It is a member of the Russell Group of research universities and a founding member of Universitas 21. The student population includes 18,500 undergraduate and 11,000 postgraduate students, making it the largest university in the West Midlands region. As of 2006-07 it is the fourth most popular English university by number of applications.The annual income of the institution for 2007-08 was £411.6m, with an expenditure of £393.2m. The university is ranked 12th in Europe and 75th in the world in the 2008 Times Higher Education Supplement QS World University Rankings. It is ranked 11th in the UK and 30th in Europe in the 2008 Academic Ranking of World Universities compiled by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The Guardian University Guide describes it as "Large, prestigious, and rather grand".
They provide a learning experience that deepens your knowledge of your subject and equips you with a range of skills to prepare you for the world of work. They lead the field in many of the emerging disciplines of the 21st century. Whatever a student plans to do after graduation, the Careers and Employability Centre can help you get ahead. They have strong links with major companies and offer a wide range of services to give their graduates the edge in the job market. Birmingham's green and leafy campus has all the facilities of a small town, and has been ranked as one of the top three campus environments in the country. They have an ongoing commitment to invest in projects that enhance their learning experience and quality of life at Birmingham. Birmingham has been transformed into one of Europe's most exciting cities for living, entertainment, shopping and sport. After one graduates, it offers a wealth of job opportunities. Being a student is not just about studying. Birmingham offers a vibrant mix of social life, sport, student clubs and societies, and opportunities to try something new. Their students have a variety of opportunities to study abroad, and they welcome around 4,500 international students to Birmingham each year. A commitment to sustainability influences every part of University life. The University is working with the Carbon Trust to reduce their carbon emissions, and have been a Fairtrade University since 2003.
