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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 Surrey

Guildford · QS World #246

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.

7/10

Queen's University Belfast

scored higher in 7 categories

VS

3/10

Surrey

scored higher in 3 categories

Quick Verdict

Queen's University Belfast leads in 7 of 10 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, employment, international, courses). University of Surrey is ahead on ranking, satisfaction, scholarship.

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

Queen's University Belfast and University of Surrey both teach 51 subject areas, the largest being Civil Engineering, Mathematics and Law. Queen's University Belfast offers 494 courses across 93 subject areas; University of Surrey offers 271 courses across 62 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,800 a year at Queen's University Belfast and £30,000 at University of Surrey: Queen's University Belfast is about £9,200 a year cheaper.

Of the 29 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Surrey is higher in 18 and Queen's University Belfast in 10, with 1 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#174
QS World
#246
#198
THE World
#201
#36
Guardian UK
#24
1845
Established
1966
Yes
Russell Group
No
—
TEF Rating
Silver

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 Surrey

86.4%
88.7%

Satisfaction

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

No data
£38,300

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

84.9%
83.7%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

21.9%
20.2%

International

International student share

494
271

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

1
36

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

Surrey

90 countries · 20.2% international

  • 🇮🇳India25%
  • 🇨🇳China8.3%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong5.4%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia5.1%
  • 🇦🇪United Arab Emirates3.2%

Subjects

51 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 Surrey

Also taught at both: Music, Accounting, Chemical Engineering, Biological Sciences (General), Childhood & Youth Studies, Drama & Theatre, French, Nursing (General), Aerospace Engineering, Biochemistry, General Engineering, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Animal Science, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Computing & IT, Human Geography & Environment, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Food Science, Community & Specialist Nursing, Games Design & Computer Animation, Geology & Earth Sciences, Business Studies, Adult Nursing, Agriculture & Land Management, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Children's Nursing, Clinical & Health Psychology, Film Production & Cinematography, Marketing, Medicine, Mental Health Nursing, Midwifery, Health & Social Care, Human Resource Management, Technology & Logistics.

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 Surrey
£30,000

Queen's University Belfast is about £9,200 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Queen's University Belfast
No data
University of Surrey
£25,900

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 Surrey

  • Civil Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)£33,500
    89%Satisfaction81%
  • Mathematics

    No dataSalary (3 years)£34,000
    87%Satisfaction86%
  • Law

    No dataSalary (3 years)£27,000
    86%Satisfaction94%
  • Physics

    No dataSalary (3 years)£30,500
    90%Satisfaction87%
  • Politics & International Relations

    No dataSalary (3 years)£29,000
    84%Satisfaction90%
  • Management

    No dataSalary (3 years)£30,500
    78%Satisfaction78%
  • Chemistry

    No dataSalary (3 years)£30,500
    97%Satisfaction95%
  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)£41,500
    70%Satisfaction86%
  • Economics

    No dataSalary (3 years)£40,000
    82%Satisfaction89%
  • Psychology (General)

    No dataSalary (3 years)£26,500
    86%Satisfaction87%
  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£41,500
    72%Satisfaction78%
  • Mechanical Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)£33,500
    82%Satisfaction91%

Showing the 12 largest of 29 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 Surrey

The Professor GQ Max Lu Global Scholarship

£30,000

Deadline: N/A

Machine learning enhanced muon imaging for nuclear waste monitoring and safeguards

£26,000

Deadline: Jul 2026

Nanoscale standardisation of DNA damage for Emerging Isotopes in Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection

£26,000

Deadline: Jul 2026

Understanding the dynamics of space radiation hazards using measurements from novel in-situ detectors

£26,000

Deadline: Jul 2026

AI for proton-acoustics for real-time 3D dosimetry of proton therapy

£25,805

Deadline: Jul 2026

View all scholarships →

FAQ

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

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

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,800 a year at Queen's University Belfast and £30,000 at University of Surrey: Queen's University Belfast is about £9,200 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 Surrey?

Both universities teach 51 subject areas: Civil Engineering, Mathematics, Law, Physics, Politics & International Relations, Management, Chemistry, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Economics, Psychology (General), Business & Management (General), Computer Science and 39 more.

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

Queen's University Belfast lists 494 courses on CourseOptions and University of Surrey lists 271 courses.

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

Queen's University Belfast teaches 42 subject areas that University of Surrey does not, including English Studies, History, Anthropology, Social Work, Software Engineering, Irish Studies, Media & Film Studies, Planning & Housing and 34 more.

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

University of Surrey teaches 11 subject areas that Queen's University Belfast does not, including Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Nutrition & Dietetics, English Literature, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Cognitive & Experimental Psychology and 3 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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