Birmingham is one of the UK’s major cities; it is second only to London in terms of inner-city population and also has the second most populous metropolitan area in the UK. The city is known for its rich history as well as being an industrial hub since the 18th century that still acts as a leader in retail and trade. Birmingham is among England’s most visited places to shop and has plenty of world-class restaurants and stores. Also, Birmingham is a vibrant city that hosts over 50 festivals each year, including the Birmingham International Jazz Festival.

As a student city, Birmingham has a number of top-ranked universities and world-renowned learning institutions whose high-quality of education attracts both local and international students to live, study, and book Birmingham university accommodation. If you are headed to Birmingham to pursue an education, we’ve got the perfect list of the best unis in Birmingham for you to consider! 

Best Unis in Birmingham

Birmingham is gaining more traction as an educational destination; this is mainly owed to the high quality of education offered at Birmingham's top-ranked universities, renowned colleges, and internationally-recognised learning institutions. If you’re planning on pursuing an education in this city, here are the best unis in Birmingham to put into consideration!

University of Birmingham

Through world-leading research and one-of-a-kind teaching techniques, the University of Birmingham has been a pioneer in knowledge sharing for over a century. Considered one of the best unis in Birmingham, the University of Birmingham has a number of schools and colleges that work to provide both local and international students with a high quality of education across a variety of disciplines, these colleges include the following: 

• College of Arts and Law

• College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

• College of Life and Environmental Sciences

• College of Medical and Dental Sciences

• College of Social Sciences

• Birmingham Business School

• Institute of Applied Health Research 

• Birmingham Institute for Forest Research (BIFoR)

• Institute of Translational Medicine

• Alan Walters Building

• High-Temperature Research Centre (HTRC)

The university’s numbers include 8,000 staff, 38,000 students, and over 300,000 alumni. The University of Birmingham boasts a highly-equipped campus with a number of useful facilities and resources, including a library, a media centre, and health and counselling support. Additionally, this university has a diverse and inclusive environment and a welcoming atmosphere for people from all walks of life. It is considered the best university in Birmingham. 

Casita offers Birmingham university student accommodation in close proximity to this campus. The Casita-offered housing facilities come fully furnished and fitted with everything you might need as a student. Some of those housing facilities include the following:

• 800 Bristol Road

• Battery Park Unite

Birmingham City University

This is one of the best unis in Birmingham with over 29,000 students from around 100 different countries. Birmingham City University offers its students, both local and international, a high-quality education across different fields of study. You can apply at BCU for undergraduate courses, postgraduate courses, postgraduate research, foundation courses, short courses, apprenticeships, and distance learning. The university has several faculties for you to choose from, including the following: 

• Faculty of Arts, Design, and Media

• Faculty of Computing, Engineering, and The Built Environment

• Faculty of Health, Education, and Life Sciences

• Faculty of Business, Law, and Social Sciences

The university has a vibrant campus life with several resources and facilities ready for you to use as well as several on-campus accommodation facilities. If you prefer to live off campus, however, you will find various options for Birmingham university student accommodation provided by Casita, here are some of them: 

• Jennens Court Unite

• Lakeside Unite

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University College Birmingham

Located in the heart of both the country and the city of Birmingham, University College Birmingham is a well-respected learning institution that is accredited by the University of Warwick, which is ranked 8th in the UK in The Guardian 2023 league table. As one of the best unis in Birmingham, you can apply there for undergraduate courses, postgraduate courses, and higher education apprenticeships. The fields in which you can earn a degree or take a part-time or full-time course include the following: 

• Aviation and Airport Management BA (Hons)/FdA

• Bakery and Patisserie Technology BSc (Hons)/FdSc

• Business and Finance Level 3 National Foundation/National Extended Diploma

• Business Enterprise BA (Hons)/FdA

• Computer Science BSc (Hons)/FdSc

• Cyber Security BSc (Hons)/FdSc

• Digital Marketing BA (Hons)/FdA

• Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons)

• Engineering Management MSc/PGDip

• Finance and Accounting BSc (Hons)/FdSc

University College Birmingham is fitted with a number of useful facilities and resources to guide you through your educational journey. These facilities include the following:

• Aviation and Tourism Suite

• Sports Facilities

• Prosthetics Suite

• Digital Creative Studio

• Financial Trading Suite

• Kitchen Facilities 

• Engineering and Construction Facilities

• Health Simulation Suite

• Spa

• Computer Facilities 

• Gym Facilities

• Library Services

• Learning Spaces

• Centre for Academic Skills and English

As for accommodation, not only does the university have its own accommodation facilities on campus, but you can also book Birmingham university student accommodation through Casita’s website and free services. Some of the offered accommodation options that you can check out include the ones below: 

