48 in the THE World University Rankings for Medicine. Manchester holds a higher global standing, reflecting its strength in biomedical research and medical innovation.
What is the standing of University of Birmingham in scientific research?
The University of Birmingham ranks in the 151-200 range globally in the ARWU (Shanghai Rankings), highlighting its scientific innovation, interdisciplinary research, and industry collaborations.
How strong are the University of Birmingham’s graduate employability outcomes?
The University of Birmingham ranks #169 globally and #11 in the UK for employability (THE Global Employability Rankings). This reflects its strong industry connections, career support, and high graduate success rates.
Is the University of Birmingham Prestigious Nationally?
The 2025 Complete University Guide ranks the University of Birmingham 12th in the UK, highlighting its strong national reputation. Its ranking places it among the country’s top institutions, reinforcing its academic excellence and prestige.
How does the University of Birmingham stand in Global Rankings?
The 2025 QS World University Rankings place the University of Birmingham at 80th globally, reflecting its strong international reputation. This ranking highlights its excellence in research, academic quality, and global engagement.
Which University Ranks Higher for Engineering Programs: University of Birmingham or University of Southampton?
In the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the University of Birmingham's Engineering program is ranked 96th, while the University of Southampton's Engineering program holds the 82nd position. This suggests that Southampton's Engineering program is ranked higher than Birmingham's.
What is the University of Birmingham’s ranking for Dentistry in 2025?
In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, Dentistry at the University of Birmingham ranks 22nd globally. This strong placement reflects its research output and academic reputation in the field.
Where does the University of Birmingham rank for Psychology in 2025?
The University of Birmingham ranks 70th in THE and 58th in QS for Psychology in 2025. These rankings highlight its strong research, faculty, and student performance in the discipline.
Is University of Birmingham a top-tiered institute in the UK?
The 2025 Guardian Ranking places Birmingham at #36, while the Complete University Guide ranks it #13, reflecting a strong reputation in the UK. While it is a highly regarded university, it does not hold the same elite status as Oxford or Cambridge.
What is the University of Birmingham’s ranking for Physics in 2025?
The U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025 ranks Physics at 48th globally. This ranking reflects the university’s impactful contributions to physics research, faculty expertise, and academic performance.
What is the acceptance rate of University of Birmingham for different programs?
While the University of Birmingham’s overall acceptance rate is around 13%, competitive programs such as Medicine, Law, and Business have lower acceptance rates due to high demand. In contrast, some STEM and humanities programs may have relatively higher acceptance rates based on application volume and program capacity.
All information provided on this page is for general use and upGrad Abroad is not responsible for any errors or omissions. Any action taken upon the information found on this website is strictly at your own risk.
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