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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.

R
Royal Holloway, University of London

Egham · QS World #485

U
University of Reading

Reading · QS World #196

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.

4/10

Royal Holloway

scored higher in 4 categories

VS

6/10

Reading

scored higher in 6 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Reading leads in 6 of 10 categories where both have data (ranking, employment, international, courses). Royal Holloway, University of London is ahead on established, satisfaction, graduate salary, scholarship.

Royal Holloway, University of London vs University of Reading at a glance

Royal Holloway, University of London and University of Reading both teach 39 subject areas, the largest being Economics, Law and Politics & International Relations. Royal Holloway, University of London offers 351 courses across 60 subject areas; University of Reading offers 448 courses across 70 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £26,800 a year at Royal Holloway, University of London and £25,850 at University of Reading: University of Reading is about £950 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £26,400 a year at Royal Holloway, University of London and £26,450 at University of Reading, so the two cost about the same.

Of the 24 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, Royal Holloway, University of London is higher in 13 and University of Reading in 10, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Accounting: £26,500 three years after graduating from Royal Holloway, University of London, against £39,000 from University of Reading. Of the 26 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Royal Holloway, University of London is higher in 12 and University of Reading in 12, with 2 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#485
QS World
#196
#401
THE World
#201
#45
Guardian UK
#33
1879
Established
1892
No
Russell Group
No
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

University of Reading

85.7%
85.1%

Satisfaction

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

£36,152.9
£35,800

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

78.6%
84.7%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

16.7%
18%

International

International student share

351
448

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

32
1

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

Reading

96 countries · 18% international

  • 🇨🇳China26%
  • 🇮🇳India6.9%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong5.3%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria4.2%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia3.9%

Subjects

39 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

University of Reading

Also taught at both: Psychology (General), Classical Studies, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Ancient Languages, Business Studies, Drama & Theatre, Human Geography & Environment, Archaeology, Ecology & Conservation, Accounting, Biomedical Sciences, Media & Film Studies, Zoology & Animal Biology, Biological Sciences (General), Physical Geography & Climate, English Language, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Biology, Human Resource Management, Creative Writing, Clinical & Health Psychology, Film Production & Cinematography, Social Policy & Public Policy, Social Sciences (General).

Only at Royal Holloway, University of London

Only at University of Reading

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
University of Reading
£25,850

University of Reading is about £950 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Royal Holloway, University of London
£26,400
University of Reading
£26,450

About the same.

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

University of Reading

  • Economics

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£32,500
    84%Satisfaction82%

  • Law

    No dataSalary (3 years)£27,500
    84%Satisfaction86%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £27,500Salary (3 years)£27,500
    88%Satisfaction92%

  • History

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£25,000
    94%Satisfaction95%

  • Mathematics

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£30,500
    83%Satisfaction86%

  • Computer Science

    £41,000Salary (3 years)£35,000
    83%Satisfaction76%

  • Management

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£34,000
    83%Satisfaction81%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £24,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    84%Satisfaction96%

  • Geology & Earth Sciences

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£27,500
    91%Satisfaction91%

  • English Literature

    £24,500Salary (3 years)£23,000
    90%Satisfaction91%

  • Marketing

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£29,000
    83%Satisfaction76%

  • Biochemistry

    £27,500Salary (3 years)£23,500
    89%Satisfaction88%

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 →

University of Reading

The Sporting Excellence Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Royal Holloway, University of London vs University of Reading: common questions

Is Royal Holloway, University of London or University of Reading cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £26,800 a year at Royal Holloway, University of London and £25,850 at University of Reading: University of Reading is about £950 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £26,400 a year at Royal Holloway, University of London and £26,450 at University of Reading, so the two cost about the same. 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 University of Reading?

Both universities teach 39 subject areas: Economics, Law, Politics & International Relations, Business & Management (General), Finance & Actuarial Science, History, Mathematics, Computer Science, Management, Sociology & Criminology, Geology & Earth Sciences, English Literature and 27 more.

Is Royal Holloway, University of London or University of Reading better for Economics?

Economics graduates earn a median £30,000 three years after graduating from Royal Holloway, University of London, and £32,500 from University of Reading. Student satisfaction with teaching is 84% at Royal Holloway, University of London and 82% at University of Reading. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Royal Holloway, University of London or University of Reading offer more courses?

University of Reading lists 448 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 University of Reading?

Royal Holloway, University of London teaches 21 subject areas that University of Reading does not, including Music, German & Scandinavian Studies, Physics, Geography (General), Liberal Arts, Applied Psychology, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Computing & IT and 13 more.

What can you study at University of Reading but not at Royal Holloway, University of London?

University of Reading teaches 31 subject areas that Royal Holloway, University of London does not, including Building & Construction, Agriculture & Land Management, Chemistry, Design & Fashion, Food Science, Information & Library Studies, Childhood & Youth Studies, Teacher Training and 23 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
University of Reading448 courses · 1 scholarshipBrowse Courses