University of Alabama at Birmingham
#1001-1200
QS Rank
83%
Acceptance rate
$31,460
Tuition/yr
18,000
Enrollment
About University of Alabama at Birmingham
Public research university in Birmingham, Alabama. Strong engineering, health sciences, and business.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public research university and academic medical center located in Birmingham, Alabama. Established as an independent institution in 1969, it has grown from an extension center into a Carnegie R1 doctoral research university offering over 140 academic programs across 12 schools and colleges. Total enrollment stands at approximately 20,900 students.
UAB is best known for its health sciences, medicine, and biomedical research. It secured $774.5 million in research funding in 2023, with the National Institutes of Health as a leading contributor, placing it among the top NIH-funded institutions in the southeastern United States. UAB Hospital is Alabama's only Level I trauma center and is consistently ranked among the nation's best hospitals. Beyond health sciences, the university also has strong programs in engineering, business, education, and natural sciences.
The campus covers 636 acres in central Birmingham, Alabama's largest city. Birmingham has a relatively low cost of living compared to major US metro areas, and UAB's urban setting provides access to a substantial healthcare and technology employer base. The university has an acceptance rate of approximately 87 percent, making it accessible while maintaining research-intensive standing.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
AL
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- UAB's particular strength in health sciences, biomedical research, and nursing makes it well-suited for Nepali students pursuing medicine-adjacent or STEM graduate pathways, with its QS subject rank of #168 globally in Medicine (2026) offering genuine research credibility.
- International undergraduate students are automatically considered for the UAB International Scholarship (up to USD 7,500/year) upon application, partially offsetting the approximately USD 31,460 annual tuition, a cost tier that is moderate relative to flagship state universities on the US coasts.
- Graduates in STEM-designated fields are eligible for up to 3 years of post-study work authorization in the US through Optional Practical Training (OPT + two STEM extensions), giving Nepali STEM graduates meaningful time to gain US work experience after graduation.
- Birmingham's comparatively low cost of living reduces overall study expenses beyond tuition, and UAB's large and diverse student body of over 20,000 provides a broader international community for students from South Asia.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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