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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

U
University of St Andrews

St Andrews · QS World #115

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.

7/11

Imperial College London

scored higher in 7 categories

VS

4/11

St Andrews

scored higher in 4 categories

Quick Verdict

Imperial College London leads in 7 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, employment, international, graduate salary, scholarship). University of St Andrews is ahead on ranking, established, satisfaction, courses.

Imperial College London vs University of St Andrews at a glance

Imperial College London and University of St Andrews both teach 24 subject areas, the largest being Economics, Mathematics and Biology. Imperial College London offers 254 courses across 42 subject areas; University of St Andrews offers 1,157 courses across 64 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £24,600 a year at Imperial College London and £30,160 at University of St Andrews: Imperial College London is about £5,560 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £39,900 a year at Imperial College London and £27,200 at University of St Andrews: University of St Andrews is about £12,700 a year cheaper.

Of the 11 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, Imperial College London is higher in 11 and University of St Andrews in 0. The widest gap is in Mathematics: £53,500 three years after graduating from Imperial College London, against £36,500 from University of St Andrews. Of the 11 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of St Andrews is higher in 10 and Imperial College London in 1.

World & National Rankings

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

#2
QS World
#115
#8
THE World
#162
#5
Guardian UK
#3
1907
Established
1413
Yes
Russell Group
No
Gold
TEF Rating
—

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Imperial College London

University of St Andrews

88.9%
93.2%

Satisfaction

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

£54,000
£40,000

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

81.4%
74.1%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

52.9%
46.1%

International

International student share

254
1157

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

90
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.

Imperial College London

106 countries · 52.9% international

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

St Andrews

89 countries · 46.1% international

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

Subjects

24 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

University of St Andrews

Also taught at both: Medicine, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Physical Geography & Climate, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Human Geography & Environment, Business Studies, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Applied Biology & Human Biology, Software Engineering.

Only at Imperial College 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

Imperial College London
£24,600
University of St Andrews
£30,160

Imperial College London is about £5,560 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Imperial College London
£39,900
University of St Andrews
£27,200

University of St Andrews is about £12,700 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

University of St Andrews

  • Mathematics

    £53,500Salary (3 years)£36,500
    91%Satisfaction94%

  • Biology

    £33,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    88%Satisfaction96%

  • Computer Science

    £64,000Salary (3 years)£51,500
    97%Satisfaction93%

  • Chemistry

    £36,000Salary (3 years)£30,000
    89%Satisfaction94%

  • Physics

    £44,000Salary (3 years)£32,000
    76%Satisfaction98%

  • Geology & Earth Sciences

    £38,000Salary (3 years)£28,500
    91%Satisfaction97%

  • Biochemistry

    £33,500Salary (3 years)£25,000
    86%Satisfaction92%

  • Ecology & Conservation

    £33,500Salary (3 years)£25,000
    93%Satisfaction100%

  • Medicine

    £45,000Salary (3 years)£35,000
    93%Satisfaction94%

  • Astronomy & Astrophysics

    £44,000Salary (3 years)£32,000
    87%Satisfaction98%

  • Microbiology & Cell Biology

    £33,500Salary (3 years)£25,000
    87%Satisfaction96%

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 →

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

Imperial College London vs University of St Andrews: common questions

Is Imperial College London or University of St Andrews cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £24,600 a year at Imperial College London and £30,160 at University of St Andrews: Imperial College London is about £5,560 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £39,900 a year at Imperial College London and £27,200 at University of St Andrews: University of St Andrews is about £12,700 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 University of St Andrews?

Both universities teach 24 subject areas: Economics, Mathematics, Biology, Computer Science, Politics & International Relations, Chemistry, Management, Physics, Geology & Earth Sciences, Biochemistry, Statistics, Ecology & Conservation and 12 more.

Is Imperial College London or University of St Andrews better for Mathematics?

Mathematics graduates earn a median £53,500 three years after graduating from Imperial College London, and £36,500 from University of St Andrews. Student satisfaction with teaching is 91% at Imperial College London and 94% at University of St Andrews. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Imperial College London or University of St Andrews offer more courses?

University of St Andrews lists 1,157 courses on CourseOptions and Imperial College London lists 254 courses.

What can you study at Imperial College London but not at University of St Andrews?

Imperial College London teaches 18 subject areas that University of St Andrews does not, including Civil Engineering, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Design & Fashion, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Chemical Engineering, General Engineering, Biotechnology and 10 more.

What can you study at University of St Andrews but not at Imperial College London?

University of St Andrews teaches 40 subject areas that Imperial College London does not, including African & Middle Eastern Studies, French, German & Scandinavian Studies, Italian, History, Ancient Languages, Classical Studies, History of Art & Design and 32 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
U
University of St Andrews1,157 courses · 62 scholarshipsBrowse Courses