The University of Birmingham is a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen’s College, Birmingham, and Mason Science College. It is a founding member of both the Russell Group of British research universities and the international network of research universities, Universitas 21. The university is known for its excellence in a wide range of subjects, including medicine, engineering, and the arts and humanities.