Birmingham ranked 84th in the world
Birmingham has risen seven places to become the 84th top ranked University globally, in the 2023 QS World University Rankings. All five faculty areas improved their standing, giving the University a total of 22 Top 100 subjects.
• Life Sciences and Medicine rose 31 places to 62.
• Arts and Humanities placed at 65 – a rise of 12 places.
• Sport, Dentistry, English, Theology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Linguistics all improved their standing in the Top 50. Sport rose one place to 6th position and Dentistry rose two places to 22nd.
• Pharmacy, Materials Science and Politics moved into the Top 100.
In addition, Birmingham graduates are the third most sought after by top employers (2023 High Fliers report), and five subjects at Birmingham were ranked in the UK's top ten by the Complete University Guide: Physiotherapy, Creative Writing, Tourism, Transport Travel and Heritage Studies, Physics and Astronomy, and Social Policy.
Read more about the QS World University Rankings.
Free legal advice for those in need
Many of those who need legal advice urgently are the least able to afford it; from people fleeing abusive relationships, to those affected by environmental disasters.
Law students have provided hundreds of hours of free legal advice this year. These projects have supported victims of fraud, people with learning disabilities, people wrongfully convicted, environmental campaigners and a local women’s refuge, with advice on everything from rights in hospital to housing.
The work helps students understand the emotional and ethical elements of the law, and the programme continues to expand to further support entrepreneurs, including start-ups, micro-enterprises and community organisations doing arts, faith and youth work.
Helping governments mitigate climate change
Birmingham’s environmental researchers are advising how to mitigate and adapt to climate change at COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in November. Birmingham's Dubai campus is hosting a range of events around the conference.
Climate change is already affecting everything from our health to our food. Birmingham’s recommendations include:
• A plan for dealing with pollution from tyres and brakes
• E-bikes have the potential to be even better for our environment than electric vehicles
• Better early warning systems for flooding
• Fuel our trains with green hydrogen instead of diesel
• Do not overspecialise in crop varieties, to reduce the risks and impact of climate-induced crop failure
Read more about the University of Birmingham at COP28.
The first university-led student recovery programme in Europe
University life can present a variety of challenges to recovery from addiction to drugs, alcohol or behaviours such as gambling. Better Than Well (BTW), Birmingham's addiction recovery programme, offers everything from sober social events to a 'recovery flat', where students with different addictions live together and support each other.
While around 150 American universities have something like this, this is the first university-led programme in Europe. Supported by a philanthropic gift and the University, BTW supports around 50 students, focusing on positive recovery and wellbeing.
One student says: 'BTW welcomed me into their group with no judgement. That compassion keeps me sober. Now I get to have more in my life than just simply managing.'
Read more student stories of recovery.