The University of Birmingham has been named University of the Year in the Daily Mail's 2027 University Guide, beating 127 other institutions thanks to strong all-round performance across a dozen key measures, including graduate employment and student satisfaction. The award highlights Birmingham's strength in fields such as engineering, medicine and business, and comes as the guide's publishers note a widening gap between top UK universities in areas like job prospects, earnings, student support and dropout rates, amid growing scrutiny of degree value for money and a tough graduate jobs market.

Birmingham graduates earn an average of £31,400 a year, with nearly four in five moving into high-skilled jobs, and the university topped the National Student Survey among Russell Group institutions. Separately, Imperial College London retained top spot in the overall Daily Mail league table for a fourth consecutive year, ahead of Oxford and Cambridge, with the highest average starting salaries at £39,000. Other category winners include Worcester, named University of the Year for Graduate Jobs with 79.8% of graduates in high-skilled roles within 15 months, and Staffordshire, recognised as Modern University of the Year for its employability record.