University of Birmingham: Entry, Fees and Scholarships
TL;DR: The University of Birmingham is a Russell Group university on the Edgbaston campus in Birmingham, ranked 97th in the THE World University Rankings 2027. International master's students start mainly in September, with some January courses, and a £5,000 High Fliers award for January 2027 closes on 7 December 2026. A foundation pathway on campus suits students who need a step before first year.
The University of Birmingham pairs a research-led reputation with a single large campus and a wide course list. This guide sets out what it asks for, what it costs and which scholarships are open now. Want a quick read on your chances? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
Is the University of Birmingham a good choice for international students?
The University of Birmingham is a member of the Russell Group, the network of research-intensive UK universities. Its main campus is at Edgbaston, in the south of Birmingham. The university reports that it is 97th in the THE World University Rankings 2027 and, in its June 2026 announcement, 68th in the QS World University Rankings, up eight places.
That reputation comes with higher entry bars than many UK universities, especially for management and clinical subjects. If your grades are strong, it is worth a place on your shortlist. Prosper can apply to the University of Birmingham for you, and to its on-campus foundation pathway.
University of Birmingham entry requirements for master's degrees
Birmingham publishes postgraduate English requirements in three bands:
| Subject band | IELTS Academic | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Science subjects | 6.0, no band below 5.5 | 64, no skill below 59 |
| Most subjects | 6.5, no band below 6.0 | 67, no skill below 64 |
| Management and Clinical Psychology | 7.0, no band below 6.5 | 76, no skill below 67 |
TOEFL iBT and Trinity ISE are also accepted, and so are IELTS One Skill Retake results. If you fall a little short, the university's pre-sessional English course is another route in.
For the degree itself, most taught master's degrees ask for a UK 2:1 or 2:2 equivalent. How your home grades convert is set out on each country page.
University of Birmingham fees for international students
Birmingham does not publish one international fee range for undergraduate degrees. Its fees page says the fee depends on the programme and is quoted in your offer letter. For master's degrees, international fees sit on each course page.
One example: the Public Health MPH for September 2027 costs £31,500 for international full-time students, or £21,000 for the PGDip, with a £3,000 deposit when you accept the offer. Check the course page for your exact subject, because fees vary widely between schools.
University of Birmingham January intake
September is the main intake, but a set of master's degrees also start in January. Examples include MSc International Business, with an application deadline of 18 December 2026, and MSc Advanced Computer Science. The January list also covers Computer Science, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Education and Public Administration.
Courses such as MSc Data Science and the Public Health MPH start in September only.
University of Birmingham scholarships
Three awards are worth knowing about:
- Postgraduate High Fliers Scholarship, January 2027: an automatic £5,000 fee reduction for international fee payers from a list of eligible countries who start a January master's. The deadline is 7 December 2026.
- Birmingham Business School Masters Scholarship: up to £25,000 for September 2027 entry on 18 listed MSc programmes, for students domiciled outside China and India. The deadline is 1 March 2027.
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship: listed on the university's international scholarships page for eligible Commonwealth countries, with dates set each year.
The £3,000 Birmingham Masters Scholarship is for home students only, so it does not apply to international applicants.
The foundation pathway into Birmingham
If you need a step before first year, the University of Birmingham foundation pathways run on campus at the Birmingham International Academy. Fees for 2026-27 start at £24,480 for Arts, Social Sciences, Business and Law, and £26,400 for Engineering, Life Sciences, and Medicine and Health. Courses start in September, with January starts in some subjects.
Students who pass at the required level with good attendance are guaranteed a place on their linked degree.
Deposit, CAS and visa costs
International master's students must pay a deposit before a CAS is issued. The CAS follows once the deposit is paid and all offer conditions are met, and the amount and due date appear in your applicant portal.
From GOV.UK: the Student visa costs £558 from outside the UK, and you can apply up to six months before your course starts. The Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 a year. For Birmingham, which is outside London, you need £1,171 a month for up to nine months, held for 28 days. After graduating, a Graduate visa application made from 1 January 2027 gives 18 months to stay and work.
