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November 2026

Top 5 in UK for postgraduate student experience - 1st for those with disabilities

By Melanie Hall

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University College Birmingham has been ranked 4th in the UK for the postgraduate student experience - and first for master's students with a declared disability. 

The University achieved an overall positivity score of 93.5%, 6.7 percentage points above the sector score of 86.8% in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2026.

UCB ranked in the national top 10 across every survey theme, and in the top 5 for teaching and assessment, organisation and skills development, engagement and online learning resources. 

First for students with disabilities

Samantha Ellis, Head of Disability and Neurodiversity Support at the University, said to rank first for the experience of postgraduates with a declared disability was fantastic news.

"We work extremely hard to ensure students with disabilities have the best experience at the University," she said.

“We will continue listening to our students and using their feedback to build on these strengths and further enhance their experience.” 

The biggest year-on-year increase was for dissertation support, which rose by 12.4 percentage points. Satisfaction has grown from 76% in 2024 to 94.4% in 2026, an improvement of 18.4 points over two years. 

Engagement increased by 5.8 points, overall positivity rose by 5.5 points and skills development improved by 5.1 points. 

Students’ responses also highlighted an inclusive and supportive postgraduate community. Ninety-one per cent agreed they were encouraged to provide feedback, 17 points above the sector, while 87% felt a sense of belonging, compared with 72% across the sector. 

Michelle Callanan, Deputy Dean for Quality Assurance and Enhancement, said: "These exceptional results reflect our commitment to delivering a high-quality, career-focused postgraduate experience in which students feel supported, heard and equipped to succeed. 

“We are particularly proud to have achieved national firsts in organisation and skills development, alongside the outstanding result from students with a declared disability. 

The University’s postgraduate courses taught in the heart of the city are industry-focused and management-led, and the University is recognised by top industry bodies, giving you a well-respected qualification that will help you take your career to the next level.

You'll also benefit from exciting work placement and enrichment opportunities and there is postgraduate financial support to tap into as well, including an early payment discount and a fee waiver for University College Birmingham undergraduates going into postgraduate study.

If you are an international student choosing a postgraduate course with us, there are lots of other scholarships to apply for too.

Find out more about our postgraduate courses and postgraduate provision.

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