• Kensington House

• Chamberlain Place

Newman University

Located in a quaint area just a few minutes away from the Birmingham City Centre, Newman University is one of the best unis in Birmingham accepting a wide range of both local and international students. This university is known for its good graduate employment rate as well as its courses and their relevancy to the modern world. Newman University has a friendly campus with a diverse and inclusive environment. The Faculty of Arts, Society, and Professional Studies and the Faculty of Education are this university’s two main faculties that offer courses in the following areas of study among others: 

• Accounting and Finance 

• Applied Arts and Humanities

• Business Management 

• Chapliancy 

• Computer Science

• Counselling and Psychotherapy

• Criminology 

• Drama

• Early Childhood Education and Care

• Health and Social Care

• Law

• Nursing and Health Care

• Sport

• History

This university provides its students with everything they might need during their study journey there. The services provided by Newman University include student support services, career services, e-learning, IT services, library services, a sports and fitness centre, and a student union among others. 

As for accommodation, you can either live in an on-campus residence hall or book Birmingham university student accommodation via Casita. Casita offers a wide range of accommodation options, which are fully furnished and come with a set of useful amenities and services, in close proximity to this university, here are a few of them: 

• Host Student Apartments 

• Oak Brook Park

Aston University

Another one from the list of best unis in Birmingham is Aston University. The university has a safe, inclusive, and diverse community that welcomes students from over 120 different countries. According to the Guardian University Guide, 2023, Aston University is ranked 22nd in the UK overall, 2nd in health profession courses, and 5th for construction courses. Additionally, the university’s graduates are among the highest-paid in the country as per the new data released by the Department for Education. Other notable Aston University rankings include the following:

• University of the Year, 2020 (The Guardian)

• Outstanding Entrepreneurial University, 2020 (Times Higher Education Awards)

• Buildings That Inspire: Aston Students' Union (The Guardian University Awards, 2020)

• Silver Athena SWAN award for impact towards gender equality

• Top 10 Students’ Union (2022 What Uni League Table)

• League table rank: 48th (Complete University Guide 2023)

• League table rank: 45th (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022)

At Aston University, you can apply for foundation programmes, postgraduate programmes, undergraduate programmes, degree apprenticeships, research degrees, and work-based degrees across a variety of subject areas, including the following: 

• Accounting and Finance

• Applied Chemistry

• Applied Molecular Biology

• Artificial Intelligence

• Biochemistry

• Biomedical Engineering

• Business Analytics

• Business and Management

• Civil Engineering

• Chemistry 

• Clinical Neurophysiology Practice

• Computer Science

• Digital Marketing 

• Healthcare Science

• Medicine 

The facilities and services offered by Aston University for its students include student support services, library services, food and drink facilities, clubs and societies, a student union, student well-being services, and international student support services among others. 

If you are looking for Birmingham university student accommodation and do not wish to live in an Aston University on-campus housing facility, you can check out the following properties that are offered by Casita in the area surrounding the university. 

• Harriet Martineau Unite

• William Murdoch

As one of the biggest cities in the UK, Birmingham is home to some of the country’s highest-ranked universities and world-renowned learning institutions whose high quality of education attracts both local and international students to study and live in the city. Additionally, Birmingham’s good quality of life, its affordability, and its vibrant student life make it an ideal study destination for many students across the globe. So, if you’re considering this city as a possible study destination, make sure to use this list of best unis in Birmingham as a guide before you set off! 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the University of Birmingham ranked in the complete university guide?

According to The Complete University Guide 2023, the University of Birmingham ranks 22nd in the UK.

2. Which Birmingham university is better?

All the best unis in Birmingham provide high-quality education, however, Birmingham City University is often considered the best university out of all of them. 

3. What are the 4 universities in Birmingham?

There are actually five universities in Birmingham providing quality education to students, which are as follows: 

• University of Birmingham

• University College Birmingham

• Birmingham City University 

• Newman University 

• Aston University 

4. Is Birmingham a good place for international students?

Yes, Birmingham is a renowned student city that is known for its high quality of education, its welcoming atmosphere, and its student-friendly environment. 

5. What is the main university in Birmingham?

The city’s main and most popular university is the University of Birmingham.