Select campus:UKDubai
University of Birmingham
Menu
This article is part of our online news archive

Birmingham scores seven Top 50 global hits in subject rankings

The University of Birmingham is among the top 50 places in the world to study in seven subjects, according to a prestigious global survey of universities.

9 March 2017
University of Birmingham Aston Webb building

The University of Birmingham is among the top 50 places in the world to study in seven subjects, according to a prestigious global survey of universities.

And the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 reveal that Birmingham is the fifth best university on the planet at which to study sports-related subjects.

clock tower + students

This year’s ratings put six other subject areas at Birmingham into the Top 50: Education, English Language & Literature, Linguistics, Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies, Development Studies and Dentistry.

There are a further 18 Birmingham subject areas that score in the Top 100. These include: Archaeology, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Anatomy & Physiology, Law, Performing Arts, Psychology and Materials Science.

Professor Kathy Armour, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) said: “This latest survey of more than 500 universities around the world recognises the outstanding research-intensive education that we offer at the University of Birmingham. We are a destination of choice for those wishing to secure a top-flight career in many areas.

“With 18 subject areas in the top 100, four in the top 50 and sports-related subjects in the top five, the rankings reflect the strength and breadth of our world-leading research and education. We are delighted that the University of Birmingham has been recognised as a place for leading scientists, professionals and students who want to be involved in world-class research and achieve a degree that will enhance professional opportunities around the world.”

This year’s rankings cover 46 subject areas, in each of which over 500 universities are assessed. If the institution both offers the subject and produces a sufficient number of research papers it will be given a score.

From these scores, a ranking table is produced to display anything from the leading 50 to the leading 500 institutions for the subject. The rankings are compiled using indicators selected to assess institutions’ international reputation in each subject area, alongside research impact in the field.

The 2017 results draw on the opinions of more than 74,000 academics and 44,000 employers, alongside analysis of millions of research papers and research citations.

  • 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 and teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries. 
  • The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 feature four new subjects this year, meaning the rankings now cover a total of 46 disciplines – highlighting the world’s top-performing universities in each academic area. 
  • The four new subjects are Anatomy & Physiology, Hospitality & Leisure Management, Sports-related Subjects and Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies. 
  • The QS World University Rankings by Subject are compiled annually to help prospective students identify the leading universities in a particular subject. Research citations, along with the results of major global surveys of employers and academics are used to rank universities. More information about this year’s methodology is available.