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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.

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The University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh · QS World #35

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University of Birmingham

Birmingham · QS World #68

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.

7/10

Edinburgh

scored higher in 7 categories

VS

3/10

Birmingham

scored higher in 3 categories

Quick Verdict

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

The University of Edinburgh vs University of Birmingham at a glance

The University of Edinburgh and University of Birmingham both teach 85 subject areas, the largest being Law, History and Computer Science. The University of Edinburgh offers 936 courses across 116 subject areas; University of Birmingham offers 663 courses across 101 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,600 a year at The University of Edinburgh and £27,090 at University of Birmingham: University of Birmingham is about £2,510 a year cheaper.

Of the 42 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, The University of Edinburgh is higher in 23 and University of Birmingham in 12, with 7 about level. The widest gap is in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: £33,500 three years after graduating from The University of Edinburgh, against £40,000 from University of Birmingham. Of the 42 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Birmingham is higher in 20 and The University of Edinburgh in 16, with 6 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#35
QS World
#68
#29
THE World
#98
#17
Guardian UK
#18
1583
Established
1900
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

University of Birmingham

85.3%
86.7%

Satisfaction

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

£37,600
£38,700

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

83%
83.3%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

41.6%
31.2%

International

International student share

936
663

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

112
3

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

Birmingham

104 countries · 31.2% international

  • 🇨🇳China55.7%
  • 🇮🇳India9.4%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.2%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.8%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia2%

Subjects

85 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

University of Birmingham

Also taught at both: Classical Studies, Civil Engineering, History of Art & Design, African & Middle Eastern Studies, Education Studies, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Spanish & Portuguese, Chemistry, Music, Biological Sciences (General), Business & Management (General), Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Health & Social Care, International Development, Psychology (General), Economics, Social Policy & Public Policy, Ancient Languages, Eastern European Languages, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Linguistics, Media & Film Studies, Biomedical Sciences, English Literature, Italian, Marketing, Public Health & Epidemiology, Environmental Sciences, Finance & Actuarial Science, Anthropology, Archaeology, Chemical Engineering, Clinical Specialities, General Engineering, Genetics & Genomics, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Nursing (General), Social Work, Human Geography & Environment, Social Sciences (General), Biochemistry, English Language, Geography (General), Management, Anatomy & Pathology, Accounting, Childhood & Youth Studies, Clinical & Health Psychology, Creative Writing, Information Systems & Data Science, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Psychology, Drama & Theatre, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Physical Geography & Climate, Biology, Biotechnology, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Heritage & Conservation, Statistics, Adult Nursing, Computing & IT, Film Production & Cinematography, Aerospace Engineering, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Liberal Arts, Mental Health Nursing, Healthcare Science, Software Engineering.

Only at The University of Edinburgh

Only at University of 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

The University of Edinburgh
£29,600
University of Birmingham
£27,090

University of Birmingham is about £2,510 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

The University of Edinburgh
No data
University of Birmingham
£23,390

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

University of Birmingham

  • Law

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£27,500
    86%Satisfaction83%

  • History

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£26,000
    88%Satisfaction89%

  • Computer Science

    £37,000Salary (3 years)£40,000
    74%Satisfaction93%

  • Theology & Religious Studies

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£25,000
    94%Satisfaction94%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£28,000
    87%Satisfaction86%

  • Philosophy

    £27,500Salary (3 years)£25,500
    88%Satisfaction93%

  • Physics

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£32,500
    85%Satisfaction93%

  • German & Scandinavian Studies

    £27,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    82%Satisfaction93%

  • Mathematics

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    81%Satisfaction85%

  • Medicine

    £48,500Salary (3 years)£47,000
    80%Satisfaction85%

  • Business Studies

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£35,000
    80%Satisfaction77%

  • French

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    87%Satisfaction85%

Showing the 12 largest of 43 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 →

University of Birmingham

Enhanced Chamberlain Award

£3,500

Deadline: N/A

University Music Scholarships

£3,000

Deadline: Jun 2026

University Music Scholarships

£1,000

Deadline: Jun 2026

View all scholarships →

FAQ

The University of Edinburgh vs University of Birmingham: common questions

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

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,600 a year at The University of Edinburgh and £27,090 at University of Birmingham: University of Birmingham is about £2,510 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 The University of Edinburgh and University of Birmingham?

Both universities teach 85 subject areas: Law, History, Computer Science, Theology & Religious Studies, Teacher Training, Politics & International Relations, Philosophy, Physics, German & Scandinavian Studies, Mathematics, Medicine, Business Studies and 73 more.

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

Law graduates earn a median £26,500 three years after graduating from The University of Edinburgh, and £27,500 from University of Birmingham. Student satisfaction with teaching is 86% at The University of Edinburgh and 83% at University of Birmingham. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

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

The University of Edinburgh lists 936 courses on CourseOptions and University of Birmingham lists 663 courses.

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

The University of Edinburgh teaches 31 subject areas that University of Birmingham does not, including Veterinary Medicine, Asian Languages & Studies, Design & Fashion, Ecology & Conservation, Animal Science, Celtic Studies, Architecture, Agricultural Sciences and 23 more.

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

University of Birmingham teaches 16 subject areas that The University of Edinburgh does not, including Dentistry, Planning & Housing, Author Studies & Literary Specialisms, English Studies, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Food Production & Technology, Materials Science and 8 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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University of Birmingham663 courses · 3 scholarshipsBrowse Courses