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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

O
Open University

None · THE World #801

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 7 datapoints

We looked at 7 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

5/7

Aston

scored higher in 5 categories

VS

2/7

Open

scored higher in 2 categories

Quick Verdict

Aston University, Birmingham leads in 5 of 7 categories where both have data (ranking, established, employment, international, graduate salary). Open University is ahead on satisfaction, courses.

Aston University, Birmingham vs Open University at a glance

Aston University, Birmingham and Open University both teach 30 subject areas, the largest being Business & Management (General), Computer Science and History. Aston University, Birmingham offers 169 courses across 51 subject areas; Open University offers 337 courses across 68 subject areas.

Of the 17 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, Aston University, Birmingham is higher in 9 and Open University in 8. The widest gap is in General Engineering: £31,000 three years after graduating from Aston University, Birmingham, against £43,500 from Open University. Of the 14 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Aston University, Birmingham is higher in 6 and Open University in 6, with 2 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#416
QS World
—
#401
THE World
#801
#39
Guardian UK
—
1895
Established
1969
No
Russell Group
No
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

Open University

85.2%
89.8%

Satisfaction

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

£37,600
£29,900

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

84.5%
72.6%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

22.1%
0.2%

International

International student share

169
337

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

0
0

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

Open

25 countries · 0.2% international

  • 🇩🇪Germany8.9%
  • 🌐Cyprus (European Union)6.7%
  • 🇫🇷France6.7%
  • 🇨🇳China4.4%
  • 🇮🇳India4.4%

Subjects

30 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

Open University

Also taught at both: Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Human Resource Management, Accounting, Information Systems & Data Science, Design & Fashion, Health & Social Care, Linguistics, Social Sciences (General), Public Health & Epidemiology, Statistics, Management, Personal & Professional Development, Adult Nursing, English Studies, Mental Health Nursing.

Only at Aston University, Birmingham

Only at Open University

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
Open University
No data

We do not have reliable international fee data for Open University yet.

Postgraduate

Aston University, Birmingham
£24,000
Open University
No data

We do not have reliable international fee data for Open University yet.

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

Open University

  • Computer Science

    £33,000Salary (3 years)£33,500
    85%Satisfaction91%

  • History

    No dataSalary (3 years)£23,000
    95%Satisfaction93%

  • Law

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£24,500
    89%Satisfaction96%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£17,000
    89%Satisfaction89%

  • Psychology (General)

    £24,500Salary (3 years)£22,500
    92%Satisfaction88%

  • General Engineering

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£43,500
    75%Satisfaction88%

  • Mathematics

    £31,500Salary (3 years)£30,000
    94%Satisfaction93%

  • English Language

    £24,000Salary (3 years)£23,000
    86%Satisfaction93%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £27,500Salary (3 years)£29,000
    81%Satisfaction92%

  • Economics

    £35,500Salary (3 years)£33,500
    95%Satisfaction89%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£32,000
    85%SatisfactionNo data

  • Software Engineering

    £33,000Salary (3 years)£38,000
    84%SatisfactionNo data

Showing the 12 largest of 18 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Aston University, Birmingham

View all scholarships →

Open University

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Aston University, Birmingham vs Open University: common questions

What subjects can you study at both Aston University, Birmingham and Open University?

Both universities teach 30 subject areas: Business & Management (General), Computer Science, History, Law, Sociology & Criminology, Psychology (General), General Engineering, Mathematics, English Language, Politics & International Relations, Economics, Electronic & Electrical Engineering and 18 more.

Is Aston University, Birmingham or Open University better for Computer Science?

Computer Science graduates earn a median £33,000 three years after graduating from Aston University, Birmingham, and £33,500 from Open University. Student satisfaction with teaching is 85% at Aston University, Birmingham and 91% at Open University. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Aston University, Birmingham or Open University offer more courses?

Open University lists 337 courses on CourseOptions and Aston University, Birmingham lists 169 courses.

What can you study at Aston University, Birmingham but not at Open University?

Aston University, Birmingham teaches 21 subject areas that Open University does not, including Business Studies, Chemical Engineering, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Building & Construction, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and 13 more.

What can you study at Open University but not at Aston University, Birmingham?

Open University teaches 38 subject areas that Aston University, Birmingham does not, including Humanities, Education Studies, Childhood & Youth Studies, Social Work, Computing & IT, Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Combined & General Studies and 30 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
O
Open University337 courses · 0 scholarshipsBrowse Courses