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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.

Upcoming events

See all 125 events

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.

View all 125 stories >

  • Celebrating 25 years of the Access to Birmingham scheme

    The pioneering Access to Birmingham scheme is celebrating 25 years of providing life-changing opportunities to students from under-represented groups.

    Learn more about our A2B scheme

  • Unlock the clock

    Described as the ‘intellectual beacon of the West Midlands’, Old Joe stands as a symbol of the University and the city of Birmingham. Yet despite its prominence, few have ever stepped inside. This programme of creative responses marks the University’s 125th anniversary. It brings the clock tower’s cultural and architectural heritage to life - opening up its story for everyone to explore.

    Learn more about Old Joe

  • The Birmingham Qur’an: an ancient manuscript forging modern day connection

    10 years ago, the University’s discovery of one of the world’s oldest fragments of the Qur’an made international headlines. But the journey did not end there…

    Read more about our discovery

  • 125th Anniversary Fellows and Chairs

    We are marking a special milestone in the University’s history by appointing 125 Anniversary Fellows and Chairs.

    Find out how to apply

  • The many guises of the Great Hall

    As 2025’s graduation ceremonies commence and students flock to the Great Hall with their families, we unveil the fascinating history of the campus centrepiece.

    Read more about this historic space

  • Thousands celebrate the University of Birmingham’s 125th birthday!

    Staff, students, family, friends, alumni, and Brummies from across the city came to campus for a wonderful day of learning, music, and fun.

    Read about our campus celebration

  • On a roll: Chaplain bakes 125 loaves of bread for 125 years

    Chaplain Pastor Obi Iheoma marks the University’s 125th anniversary by baking and donating 125 loaves of bread to support the local community.

    Read more about this story

  • Celebrating our 125th anniversary with Black Sabbath – The Ballet

    The University of Birmingham partnered with Birmingham Royal Ballet for a reception in the U.S. ahead of a landmark performance of Black Sabbath – The Ballet.

    Read more about this story

  • Meet the families who have shaped our University across generations

    As we celebrate 125 years of the University of Birmingham, we’re shining a light on the people who’ve helped shape our story, generation after generation.

    Read more about our families

  • Bringing more babies safely into the world

    University of Birmingham alumni have created an incredible legacy over 125 years. Here we spotlight Dr Palmer and our proud history of maternal health research.

    Read more about Dr Palmer's story

  • Honouring Dean Eastmond this Pride Month

    This Pride month, and as we mark our 125th anniversary, we celebrate the rich history of our University and the remarkable individuals who have shaped it – including Dean Eastmond, a University of Birmingham student and LGBTQ+ advocate whose life and legacy continue to have an enduring impact.

    Read more about Dean's life

  • World Class

    A small but mighty group of UoB student-athletes marked 63 years of Ivy League exchange by smashing records at one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events .

    Read more about our athletes

  • Exchanging ideas for 125 years

    Special installations at The Exchange showcase three areas of research the University of Birmingham is leading the way in, as it marks its 125th anniversary.

    Learn about our installations

  • A towering tradition: the falcons that return each Easter

    A pair of Peregrine Falcons have nested in Old Joe’s tower every spring since 2013. But how did they come to be here?

    Read about our feathered guests

  • A 125-year journey from innovation to entrepreneurship

    The University of Birmingham has always been a home to exciting innovations. A university of firsts. But developing a ‘blue sky’ idea into a commercial prospect is no easy task.

    Learn about start-ups & spin-outs

  • Keeping Birmingham in the family

    Meet some of our alumni who were inspired to study here by members of their own family.

    Read more about this story

Our Promise to the City

Exactly 125 years ago, on 24 March 1900, Queen Victoria gave royal approval to England’s first civic university, turning one man’s ‘radical’ vision into a hugely impactful turning point for our country’s education system. The University of Birmingham has decided to mark its milestone anniversary by revisiting its roots and renewing our civic commitment to the city, reaffirming and reigniting a promise to serve Birmingham and beyond.
Read about our civic pledge

  • Entrepreneurial spirit, Elevated

    Students are rethinking their future career paths and demanding more business and freelance opportunities. The University of Birmingham’s B-Enterprising team and Elevate programme are providing the catalyst for entrepreneurial success.

    Read how we support entrepreneurs

  • A Window into our Civic Past

    This June, a new exhibition in the Aston Webb building will unveil the stories of the people behind the University of Birmingham.

    Learn about the Great Hall window

  • From minerals to the moon - mining the future at Birmingham

    Among the earliest subjects taught on campus in Edgbaston, Mining set the standard for innovation and civic good through teaching and research at the University of Birmingham.

    Read about the Mining Department

Marie Curie

In 1913, Marie Sklodowska Curie was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Birmingham. The physicist was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1902, alongside her husband. She was awarded it again in 1911 for her work in the field of chemistry and was the first person to ever win two Nobel Prizes in separate fields. During her award at Birmingham, the principal of the university, Sir Oliver Lodge, called Marie Curie “the greatest woman of science of all time”. Her research into radiation has paved the way for radiology, which still saves lives today.

  • 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.

    Learn more about Dame Hilda Lloyd

  • How activists changed the course of queer history at Birmingham

    History and Politics student Ophelia White explores how students took part in the gay liberation movement that swept across the country in the Seventies.

    Read more about this story

  • 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

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.
Read the stories behind the images
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

  • 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