Why Birmingham?

Aston WebbBirmingham is a world-leading University for life sciences in health research and education. A global top 100 university tackling some of the biggest issues the world faces, we are making a difference to people's lives on a daily basis. 

We are proud to have 11 Nobel Prize winners whose work has made an impact worldwide. Five of those have made major discoveries in life sciences, from revealing the structure of DNA to developing new treatments for heart disease and cancer. 


We are continually discovering, translating and applying science, and forging major advances in health, wellbeing, disease prevention and management. Our ability to deliver bench to bedside to bench research allows us to address major global health problems including aging, obesity, mental health, communicable diseases and antibiotic resistance, alongside non-communicable diseases such as cancer, chronic and rare diseases, as well as trauma.

Strong partnerships

Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region has an extremely diverse population of over 5 million people, and this combined with the University's strong National Health Service and industry partnerships allows academic research groups to drive innovation and create change in the fields of lifestyle and healthcare management. The University is a founding member of Birmingham Health Partners, a strategic partnership with two large NHS hospital trusts bringing academics and clinicians together to accelerate the translation of scientific discovery into patient benefit.

Our location

The University is located at the heart of a major life sciences campus, walking distance from several major hospitals, the Institute of Translational Medicine, two large clinical trials units and the developing Birmingham Health Innovation Campus. We are also the academic partner for the West Midlands Genomic Medicine Centre, and Health Data Research (HDR UK) Midlands Centre. 

World-Class facilities

The University of Birmingham has a vast range of world-class facilities which underpin both its teaching and research activities. You will have access to these facilities which are equipped with cutting-edge research instrumentation including advanced microscopy and imaging suites. Our facilities include the: Phenome Centre Birmingham; Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology; Human Biomaterial Resource Centre; the Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain and the Centre for Human Brain Health. 

Our research impact

Our latest research successes include: 

  • Our research into immunotherapy for T cell leukaemia and lymphoma focuses on black and minority ethnic (BAME) patients, who are more susceptible to these types of cancers. 
  • Our research in low middle income countries (LMICs) is helping to prevent needless maternal deaths from bleeding and sepsis, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries.
  • Our cardiovascular research is protecting every heartbeat. The CHA2DS2VASc score, which enables clinicians to effectively assess a patient’s stroke risk, is included in the vast majority of international atrial fibrillation guidelines. 

Explore more of our research