Applying from Sri Lanka
Birmingham's Sri Lanka country page sets out how local qualifications are read:
- Undergraduate: Sri Lankan A/Ls, local or Cambridge, count as equivalent to GCE A Levels, graded A = A, B = B, C = Credit and S = Simple pass. A/L holders normally go straight to first year rather than the foundation.
- Master's: a four-year Special or Professional Bachelor's from a recognised Sri Lankan university. A 2:1 equals 60 to 74%, a CGPA of 3.30 out of 4.0 or a B+. A 2:2 equals 55 to 59%, a CGPA of 3.0 or a B.
- High Fliers Scholarship: Sri Lanka is on the list of eligible countries for the January 2027 award.
- English: the page does not say whether O/L or A/L English replaces IELTS, so plan on taking an accepted test.
Once you hold a CAS, you book biometrics at VFS Global in Colombo and the TB test at IOM Colombo.
Frequently asked questions
Does the University of Birmingham have a January intake?
Yes. The University of Birmingham starts selected master's degrees in January, including MSc International Business and MSc Advanced Computer Science. The MSc International Business deadline for January 2027 is 18 December 2026.
What IELTS score does the University of Birmingham need?
For master's degrees, the University of Birmingham asks for IELTS Academic 6.0 for science subjects, 6.5 for most subjects and 7.0 for management and clinical psychology, each with minimum band scores.
How much is the University of Birmingham for international students?
Fees depend on the course. As one example, the Public Health MPH costs £31,500 for international full-time students starting in September 2027. Undergraduate fees are quoted in the offer letter.
Is the University of Birmingham in the Russell Group?
Yes. The University of Birmingham is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive UK universities.
Does the University of Birmingham offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. Examples include the £5,000 High Fliers award for January 2027 master's students from eligible countries and the Birmingham Business School Masters Scholarship of up to £25,000 for September 2027.
More guides
See how Birmingham compares in our guide to universities in the UK for international students, check UK tuition fees for international students, learn how the UK university deposit and the CAS work, and look at another city option, Birmingham City University.
PS: The University of Birmingham rewards strong grades, so the first question is whether your degree class or A/L results clear its bar. Send us your results and we will tell you which courses fit and whether a January start is realistic. Check your eligibility with Prosper.
References
- University of Birmingham in top 100 of the World University Rankings, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/university-of-birmingham-in-top-100-of-the-world-university-rankings (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Growing global momentum takes University of Birmingham to 68th in world, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/growing-global-momentum-takes-university-of-birmingham-to-68th-in-world (accessed 11/11/2026)
- International entry requirements (postgraduate taught), University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/apply/international-entry-requirements (accessed 11/11/2026)
- International fees, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/international/fees (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Public Health MPH, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/subjects/medicine-courses/public-health-mph (accessed 11/11/2026)
- MSc International Business, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/subjects/business-and-management-courses/international-business-msc (accessed 11/11/2026)
- MSc Advanced Computer Science, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/subjects/computer-science-and-data-science-courses/advanced-computer-science-msc (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Postgraduate High Fliers Scholarship for January, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/scholarships-funding/postgraduate-high-fliers-scholarship-for-january (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Birmingham Business School Masters Scholarship, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/scholarships-funding/birmingham-business-school-masters-scholarship (accessed 11/11/2026)
- International scholarships, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/international/fees/scholarships (accessed 11/11/2026)
- International deposits, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/international/fees/international-deposits (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Sri Lanka country page, University of Birmingham, https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/international/students/country/sri-lanka (accessed 11/11/2026)
- University of Birmingham foundation pathways courses, Kaplan International Pathways, https://www.kaplanpathways.com/where-to-study/university-of-birmingham-foundation-pathways/courses/ (accessed 11/11/2026)
- University of Birmingham foundation pathways, Kaplan International Pathways, https://www.kaplanpathways.com/colleges/university-of-birmingham-foundation-pathways/ (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Student visa, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/student-visa (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Student visa: money you need, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money (accessed 11/11/2026)
- Immigration Health Surcharge, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay (accessed 11/11/2026)
