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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 Liverpool

Liverpool · QS World #139

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.

9/10

Edinburgh

scored higher in 9 categories

VS

1/10

Liverpool

scored higher in 1 category

Quick Verdict

The University of Edinburgh leads in 9 of 10 categories where both have data (ranking, established, employment, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). University of Liverpool is ahead on satisfaction.

The University of Edinburgh vs University of Liverpool at a glance

The University of Edinburgh and University of Liverpool both teach 79 subject areas, the largest being Law, History and Music. The University of Edinburgh offers 936 courses across 116 subject areas; University of Liverpool offers 793 courses across 94 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,600 a year at The University of Edinburgh and £32,000 at University of Liverpool: The University of Edinburgh is about £2,400 a year cheaper.

Of the 46 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, The University of Edinburgh is higher in 43 and University of Liverpool in 2, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Economics: £38,000 three years after graduating from The University of Edinburgh, against £29,000 from University of Liverpool. Of the 46 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Liverpool is higher in 34 and The University of Edinburgh in 9, with 3 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#35
QS World
#139
#29
THE World
#143
#17
Guardian UK
#28
1583
Established
1881
Yes
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.

The University of Edinburgh

University of Liverpool

85.3%
87.7%

Satisfaction

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

£37,600
£34,300

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

83%
79.9%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

41.6%
24.1%

International

International student share

936
793

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

112
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.

Edinburgh

122 countries · 41.6% international

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

Liverpool

93 countries · 24.1% international

  • 🇨🇳China40.6%
  • 🇮🇳India17.1%
  • 🌐Kuwait4.3%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia4%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia3.1%

Subjects

79 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 Liverpool

Also taught at both: Media & Film Studies, Spanish & Portuguese, Italian, Medicine, Economics, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, English Literature, Geology & Earth Sciences, African & Middle Eastern Studies, Business & Management (General), Veterinary Medicine, Biological Sciences (General), Civil Engineering, Social Policy & Public Policy, Ecology & Conservation, Psychology (General), Design & Fashion, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Architecture, Eastern European Languages, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, General Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Finance & Actuarial Science, Human Geography & Environment, Public Health & Epidemiology, Aerospace Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Anatomy & Pathology, Clinical Specialities, Mechanical Engineering, English Language, Ancient Languages, Biology, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Physical Geography & Climate, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Marketing, Zoology & Animal Biology, Accounting, Biochemistry, Computing & IT, Environmental Sciences, Information Systems & Data Science, Management, Nursing (General), Applied Biology & Human Biology, Clinical & Health Psychology, Film Production & Cinematography, Health & Social Care, Software Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Geography (General), Humanities, Pharmacology, Childhood & Youth Studies, Drama & Theatre, GIS & Remote Sensing, Heritage & Conservation, Minerals & Mining Technology, Personal & Professional Development.

Only at The University of Edinburgh

Only at University of Liverpool

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 Liverpool
£32,000

The University of Edinburgh is about £2,400 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

The University of Edinburgh
No data
University of Liverpool
£30,000

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 Liverpool

  • Law

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£23,000
    86%Satisfaction86%

  • History

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£23,500
    88%Satisfaction93%

  • Music

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£19,000
    89%Satisfaction91%

  • Computer Science

    £37,000Salary (3 years)£32,500
    74%Satisfaction77%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£24,000
    82%Satisfaction86%

  • Mathematics

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    81%Satisfaction82%

  • German & Scandinavian Studies

    £27,000Salary (3 years)£23,000
    82%Satisfaction75%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£23,500
    87%Satisfaction87%

  • Archaeology

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£23,000
    93%Satisfaction92%

  • Asian Languages & Studies

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£23,000
    78%Satisfaction91%

  • Business Studies

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    80%Satisfaction83%

  • Physics

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£28,000
    85%Satisfaction95%

Showing the 12 largest of 47 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 Liverpool

Liverpool Advancement Scholarship

£5,000

Deadline: N/A

Postgraduate Opportunity Bursary

£3,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

The University of Edinburgh vs University of Liverpool: common questions

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

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,600 a year at The University of Edinburgh and £32,000 at University of Liverpool: The University of Edinburgh is about £2,400 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 Liverpool?

Both universities teach 79 subject areas: Law, History, Music, Computer Science, Sociology & Criminology, Mathematics, German & Scandinavian Studies, Politics & International Relations, Archaeology, Asian Languages & Studies, Business Studies, Physics and 67 more.

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

Law graduates earn a median £26,500 three years after graduating from The University of Edinburgh, and £23,000 from University of Liverpool. Student satisfaction with teaching is 86% at The University of Edinburgh and 86% at University of Liverpool. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

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

The University of Edinburgh lists 936 courses on CourseOptions and University of Liverpool lists 793 courses.

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

The University of Edinburgh teaches 37 subject areas that University of Liverpool does not, including Theology & Religious Studies, Teacher Training, History of Art & Design, Education Studies, Genetics & Genomics, Linguistics, Animal Science, Celtic Studies and 29 more.

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

University of Liverpool teaches 15 subject areas that The University of Edinburgh does not, including English Studies, Irish Studies, Dentistry, Medical Imaging, Planning & Housing, Business Information Systems, Optometry & Ophthalmics, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation and 7 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 Liverpool793 courses · 2 scholarshipsBrowse Courses