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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.

C
Cardiff Metropolitan University

Cardiff · THE World #1001

S
Swansea University

Swansea · QS World #322

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.

3/7

Cardiff Metropolitan

scored higher in 3 categories

VS

4/7

Swansea

scored higher in 4 categories

Quick Verdict

Swansea University leads in 4 of 7 categories where both have data (ranking, satisfaction, graduate salary, courses). Cardiff Metropolitan University is ahead on established, employment, international.

Cardiff Metropolitan University vs Swansea University at a glance

Cardiff Metropolitan University and Swansea University both teach 39 subject areas, the largest being Teacher Training, Business & Management (General) and Law. Cardiff Metropolitan University offers 321 courses across 52 subject areas; Swansea University offers 916 courses across 97 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £16,000 a year at Cardiff Metropolitan University and £21,550 at Swansea University: Cardiff Metropolitan University is about £5,550 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,600 a year at Cardiff Metropolitan University and £22,950 at Swansea University: Cardiff Metropolitan University is about £5,350 a year cheaper.

Of the 22 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, Swansea University is higher in 18 and Cardiff Metropolitan University in 4. The widest gap is in Electronic & Electrical Engineering: £23,000 three years after graduating from Cardiff Metropolitan University, against £30,000 from Swansea University. Of the 24 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Swansea University is higher in 13 and Cardiff Metropolitan University in 9, with 2 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#322
#1001
THE World
#301
—
Guardian UK
#32
1865
Established
1920
No
Russell Group
No
—
TEF Rating
—

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Swansea University

84.5%
86.1%

Satisfaction

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

£28,200
£31,800

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

83.6%
78.5%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

16.6%
14.1%

International

International student share

321
916

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

5
5

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.

Cardiff Metropolitan

43 countries · 16.6% international

  • 🇮🇳India53.7%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria6.1%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan5.4%
  • 🇧🇩Bangladesh4.9%
  • 🌐Nepal4.4%
VS

Swansea

73 countries · 14.1% international

  • 🇮🇳India25.4%
  • 🇨🇳China12.7%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria8.2%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia4.5%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong3.9%

Subjects

39 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.

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Swansea University

Also taught at both: Psychology (General), Accounting, Childhood & Youth Studies, English Literature, Health & Social Care, Design & Fashion, Aerospace Engineering, Social Work, Biomedical Engineering, Social Policy & Public Policy, Software Engineering, Healthcare Science, Journalism, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Public Health & Epidemiology, Biological Sciences (General), Computing & IT, Creative Writing, Human Resource Management, Applied Psychology, Information Systems & Data Science, Management, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Clinical & Health Psychology.

Only at Cardiff Metropolitan University

Only at Swansea 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

Cardiff Metropolitan University
£16,000
Swansea University
£21,550

Cardiff Metropolitan University is about £5,550 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Cardiff Metropolitan University
£17,600
Swansea University
£22,950

Cardiff Metropolitan University is about £5,350 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.

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Swansea University

  • Business & Management (General)

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£25,000
    80%SatisfactionNo data

  • Law

    No dataSalary (3 years)£21,000
    80%Satisfaction82%

  • Computer Science

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£31,500
    83%Satisfaction84%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £21,500Salary (3 years)£23,000
    87%Satisfaction90%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £21,500Salary (3 years)£24,500
    87%Satisfaction87%

  • Sport & Exercise Sciences

    £22,500Salary (3 years)£23,000
    87%Satisfaction96%

  • Economics

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£30,000
    88%Satisfaction90%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£30,000
    89%Satisfaction69%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£25,000
    95%Satisfaction90%

  • Health Sciences & Paramedic Science

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£20,500
    100%Satisfaction97%

  • Marketing

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£25,000
    80%Satisfaction70%

  • Business Studies

    £24,000Salary (3 years)£25,500
    80%Satisfaction82%

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

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Care Leavers and Estranged Students Bursary

See details

Deadline: N/A

NHS Wales Bursary Scheme

See details

Deadline: N/A

Progression Award

See details

Deadline: N/A

Sanctuary Award

See details

Deadline: N/A

Student Carers Bursary

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

Swansea University

History and Heritage Studies: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Studentship (Fully Funded) in History with Museum Wales (RS950)

100%

Deadline: N/A

History: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Studentship (Fully Funded) in History with The National Archives (RS948)

100%

Deadline: N/A

History: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Studentship in History with Museum Wales (RS949)

See details

Deadline: N/A

PhD Studentship in Sustainable Fusion Steels: Whole Lifecycle Design of Tokamak Vacuum Vessel Steels (RS964)

See details

Deadline: N/A

Swansea University International Postgraduate Research Excellence Scholarships 2025/26

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Cardiff Metropolitan University vs Swansea University: common questions

Is Cardiff Metropolitan University or Swansea University cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £16,000 a year at Cardiff Metropolitan University and £21,550 at Swansea University: Cardiff Metropolitan University is about £5,550 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,600 a year at Cardiff Metropolitan University and £22,950 at Swansea University: Cardiff Metropolitan University is about £5,350 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 Cardiff Metropolitan University and Swansea University?

Both universities teach 39 subject areas: Teacher Training, Business & Management (General), Law, Computer Science, Politics & International Relations, Sociology & Criminology, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Economics, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Finance & Actuarial Science, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Marketing and 27 more.

Is Cardiff Metropolitan University or Swansea University better for Business & Management (General)?

Business & Management (General) graduates earn a median £23,000 three years after graduating from Cardiff Metropolitan University, and £25,000 from Swansea University. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Cardiff Metropolitan University or Swansea University offer more courses?

Swansea University lists 916 courses on CourseOptions and Cardiff Metropolitan University lists 321 courses.

What can you study at Cardiff Metropolitan University but not at Swansea University?

Cardiff Metropolitan University teaches 13 subject areas that Swansea University does not, including Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Film Production & Cinematography, Nutrition & Dietetics, Business Information Systems, Dance, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Food Science, Games Design & Computer Animation and 5 more.

What can you study at Swansea University but not at Cardiff Metropolitan University?

Swansea University teaches 58 subject areas that Cardiff Metropolitan University does not, including Mathematics, History, Physics, Civil Engineering, Genetics & Genomics, Biomedical Sciences, American & Comparative Studies, Chemical Engineering and 50 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

C
Cardiff Metropolitan University321 courses · 5 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
S
Swansea University916 courses · 5 scholarshipsBrowse Courses