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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 of Exeter

Devon · QS World #136

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.

3/11

Swansea

scored higher in 3 categories

VS

8/11

Exeter

scored higher in 8 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Exeter leads in 8 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, satisfaction, employment, international, graduate salary). Swansea University is ahead on established, courses, scholarship.

Swansea University vs University of Exeter at a glance

Swansea University and University of Exeter both teach 66 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, Law and Mathematics. Swansea University offers 916 courses across 97 subject areas; University of Exeter offers 873 courses across 91 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £21,550 a year at Swansea University and £24,950 at University of Exeter: Swansea University is about £3,400 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £22,950 a year at Swansea University and £25,550 at University of Exeter: Swansea University is about £2,600 a year cheaper.

Of the 34 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Exeter is higher in 32 and Swansea University in 2. The widest gap is in Accounting: £25,000 three years after graduating from Swansea University, against £43,500 from University of Exeter. Of the 33 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Swansea University is higher in 18 and University of Exeter in 15.

World & National Rankings

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

#322
QS World
#136
#301
THE World
#170
#32
Guardian UK
#14
1920
Established
1922
No
Russell Group
Yes
—
TEF Rating
Gold

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Swansea University

University of Exeter

86.1%
87.7%

Satisfaction

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

£31,800
£39,800

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

78.5%
82.8%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

14.1%
22.2%

International

International student share

916
873

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

5
2

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

Exeter

111 countries · 22.2% international

  • 🇨🇳China25.1%
  • 🇮🇳India10.9%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong10%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia2.9%
  • 🇺🇸United States2.8%

Subjects

66 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 of Exeter

Also taught at both: English Studies, Media & Film Studies, Philosophy, Psychology (General), Business Studies, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Human Geography & Environment, Archaeology, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Genetics & Genomics, Ecology & Conservation, Accounting, Childhood & Youth Studies, Mechanical Engineering, American & Comparative Studies, Education Studies, Geology & Earth Sciences, Physical Geography & Climate, Biology, Health & Social Care, Theology & Religious Studies, Zoology & Animal Biology, Environmental Sciences, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Anatomy & Pathology, Biomedical Engineering, Marketing, English Language, Humanities, Public Health & Epidemiology, Creative Writing, Geography (General), Human Resource Management, Management, Nursing (General), Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Clinical Specialities, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Biological Sciences (General), Building & Construction, Computing & IT, Information Systems & Data Science, Social Sciences (General), Adult Nursing, Software Engineering, Applied Psychology, Clinical & Health Psychology, Medicine, Landscape Architecture & Design, Materials Science.

Only at Swansea University

Only at University of Exeter

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 of Exeter
£24,950

Swansea University is about £3,400 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Swansea University
£22,950
University of Exeter
£25,550

Swansea University is about £2,600 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 of Exeter

  • Politics & International Relations

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£30,500
    90%Satisfaction88%

  • Law

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£32,000
    82%Satisfaction86%

  • Mathematics

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£32,500
    86%Satisfaction88%

  • Business & Management (General)

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£39,000
    No dataSatisfaction84%

  • Computer Science

    £31,500Salary (3 years)£40,500
    84%Satisfaction83%

  • Physics

    £26,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    91%Satisfaction94%

  • History

    £21,500Salary (3 years)£28,000
    90%Satisfaction92%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£39,000
    90%Satisfaction84%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £24,500Salary (3 years)£27,000
    87%Satisfaction91%

  • Economics

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£40,000
    90%Satisfaction88%

  • Classical Studies

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

  • Biomedical Sciences

    £32,000Salary (3 years)£33,500
    92%Satisfaction88%

Showing the 12 largest of 35 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 of Exeter

Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund

See details

Deadline: N/A

Carolyn and Andrew Trevorrow Memorial Fund Travel Bursaries

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Swansea University vs University of Exeter: common questions

Is Swansea University or University of Exeter cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £21,550 a year at Swansea University and £24,950 at University of Exeter: Swansea University is about £3,400 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £22,950 a year at Swansea University and £25,550 at University of Exeter: Swansea University is about £2,600 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 of Exeter?

Both universities teach 66 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, Law, Mathematics, Business & Management (General), Computer Science, Physics, History, Finance & Actuarial Science, Sociology & Criminology, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Economics, Classical Studies and 54 more.

Is Swansea University or University of Exeter better for Politics & International Relations?

Politics & International Relations graduates earn a median £23,000 three years after graduating from Swansea University, and £30,500 from University of Exeter. Student satisfaction with teaching is 90% at Swansea University and 88% at University of Exeter. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does Swansea University or University of Exeter offer more courses?

Swansea University lists 916 courses on CourseOptions and University of Exeter lists 873 courses.

What can you study at Swansea University but not at University of Exeter?

Swansea University teaches 31 subject areas that University of Exeter does not, including Teacher Training, Medical Sciences, English Literature, Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, Social Policy & Public Policy, Materials Engineering, Pharmacology and 23 more.

What can you study at University of Exeter but not at Swansea University?

University of Exeter teaches 25 subject areas that Swansea University does not, including History of Art & Design, Ancient Languages, Drama & Theatre, Film Production & Cinematography, Safety & Mining Engineering, Anthropology, Applied Biology & Human Biology, Natural Sciences and 17 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 of Exeter873 courses · 2 scholarshipsBrowse Courses