Birmingham maintains its position in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

There are some big surprises in the rankings this year

2 months ago

The University of Birmingham has maintained its ranking in The Times and The Sunday Times’ Good Universities Guide 2025.

In the latest edition of the ranking, Birmingham has ranked as the 22nd best UK university.

This marks the second consecutive year that Birmingham has occupied this spot.

Warwick, Birmingham’s natural rival, finished ninth, which also marks its second consecutive year in that spot. Warwick was jointly shortlisted with the East Midlands’ University of Leicester for The Sunday Times’ overall University of the Year 2025.

This ranking is a mixed result for Birmingham compared to its ranking in other guides. In the latest Complete University Guide league table for 2025, Birmingham is ranked 13th out of 130 institutions surveyed, and in the latest Guardian University Guide, Birmingham is ranked 36th out of 122 institutions surveyed.

Whilst Birmingham’s ranking hasn’t turned any heads, one university’s ranking has caused some big surprise. LSE, which finished fourth last year, has taken the number one spot, the first time it has ever done so in the history of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.

Last year’s top-ranked university, St Andrew’s, now occupies the second overall spot, whilst Oxford and Cambridge are ranked third and fourth, respectively.

The Times’ ranking is determined by the percent of degrees awarded that are Firsts and 2:1s, graduate prospects, and continuation rate of students from first to second year.

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Helen Davies, editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: “The best universities — whether they were founded in the 15th century or 2005 — are local and global powerhouses of intellectual thought and creativity, from the arts to science, that can power economic regeneration and lead the way to a better life. But what and where to study — and how to pay for it — has never been tougher. This is where our comprehensive guide can help.

“This year we have tweaked our methodology to keep up with contemporary concerns around climate change and careers and have added in a sustainability metric, teaming up with People & Planet, and boosted the weighting of graduate prospects.

“The higher education sector is facing unprecedented challenges from debates on free speech to financial stability, but it is important to remember the force for good that going to university can be. See how the universities compare subject by subject, a guide on campus life, and what scholarships and bursaries may be on offer online.”

Overall, the University of Birmingham has ranked second in the West Midlands after Warwick and third in the Midlands after Warwick and Loughborough, which finished tenth this year.

Hopefully Birmingham can break free from its ranking deadlock next year.

Feature image via Unsplash