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Edinburgh · QS World #1201
York · Guardian UK #105
Head-to-Head Summary
Based on 7 datapoints
We looked at 7 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.
4/7
Queen Margaret
scored higher in 4 categories
3/7
York St John
scored higher in 3 categories
Quick Verdict
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh leads in 4 of 7 categories where both have data (satisfaction, employment, graduate salary, scholarship). York St John University is ahead on established, international, courses.
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh vs York St John University at a glance
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and York St John University both teach 17 subject areas, the largest being Media & Film Studies, Politics & International Relations and Business & Management (General). Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh offers 68 courses across 25 subject areas; York St John University offers 199 courses across 49 subject areas.
For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,460 a year at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and £11,800 at York St John University: York St John University is about £6,660 a year cheaper.
Of the 13 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is higher in 6 and York St John University in 5, with 2 about level. The widest gap is in Adult Nursing: £30,000 three years after graduating from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, against £26,500 from York St John University. Of the 14 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is higher in 7 and York St John University in 7.
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
York St John University
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%
York St John
35 countries · 37.1% international
- 🌐Nepal33.8%
- 🇳🇬Nigeria25.4%
- 🇮🇳India20.5%
- 🇵🇰Pakistan4.1%
- 🌐Sri Lanka4%
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
York St John University
Media & Film Studies
3 coursesTypical fee £18,460 (PG)
11 coursesTypical fee £14,000 (UG)
Politics & International Relations
2 coursesFee not available
12 coursesTypical fee £14,000 (UG)
Business & Management (General)
Marketing
Counselling & Psychotherapy
Design & Fashion
Psychology (General)
Teacher Training
Sociology & Criminology
Business Studies
Health Sciences & Paramedic Science
Education Studies
Hospitality, Events & Tourism
Drama & Theatre
Adult Nursing
Also taught at both: Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Medical Imaging.
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
- York St John University
- £14,000
We do not have reliable international fee data for Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh yet.
Postgraduate
- Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
- £18,460
- York St John University
- £11,800
York St John University is about £6,660 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
York St John University
Media & Film Studies
£20,000Salary (3 years)£18,00088%Satisfaction91%Business & Management (General)
£22,000Salary (3 years)£22,50092%Satisfaction71%Marketing
£22,000Salary (3 years)£22,50076%Satisfaction90%Counselling & Psychotherapy
£25,000Salary (3 years)£25,00088%Satisfaction86%Design & Fashion
£19,500Salary (3 years)£19,00095%Satisfaction68%Psychology (General)
£21,000Salary (3 years)£20,50082%Satisfaction90%Teacher Training
No dataSalary (3 years)£26,50090%Satisfaction93%Sociology & Criminology
£21,000Salary (3 years)£20,50094%Satisfaction89%Health Sciences & Paramedic Science
£24,500Salary (3 years)£26,50088%Satisfaction90%Education Studies
No dataSalary (3 years)£19,00088%Satisfaction77%Hospitality, Events & Tourism
£22,000Salary (3 years)£22,50086%Satisfaction91%Drama & Theatre
£19,500Salary (3 years)£19,50099%Satisfaction88%
Showing the 12 largest of 15 shared subjects with published outcomes.
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
FAQ
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh vs York St John University: common questions
Is Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh or York St John University cheaper for international students?
For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £18,460 a year at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and £11,800 at York St John University: York St John University is about £6,660 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 York St John University?
Both universities teach 17 subject areas: Media & Film Studies, Politics & International Relations, Business & Management (General), Marketing, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Design & Fashion, Psychology (General), Teacher Training, Sociology & Criminology, Business Studies, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Education Studies and 5 more.
Is Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh or York St John University better for Media & Film Studies?
Media & Film Studies graduates earn a median £20,000 three years after graduating from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, and £18,000 from York St John University. Student satisfaction with teaching is 88% at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and 91% at York St John University. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.
Does Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh or York St John University offer more courses?
York St John University lists 199 courses on CourseOptions and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh lists 68 courses.
What can you study at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh but not at York St John University?
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh teaches 8 subject areas that York St John University does not, including Nutrition & Dietetics, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Cultural Studies, Finance & Actuarial Science, Classical Studies, Clinical Specialities, Health & Social Care and Public Relations.
What can you study at York St John University but not at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh?
York St John University teaches 32 subject areas that Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh does not, including English Literature, Creative Writing, Law, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Asian Languages & Studies, History, Management, Music and 24 more.
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