Skip to main content

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.

R
Royal Holloway, University of London

Egham · QS World #485

U
UCL (University College London)

Camden · QS World #8

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.

1/11

Royal Holloway

scored higher in 1 category

VS

10/11

UCL (University College London)

scored higher in 10 categories

Quick Verdict

UCL (University College London) leads in 10 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, satisfaction, employment, international, graduate salary, courses). Royal Holloway, University of London is ahead on scholarship.

Royal Holloway, University of London vs UCL (University College London) at a glance

Royal Holloway, University of London and UCL (University College London) both teach 53 subject areas, the largest being German & Scandinavian Studies, Computer Science and Mathematics. Royal Holloway, University of London offers 351 courses across 60 subject areas; UCL (University College London) offers 1,131 courses across 109 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £26,800 a year at Royal Holloway, University of London and £29,800 at UCL (University College London): Royal Holloway, University of London is about £3,000 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £26,400 a year at Royal Holloway, University of London and £34,700 at UCL (University College London): Royal Holloway, University of London is about £8,300 a year cheaper.

Of the 23 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, UCL (University College London) is higher in 23 and Royal Holloway, University of London in 0. The widest gap is in Economics: £30,000 three years after graduating from Royal Holloway, University of London, against £45,000 from UCL (University College London). Of the 26 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Royal Holloway, University of London is higher in 14 and UCL (University College London) in 10, with 2 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#485
QS World
#8
#401
THE World
#22
#45
Guardian UK
#9
1879
Established
1826
No
Russell Group
Yes
Silver
TEF Rating
Silver

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Royal Holloway, University of London

UCL (University College London)

85.7%
86.5%

Satisfaction

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

£36,152.9
£46,400

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

78.6%
80.4%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

16.7%
51.9%

International

International student share

351
1131

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

32
18

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 Holloway

79 countries · 16.7% international

  • 🇮🇳India17.8%
  • 🇨🇳China8.2%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan8.2%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong5%
  • 🇺🇸United States4.8%
VS

UCL (University College London)

127 countries · 51.9% international

  • 🇨🇳China53.3%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong4.9%
  • 🇺🇸United States4.2%
  • 🇮🇳India3.4%
  • 🇸🇬Singapore2.4%

Subjects

53 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 Holloway, University of London

UCL (University College London)

Also taught at both: History, French, Philosophy, Biochemistry, Italian, Human Geography & Environment, Classical Studies, Music, Archaeology, Geography (General), Media & Film Studies, Ecology & Conservation, Health & Social Care, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Biology, English Literature, Finance & Actuarial Science, Social Policy & Public Policy, Computing & IT, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Physical Geography & Climate, Marketing, Social Sciences (General), Theology & Religious Studies, Welsh Studies, English Studies, Genetics & Genomics, Biological Sciences (General), Film Production & Cinematography, Zoology & Animal Biology, Accounting, American & Comparative Studies, English Language, Business Studies, Clinical & Health Psychology, Creative Writing, Games Design & Computer Animation.

Only at Royal Holloway, University of London

Only at UCL (University College London)

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 Holloway, University of London
£26,800
UCL (University College London)
£29,800

Royal Holloway, University of London is about £3,000 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Royal Holloway, University of London
£26,400
UCL (University College London)
£34,700

Royal Holloway, University of London is about £8,300 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 Holloway, University of London

UCL (University College London)

  • German & Scandinavian Studies

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£31,000
    87%Satisfaction95%

  • Computer Science

    £41,000Salary (3 years)£51,000
    83%Satisfaction80%

  • Mathematics

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£41,000
    83%Satisfaction87%

  • Ancient Languages

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£31,000
    88%Satisfaction92%

  • Economics

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£45,000
    84%Satisfaction79%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £27,500Salary (3 years)£33,500
    88%Satisfaction87%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £24,000Salary (3 years)£28,000
    84%Satisfaction87%

  • Geology & Earth Sciences

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£30,000
    91%Satisfaction88%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)£40,000
    98%Satisfaction90%

  • Psychology (General)

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£27,500
    88%Satisfaction90%

  • Management

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£38,000
    83%Satisfaction90%

  • Law

    No dataSalary (3 years)£41,000
    84%Satisfaction92%

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

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Royal Holloway, University of London

International Partners Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

Katayoon Behboodi Scholarship 2026

See details

Deadline: N/A

Mary Anning Scholarship 2026

See details

Deadline: N/A

Barbara Raw Scholarships for English

See details

Deadline: N/A

Barbara Raw for English Access Scholarship 2026

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

UCL (University College London)

Commercial Bar Opportunity Scholarship

£25,000

Deadline: N/A

AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award

100%

Deadline: N/A

UCL Department of Arts and Sciences (UASc) Interdisciplinary Excellence PhD Scholarship

100%

Deadline: N/A

Law Society Pro Bono Bursary

£250

Deadline: N/A

Alonso Gurmendi Dunkelberg, UCL Graduate Research Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Royal Holloway, University of London vs UCL (University College London): common questions

Is Royal Holloway, University of London or UCL (University College London) cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £26,800 a year at Royal Holloway, University of London and £29,800 at UCL (University College London): Royal Holloway, University of London is about £3,000 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £26,400 a year at Royal Holloway, University of London and £34,700 at UCL (University College London): Royal Holloway, University of London is about £8,300 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 Holloway, University of London and UCL (University College London)?

Both universities teach 53 subject areas: German & Scandinavian Studies, Computer Science, Mathematics, Ancient Languages, Economics, Politics & International Relations, Sociology & Criminology, Geology & Earth Sciences, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Psychology (General), Management, Biomedical Sciences and 41 more.

Is Royal Holloway, University of London or UCL (University College London) better for German & Scandinavian Studies?

German & Scandinavian Studies graduates earn a median £25,500 three years after graduating from Royal Holloway, University of London, and £31,000 from UCL (University College London). Student satisfaction with teaching is 87% at Royal Holloway, University of London and 95% at UCL (University College London). Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Royal Holloway, University of London or UCL (University College London) offer more courses?

UCL (University College London) lists 1,131 courses on CourseOptions and Royal Holloway, University of London lists 351 courses.

What can you study at Royal Holloway, University of London but not at UCL (University College London)?

Royal Holloway, University of London teaches 7 subject areas that UCL (University College London) does not, including Drama & Theatre, Liberal Arts, Applied Psychology, Social Work, Human Resource Management, Counselling & Psychotherapy and Cultural Studies.

What can you study at UCL (University College London) but not at Royal Holloway, University of London?

UCL (University College London) teaches 56 subject areas that Royal Holloway, University of London does not, including Eastern European Languages, Childhood & Youth Studies, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Planning & Housing, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Architecture and 48 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

R
Royal Holloway, University of London351 courses · 32 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
U
UCL (University College London)1,131 courses · 18 scholarshipsBrowse Courses