Skip to main content

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.

U
UCL (University College London)

Camden · QS World #8

U
University of Southampton

Southampton · QS World #111

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

UCL (University College London)

scored higher in 7 categories

VS

3/10

Southampton

scored higher in 3 categories

Quick Verdict

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

UCL (University College London) vs University of Southampton at a glance

UCL (University College London) and University of Southampton both teach 74 subject areas, the largest being Electronic & Electrical Engineering, General Engineering and Ancient Languages. UCL (University College London) offers 1,131 courses across 109 subject areas; University of Southampton offers 545 courses across 91 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,800 a year at UCL (University College London) and £26,000 at University of Southampton: University of Southampton is about £3,800 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £34,700 a year at UCL (University College London) and £31,200 at University of Southampton: University of Southampton is about £3,500 a year cheaper.

Of the 38 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, UCL (University College London) is higher in 33 and University of Southampton in 4, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Law: £41,000 three years after graduating from UCL (University College London), against £28,500 from University of Southampton. Of the 38 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, UCL (University College London) is higher in 18 and University of Southampton in 17, with 3 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#8
QS World
#111
#22
THE World
#129
#9
Guardian UK
#16
1826
Established
1862
Yes
Russell Group
Yes
Silver
TEF Rating
Silver

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

UCL (University College London)

University of Southampton

86.5%
87%

Satisfaction

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

£46,400
£37,200

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

80.4%
82.1%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

51.9%
35.1%

International

International student share

1131
545

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

18
52

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.

UCL (University College London)

127 countries · 51.9% international

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

Southampton

103 countries · 35.1% international

  • 🇨🇳China63.5%
  • 🇮🇳India4.8%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia2.8%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia2.6%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.5%

Subjects

74 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.

UCL (University College London)

University of Southampton

Also taught at both: Politics & International Relations, Finance & Actuarial Science, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, History, Archaeology, Design & Fashion, Management, Media & Film Studies, Philosophy, Chemistry, Law, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Anthropology, Architecture, Clinical Specialities, Building & Construction, Education Studies, Health & Social Care, Human Geography & Environment, Social Policy & Public Policy, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, English Literature, Statistics, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Biochemistry, Healthcare Science, Marine Engineering & Technology, Biology, Business Studies, Ecology & Conservation, Marketing, Music, Accounting, Community & Specialist Nursing, Fine Art, Medicine, Specialist Clinical Nursing, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacology, Physical Geography & Climate, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Computing & IT, English Studies, Mental Health Nursing, Social Sciences (General), Clinical & Health Psychology, Information & Library Studies, Biological Sciences (General), English Language, Information Systems & Data Science, Heritage & Conservation, International Development, Zoology & Animal Biology, Creative Arts (General), Creative Writing, Games Design & Computer Animation, Humanities, Sport & Exercise Sciences.

Only at UCL (University College London)

Only at University of Southampton

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

UCL (University College London)
£29,800
University of Southampton
£26,000

University of Southampton is about £3,800 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

UCL (University College London)
£34,700
University of Southampton
£31,200

University of Southampton is about £3,500 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.

UCL (University College London)

University of Southampton

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    £40,000Salary (3 years)£40,500
    90%Satisfaction89%

  • General Engineering

    £38,500Salary (3 years)£34,500
    94%Satisfaction90%

  • Ancient Languages

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£26,000
    92%Satisfaction94%

  • Business & Management (General)

    £38,000Salary (3 years)£31,500
    93%Satisfaction80%

  • Computer Science

    £51,000Salary (3 years)£47,000
    80%Satisfaction80%

  • Geology & Earth Sciences

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£27,500
    88%Satisfaction89%

  • Mathematics

    £41,000Salary (3 years)£32,000
    87%Satisfaction81%

  • Psychology (General)

    £27,500Salary (3 years)£25,500
    90%Satisfaction89%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£25,000
    87%Satisfaction86%

  • Physics

    £42,000Salary (3 years)£32,000
    83%Satisfaction87%

  • Civil Engineering

    £35,000Salary (3 years)£29,000
    73%Satisfaction93%

  • Economics

    £45,000Salary (3 years)£34,000
    79%Satisfaction85%

Showing the 12 largest of 39 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

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 →

University of Southampton

Horizon Europe fee waiver

100%

Deadline: N/A

Cowrie Foundation Scholarship

£8,000

Deadline: N/A

Xiamen University PhD Scholarships

See details

Deadline: N/A

Sociology Criminology International Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

Southampton Ageing & Gerontology Talent Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

UCL (University College London) vs University of Southampton: common questions

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

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £29,800 a year at UCL (University College London) and £26,000 at University of Southampton: University of Southampton is about £3,800 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £34,700 a year at UCL (University College London) and £31,200 at University of Southampton: University of Southampton is about £3,500 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 UCL (University College London) and University of Southampton?

Both universities teach 74 subject areas: Electronic & Electrical Engineering, General Engineering, Ancient Languages, Business & Management (General), Computer Science, Geology & Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Psychology (General), Sociology & Criminology, Physics, Civil Engineering, Economics and 62 more.

Is UCL (University College London) or University of Southampton better for Electronic & Electrical Engineering?

Electronic & Electrical Engineering graduates earn a median £40,000 three years after graduating from UCL (University College London), and £40,500 from University of Southampton. Student satisfaction with teaching is 90% at UCL (University College London) and 89% at University of Southampton. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

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

UCL (University College London) lists 1,131 courses on CourseOptions and University of Southampton lists 545 courses.

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

UCL (University College London) teaches 35 subject areas that University of Southampton does not, including German & Scandinavian Studies, Eastern European Languages, Childhood & Youth Studies, French, Planning & Housing, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, African & Middle Eastern Studies and 27 more.

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

University of Southampton teaches 17 subject areas that UCL (University College London) does not, including Aerospace Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Children's Nursing, Adult Nursing, Nursing (General), Operational Research, Teacher Training, Applied Computing and 9 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

U
UCL (University College London)1,131 courses · 18 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
U
University of Southampton545 courses · 52 scholarshipsBrowse Courses