Skip to main content

Compare any two UK universities

Select any two universities below and we'll generate an instant, data-driven comparison — rankings, salaries, student satisfaction, international community, and more.

A
Aston University, Birmingham

Birmingham · QS World #416

I
Imperial College London

Kensington and Chelsea · QS World #2

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 11 datapoints

We looked at 11 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

2/11

Aston

scored higher in 2 categories

VS

9/11

Imperial College London

scored higher in 9 categories

Quick Verdict

Imperial College London leads in 9 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, satisfaction, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). Aston University, Birmingham is ahead on established, employment.

Aston University, Birmingham vs Imperial College London at a glance

Aston University, Birmingham and Imperial College London both teach 28 subject areas, the largest being Computer Science, Civil Engineering and Business Studies. Aston University, Birmingham offers 169 courses across 51 subject areas; Imperial College London offers 254 courses across 42 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £22,580 a year at Aston University, Birmingham and £24,600 at Imperial College London: Aston University, Birmingham is about £2,020 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £24,000 a year at Aston University, Birmingham and £39,900 at Imperial College London: Aston University, Birmingham is about £15,900 a year cheaper.

Of the 13 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, Imperial College London is higher in 12 and Aston University, Birmingham in 0, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: £33,000 three years after graduating from Aston University, Birmingham, against £65,000 from Imperial College London. Of the 13 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Imperial College London is higher in 11 and Aston University, Birmingham in 2.

World & National Rankings

Compare world and national league table positions, TEF ratings, and Russell Group membership.

#416
QS World
#2
#401
THE World
#8
#39
Guardian UK
#5
1895
Established
1907
No
Russell Group
Yes
Gold
TEF Rating
Gold

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

Longer bars indicate better performance. Metrics include student satisfaction, graduate salaries, and more.

Aston University, Birmingham

Imperial College London

85.2%
88.9%

Satisfaction

Student satisfaction with teaching (NSS Survey, out of 100%)

£37,600
£54,000

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

84.5%
81.4%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

22.1%
52.9%

International

International student share

169
254

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

0
90

Scholarships

Number of scholarships

International Community

Where do international students come from?

Top source countries based on official HESA enrolment data. A higher diversity of nationalities often means a richer campus experience.

Aston

67 countries · 22.1% international

  • 🇮🇳India40.8%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria10.2%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan5.9%
  • 🌐Kuwait4.2%
  • 🇻🇳Vietnam4%
VS

Imperial College London

106 countries · 52.9% international

  • 🇨🇳China41%
  • 🇮🇳India5.8%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong5.1%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia3.6%
  • 🇸🇬Singapore3.6%

Subjects

28 subjects you can study at both

Courses listed at each university in the subject, and the typical (median) international fee a year. Select a count to see the courses.

Aston University, Birmingham

Imperial College London

Also taught at both: Economics, Politics & International Relations, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Statistics, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Public Health & Epidemiology, Biotechnology, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Management, Healthcare Science, Medicine.

Only at Aston University, Birmingham

Only at Imperial College London

Fees

What it costs international students

The typical (median) international tuition fee a year across each university's published course fees. Individual courses vary; each course page shows its own fee.

Undergraduate

Aston University, Birmingham
£22,580
Imperial College London
£24,600

Aston University, Birmingham is about £2,020 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Aston University, Birmingham
£24,000
Imperial College London
£39,900

Aston University, Birmingham is about £15,900 a year cheaper.

Outcomes

Graduate outcomes by subject

Median graduate salary three years after graduating, and student satisfaction with teaching, across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject. Source: Discover Uni.

Aston University, Birmingham

Imperial College London

  • Computer Science

    £33,000Salary (3 years)£64,000
    85%Satisfaction97%

  • Civil Engineering

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£35,500
    83%Satisfaction90%

  • Mathematics

    £31,500Salary (3 years)£53,500
    94%Satisfaction91%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    £32,500Salary (3 years)£46,000
    64%Satisfaction82%

  • Biochemistry

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£33,500
    92%Satisfaction86%

  • Biomedical Engineering

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£40,500
    78%Satisfaction85%

  • Chemical Engineering

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£45,500
    87%Satisfaction89%

  • General Engineering

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£46,500
    75%Satisfaction90%

  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

    £33,000Salary (3 years)£65,000
    84%Satisfaction97%

  • Mechanical Engineering

    £32,000Salary (3 years)£40,000
    80%Satisfaction91%

  • Software Engineering

    £33,000Salary (3 years)£65,000
    84%Satisfaction97%

  • Aerospace Engineering

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£37,500
    No dataSatisfaction92%

Showing the 12 largest of 14 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Aston University, Birmingham

View all scholarships →

Imperial College London

Engineering Sainsbury Management Fellows Scholarship

£50,000

Deadline: N/A

Science Sainsbury Management Fellows Scholarship

£50,000

Deadline: N/A

J.P. Morgan Scholarship in Quantitative Finance

£45,100

Deadline: May 2026

Dean's Impact Scholarship

£30,000

Deadline: N/A

W L "Bill" Byrnes Global Scholarship

£30,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Aston University, Birmingham vs Imperial College London: common questions

Is Aston University, Birmingham or Imperial College London cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £22,580 a year at Aston University, Birmingham and £24,600 at Imperial College London: Aston University, Birmingham is about £2,020 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £24,000 a year at Aston University, Birmingham and £39,900 at Imperial College London: Aston University, Birmingham is about £15,900 a year cheaper. These are medians of the international tuition fees each university publishes for its courses; the fee for a specific course is on its course page.

What subjects can you study at both Aston University, Birmingham and Imperial College London?

Both universities teach 28 subject areas: Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Business Studies, Mathematics, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Finance & Actuarial Science, Business & Management (General), Chemical Engineering, General Engineering and 16 more.

Is Aston University, Birmingham or Imperial College London better for Computer Science?

Computer Science graduates earn a median £33,000 three years after graduating from Aston University, Birmingham, and £64,000 from Imperial College London. Student satisfaction with teaching is 85% at Aston University, Birmingham and 97% at Imperial College London. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Aston University, Birmingham or Imperial College London offer more courses?

Imperial College London lists 254 courses on CourseOptions and Aston University, Birmingham lists 169 courses.

What can you study at Aston University, Birmingham but not at Imperial College London?

Aston University, Birmingham teaches 23 subject areas that Imperial College London does not, including Marketing, Psychology (General), English Language, History, Human Resource Management, Information Systems & Data Science, Sociology & Criminology, Accounting and 15 more.

What can you study at Imperial College London but not at Aston University, Birmingham?

Imperial College London teaches 14 subject areas that Aston University, Birmingham does not, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Ecology & Conservation, Geology & Earth Sciences, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Clinical Specialities, Anatomy & Pathology and 6 more.

Ready to explore courses?

Browse available courses, check entry requirements, and find scholarships at each university.

A
Aston University, Birmingham169 courses · 0 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
I
Imperial College London254 courses · 90 scholarshipsBrowse Courses