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.
Edinburgh · QS World #1201
Manchester · QS World #40
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.
2/9
Queen Margaret
scored higher in 2 categories
7/9
Manchester
scored higher in 7 categories
Quick Verdict
University of Manchester leads in 7 of 9 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is ahead on satisfaction, employment.
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh vs University of Manchester at a glance
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and University of Manchester both teach 20 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, Business & Management (General) and Sociology & Criminology. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh offers 68 courses across 25 subject areas; University of Manchester offers 1,041 courses across 116 subject areas.
For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,460 a year at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and £26,800 at University of Manchester: Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is about £8,340 a year cheaper.
Of the 7 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Manchester is higher in 6 and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh in 1. The widest gap is in Business & Management (General): £22,000 three years after graduating from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, against £29,000 from University of Manchester. Of the 8 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is higher in 5 and University of Manchester in 3.
World & National Rankings
Compare world and national league table positions, TEF ratings, and Russell Group membership.
Visual Breakdown
Key metrics at a glance
Longer bars indicate better performance. Metrics include student satisfaction, graduate salaries, and more.
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
University of Manchester
Satisfaction
Student satisfaction with teaching (NSS Survey, out of 100%)
Graduate Salaries (5y)
Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation
Employment
Graduate employment rate
International
International student share
Course Counts
Number of courses offered
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.
Queen Margaret
51 countries · 18.6% international
- 🇮🇪Ireland29%
- 🌐Nepal9.8%
- 🇨🇦Canada8.2%
- 🇳🇬Nigeria6.1%
- 🇺🇸United States4.5%
Manchester
120 countries · 40% international
- 🇨🇳China51%
- 🇮🇳India7.6%
- 🇲🇾Malaysia4.9%
- 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.1%
- 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.5%
Subjects
20 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.
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
University of Manchester
Politics & International Relations
2 coursesFee not available
39 coursesTypical fee £27,800 (UG)
Business & Management (General)
7 coursesTypical fee £18,460 (PG)
16 coursesTypical fee £27,800 (UG)
Sociology & Criminology
2 coursesFee not available
21 coursesTypical fee £27,800 (UG)
Clinical Specialities
1 courseFee not available
15 coursesFee not available
Business Studies
Education Studies
3 coursesTypical fee £17,580 (PG)
10 coursesTypical fee £30,500 (UG)
Media & Film Studies
3 coursesTypical fee £18,460 (PG)
10 coursesTypical fee £27,800 (UG)
Psychology (General)
Finance & Actuarial Science
Design & Fashion
Teacher Training
Drama & Theatre
Health Sciences & Paramedic Science
Nutrition & Dietetics
Classical Studies
Also taught at both: Marketing, Adult Nursing, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Cultural Studies, Health & Social Care.
Only at Queen Margaret University, 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
- Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
- No data
- University of Manchester
- £32,300
We do not have reliable international fee data for Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh yet.
Postgraduate
- Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
- £18,460
- University of Manchester
- £26,800
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is about £8,340 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.
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
University of Manchester
Business & Management (General)
£22,000Salary (3 years)£29,00092%Satisfaction88%Sociology & Criminology
£21,000Salary (3 years)£23,50094%Satisfaction84%Education Studies
No dataSalary (3 years)£23,00088%Satisfaction92%Media & Film Studies
£20,000Salary (3 years)No data88%Satisfaction93%Psychology (General)
£21,000Salary (3 years)£23,50082%Satisfaction84%Design & Fashion
£19,500Salary (3 years)£21,00095%Satisfaction88%Drama & Theatre
£19,500Salary (3 years)£21,00099%Satisfaction91%Health Sciences & Paramedic Science
£24,500Salary (3 years)£29,50088%Satisfaction81%Adult Nursing
£30,000Salary (3 years)£29,000100%SatisfactionNo data
Scholarships for International Students
ExclusiveQueen Margaret University, Edinburgh
Scottish Highlands & Islands Schools Scholarship
£500
Deadline: Jun 2026
Alison Scott Scholarship
See details
Deadline: N/A
The Alison Scott Scholarship
See details
Deadline: N/A
University of Manchester
Spärck AI Scholarship
£20,780
Deadline: N/A
The Sadler Bursary
£10,000
Deadline: N/A
The Bason Family Bursary
£6,000
Deadline: N/A
The Cowrie Foundation Scholarships
£6,000
Deadline: N/A
Accommodation Bursary
£2,050
Deadline: Jul 2026
FAQ
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh vs University of Manchester: common questions
Is Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh or University of Manchester cheaper for international students?
For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,460 a year at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and £26,800 at University of Manchester: Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is about £8,340 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 Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and University of Manchester?
Both universities teach 20 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, Business & Management (General), Sociology & Criminology, Clinical Specialities, Business Studies, Education Studies, Media & Film Studies, Psychology (General), Finance & Actuarial Science, Design & Fashion, Teacher Training, Drama & Theatre and 8 more.
Is Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh or University of Manchester better for Business & Management (General)?
Business & Management (General) graduates earn a median £22,000 three years after graduating from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, and £29,000 from University of Manchester. Student satisfaction with teaching is 92% at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and 88% at University of Manchester. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.
Does Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh or University of Manchester offer more courses?
University of Manchester lists 1,041 courses on CourseOptions and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh lists 68 courses.
What can you study at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh but not at University of Manchester?
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh teaches 5 subject areas that University of Manchester does not, including Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Medical Imaging, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Hospitality, Events & Tourism and Public Relations.
What can you study at University of Manchester but not at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh?
University of Manchester teaches 96 subject areas that Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh does not, including Physics, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Dentistry, Economics, Management, Chemistry and 88 more.
Ready to explore courses?
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