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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.

Q
Queen Mary University of London

London · QS World #103

U
University of Essex

Colchester · QS World #438

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 11 datapoints

We looked at 11 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

6/11

Queen Mary University of London

scored higher in 6 categories

VS

5/11

Essex

scored higher in 5 categories

Quick Verdict

Queen Mary University of London leads in 6 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, graduate salary). University of Essex is ahead on satisfaction, employment, international, courses, scholarship.

Queen Mary University of London vs University of Essex at a glance

Queen Mary University of London and University of Essex both teach 47 subject areas, the largest being Economics, Law and Politics & International Relations. Queen Mary University of London offers 622 courses across 81 subject areas; University of Essex offers 748 courses across 74 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,450 a year at Queen Mary University of London and £21,500 at University of Essex: University of Essex is about £7,950 a year cheaper.

Of the 22 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, Queen Mary University of London is higher in 20 and University of Essex in 1, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Biomedical Sciences: £40,000 three years after graduating from Queen Mary University of London, against £28,500 from University of Essex. Of the 26 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Queen Mary University of London is higher in 15 and University of Essex in 11.

World & National Rankings

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

#103
QS World
#438
#134
THE World
#301
#35
Guardian UK
#44
1885
Established
1964
Yes
Russell Group
No
Silver
TEF Rating
Silver

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Queen Mary University of London

University of Essex

84.7%
87.2%

Satisfaction

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

£41,200
£31,800

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

77.8%
79.7%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

32.1%
33.7%

International

International student share

622
748

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

18
30

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 Mary University of London

119 countries · 32.1% international

  • 🇮🇳India18.1%
  • 🇨🇳China17.6%
  • 🇹🇷Turkey4.1%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.7%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan2.7%
VS

Essex

97 countries · 33.7% international

  • 🇮🇳India21.2%
  • 🇨🇳China11.7%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan6.1%
  • 🇫🇷France5.7%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria4.4%

Subjects

47 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 Mary University of London

University of Essex

Also taught at both: Linguistics, Business & Management (General), Marketing, English Literature, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, English Language, English Studies, Genetics & Genomics, Media & Film Studies, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Biomedical Engineering, Ecology & Conservation, Management, Applied Psychology, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Ancient Languages, Biomedical Sciences, Clinical & Health Psychology, Liberal Arts, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Biotechnology, Social Policy & Public Policy, Statistics, Biochemistry, Biology, Environmental Sciences, Civil Engineering, Design & Fashion, Human Geography & Environment, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Human Resource Management, Physical Geography & Climate.

Only at Queen Mary University of London

Only at University of Essex

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 Mary University of London
£29,450
University of Essex
£21,500

University of Essex is about £7,950 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Queen Mary University of London
No data
University of Essex
£23,880

We do not have reliable international fee data for Queen Mary University of London 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.

Queen Mary University of London

University of Essex

  • Economics

    £35,500Salary (3 years)£30,000
    79%Satisfaction84%

  • Law

    £30,500Salary (3 years)£24,000
    87%Satisfaction84%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £32,000Salary (3 years)£25,000
    89%Satisfaction86%

  • History

    £27,000Salary (3 years)£23,500
    92%Satisfaction93%

  • Mathematics

    £32,000Salary (3 years)£29,000
    82%Satisfaction95%

  • Computer Science

    £40,500Salary (3 years)£33,500
    84%Satisfaction81%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £32,000Salary (3 years)£33,000
    82%Satisfaction77%

  • Business Studies

    £32,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    82%Satisfaction83%

  • Drama & Theatre

    £22,000Salary (3 years)£16,500
    92%Satisfaction95%

  • Psychology (General)

    £27,000Salary (3 years)£24,500
    80%Satisfaction84%

  • Accounting

    £32,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    82%Satisfaction78%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    £34,000Salary (3 years)No data
    92%Satisfaction75%

Showing the 12 largest of 26 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Queen Mary University of London

Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship

£800,000

Deadline: Jun 2026

Data Science and AI MSc Scholarship

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

MSc in Management of IP Scholarships

100%

Deadline: Jul 2026

Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law Scholarship

£7,875

Deadline: May 2026

Law Progression Scholarship

£6,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

University of Essex

Access Essex Scholarship

100%

Deadline: N/A

Sustainable Transitions - Governance, Ecological Management and Society - Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme

100%

Deadline: N/A

Sustainable Transitions - Governance, Ecological Management and Society - Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme 2026-27 (Masters plus PhD)

100%

Deadline: N/A

The Essex MBA Dean's Award

100%

Deadline: N/A

Postgraduate Research EU Scholarship

£8,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Queen Mary University of London vs University of Essex: common questions

Is Queen Mary University of London or University of Essex cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,450 a year at Queen Mary University of London and £21,500 at University of Essex: University of Essex is about £7,950 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 Mary University of London and University of Essex?

Both universities teach 47 subject areas: Economics, Law, Politics & International Relations, History, Mathematics, Computer Science, Finance & Actuarial Science, Philosophy, Business Studies, Drama & Theatre, Psychology (General), Sociology & Criminology and 35 more.

Is Queen Mary University of London or University of Essex better for Economics?

Economics graduates earn a median £35,500 three years after graduating from Queen Mary University of London, and £30,000 from University of Essex. Student satisfaction with teaching is 79% at Queen Mary University of London and 84% at University of Essex. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Queen Mary University of London or University of Essex offer more courses?

University of Essex lists 748 courses on CourseOptions and Queen Mary University of London lists 622 courses.

What can you study at Queen Mary University of London but not at University of Essex?

Queen Mary University of London teaches 34 subject areas that University of Essex does not, including Medicine, Dentistry, Chemistry, Clinical Specialities, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Geography (General) and 26 more.

What can you study at University of Essex but not at Queen Mary University of London?

University of Essex teaches 27 subject areas that Queen Mary University of London does not, including History of Art & Design, Journalism, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Social Sciences (General), Creative Writing, Childhood & Youth Studies, Welsh Studies, Cognitive & Experimental Psychology and 19 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

Q
Queen Mary University of London622 courses · 18 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
U
University of Essex748 courses · 30 scholarshipsBrowse Courses