Birmingham Newman University, one of the UK's smallest higher education institutions, has seen admissions double since 2021 and applications reach a record high in 2025, as it expands its course offerings while maintaining the small-scale, personal approach that has earned it top rankings for teaching, student support and student experience in the National Student Survey. Formerly a Roman Catholic teacher training college, Newman has broadened its academic profile with new facilities, including healthcare simulation suites, and opened a School of Business and Law in 2025 covering subjects such as law, computer science, criminology and childhood studies, while also adding "Birmingham" to its name to reflect its main recruitment base.

Despite expansion, Newman remains home to fewer than 4,000 undergraduates and is noted for its diverse intake, with over 70% of students the first in their family to attend university and around half from ethnic minority backgrounds, earning it a shortlisting for University of the Year at the 2026 UK Social Mobility Awards. The university does not fund its own bursaries beyond national schemes for teaching and healthcare students, relying instead on a Support Fund (up to £1,750 a year), a Community Pantry and subsidised meals for those in acute need; accommodation costs range from £5,060 to £10,965 annually, and foundation years, requiring as few as 48 UCAS points, serve as the main access route for under-represented students.