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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.

S
SOAS University of London

London · QS World #458

T
The University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh · QS World #35

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.

0/11

SOAS University of London

scored higher in 0 categories

VS

11/11

Edinburgh

scored higher in 11 categories

Quick Verdict

The University of Edinburgh leads in 11 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, satisfaction, employment, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). SOAS University of London does not lead in any category where both have data.

SOAS University of London vs The University of Edinburgh at a glance

SOAS University of London and The University of Edinburgh both teach 29 subject areas, the largest being Asian Languages & Studies, Law and Media & Film Studies. SOAS University of London offers 296 courses across 29 subject areas; The University of Edinburgh offers 936 courses across 116 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £23,780 a year at SOAS University of London and £29,600 at The University of Edinburgh: SOAS University of London is about £5,820 a year cheaper.

Of the 11 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, The University of Edinburgh is higher in 7 and SOAS University of London in 3, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Asian Languages & Studies: £24,500 three years after graduating from SOAS University of London, against £29,000 from The University of Edinburgh. Of the 13 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, SOAS University of London is higher in 8 and The University of Edinburgh in 4, with 1 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#458
QS World
#35
#401
THE World
#29
#86
Guardian UK
#17
1916
Established
1583
No
Russell Group
Yes
Silver
TEF Rating
—

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

SOAS University of London

The University of Edinburgh

84.1%
85.3%

Satisfaction

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

£32,500
£37,600

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

74.4%
83%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

25.7%
41.6%

International

International student share

296
936

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

27
112

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.

SOAS University of London

67 countries · 25.7% international

  • 🇨🇳China10.9%
  • 🇮🇳India10.6%
  • 🇺🇸United States9.4%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan7.6%
  • 🇫🇷France3.6%
VS

Edinburgh

122 countries · 41.6% international

  • 🇨🇳China44.5%
  • 🇺🇸United States9.3%
  • 🇮🇳India5.4%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia2.7%
  • 🇨🇦Canada2.4%

Subjects

29 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.

SOAS University of London

The University of Edinburgh

Also taught at both: Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Music, Linguistics, Social Policy & Public Policy, Business & Management (General), Civil Engineering, International Development, Cultural Studies, Social Sciences (General), Archaeology, Finance & Actuarial Science, Management, Accounting, Liberal Arts.

Only at The University of Edinburgh

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

SOAS University of London
£23,780
The University of Edinburgh
£29,600

SOAS University of London is about £5,820 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

SOAS University of London
£25,320
The University of Edinburgh
No data

We do not have reliable international fee data for The University of Edinburgh 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.

SOAS University of London

The University of Edinburgh

  • Asian Languages & Studies

    £24,500Salary (3 years)£29,000
    86%Satisfaction78%

  • Law

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    77%Satisfaction86%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£29,000
    90%Satisfaction87%

  • African & Middle Eastern Studies

    £24,000Salary (3 years)£28,000
    77%Satisfaction89%

  • History

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£28,000
    89%Satisfaction88%

  • Anthropology

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£25,500
    94%Satisfaction81%

  • Creative Arts (General)

    No dataSalary (3 years)£20,000
    87%Satisfaction93%

  • History of Art & Design

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    97%Satisfaction90%

  • Economics

    £35,000Salary (3 years)£38,000
    83%Satisfaction81%

  • Philosophy

    £26,000Salary (3 years)£27,500
    89%Satisfaction88%

  • Music

    No dataSalary (3 years)£21,000
    87%Satisfaction89%

  • Linguistics

    £24,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    98%Satisfaction87%

Showing the 12 largest of 13 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

SOAS University of London

SOAS International Academic Excellence Scholarship

£20,000

Deadline: May 2026

SOAS Sustainable Development Goal Scholarship

£15,000

Deadline: Jun 2026

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

100%

Deadline: N/A

Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme

100%

Deadline: N/A

SOAS Academic Excellence Scholarship

£10,000

Deadline: May 2026

View all scholarships →

The University of Edinburgh

Asylum Seeker Scholarship

£21,000

Deadline: N/A

Education Beyond Borders postgraduate scholarship

£20,780

Deadline: N/A

Cameron Law Scholarship

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Online Learning Scholarships

100%

Deadline: N/A

Rosedale OSSD University of Edinburgh Scholarship

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

SOAS University of London vs The University of Edinburgh: common questions

Is SOAS University of London or The University of Edinburgh cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £23,780 a year at SOAS University of London and £29,600 at The University of Edinburgh: SOAS University of London is about £5,820 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 SOAS University of London and The University of Edinburgh?

Both universities teach 29 subject areas: Asian Languages & Studies, Law, Media & Film Studies, Politics & International Relations, African & Middle Eastern Studies, Theology & Religious Studies, History, Ancient Languages, Anthropology, Creative Arts (General), History of Art & Design, Economics and 17 more.

Is SOAS University of London or The University of Edinburgh better for Asian Languages & Studies?

Asian Languages & Studies graduates earn a median £24,500 three years after graduating from SOAS University of London, and £29,000 from The University of Edinburgh. Student satisfaction with teaching is 86% at SOAS University of London and 78% at The University of Edinburgh. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does SOAS University of London or The University of Edinburgh offer more courses?

The University of Edinburgh lists 936 courses on CourseOptions and SOAS University of London lists 296 courses.

What can you study at The University of Edinburgh but not at SOAS University of London?

The University of Edinburgh teaches 87 subject areas that SOAS University of London does not, including Computer Science, German & Scandinavian Studies, Medicine, Teacher Training, Mathematics, Business Studies, Physics, French and 79 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

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SOAS University of London296 courses · 27 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
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The University of Edinburgh936 courses · 112 scholarshipsBrowse Courses