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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's University Belfast

Belfast · QS World #174

U
University of Plymouth

Plymouth · QS World #691

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 10 datapoints

We looked at 10 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

8/10

Queen's University Belfast

scored higher in 8 categories

VS

2/10

Plymouth

scored higher in 2 categories

Quick Verdict

Queen's University Belfast leads in 8 of 10 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, employment, international, courses). University of Plymouth is ahead on satisfaction, scholarship.

Queen's University Belfast vs University of Plymouth at a glance

Queen's University Belfast and University of Plymouth both teach 60 subject areas, the largest being Law, Civil Engineering and Mathematics. Queen's University Belfast offers 494 courses across 93 subject areas; University of Plymouth offers 310 courses across 78 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,800 a year at Queen's University Belfast and £19,200 at University of Plymouth: University of Plymouth is about £1,600 a year cheaper.

Of the 32 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Plymouth is higher in 16 and Queen's University Belfast in 13, with 3 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#174
QS World
#691
#198
THE World
#501
#36
Guardian UK
#56
1845
Established
1862
Yes
Russell Group
No
—
TEF Rating
Gold

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Queen's University Belfast

University of Plymouth

86.4%
86.6%

Satisfaction

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

No data
£30,300

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

84.9%
84.2%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

21.9%
11.9%

International

International student share

494
310

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

1
10

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's University Belfast

74 countries · 21.9% international

  • 🇮🇪Ireland30.3%
  • 🇮🇳India14.3%
  • 🇨🇳China11%
  • 🇺🇸United States7%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia5%
VS

Plymouth

71 countries · 11.9% international

  • 🇳🇬Nigeria14.6%
  • 🇨🇳China12.2%
  • 🇮🇳India11%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong4.7%
  • 🌐Sri Lanka3.3%

Subjects

60 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's University Belfast

University of Plymouth

Also taught at both: Ecology & Conservation, Physical Geography & Climate, Anthropology, Design & Fashion, Economics, Software Engineering, Social Work, Biomedical Sciences, Finance & Actuarial Science, Adult Nursing, Biological Sciences (General), Building & Construction, Childhood & Youth Studies, Dentistry, Human Geography & Environment, Media & Film Studies, Architecture, Counselling & Psychotherapy, General Engineering, Nursing (General), Accounting, Business Studies, Chemical Engineering, Education Studies, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Zoology & Animal Biology, Children's Nursing, Environmental Sciences, Games Design & Computer Animation, Midwifery, Music, Social Sciences (General), Agriculture & Land Management, Clinical & Health Psychology, Film Production & Cinematography, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Mental Health Nursing, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Geography (General), Marketing, Drama & Theatre, Human Resource Management, Medicine, Technology & Logistics, Anatomy & Pathology.

Only at Queen's University Belfast

Only at University of Plymouth

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's University Belfast
£20,800
University of Plymouth
£19,200

University of Plymouth is about £1,600 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Queen's University Belfast
No data
University of Plymouth
£19,500

We do not have reliable international fee data for Queen's University Belfast 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's University Belfast

University of Plymouth

  • Law

    No dataSalary (3 years)£21,500
    86%Satisfaction84%

  • Civil Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)£29,500
    89%Satisfaction94%

  • Mathematics

    No dataSalary (3 years)£25,000
    87%Satisfaction86%

  • Politics & International Relations

    No dataSalary (3 years)£24,000
    84%Satisfaction86%

  • English Studies

    No dataSalary (3 years)£19,500
    91%Satisfaction94%

  • Psychology (General)

    No dataSalary (3 years)£21,500
    86%Satisfaction84%

  • History

    No dataSalary (3 years)£20,500
    91%Satisfaction94%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)£32,000
    70%Satisfaction91%

  • Mechanical Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)£31,000
    82%Satisfaction90%

  • Chemistry

    No dataSalary (3 years)£24,500
    97%Satisfaction97%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    No dataSalary (3 years)£22,500
    87%Satisfaction83%

  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£28,000
    72%Satisfaction72%

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

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Queen's University Belfast

Future-Ready Award

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

University of Plymouth

GREAT Scholarships

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

Sanctuary Scholarships

100%

Deadline: N/A

International Undergraduate Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship

£6,000

Deadline: N/A

Tamar Engineering Project

£4,500

Deadline: Jun 2026

International Postgraduate Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship

£4,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Queen's University Belfast vs University of Plymouth: common questions

Is Queen's University Belfast or University of Plymouth cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,800 a year at Queen's University Belfast and £19,200 at University of Plymouth: University of Plymouth is about £1,600 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's University Belfast and University of Plymouth?

Both universities teach 60 subject areas: Law, Civil Engineering, Mathematics, Politics & International Relations, English Studies, Psychology (General), Geology & Earth Sciences, Business & Management (General), Management, History, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and 48 more.

Does Queen's University Belfast or University of Plymouth offer more courses?

Queen's University Belfast lists 494 courses on CourseOptions and University of Plymouth lists 310 courses.

What can you study at Queen's University Belfast but not at University of Plymouth?

Queen's University Belfast teaches 33 subject areas that University of Plymouth does not, including Physics, French, Irish Studies, Planning & Housing, Archaeology, Pharmacy, Philosophy, Aerospace Engineering and 25 more.

What can you study at University of Plymouth but not at Queen's University Belfast?

University of Plymouth teaches 18 subject areas that Queen's University Belfast does not, including Nutrition & Dietetics, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Marine Engineering & Technology, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Statistics, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Creative Writing, Medical Imaging and 10 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

Q
Queen's University Belfast494 courses · 1 scholarshipBrowse Courses
U
University of Plymouth310 courses · 10 scholarshipsBrowse Courses