Celebrating 125 years of achievement

1900-2025: 125 years of University of Birmingham

Welcome to 125 years of the University of Birmingham.

This milestone anniversary marks a legacy of driving change and shaping society ever since Queen Victoria granted our Royal Charter in 1900. Through our ambitious and progressive approach to education and research, we are proud to have fostered a global community of leaders and problem-solvers.

Our unbound approach to research has enabled us to consistently push boundaries to address global challenges, build a thriving planet, advance life-changing technologies, connect cultures, improve global health and foster a fairer world.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to redefining what is possible and to changing how the world works.

  • A woman in a darkened room holding a bright red, heart-shaped neon light against her

    Researching love at Birmingham

    At the University of Birmingham we love, love. We love, love so much, that over the years our academics have done a lot of research on the topic. As we celebrate our 125th anniversary this year, and it is Valentine's Day, we thought we would gift you some of our past love research.

    Read more about our research

125 Anniversary stories

Throughout our anniversary year, we will feature stories that celebrate the people, events and achievements from the last 125 years, and highlight those that are fuelling our success today.

  • Bryony and Matt's wedding portrait. Bryony is holding a bouquet and is wearing a floral headpiece

    Finding love on campus

    We hear from four couples who met while studying, taking part in student societies, and working at the University of Birmingham.

    Read our couples' stories
  • Black and white photo of a graduation ceremony taking place in the Great Hall

    Our heritage

    In the late 1800s, when the country’s only independent universities were Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and London, it was our founder, the former Lord Mayor of Birmingham and Cabinet Minister Joseph Chamberlain, whose radical vision underpinned our inception.

    Read about the University's history
  • A young child wearing a headscarf smiling up at a nurse sitting on a bed next to them

    Cancer treatment – no longer a one size fits all

    This year, World Cancer Day highlighted how every experience with cancer is unique. Work here in Birmingham certainly supports this, and throughout the last 125 years, the University has seen enormous advances in the understanding of cancer biology and therapeutics.

    Read more about our cancer research
  • A black and portrait of Dame Hilda Lloyd

    Life-saving legacy of obstetric ‘flying squad’ pioneer

    Dame Hilda Lloyd was a pioneer in many senses. After becoming the first female professor at the University of Birmingham in 1944, she rose to become the first President of any Royal Medical College: the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1949. One of her many accomplishments was introducing the use of obstetric ‘flying squads’ in Birmingham, which saved the lives of countless mothers and babies.

    Read more about Dame Hilda Lloyd

125 years in images

As part of our anniversary celebrations, the Cadbury Research Library is sharing a digital and physical exhibition of previously unseen (or less well-known), archival images from our research and teaching, campus, and people and community. They say a picture paints a thousand words, and these images tell important stories about the University and the city of Birmingham, its people, and how it has and continues to evolve over a century and a quarter.
Students working in the University's new microcomputer laboratory in the early 1980s
Male and female members of Professor Percy Frankland’s research team, taken outside the Mason Science College buildings
  • A group of 125th Anniversary Fellows and Chairs academics standing with Professor Rachel O'Reilly

    125th Anniversary Fellows and Chairs

    We welcome the latest cohort of researchers joining us as 125th Anniversary Fellows and Chairs. Discover who will be driving our ambitions to become a global top 50 university.

    Meet our researchers
  • Members of staff chatting together in the sunshine while sitting at an outdoor table

    Tell us your 125 stories

    Help us celebrate our 125 anniversary by sharing your story! Whether it’s a cherished memory, a favourite spot, or a moment that made this University special to you, your story is a part of Birmingham’s history.

    Submit your story