In 2011 Birmingham developed its global reputation and international presence opening a collaborative centre in Guangzhou, China, with the People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality.
The opening of the University of Birmingham Guangzhou Centre strengthens the long existing association with China in education and research and provides a strong platform from which to build upon the work already underway and to build new initiatives with our partners in Guangzhou.
The Centre also improves the important academic engagement in Guangzhou with the Guangzhou Biobank cohort study and the ongoing programme of municipal training with Guangzhou civil servants.
Transformation of historic Edgbaston campus
In August 2011 we announced a five year investment of £175m in facilities that will transform the Edgbaston campus, reinterpreting founder Joseph Chamberlain’s vision for the estate for the 21st century and extending the services available to the local community. The key developments include a new sports centre and a new library, to join the new Bramall Music Building currently nearing completion.
The plans for the sports centre include a 50m swimming pool which will be the only one in Birmingham as well as sports halls and training needs designed to meet the needs of students and staff as well as the many regional amateur sports clubs that currently use our facilities.
The proposed library development will provide outstanding facilities for a new generation of students and researchers, as well as an open access cultural hub for the University and the city, with services available to the public.
Ian Barker (Director of Estates) "Although we are very proud of the Edgbaston campus these are significant and exciting projects that will benefit students, staff and the local area. The University was founded to be an asset for the city and these plans have that aim in mind"
Transforming lives with your support
The Bramall Music Building is one of the many and varied initiatives made possible by the generosity of our alumni and friends. Thanks to their support, the Circles of influence campaign has had a remarkable impact on our people, facilities, and research.
Student support, which has a direct and profound impact on the lives of young people, remains one of the most popular areas for our supporters. In the summer of 2011, 74% of our Access to Birmingham widening participation students graduated with a First or an Upper Second class honours degree. These students are the first in their families to attend university and their success is both inspirational and rewarding.
We remain focused on enabling people – whether our students, our researchers, or the people all over the world who will benefit from our breakthroughs. Our investment, combined with the generosity of our supporters, continues to have far-reaching and long-lasting impact.
Then and now - see how we have changed since 1900...
In 1900 the University had –
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678 students (189 undergraduates and 489 postgraduates)
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1,297 individual undergraduate and postgraduate courses
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28,000 volumes in its Library
Now the University has –
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28,000 students (18,000 undergraduates and 8,000 postgraduates along with 2,000 occasional students)
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1,128 individual programmes (478 undergraduate, 525 postgraduate and 125 continuing professional development)
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Over 2.5 million books and over 3 million manuscripts, including 80,000 rare and important items in our Special Collections dating back to 1471