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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
Birkbeck, University of London

London · QS World #354

Q
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Edinburgh · QS World #1201

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.

5/8

Birkbeck

scored higher in 5 categories

VS

3/8

Queen Margaret

scored higher in 3 categories

Quick Verdict

Birkbeck, University of London leads in 5 of 8 categories where both have data (ranking, established, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is ahead on satisfaction, employment, international.

Birkbeck, University of London vs Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh at a glance

Birkbeck, University of London and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh both teach 14 subject areas, the largest being Business & Management (General), Sociology & Criminology and Media & Film Studies. Birkbeck, University of London offers 361 courses across 69 subject areas; Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh offers 68 courses across 25 subject areas.

For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,850 a year at Birkbeck, University of London and £18,460 at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh: Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is about £2,390 a year cheaper.

Of the 5 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, Birkbeck, University of London is higher in 5 and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh in 0. The widest gap is in Business & Management (General): £29,500 three years after graduating from Birkbeck, University of London, against £22,000 from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Of the 7 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is higher in 5 and Birkbeck, University of London in 2.

World & National Rankings

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

#354
QS World
#1201
#301
THE World
—
—
Guardian UK
—
1823
Established
1875
No
Russell Group
No
Bronze
TEF Rating
—

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Birkbeck, University of London

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

85.1%
89.4%

Satisfaction

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

£32,500
£28,300

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

79.6%
88.1%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

12%
18.6%

International

International student share

361
68

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

16
3

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.

Birkbeck

60 countries · 12% international

  • 🇺🇸United States10.8%
  • 🇨🇳China9.7%
  • 🇮🇳India8.6%
  • 🇪🇸Spain4.8%
  • 🇮🇹Italy4.3%
VS

Queen Margaret

51 countries · 18.6% international

  • 🇮🇪Ireland29%
  • 🌐Nepal9.8%
  • 🇨🇦Canada8.2%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria6.1%
  • 🇺🇸United States4.5%

Subjects

14 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.

Birkbeck, University of London

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Only at Birkbeck, University of London

Only at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

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

Birkbeck, University of London
£18,500
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
No data

We do not have reliable international fee data for Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh yet.

Postgraduate

Birkbeck, University of London
£20,850
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
£18,460

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is about £2,390 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.

Birkbeck, University of London

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

  • Business & Management (General)

    £29,500Salary (3 years)£22,000
    76%Satisfaction92%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£21,000
    88%Satisfaction94%

  • Media & Film Studies

    £24,000Salary (3 years)£20,000
    86%Satisfaction88%

  • Psychology (General)

    £26,000Salary (3 years)£21,000
    84%Satisfaction82%

  • Counselling & Psychotherapy

    No dataSalary (3 years)£25,000
    90%Satisfaction88%

  • Drama & Theatre

    No dataSalary (3 years)£19,500
    75%Satisfaction99%

  • Marketing

    £29,500Salary (3 years)£22,000
    75%Satisfaction76%

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Birkbeck, University of London

Bonnart Trust Sanctuary Scholarship

£18,000

Deadline: Jun 2026

Cyril Taylor Scholarships

£15,000

Deadline: Jul 2026

Breakspear scholarship

£12,000

Deadline: Jul 2026

MA History of Art scholarship

£6,000

Deadline: Jul 2026

Legal & General Sustainable Leaders Bursary

£5,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Scottish Highlands & Islands Schools Scholarship

£500

Deadline: Jun 2026

Alison Scott Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

The Alison Scott Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Birkbeck, University of London vs Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh: common questions

Is Birkbeck, University of London or Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh cheaper for international students?

For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,850 a year at Birkbeck, University of London and £18,460 at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh: Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is about £2,390 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 Birkbeck, University of London and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh?

Both universities teach 14 subject areas: Business & Management (General), Sociology & Criminology, Media & Film Studies, Politics & International Relations, Psychology (General), Counselling & Psychotherapy, Business Studies, Drama & Theatre, Finance & Actuarial Science, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Marketing, Teacher Training and 2 more.

Is Birkbeck, University of London or Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh better for Business & Management (General)?

Business & Management (General) graduates earn a median £29,500 three years after graduating from Birkbeck, University of London, and £22,000 from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Student satisfaction with teaching is 76% at Birkbeck, University of London and 92% at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Birkbeck, University of London or Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh offer more courses?

Birkbeck, University of London lists 361 courses on CourseOptions and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh lists 68 courses.

What can you study at Birkbeck, University of London but not at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh?

Birkbeck, University of London teaches 55 subject areas that Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh does not, including Law, History, Physical Geography & Climate, Ancient Languages, Economics, History of Art & Design, Computer Science, Accounting and 47 more.

What can you study at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh but not at Birkbeck, University of London?

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh teaches 11 subject areas that Birkbeck, University of London does not, including Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Nutrition & Dietetics, Adult Nursing, Education Studies, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Cultural Studies, Medical Imaging, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation and 3 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

B
Birkbeck, University of London361 courses · 16 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
Q
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh68 courses · 3 scholarshipsBrowse Courses