University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is the oldest of three universities in the English city of Birmingham. It was founded in 1900 as a successor to Mason Science College, and is thus the earliest of the "Redbrick" universities. A major research-led institution, it currently has over 15,000 undergraduate and 7,000 postgraduate students.

About The University

Its main campus, in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, is arranged around the 100m-high Chamberlain clock tower (known affectionately by students as "Ol' Joe"), commemorating Joseph Chamberlain, the university's first Chancellor. The Great Hall of the university is in the domed Aston Webb Building, which is named after its architect.

The University's Selly Oak campus is a short distance to the south of the main campus. It was the home of a federation of nine higher education colleges, mainly focused on theology and education, which were integrated into the university for teaching purposes in 1999. Among these was Westhill College (later the University of Birmingham, Westhill) which merged with the university's School of Education in 2001. The university operates on several other sites in the city, also.

Due to Birmingham's role as a centre of light engineering, the university traditionally had a special focus on science, engineering and commerce. It now teaches a full range of academic subjects and has five-star rating for teaching and research in several departments. It is also regarded as one of the best universities in the country for its sports teams.

Principal Officers of the University

• The Queen holds the title of Visitor to the University.
• The Chancellor of the University, the ceremonial figure head, is Sir Dominic Cadbury.
• The Pro-Chancellor is Lord Hannay of Chiswick.
• The Vice- Chancellor and Principal is Professor Michael Sterling

History Of The University

On 23 February 1875, Sir Josiah Mason, the Birmingham industrialist and philanthropist, who made his fortune in making key rings, pens, pen nibs and electroplating, founded Mason Science College. It was this institution that would eventually form the nucleus of the University of Birmingham. In 1882 their Departments of Chemistry, Botany and Physiology were transferred to Mason Science College, soon followed by the Departments of Physics and Comparative Anatomy. The transfer of the Medical School to Mason Science College gave considerable impetus to the growing importance of that College, and in 1896, a move to incorporate it as a University College was made. As the result of the Mason University College Act 1897 it became incorporated as Mason University College on 1st January 1898, with the Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain MP becoming the President of its Court of Governors. It was largely due to Chamberlain's tireless enthusiasm that the university was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria on 24 March 1900. The Calthorpe family offered twenty-five acres (100,000 m²) of land on the Bournbrook side of their estate in July. The Court of Governors received the Birmingham University Act 1900, which put the Royal Charter into effect, on 31 May. The transfer of Mason University College to the new University of Birmingham, with Chamberlain as its first Chancellor and Sir Oliver Lodge as the first Principal, was complete.

Chancellors of the University

• 1st Rt Hon Joseph Chamberlain 1900-1914
• 2nd Rt Hon Robert Cecil 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood 1918-1944
• 3rd Rt Hon Sir Anthony Eden, Earl of Avon 1945-1973
• 4th Sir Peter Scott 1973-1983
• 5th Sir Alex Jarratt 1983-2002
• 6th Sir Dominic Cadbury 2002-present

Other Items of Interest

• Birmingham is a member of the Russell Group of Universities and a founder member of Universitas 21.
• Birmingham University is one of the top five most popular universities in the UK.
• The University is home to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
• Birmingham today produces more medical doctors than any other university in Britain
• Birmingham was the first 'campus' university
• The University has the oldest business school in England.
• Birmingham was the first civic university in England.
• Joseph Chamberlain became the first commoner in 240 years to hold the post of Chancellor, and the first chancellor ever not to have been a member of the Established Church.
• The University of Birmingham Botanic Garden is a 2.4 hectare Edwardian Arts and Crafts style garden on the University's Edgbaston Campus.

Alumni

• The Rt Hon Baroness Valerie Amos - first black woman to sit in the British Cabinet
• The Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong MP - Chief Whip for the Government and Parliamentary Secretary at the Treasury
• Francis Aston - Nobel Prize winner
• Madeleine Carroll - Film Star
• Lisa Clayton - First British woman to sail single-handed around the world
• Spencer Davis - 1960's Pop Star
• Alex Deakin - BBC Weatherman
• Dr Richard Hu - Singapore Minister of Finance from 1985-2001
• General Sir Mike Jackson KCB CBE - Chief of the General Staff, the most senior officer in the British Army.
• David Kelly - UN weapons inspector
• David Lodge - Novelist
• Captain Adrian Nance OBE - Commanding Officer, HMS Ark Royal
• Sir Paul Nurse - Nobel Prize Winner
• Chris Tarrant - TV presenter
• Henry Treece - Poet and Novelist
• Professor Sir John Vane, FRS - Nobel Prize winner
• Rodolfo Neri Vela - Mexican astronaut
• The Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe MP - Former Cabinet minister
• Victoria Wood - Comedian
• Francis Brett Young - Novelist and Poet

External Links

• The University radio station is called