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.
Glasgow
Manchester · QS World #40
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.
3/8
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
scored higher in 3 categories
5/8
Manchester
scored higher in 5 categories
Quick Verdict
University of Manchester leads in 5 of 8 categories where both have data (Russell Group, established, international, graduate salary, courses). Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is ahead on satisfaction, employment, scholarship.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland vs University of Manchester at a glance
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and University of Manchester both teach 7 subject areas, the largest being Music, Management and Drama & Theatre. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland offers 72 courses across 8 subject areas; University of Manchester offers 1,041 courses across 116 subject areas.
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £28,920 a year at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and £32,300 at University of Manchester: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is about £3,380 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £28,400 a year at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and £26,800 at University of Manchester: University of Manchester is about £1,600 a year cheaper.
Of the 3 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Manchester is higher in 3 and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 0.
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.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
University of Manchester
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.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
23 countries · 26% international
- 🇨🇳China26.6%
- 🇺🇸United States18.8%
- 🇺🇦Ukraine6.2%
- 🇦🇺Australia4.7%
- 🇮🇪Ireland4.7%
Manchester
120 countries · 40% international
- 🇨🇳China51%
- 🇮🇳India7.6%
- 🇲🇾Malaysia4.9%
- 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.1%
- 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.5%
Subjects
7 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.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
University of Manchester
Music
49 coursesTypical fee £28,920 (UG)
8 coursesTypical fee £29,900 (UG)
Management
4 coursesFee not available
25 coursesTypical fee £33,100 (UG)
Drama & Theatre
12 coursesTypical fee £28,920 (UG)
4 coursesTypical fee £28,850 (UG)
Education Studies
2 coursesFee not available
10 coursesTypical fee £30,500 (UG)
Media & Film Studies
1 courseTypical fee £28,920 (UG)
10 coursesTypical fee £27,800 (UG)
Social Work
Teacher Training
Only at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
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
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- £28,920
- University of Manchester
- £32,300
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is about £3,380 a year cheaper.
Postgraduate
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- £28,400
- University of Manchester
- £26,800
University of Manchester is about £1,600 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.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
University of Manchester
Music
No dataSalary (3 years)£22,50089%Satisfaction91%Drama & Theatre
No dataSalary (3 years)£21,00089%Satisfaction91%Media & Film Studies
No dataSalary (3 years)No data83%Satisfaction93%
Scholarships for International Students
ExclusiveRoyal Conservatoire of Scotland
WM Mann Scholarship for Postgraduate Indonesian Students
75%
Deadline: N/A
Cowrie Scholarship Foundation
See details
Deadline: N/A
James McAvoy Drama Scholarship
See details
Deadline: N/A
Pamella Dow Scholarship
See details
Deadline: N/A
Pauline Knowles Scholarship
See details
Deadline: N/A
University of Manchester
Spärck AI Scholarship
£20,780
Deadline: N/A
The Sadler Bursary
£10,000
Deadline: N/A
The Bason Family Bursary
£6,000
Deadline: N/A
The Cowrie Foundation Scholarships
£6,000
Deadline: N/A
Accommodation Bursary
£2,050
Deadline: Jul 2026
FAQ
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland vs University of Manchester: common questions
Is Royal Conservatoire of Scotland or University of Manchester cheaper for international students?
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £28,920 a year at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and £32,300 at University of Manchester: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is about £3,380 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £28,400 a year at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and £26,800 at University of Manchester: University of Manchester 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 Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and University of Manchester?
Both universities teach 7 subject areas: Music, Management, Drama & Theatre, Education Studies, Media & Film Studies, Social Work and Teacher Training.
Does Royal Conservatoire of Scotland or University of Manchester offer more courses?
University of Manchester lists 1,041 courses on CourseOptions and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland lists 72 courses.
What can you study at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland but not at University of Manchester?
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland teaches 1 subject area that University of Manchester does not, including Dance.
What can you study at University of Manchester but not at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland?
University of Manchester teaches 109 subject areas that Royal Conservatoire of Scotland does not, including Politics & International Relations, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Dentistry, Economics, Chemistry and 101 more.
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