Accumulating evidence has revealed that survivin expression is associated with a malignant phenotype and poor prognosis in glioma. Survivin is also a potential target of microRNA (miRNA/miR)-218. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and function of survivin in glioblastoma, and to examine the association between survivin and miR-218. For that purpose, survivin mRNA levels were analyzed in 144 frozen samples of glioblastoma using whole-genome RNA sequencing. In vitro cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis assays were performed, and survivin expression was detected by western blotting. The results revealed that the mRNA expression levels of survivin were negatively and significantly associated with overall survival in glioblastoma. Further in vitro analyses suggested that miR-218 may inhibit the expression of survivin. Expression of miR-218 in the LN229 cell line was significantly lower than that in the immortalized human gliocyte HEB cell line. miR-218 markedly inhibited tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion capacities, and decreased apoptosis. miR-218 also inhibited the expression of survivin. These results indicated that survivin may be a target of miR-218 and could serve as a predictive biomarker.