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Canterbury · QS World #1401
Colchester · QS World #438
Head-to-Head Summary
Based on 10 datapoints
We looked at 10 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.
2/10
Canterbury Christ Church
scored higher in 2 categories
8/10
Essex
scored higher in 8 categories
Quick Verdict
University of Essex leads in 8 of 10 categories where both have data (ranking, satisfaction, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). Canterbury Christ Church University is ahead on established, employment.
Canterbury Christ Church University vs University of Essex at a glance
Canterbury Christ Church University and University of Essex both teach 46 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, History and Law. Canterbury Christ Church University offers 235 courses across 68 subject areas; University of Essex offers 748 courses across 74 subject areas.
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at Canterbury Christ Church University and £21,500 at University of Essex: Canterbury Christ Church University is about £4,500 a year cheaper.
Of the 30 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Essex is higher in 21 and Canterbury Christ Church University in 7, with 2 about level. The widest gap is in Health Sciences & Paramedic Science: £40,500 three years after graduating from Canterbury Christ Church University, against £26,500 from University of Essex. Of the 28 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Essex is higher in 16 and Canterbury Christ Church University in 12.
World & National Rankings
Compare world and national league table positions, TEF ratings, and Russell Group membership.
Visual Breakdown
Key metrics at a glance
Longer bars indicate better performance. Metrics include student satisfaction, graduate salaries, and more.
Canterbury Christ Church University
University of Essex
Satisfaction
Student satisfaction with teaching (NSS Survey, out of 100%)
Graduate Salaries (5y)
Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation
Employment
Graduate employment rate
International
International student share
Course Counts
Number of courses offered
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.
Canterbury Christ Church
41 countries · 3.5% international
- 🇵🇰Pakistan49.1%
- 🇮🇳India8.5%
- 🇳🇬Nigeria6.3%
- 🇺🇸United States4.8%
- 🇧🇩Bangladesh4.4%
Essex
97 countries · 33.7% international
- 🇮🇳India21.2%
- 🇨🇳China11.7%
- 🇵🇰Pakistan6.1%
- 🇫🇷France5.7%
- 🇳🇬Nigeria4.4%
Subjects
46 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.
Canterbury Christ Church University
University of Essex
Politics & International Relations
1 courseTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
52 coursesTypical fee £22,600 (UG)
History
3 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
44 coursesTypical fee £21,500 (UG)
Law
12 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
29 coursesTypical fee £22,600 (UG)
Sociology & Criminology
12 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
28 coursesTypical fee £21,500 (UG)
Sport & Exercise Sciences
11 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
26 coursesTypical fee £22,600 (UG)
Computer Science
4 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
26 coursesTypical fee £22,600 (UG)
Psychology (General)
9 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
20 coursesTypical fee £24,360 (UG)
Finance & Actuarial Science
2 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
24 coursesTypical fee £22,600 (UG)
Mathematics
1 courseFee not available
23 coursesTypical fee £22,600 (UG)
Childhood & Youth Studies
16 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
7 coursesTypical fee £21,500 (UG)
Accounting
2 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
19 coursesTypical fee £22,600 (UG)
Business Studies
3 coursesFee not available
18 coursesTypical fee £22,600 (UG)
Business & Management (General)
7 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
11 coursesTypical fee £22,600 (UG)
Ecology & Conservation
4 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (UG)
12 coursesTypical fee £24,360 (UG)
Linguistics
1 courseFee not available
15 coursesTypical fee £21,500 (UG)
Also taught at both: Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Marketing, English Language, Applied Psychology, Creative Writing, Film Production & Cinematography, Media & Film Studies, Biomedical Sciences, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Civil Engineering, Adult Nursing, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Social Work, Applied Biology & Human Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Clinical & Health Psychology, Design & Fashion, English Studies, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Mental Health Nursing, Health & Social Care, Human Resource Management, Performing Arts (General), Teacher Training, Building & Construction, Cultural Studies, Classical Studies, Nursing (General).
Only at Canterbury Christ Church 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
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- £17,000
- University of Essex
- £21,500
Canterbury Christ Church University is about £4,500 a year cheaper.
Postgraduate
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- No data
- University of Essex
- £23,880
We do not have reliable international fee data for Canterbury Christ Church 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.
Canterbury Christ Church University
University of Essex
Politics & International Relations
£24,000Salary (3 years)£25,00083%Satisfaction86%History
£21,000Salary (3 years)£23,50091%Satisfaction93%Law
£23,500Salary (3 years)£24,00078%Satisfaction84%Sociology & Criminology
£24,000Salary (3 years)£24,00091%Satisfaction88%Sport & Exercise Sciences
£23,000Salary (3 years)£25,00096%Satisfaction87%Computer Science
£27,000Salary (3 years)£33,50069%Satisfaction81%Psychology (General)
£23,000Salary (3 years)£24,50089%Satisfaction84%Finance & Actuarial Science
£24,500Salary (3 years)£33,00067%Satisfaction77%Childhood & Youth Studies
£27,000Salary (3 years)£26,50091%Satisfaction71%Accounting
£24,500Salary (3 years)£26,50074%Satisfaction78%Business & Management (General)
£24,500Salary (3 years)£27,00082%SatisfactionNo dataEcology & Conservation
£22,500Salary (3 years)£24,00084%Satisfaction93%
Showing the 12 largest of 32 shared subjects with published outcomes.
Scholarships for International Students
ExclusiveCanterbury Christ Church University
CCCU Theology & Religious Studies PhD Scholarship
£21,805
Deadline: N/A
Closing Our Gap PhD Scholarships
£20,780
Deadline: N/A
CCCU Law and Politics PhD Scholarship
£19,237
Deadline: May 2026
PhD Scholarship in Education: Artificial Intelligence and Classroom Pedagogy
100%
Deadline: N/A
Care Leavers Bursary
£4,800
Deadline: N/A
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
FAQ
Canterbury Christ Church University vs University of Essex: common questions
Is Canterbury Christ Church University or University of Essex cheaper for international students?
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at Canterbury Christ Church University and £21,500 at University of Essex: Canterbury Christ Church University is about £4,500 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 Canterbury Christ Church University and University of Essex?
Both universities teach 46 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, History, Law, Sociology & Criminology, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Computer Science, Psychology (General), Finance & Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Childhood & Youth Studies, Accounting, Business Studies and 34 more.
Is Canterbury Christ Church University or University of Essex better for Politics & International Relations?
Politics & International Relations graduates earn a median £24,000 three years after graduating from Canterbury Christ Church University, and £25,000 from University of Essex. Student satisfaction with teaching is 83% at Canterbury Christ Church University and 86% at University of Essex. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.
Does Canterbury Christ Church University or University of Essex offer more courses?
University of Essex lists 748 courses on CourseOptions and Canterbury Christ Church University lists 235 courses.
What can you study at Canterbury Christ Church University but not at University of Essex?
Canterbury Christ Church University teaches 22 subject areas that University of Essex does not, including Music, Archaeology, Children's Nursing, Mechanical Engineering, Theology & Religious Studies, Business Information Systems, Games Design & Computer Animation, Public Health & Epidemiology and 14 more.
What can you study at University of Essex but not at Canterbury Christ Church University?
University of Essex teaches 28 subject areas that Canterbury Christ Church University does not, including Economics, Philosophy, History of Art & Design, Drama & Theatre, English Literature, Journalism, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Management and 20 more.
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