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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.

B
Bath Spa University

Bath · Guardian UK #104

U
University of Essex

Colchester · QS World #438

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 8 datapoints

We looked at 8 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

2/8

Bath Spa

scored higher in 2 categories

VS

6/8

Essex

scored higher in 6 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Essex leads in 6 of 8 categories where both have data (ranking, satisfaction, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). Bath Spa University is ahead on established, employment.

Bath Spa University vs University of Essex at a glance

Bath Spa University and University of Essex both teach 32 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, History and Sociology & Criminology. Bath Spa University offers 249 courses across 45 subject areas; University of Essex offers 748 courses across 74 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,330 a year at Bath Spa University and £21,500 at University of Essex: Bath Spa University is about £3,170 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,760 a year at Bath Spa University and £23,880 at University of Essex: Bath Spa University is about £5,120 a year cheaper.

Of the 21 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Essex is higher in 16 and Bath Spa University in 5. The widest gap is in Economics: £21,000 three years after graduating from Bath Spa University, against £30,000 from University of Essex. Of the 23 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Bath Spa University is higher in 14 and University of Essex in 7, with 2 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#438
—
THE World
#301
#104
Guardian UK
#44
1898
Established
1964
No
Russell Group
No
Silver
TEF Rating
Silver

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Bath Spa University

University of Essex

86.2%
87.2%

Satisfaction

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

£27,000
£31,800

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

85%
79.7%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

2.7%
33.7%

International

International student share

249
748

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

20
30

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.

Bath Spa

40 countries · 2.7% international

  • 🇷🇴Romania25.3%
  • 🇮🇳India17.7%
  • 🇨🇳China9.5%
  • 🌐Bulgaria5.7%
  • 🇺🇸United States3.8%
VS

Essex

97 countries · 33.7% international

  • 🇮🇳India21.2%
  • 🇨🇳China11.7%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan6.1%
  • 🇫🇷France5.7%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria4.4%

Subjects

32 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.

Bath Spa University

University of Essex

Also taught at both: Journalism, Marketing, Business & Management (General), Ecology & Conservation, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Childhood & Youth Studies, Film Production & Cinematography, Applied Psychology, Biology, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Biomedical Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Teacher Training, Creative Arts (General), Human Resource Management, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Physical Geography & Climate.

Only at Bath Spa University

Only at University of Essex

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

Bath Spa University
£18,330
University of Essex
£21,500

Bath Spa University is about £3,170 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Bath Spa University
£18,760
University of Essex
£23,880

Bath Spa University is about £5,120 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.

Bath Spa University

University of Essex

  • Politics & International Relations

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£25,000
    81%Satisfaction86%

  • History

    £22,000Salary (3 years)£23,500
    99%Satisfaction93%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£24,000
    84%Satisfaction88%

  • Economics

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£30,000
    82%Satisfaction84%

  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£33,500
    93%Satisfaction81%

  • Drama & Theatre

    £18,500Salary (3 years)£16,500
    83%Satisfaction95%

  • Law

    No dataSalary (3 years)£24,000
    90%Satisfaction84%

  • Business Studies

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    85%Satisfaction83%

  • English Literature

    £22,500Salary (3 years)£24,000
    86%Satisfaction83%

  • Psychology (General)

    £22,000Salary (3 years)£24,500
    84%Satisfaction84%

  • Accounting

    £24,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    84%Satisfaction78%

  • Creative Writing

    £18,000Salary (3 years)£24,000
    90%Satisfaction75%

Showing the 12 largest of 25 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Bath Spa University

Explore It! Launch It! Grow It!

£5,000

Deadline: N/A

International Recruitment Office Scholarship

£5,000

Deadline: Jun 2026

MyWorld Scholarship

£5,000

Deadline: N/A

Global Horizons Award

£3,500

Deadline: N/A

Postgraduate Alumni Scholarship

£2,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

University of Essex

Access Essex Scholarship

100%

Deadline: N/A

Sustainable Transitions - Governance, Ecological Management and Society - Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme

100%

Deadline: N/A

Sustainable Transitions - Governance, Ecological Management and Society - Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme 2026-27 (Masters plus PhD)

100%

Deadline: N/A

The Essex MBA Dean's Award

100%

Deadline: N/A

Postgraduate Research EU Scholarship

£8,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Bath Spa University vs University of Essex: common questions

Is Bath Spa University or University of Essex cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,330 a year at Bath Spa University and £21,500 at University of Essex: Bath Spa University is about £3,170 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,760 a year at Bath Spa University and £23,880 at University of Essex: Bath Spa University is about £5,120 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 Bath Spa University and University of Essex?

Both universities teach 32 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, History, Sociology & Criminology, Economics, Philosophy, Computer Science, Drama & Theatre, Law, Business Studies, English Literature, Psychology (General), Accounting and 20 more.

Is Bath Spa University or University of Essex better for Politics & International Relations?

Politics & International Relations graduates earn a median £21,000 three years after graduating from Bath Spa University, and £25,000 from University of Essex. Student satisfaction with teaching is 81% at Bath Spa University and 86% at University of Essex. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Bath Spa University or University of Essex offer more courses?

University of Essex lists 748 courses on CourseOptions and Bath Spa University lists 249 courses.

What can you study at Bath Spa University but not at University of Essex?

Bath Spa University teaches 13 subject areas that University of Essex does not, including Education Studies, Music, Nutrition & Dietetics, Fine Art, Architecture, Dance, Software Engineering, Applied Computing and 5 more.

What can you study at University of Essex but not at Bath Spa University?

University of Essex teaches 42 subject areas that Bath Spa University does not, including History of Art & Design, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Finance & Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Linguistics, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Management, English Language and 34 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

B
Bath Spa University249 courses · 20 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
U
University of Essex748 courses · 30 scholarshipsBrowse Courses