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Edinburgh · QS World #1201
Brighton · QS World #273
Head-to-Head Summary
Based on 8 datapoints
We looked at 8 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.
4/8
Queen Margaret
scored higher in 4 categories
4/8
Sussex
scored higher in 4 categories
Quick Verdict
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and University of Sussex are evenly matched: each leads in 4 of 8 categories where both have data. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is ahead on established, satisfaction, employment, scholarship; University of Sussex on ranking, international, graduate salary, courses.
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh vs University of Sussex at a glance
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and University of Sussex both teach 17 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, Sociology & Criminology and Finance & Actuarial Science. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh offers 68 courses across 25 subject areas; University of Sussex offers 463 courses across 76 subject areas.
For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,460 a year at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and £23,500 at University of Sussex: Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is about £5,040 a year cheaper.
Of the 6 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Sussex is higher in 5 and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh in 0, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Marketing: £22,000 three years after graduating from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, against £28,500 from University of Sussex. Of the 7 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Sussex is higher in 4 and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh 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 Sussex
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%
Sussex
115 countries · 25.3% international
- 🇨🇳China21.6%
- 🇮🇳India7.9%
- 🇨🇦Canada4.7%
- 🇹🇷Turkey4.6%
- 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.4%
Subjects
17 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 Sussex
Politics & International Relations
2 coursesFee not available
24 coursesTypical fee £23,500 (UG)
Sociology & Criminology
2 coursesFee not available
18 coursesTypical fee £23,500 (UG)
Finance & Actuarial Science
2 coursesTypical fee £19,180 (PG)
17 coursesTypical fee £23,500 (UG)
Business & Management (General)
7 coursesTypical fee £18,460 (PG)
11 coursesTypical fee £25,000 (PG)
Psychology (General)
4 coursesFee not available
12 coursesTypical fee £27,300 (UG)
Business Studies
4 coursesTypical fee £18,460 (PG)
11 coursesTypical fee £23,500 (UG)
Media & Film Studies
3 coursesTypical fee £18,460 (PG)
11 coursesTypical fee £27,300 (UG)
Marketing
Drama & Theatre
Education Studies
Clinical Specialities
Health Sciences & Paramedic Science
Teacher Training
Counselling & Psychotherapy
Cultural Studies
Also taught at both: Health & Social Care, Design & Fashion.
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 Sussex
- £23,500
We do not have reliable international fee data for Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh yet.
Postgraduate
- Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
- £18,460
- University of Sussex
- £23,500
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is about £5,040 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 Sussex
Sociology & Criminology
£21,000Salary (3 years)£25,50094%Satisfaction90%Psychology (General)
£21,000Salary (3 years)£24,00082%Satisfaction85%Media & Film Studies
£20,000Salary (3 years)£24,00088%Satisfaction84%Marketing
£22,000Salary (3 years)£28,50076%Satisfaction84%Drama & Theatre
£19,500Salary (3 years)£19,50099%Satisfaction84%Education Studies
No dataSalary (3 years)No data88%Satisfaction92%Teacher Training
No dataSalary (3 years)No data90%Satisfaction92%Design & Fashion
£19,500Salary (3 years)£21,00095%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 Sussex
Chancellor's International Scholarships
£5,000
Deadline: N/A
Sussex Bursary
£1,000
Deadline: N/A
FAQ
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh vs University of Sussex: common questions
Is Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh or University of Sussex cheaper for international students?
For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,460 a year at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and £23,500 at University of Sussex: Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is about £5,040 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 Sussex?
Both universities teach 17 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, Sociology & Criminology, Finance & Actuarial Science, Business & Management (General), Psychology (General), Business Studies, Media & Film Studies, Marketing, Drama & Theatre, Education Studies, Clinical Specialities, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science and 5 more.
Is Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh or University of Sussex better for Sociology & Criminology?
Sociology & Criminology graduates earn a median £21,000 three years after graduating from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, and £25,500 from University of Sussex. Student satisfaction with teaching is 94% at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and 90% at University of Sussex. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.
Does Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh or University of Sussex offer more courses?
University of Sussex lists 463 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 Sussex?
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh teaches 8 subject areas that University of Sussex does not, including Nutrition & Dietetics, Adult Nursing, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Medical Imaging, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Classical Studies, Hospitality, Events & Tourism and Public Relations.
What can you study at University of Sussex but not at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh?
University of Sussex teaches 59 subject areas that Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh does not, including Childhood & Youth Studies, Economics, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Law, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Biomedical Sciences and 51 more.
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