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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 Manchester

Manchester · QS World #40

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

Manchester

scored higher in 1 category

Quick Verdict

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

The University of Edinburgh vs University of Manchester at a glance

The University of Edinburgh and University of Manchester both teach 98 subject areas, the largest being Law, Physics and Politics & International Relations. The University of Edinburgh offers 936 courses across 116 subject areas; University of Manchester offers 1,041 courses across 116 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,600 a year at The University of Edinburgh and £32,300 at University of Manchester: The University of Edinburgh is about £2,700 a year cheaper.

Of the 47 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, The University of Edinburgh is higher in 30 and University of Manchester in 11, with 6 about level. The widest gap is in Computer Science: £37,000 three years after graduating from The University of Edinburgh, against £44,000 from University of Manchester. Of the 46 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Manchester is higher in 30 and The University of Edinburgh in 14, with 2 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#35
QS World
#40
#29
THE World
#56
#17
Guardian UK
#29
1583
Established
1824
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 Manchester

85.3%
85.1%

Satisfaction

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

£37,600
£36,500

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

83%
80%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

41.6%
40%

International

International student share

936
1041

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

112
6

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

Manchester

120 countries · 40% international

  • 🇨🇳China51%
  • 🇮🇳India7.6%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia4.9%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.1%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.5%

Subjects

98 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 Manchester

Also taught at both: Biochemistry, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Business Studies, Civil Engineering, Management, Teacher Training, Spanish & Portuguese, Geology & Earth Sciences, Public Health & Epidemiology, Genetics & Genomics, Linguistics, Anatomy & Pathology, Biological Sciences (General), Clinical Specialities, English Literature, Asian Languages & Studies, Design & Fashion, Philosophy, African & Middle Eastern Studies, Classical Studies, Education Studies, Statistics, Biomedical Sciences, Business & Management (General), Nursing (General), History of Art & Design, Environmental Sciences, Media & Film Studies, Psychology (General), Anthropology, Architecture, Biology, Music, Eastern European Languages, Information Systems & Data Science, Italian, Ecology & Conservation, Human Geography & Environment, International Development, Social Policy & Public Policy, Zoology & Animal Biology, Finance & Actuarial Science, Healthcare Science, Mechanical Engineering, Pharmacology, Archaeology, Clinical & Health Psychology, Social Work, Ancient Languages, Biotechnology, Medical Sciences, Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Geography (General), Polymer & Textiles Technology, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Childhood & Youth Studies, Cultural Studies, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Accounting, Applied Biology & Human Biology, Applied Psychology, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Creative Writing, Physical Geography & Climate, Developmental & Educational Psychology, General Engineering, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Computing & IT, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Drama & Theatre, English Language, Operational Research, Health & Social Care, Humanities, Mental Health Nursing, Plant Sciences, Liberal Arts, Marketing, Adult Nursing, GIS & Remote Sensing, Personal & Professional Development, Software Engineering.

Only at The University of Edinburgh

Only at University of Manchester

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 Manchester
£32,300

The University of Edinburgh is about £2,700 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

The University of Edinburgh
No data
University of Manchester
£26,800

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 Manchester

  • Law

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£24,000
    86%Satisfaction89%

  • Physics

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£34,000
    85%Satisfaction89%

  • Politics & International Relations

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    87%Satisfaction88%

  • Mathematics

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    81%Satisfaction83%

  • Medicine

    £48,500Salary (3 years)£48,500
    80%Satisfaction86%

  • Microbiology & Cell Biology

    £26,000Salary (3 years)£27,500
    87%Satisfaction81%

  • History

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£26,000
    88%Satisfaction91%

  • Computer Science

    £37,000Salary (3 years)£44,000
    74%Satisfaction82%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£23,500
    82%Satisfaction84%

  • Chemical Engineering

    £34,500Salary (3 years)£36,000
    91%Satisfaction84%

  • Economics

    £38,000Salary (3 years)£32,500
    81%Satisfaction85%

  • Theology & Religious Studies

    £26,500Salary (3 years)£24,000
    94%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 Manchester

Spärck AI Scholarship

£20,780

Deadline: N/A

The Sadler Bursary

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

The Bason Family Bursary

£6,000

Deadline: N/A

The Cowrie Foundation Scholarships

£6,000

Deadline: N/A

Accommodation Bursary

£2,050

Deadline: Jul 2026

View all scholarships →

FAQ

The University of Edinburgh vs University of Manchester: common questions

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

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,600 a year at The University of Edinburgh and £32,300 at University of Manchester: The University of Edinburgh is about £2,700 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 Manchester?

Both universities teach 98 subject areas: Law, Physics, Politics & International Relations, Mathematics, Medicine, Microbiology & Cell Biology, History, Computer Science, Sociology & Criminology, Chemical Engineering, Economics, Theology & Religious Studies and 86 more.

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

Law graduates earn a median £26,500 three years after graduating from The University of Edinburgh, and £24,000 from University of Manchester. Student satisfaction with teaching is 86% at The University of Edinburgh and 89% at University of Manchester. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

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

University of Manchester lists 1,041 courses on CourseOptions and The University of Edinburgh lists 936 courses.

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

The University of Edinburgh teaches 18 subject areas that University of Manchester does not, including Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Celtic Studies, Agricultural Sciences, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Social Sciences (General), Creative Arts (General), Landscape Architecture & Design and 10 more.

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

University of Manchester teaches 18 subject areas that The University of Edinburgh does not, including Dentistry, Materials Science, Planning & Housing, Pharmacy, Optometry & Ophthalmics, Information & Library Studies, Materials Engineering, Midwifery and 10 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 Manchester1,041 courses · 6 scholarshipsBrowse Courses