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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

U
University College Birmingham

Birmingham

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 7 datapoints

We looked at 7 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

4/7

Swansea

scored higher in 4 categories

VS

3/7

University College Birmingham

scored higher in 3 categories

Quick Verdict

Swansea University leads in 4 of 7 categories where both have data (established, employment, graduate salary, courses). University College Birmingham is ahead on satisfaction, international, scholarship.

Swansea University vs University College Birmingham at a glance

Swansea University and University College Birmingham both teach 26 subject areas, the largest being Computer Science, Business & Management (General) and Politics & International Relations. Swansea University offers 916 courses across 97 subject areas; University College Birmingham offers 115 courses across 36 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £21,550 a year at Swansea University and £13,500 at University College Birmingham: University College Birmingham is about £8,050 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £22,950 a year at Swansea University and £17,000 at University College Birmingham: University College Birmingham is about £5,950 a year cheaper.

Of the 7 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, Swansea University is higher in 7 and University College Birmingham in 0. The widest gap is in Business & Management (General): £25,000 three years after graduating from Swansea University, against £20,000 from University College Birmingham. Of the 13 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University College Birmingham is higher in 10 and Swansea University in 2, with 1 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#322
QS World
—
#301
THE World
—
#32
Guardian UK
—
1920
Established
1957
No
Russell Group
No
—
TEF Rating
Silver

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Swansea University

University College Birmingham

86.1%
88.3%

Satisfaction

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

£31,800
£25,600

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

78.5%
77.8%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

14.1%
47%

International

International student share

916
115

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

5
7

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

University College Birmingham

26 countries · 47% international

  • 🌐Nepal48.9%
  • 🇮🇳India24.7%
  • 🇨🇳China11.5%
  • 🇧🇩Bangladesh3.8%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan3.3%

Subjects

26 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

University College Birmingham

Also taught at both: Adult Nursing, Planning & Housing, Software Engineering, Design & Fashion, Mental Health Nursing, Public Health & Epidemiology, Applied Psychology, Clinical & Health Psychology, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Manufacturing & Production Engineering.

Only at Swansea University

Only at University College Birmingham

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
University College Birmingham
£13,500

University College Birmingham is about £8,050 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Swansea University
£22,950
University College Birmingham
£17,000

University College Birmingham is about £5,950 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.

Swansea University

University College Birmingham

  • Computer Science

    £31,500Salary (3 years)No data
    84%Satisfaction87%

  • Business & Management (General)

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£20,000
    No dataSatisfaction93%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£20,000
    90%Satisfaction89%

  • Business Studies

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£21,000
    82%Satisfaction86%

  • Education Studies

    No dataSalary (3 years)£17,000
    90%Satisfaction98%

  • Health & Social Care

    £24,500Salary (3 years)£20,500
    92%Satisfaction94%

  • Childhood & Youth Studies

    £24,500Salary (3 years)£20,500
    75%Satisfaction98%

  • Sport & Exercise Sciences

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£20,500
    96%Satisfaction96%

  • Building & Construction

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    79%Satisfaction91%

  • Marketing

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£20,000
    70%Satisfaction85%

  • Adult Nursing

    £27,000Salary (3 years)No data
    76%Satisfaction91%

  • Software Engineering

    £31,500Salary (3 years)No data
    81%Satisfaction89%

Showing the 12 largest of 14 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 →

University College Birmingham

GREAT Scholarship

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

Vice-Chancellor's Award

100%

Deadline: N/A

Dean's Award

50%

Deadline: N/A

Early Action Scholarship

£4,500

Deadline: Jul 2026

Alumni Scholarship

25%

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Swansea University vs University College Birmingham: common questions

Is Swansea University or University College Birmingham cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £21,550 a year at Swansea University and £13,500 at University College Birmingham: University College Birmingham is about £8,050 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £22,950 a year at Swansea University and £17,000 at University College Birmingham: University College Birmingham is about £5,950 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 University College Birmingham?

Both universities teach 26 subject areas: Computer Science, Business & Management (General), Politics & International Relations, Sociology & Criminology, Finance & Actuarial Science, Business Studies, Civil Engineering, Education Studies, Psychology (General), Health & Social Care, Childhood & Youth Studies, Sport & Exercise Sciences and 14 more.

Is Swansea University or University College Birmingham better for Business & Management (General)?

Business & Management (General) graduates earn a median £25,000 three years after graduating from Swansea University, and £20,000 from University College Birmingham. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Swansea University or University College Birmingham offer more courses?

Swansea University lists 916 courses on CourseOptions and University College Birmingham lists 115 courses.

What can you study at Swansea University but not at University College Birmingham?

Swansea University teaches 71 subject areas that University College Birmingham does not, including Law, Economics, Mathematics, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, History, Physics, Teacher Training, Electronic & Electrical Engineering and 63 more.

What can you study at University College Birmingham but not at Swansea University?

University College Birmingham teaches 10 subject areas that Swansea University does not, including Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Food Science, Food Production & Technology, Crafts & Applied Arts, Creative Arts (General), Developmental & Educational Psychology, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Architecture and 2 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

S
Swansea University916 courses · 5 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
U
University College Birmingham115 courses · 7 scholarshipsBrowse Courses