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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
Swansea University

Swansea · QS World #322

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.

1/11

Swansea

scored higher in 1 category

VS

10/11

Edinburgh

scored higher in 10 categories

Quick Verdict

The University of Edinburgh leads in 10 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, employment, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). Swansea University is ahead on satisfaction.

Swansea University vs The University of Edinburgh at a glance

Swansea University and The University of Edinburgh both teach 81 subject areas, the largest being Law, Computer Science and Mathematics. Swansea University offers 916 courses across 97 subject areas; The University of Edinburgh offers 936 courses across 116 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £21,550 a year at Swansea University and £29,600 at The University of Edinburgh: Swansea University is about £8,050 a year cheaper.

Of the 38 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, The University of Edinburgh is higher in 37 and Swansea University in 1. The widest gap is in Economics: £30,000 three years after graduating from Swansea University, against £38,000 from The University of Edinburgh. Of the 40 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Swansea University is higher in 29 and The University of Edinburgh in 11.

World & National Rankings

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

#322
QS World
#35
#301
THE World
#29
#32
Guardian UK
#17
1920
Established
1583
No
Russell Group
Yes
—
TEF Rating
—

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Swansea University

The University of Edinburgh

86.1%
85.3%

Satisfaction

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

£31,800
£37,600

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

78.5%
83%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

14.1%
41.6%

International

International student share

916
936

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

5
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.

Swansea

73 countries · 14.1% international

  • 🇮🇳India25.4%
  • 🇨🇳China12.7%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria8.2%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia4.5%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong3.9%
VS

Edinburgh

122 countries · 41.6% international

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

Subjects

81 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.

Swansea University

The University of Edinburgh

Also taught at both: Civil Engineering, Education Studies, Philosophy, Finance & Actuarial Science, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Medicine, Psychology (General), English Literature, Media & Film Studies, Biomedical Sciences, General Engineering, Social Policy & Public Policy, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Ecology & Conservation, Human Geography & Environment, Biochemistry, Medical Sciences, Biological Sciences (General), Linguistics, Archaeology, Design & Fashion, Geology & Earth Sciences, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Health & Social Care, Aerospace Engineering, Biology, Childhood & Youth Studies, Physical Geography & Climate, Accounting, Environmental Sciences, Public Health & Epidemiology, Social Work, Clinical Specialities, English Language, Zoology & Animal Biology, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Biomedical Engineering, Social Sciences (General), Anatomy & Pathology, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, Combined & General Studies, Computing & IT, Creative Writing, Nursing (General), Building & Construction, Humanities, International Development, Landscape Architecture & Design, Marketing, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Healthcare Science, Information Systems & Data Science, Management, Adult Nursing, Applied Psychology, Clinical & Health Psychology, Community & Specialist Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Software Engineering, Geography (General), Heritage & Conservation, Manufacturing & Production Engineering.

Only at Swansea University

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

Swansea University
£21,550
The University of Edinburgh
£29,600

Swansea University is about £8,050 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Swansea University
£22,950
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.

Swansea University

The University of Edinburgh

  • Law

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    82%Satisfaction86%

  • Computer Science

    £31,500Salary (3 years)£37,000
    84%Satisfaction74%

  • Mathematics

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    86%Satisfaction81%

  • Teacher Training

    No dataSalary (3 years)£31,500
    89%Satisfaction92%

  • History

    £21,500Salary (3 years)£28,000
    90%Satisfaction88%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£29,000
    90%Satisfaction87%

  • Physics

    £26,000Salary (3 years)£29,000
    91%Satisfaction85%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £24,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    87%Satisfaction82%

  • Business Studies

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£31,000
    82%Satisfaction80%

  • Economics

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£38,000
    90%Satisfaction81%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£34,000
    69%Satisfaction81%

  • Classical Studies

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£26,000
    95%Satisfaction92%

Showing the 12 largest of 41 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Swansea University

History and Heritage Studies: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Studentship (Fully Funded) in History with Museum Wales (RS950)

100%

Deadline: N/A

History: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Studentship (Fully Funded) in History with The National Archives (RS948)

100%

Deadline: N/A

History: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Studentship in History with Museum Wales (RS949)

See details

Deadline: N/A

PhD Studentship in Sustainable Fusion Steels: Whole Lifecycle Design of Tokamak Vacuum Vessel Steels (RS964)

See details

Deadline: N/A

Swansea University International Postgraduate Research Excellence Scholarships 2025/26

See details

Deadline: N/A

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

Swansea University vs The University of Edinburgh: common questions

Is Swansea University or The University of Edinburgh cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £21,550 a year at Swansea University and £29,600 at The University of Edinburgh: Swansea University is about £8,050 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 Swansea University and The University of Edinburgh?

Both universities teach 81 subject areas: Law, Computer Science, Mathematics, Teacher Training, History, Politics & International Relations, Physics, Sociology & Criminology, Business Studies, Business & Management (General), Economics, Theology & Religious Studies and 69 more.

Is Swansea University or The University of Edinburgh better for Law?

Law graduates earn a median £21,000 three years after graduating from Swansea University, and £26,500 from The University of Edinburgh. Student satisfaction with teaching is 82% at Swansea University and 86% at The University of Edinburgh. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Swansea University or The University of Edinburgh offer more courses?

The University of Edinburgh lists 936 courses on CourseOptions and Swansea University lists 916 courses.

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

Swansea University teaches 16 subject areas that The University of Edinburgh does not, including American & Comparative Studies, English Studies, Materials Engineering, Welsh Studies, Journalism, Human Resource Management, Midwifery, Information & Library Studies and 8 more.

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

The University of Edinburgh teaches 35 subject areas that Swansea University does not, including German & Scandinavian Studies, French, African & Middle Eastern Studies, Spanish & Portuguese, Veterinary Medicine, Asian Languages & Studies, History of Art & Design, Eastern European Languages and 27 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

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Swansea University916 courses · 5 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
T
The University of Edinburgh936 courses · 112 scholarshipsBrowse Courses