Birmingham Newman University

What Birmingham Newman University does

Birmingham Newman University is an independent UK higher education institution established in 1968 with Catholic heritage, located on a single campus in Bartley Green, south-west Birmingham. It offers undergraduate degrees, postgraduate taught and research programmes (MPhil/PhD), a Foundation Year entry route, and PGCE teacher training across disciplines including Business, Computer Science, Nursing, Psychology, Education, Law, and Sports. The institution serves a student population where 70% are first in their family to attend university, with a mission centred on widening participation, social mobility, and inclusive education across all faiths and worldviews.

The university operates a digital ecosystem built on Microsoft 365 with enterprise data protection, the Moodle virtual learning environment, and the OurNewman mobile application available on iOS and Android, providing students access to files, emails, course resources, timetables, personalised notifications, and deadline tracking. It has published a six-level Generative AI Guidelines framework governing student use of AI in assessments and recommends Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat as the preferred AI tool. Physical infrastructure includes a library holding over 100,000 books, two on-campus accommodation halls (Cofton Hall from £172/week and Original Halls from £110/week), a sports and fitness centre, conference and venue hire facilities, and a careers service available for three years post-graduation. Five disciplines achieved world-leading (4*) quality in REF 2021: Education, History, Sport, Social Work and Social Policy, and English.

Revenue is generated through multiple streams: tuition fees from UK/EU students funded via Student Finance England loans and from international students paying directly; recurring accommodation fees; sports centre memberships for students, staff, alumni, and the local community; and venue hire for conferences and events. Student recruitment operates through UCAS for undergraduate applications, the MyNewman direct portal for postgraduate and part-time courses, the Department for Education Apply service for PGCE teacher training, the Clearing process for late-cycle applications, and a network of international agents supporting intake cycles in June, September, November, and January. The university is led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Jackie Dunne MBE and governed by a University Council chaired by Professor Martin Stringer.

Name

Birmingham Newman University

Legal name

Birmingham Newman University

Website

https://newman.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Birmingham Newman University is an independent UK higher education institution founded in 1968 offering undergraduate, postgraduate, foundation, and teacher training programmes. It serves a student body where 70% are first-generation attendees, delivered through a Birmingham campus with accommodation, sports, and digital learning services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interdisciplinary/Experimental Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAN), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Postgraduate study programs
• Teacher training courses
• Student accommodation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: UK/EU undergraduate and postgraduate students fund their studies through Student Finance England loans. International students pay tuition fees directly. The university offers various payment plans for tuition fees.
2. Accommodation: On-campus student accommodation at Cofton Hall (from £172/week) and Original Halls (from £110/week), providing recurring revenue from students living on campus.
3. Sports Centre Memberships: Fitness suite memberships and pay-as-you-go access for students, staff, alumni, and local community members. Facility hire includes 3G pitch, sports hall, badminton, and squash courts.
4. Conference and Venue Hire: Event spaces including boardrooms (from £60), lecture theatres (from £170), and classrooms available for hire. Catering services also available. Onsite accommodation offered during summer months (August to early September).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Birmingham Newman University is a higher education institution that delivers undergraduate degrees, postgraduate programmes, Foundation Year preparatory courses, and PGCE teacher training, supported by on-campus student accommodation, a Sports and Fitness Centre, careers and employability services, and the Go Abroad international exchange programme. It supplements academic delivery with the OurNewman mobile app and web portal integrated with Microsoft 365 and Moodle, plus a structured Generative AI Guidelines framework for assessments.

Product overview

Birmingham Newman University offers higher education as a teaching-focused institution with undergraduate degrees, postgraduate programmes, foundation years, and PGCE teacher training. The university operates its own digital ecosystem including the OurNewman app and web portal integrated with Microsoft 365, providing students access to course resources, timetables, and administrative services. Physical offerings include on-campus accommodation (Cofton Hall and Original Halls), sports and fitness facilities, careers services, international exchange via the Go Abroad programme, and venue hire. The university has established Generative AI Guidelines with six defined usage levels for assessments, recommending Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat as the preferred AI tool for student work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OurNewman: Central hub mobile app for Birmingham Newman students providing notifications, file access, emails, course resources, and support services.

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degrees

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schools and Colleges (Outreach Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive partnership network with secondary schools, colleges, and related institutions across the region. Student Recruitment and Outreach team provides free presentations, workshops, and bespoke campus programmes. Partnership includes Higher Education Advisers' Conference for professional development.
• Schools (Initial Teacher Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with schools for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes including School Direct teacher training routes. Schools act as lead partners in reviewing applications and conducting interviews. Students gain practical teaching experience through school placements.
• Healthcare Providers (Nursing & Allied Health Placements)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with NHS trusts and healthcare organisations for nursing and allied health student placements. Provides practical clinical experience required for professional qualifications in nursing, occupational therapy, paramedic science, and physiotherapy.
• Turing Scheme Partner Universities (International Exchange)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTuring Scheme funding supports student exchanges with partner universities worldwide including Austria, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Poland, Spain, and USA. Students can spend a semester abroad at partner institutions or participate in shorter programmes like summer schools.
• Higher Education Liaison Officers Association (HELOA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirmingham Newman University is an active member of HELOA, attending national conferences to ensure information and services meet professional standards.
• Employers (Business Partnerships)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with employers for student recruitment, part-time work, internships, placements, and graduate roles. Employers collaborate with academic faculties through modules, projects, and guest lectures.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Chester: Mid-sized UK university with a comparable teaching-led mission, widening participation emphasis, and broad undergraduate portfolio across health, education, and humanities that overlaps heavily with Newman's offering.
• University of Cumbria: Public university with comparable size, a strong widening participation mission, and a similar portfolio including teacher training, health professions, and social sciences — directly comparable on student intake profile.
• York St John University: Small UK university with Anglican heritage roots similar to Newman's Catholic heritage, comparable size, teaching-led focus, and an overlapping portfolio in education, health, and humanities.
• Staffordshire University: Modern UK university of similar size with comparable widening participation mission and an overlapping portfolio across education, health, and applied social sciences, including nursing and teacher training.
• University of Worcester: Public university in the West Midlands with a comparable size profile, strong widening participation focus, and a similar portfolio of education, health, and humanities courses — the closest geographic and mission-aligned peer to Birmingham Newman.
• Leeds Trinity University: Small UK university with a comparable teaching-led mission, strong widening participation profile, and overlapping professional and humanities degree portfolio, making it one of the closest direct comparables in size and strategy.
• University of Derby: Public UK university of similar size and teaching-led positioning, with comparable health and education portfolio and a similar widening participation commitment — a useful benchmark for student outcomes and revenue mix.
• University of Roehampton: Small London university of comparable size with similar heritage roots (religious foundation), broad portfolio across education, business, and humanities, and a teaching-led model closely resembling Newman's.
• Bishop Grosseteste University: Small UK university with Anglican heritage roots comparable to Newman's Catholic heritage, similar size, and an overlapping focus on teacher training, education, and social sciences — a strong mission-aligned peer.
• University of Bolton: Small UK university with comparable teaching-led profile, similar widening participation focus, and overlapping health, education, and social science programmes — a useful size and mission comparable.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/newmanuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/birmingham-newman-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/birminghamnewmanuni
• TikToktiktok.com/@birmingham_newman_uni
• Xx.com/Newman_Uni

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Birmingham Newman University