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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

U
University of St Andrews

St Andrews · QS World #115

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 9 datapoints

We looked at 9 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

1/9

Birkbeck

scored higher in 1 category

VS

8/9

St Andrews

scored higher in 8 categories

Quick Verdict

University of St Andrews leads in 8 of 9 categories where both have data (ranking, established, satisfaction, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). Birkbeck, University of London is ahead on employment.

Birkbeck, University of London vs University of St Andrews at a glance

Birkbeck, University of London and University of St Andrews both teach 45 subject areas, the largest being French, German & Scandinavian Studies and History. Birkbeck, University of London offers 361 courses across 69 subject areas; University of St Andrews offers 1,157 courses across 64 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,500 a year at Birkbeck, University of London and £30,160 at University of St Andrews: Birkbeck, University of London is about £11,660 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,850 a year at Birkbeck, University of London and £27,200 at University of St Andrews: Birkbeck, University of London is about £6,350 a year cheaper.

Of the 19 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of St Andrews is higher in 11 and Birkbeck, University of London in 8. The widest gap is in Economics: £23,000 three years after graduating from Birkbeck, University of London, against £39,000 from University of St Andrews. Of the 19 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of St Andrews is higher in 14 and Birkbeck, University of London in 4, with 1 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#354
QS World
#115
#301
THE World
#162
—
Guardian UK
#3
1823
Established
1413
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

University of St Andrews

85.1%
93.2%

Satisfaction

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

£32,500
£40,000

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

79.6%
74.1%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

12%
46.1%

International

International student share

361
1157

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

16
62

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

St Andrews

89 countries · 46.1% international

  • 🇺🇸United States42.3%
  • 🇨🇳China9%
  • 🇩🇪Germany4%
  • 🇮🇳India4%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong3.2%

Subjects

45 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

University of St Andrews

Also taught at both: Philosophy, Psychology (General), Business & Management (General), Law, Physical Geography & Climate, Chemistry, Teacher Training, Spanish & Portuguese, Creative Writing, Asian Languages & Studies, Biochemistry, Finance & Actuarial Science, Geology & Earth Sciences, Statistics, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Business Studies, Information & Library Studies, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Cognitive & Experimental Psychology, English Literature, Human Geography & Environment, Liberal Arts, Marketing, Environmental Sciences, Personal & Professional Development, Computing & IT, Heritage & Conservation, Humanities, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Software Engineering.

Only at Birkbeck, University of London

Only at University of St Andrews

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
University of St Andrews
£30,160

Birkbeck, University of London is about £11,660 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Birkbeck, University of London
£20,850
University of St Andrews
£27,200

Birkbeck, University of London is about £6,350 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

University of St Andrews

  • History

    £23,500Salary (3 years)£28,500
    95%Satisfaction97%

  • Ancient Languages

    £30,500Salary (3 years)£30,000
    85%Satisfaction100%

  • Classical Studies

    £23,500Salary (3 years)£27,500
    98%Satisfaction97%

  • Economics

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£39,000
    88%Satisfaction93%

  • History of Art & Design

    £23,500Salary (3 years)£27,500
    89%Satisfaction94%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    96%Satisfaction95%

  • Media & Film Studies

    £24,000Salary (3 years)No data
    86%Satisfaction95%

  • Mathematics

    £27,000Salary (3 years)£36,500
    94%Satisfaction94%

  • English Studies

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£26,000
    94%Satisfaction92%

  • Computer Science

    £38,000Salary (3 years)£51,500
    72%Satisfaction93%

  • Biology

    £26,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    91%Satisfaction96%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£34,000
    88%SatisfactionNo data

Showing the 12 largest of 20 shared subjects with published outcomes.

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 →

University of St Andrews

Applied Environmental Sciences MSc Awards - Women in Mining (WIM) UK

100%

Deadline: Jun 2026

Environmental Science MSc Awards - The Cunningham Scholarship UK

100%

Deadline: Jun 2026

Masters funding in Digital Health and Care

£10,000

Deadline: Jun 2026

School of Modern Languages Masters Scholarship

100%

Deadline: May 2026

University of Jordan Postgraduate Scholarships

100%

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Birkbeck, University of London vs University of St Andrews: common questions

Is Birkbeck, University of London or University of St Andrews cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,500 a year at Birkbeck, University of London and £30,160 at University of St Andrews: Birkbeck, University of London is about £11,660 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,850 a year at Birkbeck, University of London and £27,200 at University of St Andrews: Birkbeck, University of London is about £6,350 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 University of St Andrews?

Both universities teach 45 subject areas: French, German & Scandinavian Studies, History, Ancient Languages, Classical Studies, Economics, History of Art & Design, Politics & International Relations, Media & Film Studies, Mathematics, English Studies, Computer Science and 33 more.

Is Birkbeck, University of London or University of St Andrews better for History?

History graduates earn a median £23,500 three years after graduating from Birkbeck, University of London, and £28,500 from University of St Andrews. Student satisfaction with teaching is 95% at Birkbeck, University of London and 97% at University of St Andrews. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Birkbeck, University of London or University of St Andrews offer more courses?

University of St Andrews lists 1,157 courses on CourseOptions and Birkbeck, University of London lists 361 courses.

What can you study at Birkbeck, University of London but not at University of St Andrews?

Birkbeck, University of London teaches 24 subject areas that University of St Andrews does not, including Accounting, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Journalism, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Social Sciences (General), Archaeology, Drama & Theatre, Healthcare Science and 16 more.

What can you study at University of St Andrews but not at Birkbeck, University of London?

University of St Andrews teaches 19 subject areas that Birkbeck, University of London does not, including African & Middle Eastern Studies, Italian, Theology & Religious Studies, Eastern European Languages, Geography (General), Anthropology, Medicine, Education Studies and 11 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
U
University of St Andrews1,157 courses · 62 scholarshipsBrowse Courses