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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

T
The University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh · QS World #35

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

Cardiff Metropolitan

scored higher in 1 category

VS

8/9

Edinburgh

scored higher in 8 categories

Quick Verdict

The University of Edinburgh leads in 8 of 9 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, satisfaction, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). Cardiff Metropolitan University is ahead on employment.

Cardiff Metropolitan University vs The University of Edinburgh at a glance

Cardiff Metropolitan University and The University of Edinburgh both teach 42 subject areas, the largest being Teacher Training, Law and Computer Science. Cardiff Metropolitan University offers 321 courses across 52 subject areas; The University of Edinburgh offers 936 courses across 116 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £16,000 a year at Cardiff Metropolitan University and £29,600 at The University of Edinburgh: Cardiff Metropolitan University is about £13,600 a year cheaper.

Of the 18 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, The University of Edinburgh is higher in 18 and Cardiff Metropolitan University in 0. The widest gap is in Economics: £25,500 three years after graduating from Cardiff Metropolitan University, against £38,000 from The University of Edinburgh. Of the 19 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, The University of Edinburgh is higher in 10 and Cardiff Metropolitan University in 7, with 2 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#35
#1001
THE World
#29
—
Guardian UK
#17
1865
Established
1583
No
Russell Group
Yes
—
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

The University of Edinburgh

84.5%
85.3%

Satisfaction

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

£28,200
£37,600

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

83.6%
83%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

16.6%
41.6%

International

International student share

321
936

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

5
112

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

Edinburgh

122 countries · 41.6% international

  • 🇨🇳China44.5%
  • 🇺🇸United States9.3%
  • 🇮🇳India5.4%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia2.7%
  • 🇨🇦Canada2.4%

Subjects

42 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

The University of Edinburgh

Also taught at both: Media & Film Studies, Politics & International Relations, Social Policy & Public Policy, Social Work, Architecture, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Public Health & Epidemiology, Accounting, Film Production & Cinematography, Finance & Actuarial Science, Health & Social Care, Information Systems & Data Science, Management, Applied Psychology, Childhood & Youth Studies, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Software Engineering, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Clinical & Health Psychology, Computing & IT, Creative Writing, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Crafts & Applied Arts, Healthcare Science, Personal & Professional Development.

Only at Cardiff Metropolitan University

Only at The University of 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

Cardiff Metropolitan University
£16,000
The University of Edinburgh
£29,600

Cardiff Metropolitan University is about £13,600 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Cardiff Metropolitan University
£17,600
The University of Edinburgh
No data

We do not have reliable international fee data for The University of Edinburgh 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.

Cardiff Metropolitan University

The University of Edinburgh

  • Teacher Training

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£31,500
    No dataSatisfaction92%

  • Law

    No dataSalary (3 years)£26,500
    80%Satisfaction86%

  • Computer Science

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£37,000
    83%Satisfaction74%

  • Sport & Exercise Sciences

    £22,500Salary (3 years)£27,500
    87%Satisfaction92%

  • Design & Fashion

    £18,500Salary (3 years)£20,000
    86%Satisfaction90%

  • Business Studies

    £24,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    80%Satisfaction80%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£34,000
    89%Satisfaction81%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £21,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    87%Satisfaction82%

  • Biological Sciences (General)

    No dataSalary (3 years)£26,000
    75%Satisfaction87%

  • English Literature

    £22,500Salary (3 years)£27,000
    100%Satisfaction87%

  • Economics

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£38,000
    88%Satisfaction81%

  • Psychology (General)

    £19,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    77%Satisfaction83%

Showing the 12 largest of 20 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 →

The University of Edinburgh

Asylum Seeker Scholarship

£21,000

Deadline: N/A

Education Beyond Borders postgraduate scholarship

£20,780

Deadline: N/A

Cameron Law Scholarship

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Online Learning Scholarships

100%

Deadline: N/A

Rosedale OSSD University of Edinburgh Scholarship

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Cardiff Metropolitan University vs The University of Edinburgh: common questions

Is Cardiff Metropolitan University or The University of Edinburgh cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £16,000 a year at Cardiff Metropolitan University and £29,600 at The University of Edinburgh: Cardiff Metropolitan University is about £13,600 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 The University of Edinburgh?

Both universities teach 42 subject areas: Teacher Training, Law, Computer Science, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Design & Fashion, Business Studies, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Sociology & Criminology, Biological Sciences (General), Marketing, Business & Management (General), Education Studies and 30 more.

Is Cardiff Metropolitan University or The University of Edinburgh better for Teacher Training?

Teacher Training graduates earn a median £21,000 three years after graduating from Cardiff Metropolitan University, and £31,500 from The University of Edinburgh. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Cardiff Metropolitan University or The University of Edinburgh offer more courses?

The University of Edinburgh lists 936 courses on CourseOptions and Cardiff Metropolitan University lists 321 courses.

What can you study at Cardiff Metropolitan University but not at The University of Edinburgh?

Cardiff Metropolitan University teaches 10 subject areas that The University of Edinburgh does not, including Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Nutrition & Dietetics, Business Information Systems, Dance, Food Science, Games Design & Computer Animation, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Fine Art and 2 more.

What can you study at The University of Edinburgh but not at Cardiff Metropolitan University?

The University of Edinburgh teaches 74 subject areas that Cardiff Metropolitan University does not, including Theology & Religious Studies, German & Scandinavian Studies, Medicine, History, Mathematics, Physics, French, Philosophy and 66 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
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The University of Edinburgh936 courses · 112 scholarshipsBrowse Courses