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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.

I
Imperial College London

Kensington and Chelsea · QS World #2

K
King's College London, University of London

London · QS World #37

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 11 datapoints

We looked at 11 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

8/11

Imperial College London

scored higher in 8 categories

VS

3/11

King's College London

scored higher in 3 categories

Quick Verdict

Imperial College London leads in 8 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, TEF, satisfaction, international, graduate salary, scholarship). King's College London, University of London is ahead on established, employment, courses.

Imperial College London vs King's College London, University of London at a glance

Imperial College London and King's College London, University of London both teach 30 subject areas, the largest being Mathematics, Computer Science and Chemistry. Imperial College London offers 254 courses across 42 subject areas; King's College London, University of London offers 373 courses across 80 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £24,600 a year at Imperial College London and £32,100 at King's College London, University of London: Imperial College London is about £7,500 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £39,900 a year at Imperial College London and £21,100 at King's College London, University of London: King's College London, University of London is about £18,800 a year cheaper.

Of the 7 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, Imperial College London is higher in 6 and King's College London, University of London in 1. The widest gap is in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: £65,000 three years after graduating from Imperial College London, against £44,500 from King's College London, University of London. Of the 10 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Imperial College London is higher in 5 and King's College London, University of London in 5.

World & National Rankings

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

#2
QS World
#37
#8
THE World
#38
#5
Guardian UK
#26
1907
Established
1829
Yes
Russell Group
Yes
Gold
TEF Rating
Silver

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Imperial College London

King's College London, University of London

88.9%
85.9%

Satisfaction

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

£54,000
£43,400

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

81.4%
81.9%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

52.9%
38.4%

International

International student share

254
373

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

90
10

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.

Imperial College London

106 countries · 52.9% international

  • 🇨🇳China41%
  • 🇮🇳India5.8%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong5.1%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia3.6%
  • 🇸🇬Singapore3.6%
VS

King's College London

124 countries · 38.4% international

  • 🇨🇳China36.6%
  • 🇮🇳India7.1%
  • 🇺🇸United States3.8%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong3.7%
  • 🇸🇬Singapore3.2%

Subjects

30 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.

Imperial College London

King's College London, University of London

Also taught at both: Geology & Earth Sciences, Anatomy & Pathology, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Business & Management (General), General Engineering, Human Geography & Environment, Public Health & Epidemiology, Statistics, Clinical Specialities, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Physical Geography & Climate, Healthcare Science, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Software Engineering, Genetics & Genomics.

Only at Imperial College London

Only at King's College London, University of London

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

Imperial College London
£24,600
King's College London, University of London
£32,100

Imperial College London is about £7,500 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Imperial College London
£39,900
King's College London, University of London
£21,100

King's College London, University of London is about £18,800 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.

Imperial College London

King's College London, University of London

  • Mathematics

    £53,500Salary (3 years)£36,000
    91%Satisfaction86%

  • Computer Science

    £64,000Salary (3 years)£44,500
    97%Satisfaction75%

  • Chemistry

    £36,000Salary (3 years)£33,500
    89%Satisfaction82%

  • Physics

    £44,000Salary (3 years)£33,500
    76%Satisfaction85%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    £46,000Salary (3 years)No data
    82%Satisfaction84%

  • Medicine

    £45,000Salary (3 years)£48,000
    93%Satisfaction84%

  • Biochemistry

    £33,500Salary (3 years)£27,000
    86%Satisfaction89%

  • Biomedical Engineering

    £40,500Salary (3 years)No data
    85%Satisfaction87%

  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

    £65,000Salary (3 years)£44,500
    97%Satisfaction67%

  • General Engineering

    £46,500Salary (3 years)No data
    90%Satisfaction93%

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Imperial College London

Engineering Sainsbury Management Fellows Scholarship

£50,000

Deadline: N/A

Science Sainsbury Management Fellows Scholarship

£50,000

Deadline: N/A

J.P. Morgan Scholarship in Quantitative Finance

£45,100

Deadline: May 2026

Dean's Impact Scholarship

£30,000

Deadline: N/A

W L "Bill" Byrnes Global Scholarship

£30,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

King's College London, University of London

Alexandros Petersen Scholarship

100%

Deadline: N/A

GREAT Scholarships

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

Organ Scholarship

£4,000

Deadline: N/A

BFI Collaborative Doctoral Award

See details

Deadline: N/A

CMR Fellowship Programme

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Imperial College London vs King's College London, University of London: common questions

Is Imperial College London or King's College London, University of London cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £24,600 a year at Imperial College London and £32,100 at King's College London, University of London: Imperial College London is about £7,500 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £39,900 a year at Imperial College London and £21,100 at King's College London, University of London: King's College London, University of London is about £18,800 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 Imperial College London and King's College London, University of London?

Both universities teach 30 subject areas: Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, Politics & International Relations, Biomedical Sciences, Economics, Biology, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Medicine, Management, Biochemistry and 18 more.

Is Imperial College London or King's College London, University of London better for Mathematics?

Mathematics graduates earn a median £53,500 three years after graduating from Imperial College London, and £36,000 from King's College London, University of London. Student satisfaction with teaching is 91% at Imperial College London and 86% at King's College London, University of London. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Imperial College London or King's College London, University of London offer more courses?

King's College London, University of London lists 373 courses on CourseOptions and Imperial College London lists 254 courses.

What can you study at Imperial College London but not at King's College London, University of London?

Imperial College London teaches 12 subject areas that King's College London, University of London does not, including Civil Engineering, Ecology & Conservation, Design & Fashion, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Building & Construction, Materials Engineering and 4 more.

What can you study at King's College London, University of London but not at Imperial College London?

King's College London, University of London teaches 50 subject areas that Imperial College London does not, including Law, Dentistry, Clinical & Health Psychology, Education Studies, Psychology (General), Ancient Languages, History, Information Systems & Data Science and 42 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

I
Imperial College London254 courses · 90 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
K
King's College London, University of London373 courses · 10 scholarshipsBrowse Courses