The University of Birmingham (informally known as UoB or simply Birmingham) is a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is a member of both the Russell Group of British research universities and the international network of research-intensive universities, Universitas 21. The university was ranked 15th in the UK and 76th in Europe in the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It was also ranked 2nd in Europe for employability according to the 2018 Global Employability Ranking. In 2019, Birmingham was named University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Birmingham has an excellent reputation for teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines. The 2013 Research Excellence Framework assessment placed it 8th among UK institutions for the quality (4*) of its research output, with particular strength in areas such as history, English literature, languages, education, law, politics & international studies, sociology & social policy and business & management.
The university’s origins date back to 1825 with the founding of Queen’s College by royal charter. Queen’s was one of three colleges established in Birmingham at around that time;the others were Mason Science College (now part of Aston University) and King Edward’s School (now King Edward VI High School for Girls). In 1882 these three colleges came together to form birmingham Municipal Technical School which offered higher education courses from 1908 onwards.. In 1900 Sir Josiah Mason financed extension work which resulted in large new buildings being added to the north and south endsof what is now called Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower Square.. These were followed by another gift from Lady Darnley which added Eastbourne Houseand provided much needed student accommodation.. On 1 July 1905 Mason Science College formally became part ofthe newly incorporated BirmingamUniversity as Mason University Collegewith Joseph Chamberlain becoming its first Chancellor.. Ten years laterEdward Elgarwas appointed Professor Of Music atMason while working on his masterpiece The Dream Of Gerontiusand during this period he helped foundthe Midland Orchestrawhich gave regular concerts inthe city.. In 1908Cecil Frances Alexanderwrote All Things Bright And Beautifulwhile livingat 4 Wesleyan Mansionson campus.. Despite initially specializingin medicineengineeringphysicsandchemistryteaching began infine artshumanitieslawand divinityas early as 1909–10 when classesfor womenwere introduced(men being allowedto studyonly engineeringuntil 1912)making it one otthe earliestcamps ustobetter reflect societyat large ratherthanjust focussingon specific professionsor skill sets . From 1911 onwardsthere have been several mergerswith other localinstitutions mostnotably withBirminghamMedicalSchoolin 1913 giving rise tothe Faculty Of Medicine And Dentistry . During World War Istudents volunteeredfor military service with over 600 losing their lives but afterthis tragic lossnumbers increasedagain reachingover 3200by 1919/20 . By 1925 therewere over 2000 staff members workingacross 36departments making itoneofthelargest employers inthe region .. After WWIIplans were put forwardto move outofcentral Birminghamprimarilybecauseofthe lackof available land butthis proposalwas rejected due tomajor financialproblems within thenewly formedNational Health Service(NHS) .. This ledto areorganisationof medical provisionlocally whichsawanextensionofthenewQueen ElizabethHospitalbeing built adjacenttothe campus alongwith anotherold hospitalbecoming a teaching facilityknown asthesite hospital . As aresultclinical provisionmoved awayfromthemain siteleaving moredepartmentsbasedthere .. From1957 onwardsthree morecolleges had beenestablishedin Birmighamincreasing competitionfor studentsbut thisdid not stopthenumbersof those enrollingreachingover 16000by 1964/65 makingitoneOf themostpopulousuniversitiesintheworldat that time!Due toboth internal reorganisationAnd external factorssuch ashousing shortagesandreducedgovernment funding growthslowed down significantlyduringthe 1970sBut accelerated againfrom 1980 onwardswith particularly rapid expansionduringthe 1990s whenseveral newbuildings we erectedincluding anewlibraryIn spite offrequent criticismthatItIs “sprawling”TheUniversityclaimsand independentstudyhas verifiedthatItIs “compact”With all academicdepartmentssituatedWithin 500metersOf each other!Today thereare around 29000Undergraduate And 7500Postgraduate students enrolledAtBirminghamAcrossa wide varietyOf differentsubject AreasWithover 3800Academic staff providingteachingAndresearch opportunitiesFor all To enjoy