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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.

U
Ulster University

Belfast · QS World #595

U
University of Essex

Colchester · QS World #438

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 9 datapoints

We looked at 9 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

1/9

Ulster

scored higher in 1 category

VS

8/9

Essex

scored higher in 8 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Essex leads in 8 of 9 categories where both have data (ranking, established, satisfaction, international, courses, scholarship). Ulster University is ahead on employment.

Ulster University vs University of Essex at a glance

Ulster University and University of Essex both teach 41 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, History and Economics. Ulster University offers 170 courses across 66 subject areas; University of Essex offers 748 courses across 74 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,490 a year at Ulster University and £21,500 at University of Essex: Ulster University is about £4,010 a year cheaper.

Of the 29 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Essex is higher in 15 and Ulster University in 13, with 1 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#595
QS World
#438
#601
THE World
#301
#60
Guardian UK
#44
1968
Established
1964
No
Russell Group
No
—
TEF Rating
Silver

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

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

Ulster University

University of Essex

86.4%
87.2%

Satisfaction

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

No data
£31,800

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

84.6%
79.7%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

32.5%
33.7%

International

International student share

170
748

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

0
30

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.

Ulster

45 countries · 32.5% international

  • 🇵🇰Pakistan27.8%
  • 🇮🇪Ireland21.4%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria16.1%
  • 🇮🇳India12.6%
  • 🇧🇩Bangladesh8.6%
VS

Essex

97 countries · 33.7% international

  • 🇮🇳India21.2%
  • 🇨🇳China11.7%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan6.1%
  • 🇫🇷France5.7%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria4.4%

Subjects

41 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.

Ulster University

University of Essex

Also taught at both: Linguistics, Marketing, Management, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Civil Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Design & Fashion, Film Production & Cinematography, Media & Film Studies, Social Policy & Public Policy, Social Work, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Biology, English Studies, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Biomedical Engineering, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Environmental Sciences, Health & Social Care, Liberal Arts, Building & Construction, Human Resource Management, Physical Geography & Climate, Creative Arts (General).

Only at Ulster University

Only at University of Essex

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

Ulster University
£17,490
University of Essex
£21,500

Ulster University is about £4,010 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

Ulster University
No data
University of Essex
£23,880

We do not have reliable international fee data for Ulster University 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.

Ulster University

University of Essex

  • Politics & International Relations

    No dataSalary (3 years)£25,000
    84%Satisfaction86%

  • History

    No dataSalary (3 years)£23,500
    92%Satisfaction93%

  • Economics

    No dataSalary (3 years)£30,000
    88%Satisfaction84%

  • Law

    No dataSalary (3 years)£24,000
    87%Satisfaction84%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    No dataSalary (3 years)£24,000
    84%Satisfaction88%

  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£33,500
    79%Satisfaction81%

  • Sport & Exercise Sciences

    No dataSalary (3 years)£25,000
    82%Satisfaction87%

  • Drama & Theatre

    No dataSalary (3 years)£16,500
    87%Satisfaction95%

  • Accounting

    No dataSalary (3 years)£26,500
    95%Satisfaction78%

  • Business Studies

    No dataSalary (3 years)£27,000
    83%Satisfaction83%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£33,000
    84%Satisfaction77%

  • Journalism

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    82%Satisfaction78%

Showing the 12 largest of 29 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Ulster University

View all scholarships →

University of Essex

Access Essex Scholarship

100%

Deadline: N/A

Sustainable Transitions - Governance, Ecological Management and Society - Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme

100%

Deadline: N/A

Sustainable Transitions - Governance, Ecological Management and Society - Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme 2026-27 (Masters plus PhD)

100%

Deadline: N/A

The Essex MBA Dean's Award

100%

Deadline: N/A

Postgraduate Research EU Scholarship

£8,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Ulster University vs University of Essex: common questions

Is Ulster University or University of Essex cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,490 a year at Ulster University and £21,500 at University of Essex: Ulster University is about £4,010 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 Ulster University and University of Essex?

Both universities teach 41 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, History, Economics, Law, Sociology & Criminology, Computer Science, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Drama & Theatre, Accounting, Business Studies, Finance & Actuarial Science, Journalism and 29 more.

Does Ulster University or University of Essex offer more courses?

University of Essex lists 748 courses on CourseOptions and Ulster University lists 170 courses.

What can you study at Ulster University but not at University of Essex?

Ulster University teaches 25 subject areas that University of Essex does not, including Irish Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Music, General Engineering, Nutrition & Dietetics, Anatomy & Pathology, Architecture, Information Systems & Data Science and 17 more.

What can you study at University of Essex but not at Ulster University?

University of Essex teaches 33 subject areas that Ulster University does not, including Philosophy, History of Art & Design, Mathematics, Ecology & Conservation, English Language, Business & Management (General), Social Sciences (General), Applied Psychology and 25 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

U
Ulster University170 courses · 0 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
U
University of Essex748 courses · 30 scholarshipsBrowse Courses