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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

U
University of Exeter

Devon · QS World #136

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

Exeter

scored higher in 8 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Exeter 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 University of Exeter at a glance

Open University and University of Exeter both teach 49 subject areas, the largest being Business & Management (General), Politics & International Relations and Mathematics. Open University offers 337 courses across 68 subject areas; University of Exeter offers 873 courses across 91 subject areas.

Of the 32 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Exeter is higher in 25 and Open University in 4, with 3 about level. The widest gap is in Accounting: £26,000 three years after graduating from Open University, against £43,500 from University of Exeter. Of the 26 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Open University is higher in 17 and University of Exeter in 8, with 1 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#136
#801
THE World
#170
—
Guardian UK
#14
1969
Established
1922
No
Russell Group
Yes
Gold
TEF Rating
Gold

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Open University

University of Exeter

89.8%
87.7%

Satisfaction

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

£29,900
£39,800

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

72.6%
82.8%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

0.2%
22.2%

International

International student share

337
873

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

0
2

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

Exeter

111 countries · 22.2% international

  • 🇨🇳China25.1%
  • 🇮🇳India10.9%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong10%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia2.9%
  • 🇺🇸United States2.8%

Subjects

49 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

University of Exeter

Also taught at both: History of Art & Design, Biomedical Sciences, Economics, Humanities, Human Geography & Environment, Ancient Languages, Theology & Religious Studies, Childhood & Youth Studies, Geology & Earth Sciences, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Accounting, Environmental Sciences, Physical Geography & Climate, Education Studies, Sport & Exercise Sciences, English Language, Geography (General), Management, Health & Social Care, Public Health & Epidemiology, Biology, Computing & IT, Human Resource Management, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences (General), Information Systems & Data Science, Nursing (General), Creative Writing, Software Engineering, Statistics, French, Applied Psychology, German & Scandinavian Studies, Adult Nursing.

Only at Open University

Only at University of Exeter

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
University of Exeter
£24,950

We do not have reliable international fee data for Open University yet.

Postgraduate

Open University
No data
University of Exeter
£25,550

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

University of Exeter

  • Business & Management (General)

    £32,000Salary (3 years)£39,000
    95%Satisfaction84%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£30,500
    92%Satisfaction88%

  • Mathematics

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£32,500
    93%Satisfaction88%

  • Law

    £24,500Salary (3 years)£32,000
    96%Satisfaction86%

  • Computer Science

    £33,500Salary (3 years)£40,500
    91%Satisfaction83%

  • History

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£28,000
    93%Satisfaction92%

  • Physics

    £38,500Salary (3 years)£31,000
    98%Satisfaction94%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £17,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    89%Satisfaction91%

  • General Engineering

    £43,500Salary (3 years)£32,500
    88%Satisfaction59%

  • Classical Studies

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

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £32,000Salary (3 years)£39,000
    No dataSatisfaction84%

  • English Studies

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£25,500
    89%Satisfaction92%

Showing the 12 largest of 32 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Open University

View all scholarships →

University of Exeter

Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund

See details

Deadline: N/A

Carolyn and Andrew Trevorrow Memorial Fund Travel Bursaries

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Open University vs University of Exeter: common questions

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

Both universities teach 49 subject areas: Business & Management (General), Politics & International Relations, Mathematics, Law, Computer Science, History, Physics, Sociology & Criminology, General Engineering, Classical Studies, Finance & Actuarial Science, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science and 37 more.

Is Open University or University of Exeter better for Business & Management (General)?

Business & Management (General) graduates earn a median £32,000 three years after graduating from Open University, and £39,000 from University of Exeter. Student satisfaction with teaching is 95% at Open University and 84% at University of Exeter. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Open University or University of Exeter offer more courses?

University of Exeter lists 873 courses on CourseOptions and Open University lists 337 courses.

What can you study at Open University but not at University of Exeter?

Open University teaches 19 subject areas that University of Exeter does not, including Social Work, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Combined & General Studies, Design & Fashion, English Literature, International Development, Linguistics, Music and 11 more.

What can you study at University of Exeter but not at Open University?

University of Exeter teaches 42 subject areas that Open University does not, including Civil Engineering, Media & Film Studies, Archaeology, Ecology & Conservation, Zoology & Animal Biology, Anatomy & Pathology, Business Studies, Chemical Engineering and 34 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

O
Open University337 courses · 0 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
U
University of Exeter873 courses · 2 scholarshipsBrowse Courses