Birmingham Newman University is the UK’s Number 1 university for teaching excellence, student experience and student support, according to the Daily Mail University Guide for 2026. 

These sector-leading achievements have helped power Birmingham Newman up the overall university rankings, rising 23 places to joint 64^th in the UK.

The annual Daily Mail University Guide remarked on Birmingham Newman’s “distinctiveness as one of the smallest institutions in the country, able to offer a more personal higher education.”  Praise was given to the University’s expanded course portfolio, new facilities including dedicated state-of-the-art spaces for healthcare students, and a student population that is among the most diverse in the country.

The rankings also reflect the University’s focus on exceptional student experience, with the Guide commenting on Birmingham Newman’s “small class sizes, approachable lecturers and…sense of community.”

Professor Jackie Dunne MBE, Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham Newman University said:

“We are enormously pleased to see our University’s progress recognised by the Daily Mail University Guide. It is fantastic to see Birmingham Newman rising through the rankings, and it gives me the greatest of pride that we are ranked the best of all UK universities for teaching excellence, student experience and student support.

“It is the latest indication that our ethos, our methods and our values, are making a demonstrable difference to the lives of the students that we teach. Our commitment to delivering the best outcomes to all through an inclusive student experience is undiminished. And our fantastic staff, who work so hard to support our students through their academic journey, deserve a great deal of credit for the University’s growing reputation within the sector.

“At a time when we welcome more students to join our close-knit community during Clearing, these positive results provide us with added impetus to provide greater access to education to those that have the talent and motivation to benefit from it.”

The strong performance marks the latest in a string of first places for the Bartley Green-based institution. Last month, the National Student Survey rated Birmingham Newman as the UK’s Number 1 for overall student positivity, and became Nurse Education Provider of the Year (pre-registration) at the 2026 Student Nursing Times Awards.

Earlier in the year, the University also earned silver in the Lecturers and Teaching Quality category at the WhatUni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), was ranked fourth in the country for the English Social Mobility Index and is a finalist for University of the Year at the UK Social Mobility Awards 2026.

For more information on Birmingham Newman University, please contact press@newman.ac.uk.

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