Birmingham Newman University hits top five for social mobility in latest national rankings
Birmingham Newman University has been ranked in the top five of higher education providers for social mobility in the English Social Mobility Index.
The latest results, compiled by London South Bank University (LSBU) and published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) sees Birmingham Newman rise two places to fourth out of 100 universities in the national rankings, and second in the West Midlands.
The index measures universities’ contributions to social mobility, helping universities and others to gauge their success in achieving positive social mobility for their graduates. Positive social mobility transforms lives, families and society, through benefitting individuals directly in terms of personal advancement.
The index shows the number of socio-economically disadvantaged graduates and the social distance they travel for each registered higher education institution in England. It combines measures of access, continuation and graduate outcomes for undergraduate students.
The improved ranking for Birmingham Newman represents further evidence of the University’s position as a national leader for social mobility. The Times and Sunday Times awarded Birmingham Newman ‘University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2026’.
Professor Jackie Dunne MBE (pictured), Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham Newman University said:
“This is fantastic recognition for Birmingham Newman University but, more importantly, it means we are delivering the opportunities and outcomes that our students deserve.
“Our student body reflects the city of Birmingham like no other: more than 90% of our students commute from within the city; many come from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds; and we recruit a higher-percentage of disabled students than many of our competitors. Our students want to succeed, regardless of background: social mobility is a crucial measure of that success.”
“The recently-launched ‘Our Future, Our Birmingham Newman’ Vision and Strategy sets out our ambition to build on what we do for our students to become the leading University in inclusive education for the graduate workforce of tomorrow – our rise in the national social mobility rankings is powerful evidence we are reinforcing our position as an advocate for student advancement.”
