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Research expertise

At Birmingham, research is the driving force that propels us, and the world, forward. Our work impacts thousands of lives each year, enriching academic knowledge and addressing critical global challenges. As a postgraduate researcher, you'll work alongside some of the world's leading researchers.
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    Challenge the World. Change the Future.

    Our research has real-world impact. We don’t just generate knowledge: we apply it to solve critical issues in the economy, policy, and society. As a researcher at Birmingham, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside leading academics, engage with policymakers and industry leaders, and contribute to public discourse, ensuring your work makes a tangible difference.

    You'll have the freedom to pursue independent research, gaining the skills and confidence to make a lasting difference on a global scale.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) assesses both the quality and broader impact of research in all universities in the UK. In the most recent 2021 results, we were ranked 13th overall in the UK for Research Power.

More than 50 per cent of research at Birmingham was recognised as 4 star: the highest score. This reflects the transformative impact of our research community on today’s major social and environmental issues.

We're changing how the world works.

Our postgraduate researchers are changing how the world works. We are unveiling the hidden with quantum technology; understanding how future atmospheres affect biodiversity; removing barriers to create more inclusive education; promoting cultural understanding; and preventing maternal deaths. 

Our Research Challenge Themes showcase our pioneering breakthroughs, multidisciplinary collaborations and significant global impact.

Research Challenge Themes

Birmingham is a place where groundbreaking research is nurtured, supported, and turned into real-world impact - helping students not only discover new knowledge but change the world with it.

Professor Jessica Blair
Professor of Antimicrobial Resistance
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    Research centres and institutes

    Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. Our globally-recognised research centres and institutes work across disciplines to drive innovation and discovery. They play a pivotal role in securing funding, forming industry partnerships, and promoting ground-breaking research.

    We thrive on collaboration across disciplines, partnering with institutions in the UK and around the world. Our Institutes and Centres of Excellence are key to our success, securing funding, building cross-sector partnerships, and promoting innovation across teaching, learning, and research.

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    History of our research

    From revealing the structure of DNA to developing new treatments for heart disease and cancer, raising awareness of climate change to pioneering molecular machines, at Birmingham we have been conducting research that matters for over one hundred years.

    In the company of our ten Nobel Prize winners, our researchers continue to make a lasting impact on peoples, cultures, industry and society.

Research resources

From our campus to the city, and across the wider region, we have an evolving wealth of resources for researchers across all disciplines, contributing to the delivery of innovative work.

  • Cadbury Research Library

    The Cadbury Research Library holds rare books, manuscripts, archives & artefacts, including the Mingana Collection with 3,000+ Middle Eastern manuscripts & the Birmingham Qur’an, dated 568–645AD.

  • The Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR)

    BIFoR studies forest responses to rising CO2 levels, featuring a unique FACE experiment in temperate woodland—the only one in the Northern Hemisphere & second of its kind worldwide.

  • Birmingham Health Innovation Campus

    Birmingham Health Innovation Campus in Selly Oak is a top healthcare tech hub, advancing drug development, real-world studies & treatments for cancer, dementia, rare diseases & antibiotic resistance.

  • The Lapworth Museum of Geology

    The Lapworth Museum of Geology holds 250,000+ fossils, minerals & rocks dating back 4.5 billion years, plus geological maps, equipment, zoological specimens & ancient stone axes.

  • Barber Institute of Fine Arts

    The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, an Art Deco gem, features a concert hall, exhibitions & a top-tier British art collection, including Monet & Van Gogh, plus rare Roman, Byzantine & Medieval coins.

  • Winterbourne House and Garden

    Winterbourne House & Garden, built in 1903, showcases Arts & Crafts design, 6,000+ plant species, buzzing wildlife & interactive exhibits, making it a rich learning space for all ages.

  • Institute of Translational Medicine

    The Institute of Translational Medicine speeds up clinical trials, connecting scientists, clinicians & experts to turn medical research into innovative drugs, devices & healthcare applications.

  • Tyseley Energy Park - Birmingham Energy Institute

    Tyseley Energy Park drives innovation in energy, waste & low-carbon transport, fostering industry collaboration & training to build a sustainable future for Birmingham.