Birmingham rises to 14th in the Guardian University Guide 2027
University of Birmingham climbs 14 places following strongest ever performance in the National Student Survey.
Aerial view of campus
The University of Birmingham has risen 14 places to 14th overall in the latest edition of the 2027 Guardian University Guide - its best position in a decade - and has been selected by the Guide as its featured university of the year, thanks to "skyrocketing student satisfaction levels and soaring exam results."
The 14-place rise, underpinned by our strongest ever performance in the National Student Survey, is a clarion call to continue to provide an enriching and supportive educational environment, all backed by world-changing research.
Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Birmingham, said: “Our place in the latest Guardian University Guide reflects the hard work of our staff to provide the highest quality education for our student community.
“The 14-place rise, underpinned by our strongest ever performance in the National Student Survey, is a clarion call to continue to provide an enriching and supportive educational environment, all backed by world-changing research.”
The Guardian University Guide ranks institutions across a range of measures including student satisfaction, teaching quality, and graduate prospects, and is informed by the National Student Survey (NSS).
Birmingham's rise follows the University's strongest-ever performance in the 2026 NSS results, when it ranked first among Russell Group universities for overall student satisfaction and 10th nationally, with its highest-ever satisfaction score of 87.4%.
University of Birmingham students enjoying UoB Xtra events on campus.
Professor Deborah Longworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University of Birmingham, said: “At Birmingham we are making deliberate, long-term decisions to enhance our educational offering and the complete student journey.
“These consecutive rankings and awards successes reflect the University’s long-term commitment to ensuring our graduates are equipped with the critical knowledge, skills and opportunities to succeed in a changing world and increasingly competitive global market.”
A year of recognition
The rise to 14th in the Guardian University Guide adds to a year of growing recognition of the University's quality, including:
- being named Daily Mail University of the Year 2027,
- its highest ever position of 13th in the Daily Mail University Guide
- shortlisted for four awards at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2026, including for University of the Year (to be announced in November).
Internationally, the University has built strong global momentum, rising eight places in the latest QS World University Rankings to 68th – its highest position in a decade. Over the past five years, the University has climbed more places, and done so more consistently, than any other British institution within the world’s top 100 universities.
Birmingham also continues to lead the way in employability as one of the top two UK universities that are most targeted by the country’s leading graduate employers, according to ‘The Graduate Market in 2026’.
Notes for editors
Notes for editors
For media enquiries and more information please contact Press Office, University of Birmingham, tel: +44 (0)7815 607 157.
About the University of Birmingham
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The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, educators and more than 40,000 students from over 150 countries.
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England’s first civic university, the University of Birmingham is proud to be rooted in of one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the country. A member of the Russell Group and a founding member of the Universitas 21 global network of research universities, the University of Birmingham has been changing the way the world works for more than a century.