The University for Birmingham
The first civic university with a Royal Charter, it set itself apart from older institutions, forging a strong connection to the city and community.
Exactly 125 years ago, on 24 March 1900, England’s first civic university was given royal approval by Queen Victoria, turning one man’s ‘radical’ vision into a hugely impactful turning point for our country’s education system. Now, at a time when the UK’s universities often face questions over their role in society, 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.
From radical to reality
At the end of the 19th century, Birmingham’s Lord Mayor Joseph Chamberlain shared a vision. During a period when most of the population entered work by the age of 14, the man who was to become our first Chancellor put forward a ‘new experiment’ for higher education; a place where students from all backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis.
It was an ambitious undertaking from someone who had been considered a radical liberal and who caused offence among the elite classes with his demands for social reform. Chamberlain is probably best known for implementing the ‘civic gospel’, which brought gas, water and street lighting into council hands at the cost of ratepayers. He led the expansion of free education for all children in Birmingham, as well as the municipalisation of the School of Art and the foundation of the free Art Gallery and Museum. Lastly, he cleared the city centre’s slums to create the commercial centre we see today around Corporation Street.
Alongside local philanthropist and industrialist Sir Josiah Mason, Chamberlain sought to provide ‘a great school of universal instruction’, so that ‘the most important work of original research should be continuously carried on under most favourable circumstances’. It was his ambition that ‘the individual trades of the new University [would] forever associate their name and their industry with this new institution’. With the generous donation of land and funds, the University of Birmingham was born and so began the first great civic-university moment in British history; the unlikely coalition of powerful civic authorities, wealthy local philanthropists and ordinary citizens giving birth to the first redbrick foundations.
A civic commitment
The University of Birmingham was the first civic university to be granted a Royal Charter, setting it apart from many older universities and signalling from inception that this university would be deeply connected to the city and community.
The concept of a ‘civic university’ introduced the idea not just of knowledge creation but of knowledge sharing. Driving economic growth alongside social mobility and serving the communities in which they stood. The University of Birmingham’s creation set a national precedent and by 1912 it was observed that, ‘Every great city seems to consider it a matter of pride…that it should hold a University within its walls.’
This ‘promise’ is born from our origins and reaffirms the original commitment made by Joseph Chamberlain to the City when the University was established. It reaffirms – 125 years to the day - our purpose and our place in Birmingham and our region. The agreement is our pledge of dedication to the City and its people to help address the challenges of the future.
Today the sector is operating in a very different landscape. One in which public perception of universities is lukewarm and polls conducted before the last election placed universities near the bottom of funding priorities despite impressive economic contributions equal to every £1 of public funding for higher education generating £14 return. This disconnect demands a return to the core of our University’s civic role; looking at the impact that institution has had in the city and beyond over the last 125 years and where to from here to ensure that civic responsibility is protected and continues to meet the needs of modern society.
A university of firsts
The University of Birmingham became a university of firsts. In the 125 years that followed it made its mark as the first UK university to offer degrees in Commerce and Social Work, the first to establish a fully comprehensive secondary school, the first to incorporate a medical school, the first to accept women into medicine, and the first to offer an undergraduate degree in physical education.
Final year medical students outside the Medical School in 1966 (© All rights reserved by Cadbury Research Library)
Its academics have changed the city and the world for the better in many ways. Its researchers helped overturn the wrongful convictions of the Birmingham Six in the 90s, and two of the University’s dentists pioneered the use of airbags in response to the horrific facial injuries sustained by military servicemen in the war. Mary Lee Woods won a scholarship to study Maths here and went on to create one of the world’s first stored programme computers in 1949. Interestingly, she is the mother of Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who is credited with inventing the World Wide Web.
Today, the work of our researchers includes developing sustainable energy solutions with industrial partners and local government at Tyseley Energy Park to create a greener Birmingham; and working through Birmingham Health Partners to transform the health and wellbeing of our city and region.
2025 also marks 25 years since the University’s Access to Birmingham Scheme was established; a cornerstone of our civic mission, ensuring that talented students can access a world-class education regardless of their background or home situation. Funded in partnership between the University and its donors, it has helped thousands of young people to overcome barriers to higher education and has equipped them with the skills and confidence to thrive academically and professionally.
A renewed commitment
At a special event held at The Exchange on 24 March 2025 – 125 years to the day of the original royal charter being signed – Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Tickell joined Joanne Roney, Managing Director of Birmingham City Council to sign the University of Birmingham Promise, a pledge to being a civic institution for the city and region in the future.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Tickell and Joanne Roney, Managing Director of Birmingham City Council holding the Birmingham Civic Agreement alongside witnesses to the signing.
The University re-committed to:
- Promoting education and opportunity: We shall continue to provide access to world-class education, empowering individuals to achieve their fullest potential, serving as a beacon of knowledge, creativity, and innovation.
- Driving innovation and progress: Through research and innovation, we strive to address the challenges of today and tomorrow, contributing to the prosperity and well-being of the city.
- Supporting the community: As a cornerstone of Birmingham, we pledge to work hand-in-hand with local leaders, organisations, and citizens to enrich the cultural, social, and economic fabric of our community.
- Foster growth and opportunity: Empower the citizens, businesses and public institutions of Birmingham with access to higher education, nurturing talent, and contributing to the city’s development and prosperity
At the signing of the pledge, Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Tickell noted: “As we look ahead to the next 125 years, we know that the world will continue to change and evolve rapidly. The challenges that our city, country and world face today will not be the challenges of tomorrow. This ‘promise’ is born from our origins and reaffirms the original commitment made by Joseph Chamberlain to the City when the University was established. It reaffirms – 125 years to the day - our purpose and our place in Birmingham and our region. The agreement is our pledge of dedication to the City and its people to help address the challenges of the future.”