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.
Belfast · QS World #174
York · Guardian UK #105
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.
5/8
Queen's University Belfast
scored higher in 5 categories
3/8
York St John
scored higher in 3 categories
Quick Verdict
Queen's University Belfast leads in 5 of 8 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, employment, courses). York St John University is ahead on established, satisfaction, international.
Queen's University Belfast vs York St John University at a glance
Queen's University Belfast and York St John University both teach 33 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, Law and Media & Film Studies. Queen's University Belfast offers 494 courses across 93 subject areas; York St John University offers 199 courses across 49 subject areas.
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,800 a year at Queen's University Belfast and £14,000 at York St John University: York St John University is about £6,800 a year cheaper.
Of the 20 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, York St John University is higher in 12 and Queen's University Belfast in 7, with 1 about level.
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's University Belfast
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's University Belfast
74 countries · 21.9% international
- 🇮🇪Ireland30.3%
- 🇮🇳India14.3%
- 🇨🇳China11%
- 🇺🇸United States7%
- 🇲🇾Malaysia5%
York St John
35 countries · 37.1% international
- 🌐Nepal33.8%
- 🇳🇬Nigeria25.4%
- 🇮🇳India20.5%
- 🇵🇰Pakistan4.1%
- 🌐Sri Lanka4%
Subjects
33 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
York St John University
Politics & International Relations
18 coursesTypical fee £20,800 (UG)
12 coursesTypical fee £14,000 (UG)
Law
19 coursesTypical fee £20,800 (UG)
7 coursesTypical fee £14,000 (UG)
Media & Film Studies
8 coursesTypical fee £20,800 (UG)
11 coursesTypical fee £14,000 (UG)
History
13 coursesTypical fee £20,800 (UG)
5 coursesTypical fee £14,000 (UG)
Management
13 coursesTypical fee £20,800 (UG)
5 coursesTypical fee £14,000 (UG)
Psychology (General)
Sociology & Criminology
Business & Management (General)
Economics
Childhood & Youth Studies
Design & Fashion
Software Engineering
Computer Science
Marketing
Music
Also taught at both: Counselling & Psychotherapy, Physical Geography & Climate, Accounting, Education Studies, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Human Geography & Environment, Business Studies, Film Production & Cinematography, Drama & Theatre, Games Design & Computer Animation, Geography (General), Public Health & Epidemiology, Adult Nursing, Biomedical Sciences, Mental Health Nursing, Midwifery, Human Resource Management, Information Systems & Data Science.
Only at Queen's University Belfast
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
- York St John University
- £14,000
York St John University is about £6,800 a year cheaper.
Postgraduate
- Queen's University Belfast
- No data
- York St John University
- £11,800
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
York St John University
Politics & International Relations
No dataSalary (3 years)£20,00084%Satisfaction89%Law
No dataSalary (3 years)No data86%Satisfaction93%Media & Film Studies
No dataSalary (3 years)£18,00082%Satisfaction91%History
No dataSalary (3 years)£19,00091%Satisfaction98%Management
No dataSalary (3 years)£22,50078%Satisfaction67%Psychology (General)
No dataSalary (3 years)£20,50086%Satisfaction90%Sociology & Criminology
No dataSalary (3 years)£20,50087%Satisfaction89%Economics
No dataSalary (3 years)£20,00082%Satisfaction71%Software Engineering
No dataSalary (3 years)£26,50066%Satisfaction66%Computer Science
No dataSalary (3 years)£26,50072%Satisfaction78%Music
No dataSalary (3 years)£18,50089%Satisfaction94%Accounting
No dataSalary (3 years)£22,50081%Satisfaction76%
Showing the 12 largest of 20 shared subjects with published outcomes.
Scholarships for International Students
ExclusiveFAQ
Queen's University Belfast vs York St John University: common questions
Is Queen's University Belfast or York St John University cheaper for international students?
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,800 a year at Queen's University Belfast and £14,000 at York St John University: York St John University is about £6,800 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 York St John University?
Both universities teach 33 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, Law, Media & Film Studies, History, Management, Psychology (General), Sociology & Criminology, Business & Management (General), Economics, Childhood & Youth Studies, Design & Fashion, Software Engineering and 21 more.
Does Queen's University Belfast or York St John University offer more courses?
Queen's University Belfast lists 494 courses on CourseOptions and York St John University lists 199 courses.
What can you study at Queen's University Belfast but not at York St John University?
Queen's University Belfast teaches 60 subject areas that York St John University does not, including Civil Engineering, Mathematics, English Studies, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Anthropology, Physics, Social Work and 52 more.
What can you study at York St John University but not at Queen's University Belfast?
York St John University teaches 16 subject areas that Queen's University Belfast does not, including English Literature, Creative Writing, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Teacher Training, Asian Languages & Studies, Theology & Religious Studies, English Language and 8 more.
Ready to explore courses?
Browse available courses, check entry requirements, and find scholarships at each university.