The University of Birmingham is a red-brick Russell Group university in England's second city, founded in 1900 as the country's first civic university. It teaches more than 38,000 students across 350 undergraduate and 600 postgraduate courses, and it has produced 11 Nobel laureates. For international students it offers a rare combination: a Russell Group degree, a large and genuinely international campus, and tuition that sits below London's — with Birmingham's living costs noticeably lower too.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Edgbaston, Birmingham, England, UK |
| Type | Public Russell Group research university |
| Founded | 1900 |
| Students | About 38,000 |
| Courses | 468 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (reported) |
| Acceptance rate | About 50–59% (reported) |
Fees (2026/27)
Birmingham publishes international fees by course, not as a single band. The 2026/27 international tuition ranges from £26,730 a year for classroom undergraduate programmes to £39,060 a year for the one-year full-time MBA. The two main undergraduate bands are:
| Band / example | International fee per year (2026/27) |
|---|---|
| Classroom band — BSc Business Management, BSc Economics | £26,730 |
| Laboratory band — BSc Computer Science | £32,160 |
| Biological Sciences (with international year) | £29,160 |
| LLB Law | £25,320 (reported) |
| Standard postgraduate taught | £17,460 |
| MSc Accounting and Finance | £18,900 |
| Full-time MBA | £39,060 |
Home (UK) undergraduates pay £9,790 a year. September 2027 entrants pay the 2027/28 rate, historically 3–5% higher, and fees for 2027 entry are shown per course after selecting your country on each course page. There is no Birmingham application fee for standard postgraduate taught courses; undergraduate applicants pay only the UCAS fee of £34.50.
Scholarships: Birmingham offers international merit scholarships, including the Global Masters Scholarship and country-specific awards. Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships also cover Birmingham. Apply for scholarships at the same time as your course application — many close before the course deadline.
Popular programmes
Birmingham's strongest programmes are Business and Management, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Economics, Engineering (especially mechanical and civil), Biosciences, Law, and the social sciences. The Birmingham Business School is triple-accredited, and the university's medical school and dentistry programmes are highly regarded — though medicine for international students carries much higher fees and a strict 7.5% cap on international places. The university also runs a campus in Dubai, where tuition is the same as at the UK campus.
Admissions and deadlines
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. The equal-consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027 at 18:00; the early deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and Oxford/Cambridge was 15 October 2026. Postgraduate applications go directly to the university — September 2027 entry is the main cycle, with a January 2027 intake for selected programmes. English requirements are typically IELTS 6.0–7.0 depending on the course, with TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo accepted for many programmes. Pakistani applicants usually need strong FSc/A-level results — Class 12 with 80% to 90% is the reported range for competitive undergraduate programmes.
Life in Birmingham
Birmingham is the UK's second-largest city, with a large student population, a major airport, and fast trains to London (about 90 minutes). The Edgbaston campus is a green, self-contained site with its own lake, clock tower and sports centre, a short bus ride from the city centre. Living costs are well below London — expect roughly £900–£1,100 a month including rent, food and transport.
Frequently asked questions
Is Birmingham a Russell Group university? Yes — it is a founding member of the Russell Group, the UK's association of leading research universities.
How much does Birmingham cost for international students? Budget £26,730–£32,160 a year for most undergraduate programmes in 2026/27, plus roughly £11,000–£13,000 a year in living costs.
When should I apply for September 2027? Submit your UCAS application by 13 January 2027. Postgraduate applicants should apply by spring 2027 so the visa process has time to complete.
What is the 2027/28 fee? To be confirmed — Birmingham publishes 2027/28 international fees per course between October 2026 and spring 2027.
Related guides on Pakunii
UCAS Application Guide 2027 · Fully Funded Scholarships 2027 · IELTS Academic Guide · FAFSA 2027-28 Guide
Sources and verification: University of Birmingham fee pages 2026/27 (classroom UG £26,730; laboratory UG £30,120; BSc Computer Science £32,160; standard PG taught £17,460; MBA £39,060; home UG £9,790); UCAS equal consideration 13 January 2027, fee £34.50. Confirm 2027/28 fees on birmingham.ac.uk.