Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
University College Birmingham is a smaller, career-focused university in the middle of Birmingham. Its main campus is on Summer Row, near the Jewellery Quarter and the city centre, and it offers degrees, apprenticeships and college courses. The university says over 70% of its undergraduates live at home.
If you do move away, there's one hall: The Maltings, a canalside block 15 minutes' walk from campus. For 2026/27 it costs £134 a week for a standard room or £158 en-suite, on a 42-week contract, with a 15% discount if you pay in full by the deadline. That's very good value for a big city.
Known for
University College Birmingham is 107th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 40.5, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 105 | Staffordshire University | 41 |
| 106 | University of Cumbria | 40.6 |
| 107 | University College Birmingham | 40.5 |
| 108 | University of Chichester | 40.5 |
| 109 | Wrexham University | 39.9 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
28th of 124 · Social Score 61.6
36th of 124 · Societies Score 59.6
49th of 124 · Balance Score 44.4
60th of 124 · Nightlife Score 49.6
66th of 124 · Affordability Score 53.1
66th of 123 · Happiness Score 45.5
68th of 124 · Freshers Score 54
86th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 46.7
87th of 122 · Careers Score 26.1
93rd of 124 · Employability Score 24.5
105th of 124 · Value Score 34.2
106th of 124 · Inclusion Score 38.4
116th of 124 · Safety Score 22.2
118th of 124 · Sustainability Score 24.4
119th of 124 · Innovation Score 31.3
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.
University College Birmingham appears in 7 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 50th | of 79 | 94 |
| Marketing | 57th | of 88 | 92 |
| Physiotherapy | 32nd | of 49 | 71 |
| Nursing | 57th | of 85 | 96 |
| Business and Management | 77th | of 114 | 95 |
| Primary Education | 40th | of 59 | 87 |
| Graphic Design | 51st | of 68 | 75 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
UCB's Guild of Students is the students' union. It's run by elected student officers and organises events, sports clubs and societies, and you can set up your own society. The Maltings has its own social space with an 86-inch TV, an activities studio and a sports hall. Being in central Birmingham means Broad Street, the Bullring and plenty of bars, restaurants and gig venues are a short walk away.
University halls cost £134–£158 per week (2026/27, The Maltings, 42-week contract, bills included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
UCB says that "in your first year, you are guaranteed a place in The Maltings, if you submit your accommodation payment in full before the deadline." Students who apply and pay in full before the deadline also get a 15% discount. Applications for 2026/27 open through the university's accommodation page, and contracts started on Saturday 5 September 2026.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Maltings (standard room) | Canalside, about 15 minutes' walk from Summer Row | standard room, shared bathroom | £134/wk | Only 18 of the 827 rooms have shared bathrooms, in three flats, so they're limited. |
| The Maltings (en-suite room) | Canalside, about 15 minutes' walk from Summer Row | en-suite | £158/wk | 809 en-suite rooms in mixed flats of six to nine. Rent includes heating, lighting, wifi and contents insurance. 42-week contract, September to June. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Right by the Summer Row campus, with flats, bars and independent shops.
Walkable to campus, with lots of purpose-built student blocks.
Birmingham's best-known student area (mainly University of Birmingham students), a train or bus ride away.
Top tip
Apply for The Maltings once applications open and pay in full before the deadline: you'll lock in the first-year guarantee and get a 15% discount. Standard rooms are cheapest but there are only 18, so apply early if you want one. Parking is limited and costs £200 a semester for a car. Bring your own bedding and kitchen kit, as rooms are self-catering.
For a big city, UCB's halls are good value. In 2026/27, The Maltings costs £134 a week for a standard room or £158 for an en-suite, on a 42-week contract that doesn't charge for the summer. The university says that saves about £2,000 compared with 45–51-week contracts, and you get 15% off if you pay in full by the deadline. Heating, lighting, wifi and insurance are included.
Getting around
Birmingham city centre is compact, and The Maltings is about 15 minutes' walk from the main Summer Row campus, with Broad Street and the Bullring also walkable. For longer trips, West Midlands buses offer day tickets from £5.50, according to Transport for West Midlands. Parking at The Maltings costs £200 a semester.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
University College Birmingham is 107th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 40.5. Its strongest results are for social life (28th), student societies (36th).
Yes, for first years who submit their accommodation payment in full before the deadline. The guarantee is for a place in The Maltings, UCB's halls of residence.
For 2026/27, it's £134 a week for a standard room or £158 for an en-suite, on a 42-week contract from September to June. Heating, lighting, wifi and contents insurance are included, and paying in full by the deadline gets you 15% off.
About 15 minutes' walk from the main Summer Row campus. It's also walkable to Broad Street and the Bullring.
No. They're separate institutions. UCB is a smaller, career-focused university on Summer Row in the city centre; the University of Birmingham is a large research university in Edgbaston.
No. The university says over 70% of its undergraduates live at home. If you're moving to Birmingham, The Maltings is the main option for first years.
No. All rooms are self-catering, with a shared kitchen in each flat. You'll need to bring your own cooking utensils and bedding.
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.
