QS Subject Rankings place Birmingham among top world Universities
The University of Birmingham continues to rank amongst the best performing research-intensive universities in the world – with seven areas placing in the Top 50 of the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Dentistry, Education, English, Theology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Linguistics all rank in the Top 50, whilst Sport maintains its place in the top 10 globally (9).
Education is a new entry into the Top 50 – rising 27 places from last year – with the University offering an Outstanding Ofsted rated Primary PGCE programme and Good Ofsted-rated Secondary programmes.
Professor Deborah Longworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University of Birmingham, commented: ‘Our students continue to benefit from an outstanding research-intensive education that develops the knowledge, skills and attributes sought after by employers and delivers great career prospects for our graduates.’
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Prize awarded in memory of an outstanding student
An annual prize given to second year medical students has been awarded posthumously to Salmaan Ashraf, an MBChB student who died in 2021.
The deferred 2020 Peter Thomson Prize, awarded to the student with the best performance in Regional Anatomy, was presented to Salmaan’s family by Professor Beverley Tsai-Goodman, Dean of the Medical School.
In Salmaan’s memory, his family created the Al Noor Water project, doing life-changing charitable work in Tanzania in collaboration with Islamic Help charity and supported by generous donations including from students and staff at the Medical School.
Professor Tsai-Goodman said: ‘Though Salmaan tragically lost his life before completing his degree, Al Noor continues his legacy as a generous, open-hearted, determined person, dedicated to improving lives. We are delighted to also honour his memory through presenting Salmaan’s family with this prize.’
World’s first mobile quantum brain scanner
Experts from the University of Birmingham are part of a team developing the world's first fully mobile brain scanner capable of measuring the effects of blast exposure on military personnel in real time at training sites.
Funded by the Ministry of Defence, the team will work in partnership with the University of Nottingham, to design a magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanner powered by quantum technology.
This mobile laboratory can be deployed directly to military firing ranges, field hospitals and rehabilitation centres. It will enable researchers to study brain function within minutes of blast exposure and watch how personnel recover, potentially transforming how those who serve are protected.
Lt Col James Mitchell, Consultant Neurologist at the University of Birmingham and Chief Investigator of the UK Military Blast Study at the UK Defence Medical Services, said: ‘This new system, a world first, will be transformative for research into the effects of blast exposure on our personnel. For the first time we will be able to build a time-stamped, accurate picture of exactly what happens to the brain in the minutes and hours after blast exposure and track recovery over time.’
Maternal health programme wins national award
A lifesaving programme to prevent childbirth-related bleeding has been recognised with a Times Higher Education STEM Award.
The E-MOTIVE programme led by the University of Birmingham and the World Health Organisation (WHO), with partners around the world, offers a cost-effective intervention for post-partum haemorhage. Its implementation has succeeded in reducing maternal death worldwide by 60%.
Professor Arri Coomarasamy, Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham who led the E-MOTIVE trial, said: ‘E-MOTIVE has the power to radically improve women’s chances of surviving childbirth globally, helping them get the treatment they need when they need it.’
Recognising our amazing alumni
Our alumni are making incredible contributions worldwide in business, the arts, science and in social action.
Some of our most talented graduates have been recognised in the Study UK Alumni Awards, presented by the British Council to recognise the outstanding global achievements of international UK alumni.
While a number of awards are yet to be announced, our Study UK Award 2026 winners so far include:
Shunhao Jia (Sport Pedagogy, 2014)
Shunhao has won the Culture, Creativity and Sport Award in China, an award that recognises alumni who have built careers in arts, culture, and sports and demonstrated artistic ingenuity, influence, and creativity. Shunhao has used the coaching skills he learned while in the UK to take on coaching roles within leading teams in China.
Yemisi Odusanya (MA International Relations, 2010)
Yemisi (pictured above) won the Culture, Creativity and Sport awarria. A food and lifestyle blogger, Yemisi also shares content on parenting, relationships and lifestyle.
At the Study UK Alumni Awards 2026, she shared her journey, celebrated her achievements, and inspired the next generation of changemakers.
We are also proud to see a number of alumni reaching the finals of Study UK competitions. These include:
- Antonios Christou (PhD Psychology, 2016) – Finalist, Social Action Award (Greece)
- Urvashi Prasad (BSc Biological Sciences, 2007) – Finalist, Social Action Award (India)
- Marthella Rivera Roidatua (MA Policy into Practice, 2017) – Finalist, Social Action Award (Indonesia)
- May Stow (MSc Computer Science, 2011) – Finalist Science and Sustainability Award (Nigeria)
University of Birmingham alumni are also finalists in Study UK competitions in the UAE, and the US, details of which will be announced later this year.
Forging metal to Birmingham ballet: marking Black Sabbath’s campus anniversary
While we celebrated the University’s 125th anniversary year, music fans in Birmingham were also marking a milestone: Black Sabbath’s first known gig at the University of Birmingham roared into life 55 years ago on 29 November 1970.
2025 was all about Sabbath and the impact of its Birmingham-born members’ genre defining music - culminating in July’s ‘Back to the Beginning concert’, followed by the heartbreaking news of the death of lead singer Ozzy Osbourne.
The University hosted a special event as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science and our 125 anniversary celebrations. Forging Metal: Black Sabbath and Birmingham, saw academics and special guests Carlos Acosta CBE, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, join forces for the night to explore the uncharted parts of the band’s legacy.
Tony Iommi said: ‘I had a fantastic time discussing Black Sabbath’s legacy with Carlos Acosta and Professor Paul Jackson. Having played at the University back in 1970, it was an honour to be back almost 55 years later to the day. With special thanks to Dr David Gange, Professor Finola Kerrigan and Dr Kamran Khan for sharing their fascinating insights, using their research to explore the band’s impact on Birmingham’s identity, perceptions of the Brummie accent, and environmental activism worldwide.’
Discover more events held at the University of Birmingham.