The University of Birmingham has broken into the elite top 20 Universities in the Sunday Times University Guide 2010, published on 13 September 2009, and was also shortlisted for the coveted University of the Year Award.

Birmingham sits at joint 20th position in the Sunday Times league table, with a four place rise on last year’s ranking.

Birmingham was one of five shortlisted for the University of the Year Award after being recognised for combining “an excellent teaching record with cutting-edge research.” The guide also singled out the fact that the University became the first of what will be a chain of Cancer Research UK centres.

Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor, says, ‘Undergraduate studies here are informed by academic researchers who are global experts and whose work tackles some of the contemporary challenges of the 21st Century.’