University of Birmingham rises to 97th in world rankings

The University of Birmingham has been ranked 97th in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, up one place on last year.

The rankings, published on Tuesday, assessed 2,297 universities from around the world, making it one of the largest global league tables.

In the top 100 of both major tables

Birmingham is also in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings, where it is placed 68th in the world and joint tenth in the UK.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adam Tickell, said: "We are proud to be one of only a small number of UK universities ranked in the global top 100 of both the THE and QS world university rankings."

How the rankings work

The Times Higher Education rankings judge universities on five areas:

• teaching and the learning environment
• research environment, including volume, income and reputation
• research quality, including how often research is cited by other scholars
• knowledge transfer, including work with industry
• international outlook, including international staff, students and research collaboration

Because research makes up a large part of the score, the rankings tend to favour large, research-intensive universities. Smaller institutions that focus on teaching can do very well in national tables but rarely appear near the top of global ones.

A strong year

The ranking caps a successful year for the university. It was named Daily Mail University of the Year 2027, Sport University of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, and it was runner-up for University of the Year in that guide. It also rose to 14th in the Guardian University Guide and is ranked 12th in the UK in The Times and Sunday Times guide.

A University of Birmingham professor, Luke Kennard, is on the shortlist for this year's Booker Prize, and the university has been shortlisted for University of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards, which will be decided in November.

Why rankings matter

International rankings influence where students, particularly from overseas, choose to study, and where academics choose to work. They can also affect a university's ability to form partnerships and attract research funding.

However, many experts warn that rankings measure only some aspects of a university and should not be the only thing students consider. Course content, teaching quality, student support, location and cost all matter.

The university and the city

The University of Birmingham, founded in 1900 as England's first civic university, is one of the largest employers in the city. Its Edgbaston campus, with the Chamberlain clock tower known as Old Joe at its centre, is home to tens of thousands of students and staff, and its research covers everything from medicine and engineering to the arts.

The university works closely with the city's hospitals, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital next to its campus, and with businesses and community organisations across Birmingham.

International students

International students make an important contribution to Birmingham's economy, spending money in the city and helping to fund teaching and research. Universities across the UK have warned that changes to visa rules and recruitment have put pressure on their finances.

Other universities in the city

Birmingham's other universities have also had strong years in national league tables. Birmingham Newman University was named University of the Year for Teaching Quality by The Times and Sunday Times, and Birmingham City University rose 14 places in the same guide. Aston University is known for the high earnings of its graduates and for its links with industry.