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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.

O
Open University

None · THE World #801

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

Open

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, employment, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). Open University is ahead on satisfaction.

Open University vs The University of Edinburgh at a glance

Open University and The University of Edinburgh both teach 60 subject areas, the largest being Computer Science, Law and History. Open University offers 337 courses across 68 subject areas; The University of Edinburgh offers 936 courses across 116 subject areas.

Of the 34 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, The University of Edinburgh is higher in 20 and Open University in 12, with 2 about level. The widest gap is in General Engineering: £43,500 three years after graduating from Open University, against £33,000 from The University of Edinburgh. Of the 27 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Open University is higher in 23 and The University of Edinburgh in 3, with 1 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#35
#801
THE World
#29
—
Guardian UK
#17
1969
Established
1583
No
Russell Group
Yes
Gold
TEF Rating
—

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Open University

The University of Edinburgh

89.8%
85.3%

Satisfaction

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

£29,900
£37,600

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

72.6%
83%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

0.2%
41.6%

International

International student share

337
936

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

0
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.

Open

25 countries · 0.2% international

  • 🇩🇪Germany8.9%
  • 🌐Cyprus (European Union)6.7%
  • 🇫🇷France6.7%
  • 🇨🇳China4.4%
  • 🇮🇳India4.4%
VS

Edinburgh

122 countries · 41.6% international

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

Subjects

60 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.

Open University

The University of Edinburgh

Also taught at both: Humanities, Design & Fashion, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, History of Art & Design, English Literature, General Engineering, Economics, Linguistics, Politics & International Relations, Social Work, Geology & Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Environment, Social Policy & Public Policy, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Chemistry, Music, Social Sciences (General), Astronomy & Astrophysics, English Language, Environmental Sciences, Public Health & Epidemiology, Ancient Languages, Childhood & Youth Studies, Computing & IT, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Biomedical Sciences, Combined & General Studies, International Development, Finance & Actuarial Science, Physical Geography & Climate, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Health & Social Care, Information Systems & Data Science, Management, Statistics, Accounting, Nursing (General), Software Engineering, Applied Psychology, Biology, Creative Writing, Geography (General), Adult Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Personal & Professional Development.

Only at Open 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

Open University
No data
The University of Edinburgh
£29,600

We do not have reliable international fee data for Open 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.

Open University

The University of Edinburgh

  • Computer Science

    £33,500Salary (3 years)£37,000
    91%Satisfaction74%

  • Law

    £24,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    96%Satisfaction86%

  • History

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£28,000
    93%Satisfaction88%

  • Theology & Religious Studies

    £23,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    No dataSatisfaction94%

  • Mathematics

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    93%Satisfaction81%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £17,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    89%Satisfaction82%

  • German & Scandinavian Studies

    £19,500Salary (3 years)£27,000
    No dataSatisfaction82%

  • Physics

    £38,500Salary (3 years)£29,000
    98%Satisfaction85%

  • Philosophy

    £23,500Salary (3 years)£27,500
    91%Satisfaction88%

  • Psychology (General)

    £22,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    88%Satisfaction83%

  • Classical Studies

    £18,500Salary (3 years)£26,000
    94%Satisfaction92%

  • French

    £19,500Salary (3 years)£28,000
    No dataSatisfaction87%

Showing the 12 largest of 34 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Open University

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

Open University vs The University of Edinburgh: common questions

What subjects can you study at both Open University and The University of Edinburgh?

Both universities teach 60 subject areas: Computer Science, Law, History, Theology & Religious Studies, Mathematics, Sociology & Criminology, Business & Management (General), German & Scandinavian Studies, Physics, Teacher Training, Philosophy, Psychology (General) and 48 more.

Is Open University or The University of Edinburgh better for Computer Science?

Computer Science graduates earn a median £33,500 three years after graduating from Open University, and £37,000 from The University of Edinburgh. Student satisfaction with teaching is 91% at Open University and 74% at The University of Edinburgh. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Open University or The University of Edinburgh offer more courses?

The University of Edinburgh lists 936 courses on CourseOptions and Open University lists 337 courses.

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

Open University teaches 8 subject areas that The University of Edinburgh does not, including Human Resource Management, Natural Sciences, Office Administration, Applied & General Science, Children's Nursing, English Studies, Information & Library Studies and Learning Disabilities Nursing.

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

The University of Edinburgh teaches 56 subject areas that Open University does not, including Medicine, Business Studies, African & Middle Eastern Studies, Spanish & Portuguese, Biological Sciences (General), Veterinary Medicine, Asian Languages & Studies, Eastern European Languages and 48 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

O
Open University337 courses · 0 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
T
The University of Edinburgh936 courses · 112 scholarshipsBrowse Courses