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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.

T
The University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh · QS World #35

U
UCL (University College London)

Camden · QS World #8

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.

3/10

Edinburgh

scored higher in 3 categories

VS

7/10

UCL (University College London)

scored higher in 7 categories

Quick Verdict

UCL (University College London) leads in 7 of 10 categories where both have data (ranking, satisfaction, international, graduate salary, courses). The University of Edinburgh is ahead on established, employment, scholarship.

The University of Edinburgh vs UCL (University College London) at a glance

The University of Edinburgh and UCL (University College London) both teach 90 subject areas, the largest being German & Scandinavian Studies, Eastern European Languages and Computer Science. The University of Edinburgh offers 936 courses across 116 subject areas; UCL (University College London) offers 1,131 courses across 109 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,600 a year at The University of Edinburgh and £29,800 at UCL (University College London), so the two cost about the same.

Of the 42 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, UCL (University College London) is higher in 38 and The University of Edinburgh in 4. The widest gap is in Law: £26,500 three years after graduating from The University of Edinburgh, against £41,000 from UCL (University College London). Of the 44 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, UCL (University College London) is higher in 20 and The University of Edinburgh in 18, with 6 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#35
QS World
#8
#29
THE World
#22
#17
Guardian UK
#9
1583
Established
1826
Yes
Russell Group
Yes
—
TEF Rating
Silver

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

The University of Edinburgh

UCL (University College London)

85.3%
86.5%

Satisfaction

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

£37,600
£46,400

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

83%
80.4%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

41.6%
51.9%

International

International student share

936
1131

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

112
18

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.

Edinburgh

122 countries · 41.6% international

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

UCL (University College London)

127 countries · 51.9% international

  • 🇨🇳China53.3%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong4.9%
  • 🇺🇸United States4.2%
  • 🇮🇳India3.4%
  • 🇸🇬Singapore2.4%

Subjects

90 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.

The University of Edinburgh

UCL (University College London)

Also taught at both: Geology & Earth Sciences, Philosophy, Economics, Medicine, Politics & International Relations, Spanish & Portuguese, African & Middle Eastern Studies, Italian, Design & Fashion, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Civil Engineering, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Architecture, Business & Management (General), Business Studies, Classical Studies, Linguistics, Anthropology, Clinical Specialities, Management, Chemical Engineering, Human Geography & Environment, Social Policy & Public Policy, Archaeology, Biological Sciences (General), Chemistry, Ecology & Conservation, Education Studies, General Engineering, Public Health & Epidemiology, History of Art & Design, Genetics & Genomics, Media & Film Studies, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Building & Construction, English Literature, Mechanical Engineering, Health & Social Care, Social Sciences (General), Anatomy & Pathology, Biochemistry, Geography (General), Statistics, Finance & Actuarial Science, Music, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Biotechnology, Computing & IT, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Landscape Architecture & Design, Physical Geography & Climate, Biology, Creative Arts (General), International Development, Software Engineering, Applied Biology & Human Biology, Film Production & Cinematography, Healthcare Science, Information Systems & Data Science, Mental Health Nursing, Pharmacology, Zoology & Animal Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Combined & General Studies, Community & Specialist Nursing, English Language, Clinical & Health Psychology, Creative Writing, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Accounting, Humanities, Heritage & Conservation, Marketing, Polymer & Textiles Technology.

Only at The University of Edinburgh

Only at UCL (University College London)

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

The University of Edinburgh
£29,600
UCL (University College London)
£29,800

About the same.

Postgraduate

The University of Edinburgh
No data
UCL (University College London)
£34,700

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.

The University of Edinburgh

UCL (University College London)

  • German & Scandinavian Studies

    £27,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    82%Satisfaction95%

  • Eastern European Languages

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    95%Satisfaction85%

  • Computer Science

    £37,000Salary (3 years)£51,000
    74%Satisfaction80%

  • Mathematics

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£41,000
    81%Satisfaction87%

  • Law

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£41,000
    86%Satisfaction92%

  • Psychology (General)

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£27,500
    83%Satisfaction90%

  • French

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    87%Satisfaction91%

  • Physics

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£42,000
    85%Satisfaction83%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£28,000
    82%Satisfaction87%

  • History

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£29,000
    88%Satisfaction91%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    £34,000Salary (3 years)£40,000
    81%Satisfaction90%

  • Biomedical Sciences

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£34,500
    85%Satisfaction79%

Showing the 12 largest of 44 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

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 →

UCL (University College London)

Commercial Bar Opportunity Scholarship

£25,000

Deadline: N/A

AHRC Doctoral Landscape Award

100%

Deadline: N/A

UCL Department of Arts and Sciences (UASc) Interdisciplinary Excellence PhD Scholarship

100%

Deadline: N/A

Law Society Pro Bono Bursary

£250

Deadline: N/A

Alonso Gurmendi Dunkelberg, UCL Graduate Research Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

The University of Edinburgh vs UCL (University College London): common questions

Is The University of Edinburgh or UCL (University College London) cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,600 a year at The University of Edinburgh and £29,800 at UCL (University College London), 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 The University of Edinburgh and UCL (University College London)?

Both universities teach 90 subject areas: German & Scandinavian Studies, Eastern European Languages, Computer Science, Mathematics, Law, Childhood & Youth Studies, Ancient Languages, Psychology (General), French, Physics, Sociology & Criminology, Theology & Religious Studies and 78 more.

Is The University of Edinburgh or UCL (University College London) better for German & Scandinavian Studies?

German & Scandinavian Studies graduates earn a median £27,000 three years after graduating from The University of Edinburgh, and £31,000 from UCL (University College London). Student satisfaction with teaching is 82% at The University of Edinburgh and 95% at UCL (University College London). Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does The University of Edinburgh or UCL (University College London) offer more courses?

UCL (University College London) lists 1,131 courses on CourseOptions and The University of Edinburgh lists 936 courses.

What can you study at The University of Edinburgh but not at UCL (University College London)?

The University of Edinburgh teaches 26 subject areas that UCL (University College London) does not, including Teacher Training, Veterinary Medicine, Asian Languages & Studies, Animal Science, Celtic Studies, Agricultural Sciences, Cultural Studies, Social Work and 18 more.

What can you study at UCL (University College London) but not at The University of Edinburgh?

UCL (University College London) teaches 19 subject areas that The University of Edinburgh does not, including Planning & Housing, Dentistry, Specialist Clinical Nursing, Fine Art, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Forensic Science, Materials Science, Pharmacy and 11 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

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The University of Edinburgh936 courses · 112 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
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UCL (University College London)1,131 courses · 18 scholarshipsBrowse Courses