Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Newman (now officially Birmingham Newman University) is a small university of around 5,500 students on a single green campus at Bartley Green, on the south-west edge of Birmingham, overlooking Bartley Reservoir. It was founded as a Catholic teacher-training college and is still best known for education, alongside other people-focused subjects.
Accommodation is limited: there are two on-campus halls with a little over 200 rooms in total, from £110 a week for a shared bathroom to £215 for a self-contained flat. Many students live at home and commute. If you want a small, supportive community, it's a good fit; if you want city-centre student life, it's a long way out.
Known for
Birmingham Newman University is 112th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 37.3, below the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | University of Westminster | 38.5 |
| 111 | University of the West of Scotland | 37.9 |
| 112 | Newman University | 37.3 |
| 113 | University of Suffolk | 37.2 |
| 114 | SOAS University of London | 37 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
25th of 124 · Freshers Score 63.8
34th of 122 · Careers Score 38.2
38th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 55.5
39th of 123 · Happiness Score 51.8
40th of 124 · Employability Score 35.3
55th of 124 · Affordability Score 56.3
79th of 124 · Balance Score 38.5
85th of 124 · Value Score 40.6
93rd of 124 · Social Score 42.2
109th of 124 · Societies Score 37.6
111th of 124 · Safety Score 23.1
116th of 124 · Nightlife Score 28.6
117th of 124 · Innovation Score 32.8
123rd of 124 · Sustainability Score 17
Not enough published data to rank fairly
Birmingham as a student city
Ranked 64th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 44.3.
Birmingham Newman University appears in 10 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | 33rd | of 54 | 83 |
| History | 48th | of 76 | 86 |
| Criminology | 62nd | of 94 | 78 |
| Teaching | 54th | of 79 | 79 |
| Sports Science | 54th | of 78 | 68 |
| Business and Management | 80th | of 114 | 60 |
| Physiotherapy | 35th | of 49 | 61 |
| Nursing | 61st | of 85 | 89 |
| Psychology | 78th | of 108 | 62 |
| Primary Education | 47th | of 59 | 68 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Newman Students' Union runs societies, events and student representation on a small, close-knit campus. Life on campus is quiet and community-focused, with St Mary's Chapel offering chaplaincy to people of any faith. Many students commute, so the campus is busiest during the day. For nights out, you'll head into Birmingham city centre or nearby Selly Oak and Harborne, which are a bus ride away.
University halls cost £110–£215 per week ('from' prices, bills included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
Newman guarantees prospective students a room if they apply by the deadline, "subject to availability of suitable room types". The how-to-apply page is inconsistent about the 2026/27 date: one section says Friday 2 October 2026, while the FAQ says 11 September 2026. New students are prioritised; only a limited number of rooms go to returning students. Care leavers recognised by Student Finance England are guaranteed a place if they apply by the deadline and, from 2026/27, don't pay a deposit.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original halls (shared bathroom) | Bartley Green campus | single room, shared bathroom | £110/wk | The cheapest rooms: 59 standard and 17 recently renovated shared-bathroom rooms. Bills included; wifi included in some rooms or £10 a week extra. |
| Original halls (en-suite and flats) | Bartley Green campus | en-suite or self-contained flat | £150/wk | 19 standard en-suites from £150 a week, 3 standard self-contained flats from £177, and 5 deluxe flats from £215. |
| Cofton Hall | Bartley Green campus | deluxe en-suite | £172/wk | Built in 2017: 104 deluxe en-suites in flats of six, plus accessible rooms and two self-contained flats (from £215). All bills included. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Quiet residential areas close to campus.
Birmingham's big student area (mainly University of Birmingham students), lively and a bus ride from campus.
Leafy area with a popular high street of bars and cafés, between campus and the city.
Top tip
Make Newman your firm choice and look out for the application invitation, usually emailed within 10 working days. Apply well before the deadline, as rooms are limited, and you'll need to pay the deposit and set up a payment plan before the end of September. If you're looking at private housing, choose somewhere with an easy bus route to Bartley Green.
Living on campus at Newman costs from £110 a week for a shared-bathroom room to £215 for a self-contained flat, with bills included. Cofton Hall en-suites start at £172 a week. Many Newman students live at home in the West Midlands and commute, which can save a lot on rent but adds travel costs.
Getting around
Newman's campus is at Bartley Green, about 8 miles south-west of Birmingham city centre, so most students who don't live on campus travel by bus or car. Birmingham New Street is the main rail hub for trains across the country. Plan your commute carefully before choosing private housing.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
Birmingham Newman University is 112th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 37.3. Its strongest results are for freshers experience (25th), career prospects (34th), student wellbeing (38th).
Yes, but not many. There are two on-campus options: the Original halls (about 100 rooms) and Cofton Hall (104 deluxe en-suites, built in 2017). Rooms are prioritised for new students, and few are available for returning students.
New students who apply by the deadline are guaranteed a room, subject to availability of suitable room types. For 2026/27 the university's page gave two different dates (11 September and 2 October 2026), so check with the accommodation team.
Rooms start at £110 a week for a shared bathroom, £150 for a standard en-suite and £172 for a Cofton Hall en-suite, up to £215 for a deluxe self-contained flat. Bills are included.
On a single campus at Bartley Green, on the south-west edge of Birmingham, about 8 miles from the city centre and overlooking Bartley Reservoir.
No. Newman has a Catholic foundation, but it welcomes students of all faiths and none, and its chaplaincy is open to everyone.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
