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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
University College Birmingham

Birmingham

U
University of Birmingham

Birmingham · QS World #68

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 8 datapoints

We looked at 8 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

3/8

University College Birmingham

scored higher in 3 categories

VS

5/8

Birmingham

scored higher in 5 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Birmingham leads in 5 of 8 categories where both have data (Russell Group, established, employment, graduate salary, courses). University College Birmingham is ahead on satisfaction, international, scholarship.

University College Birmingham vs University of Birmingham at a glance

University College Birmingham and University of Birmingham both teach 27 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, Health & Social Care and Sport & Exercise Sciences. University College Birmingham offers 115 courses across 36 subject areas; University of Birmingham offers 663 courses across 101 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £27,090 at University of Birmingham: University College Birmingham is about £13,590 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £23,390 at University of Birmingham: University College Birmingham is about £6,390 a year cheaper.

Of the 7 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Birmingham is higher in 7 and University College Birmingham in 0. The widest gap is in Business & Management (General): £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, against £35,000 from University of Birmingham. Of the 13 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University College Birmingham is higher in 10 and University of Birmingham in 3.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#68
—
THE World
#98
—
Guardian UK
#18
1957
Established
1900
No
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.

University College Birmingham

University of Birmingham

88.3%
86.7%

Satisfaction

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

£25,600
£38,700

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

77.8%
83.3%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

47%
31.2%

International

International student share

115
663

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

7
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.

University College Birmingham

26 countries · 47% international

  • 🌐Nepal48.9%
  • 🇮🇳India24.7%
  • 🇨🇳China11.5%
  • 🇧🇩Bangladesh3.8%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan3.3%
VS

Birmingham

104 countries · 31.2% international

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

Subjects

27 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.

University College Birmingham

University of Birmingham

Also taught at both: Food Production & Technology, Public Health & Epidemiology, Clinical & Health Psychology, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Adult Nursing, Applied Psychology, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Mental Health Nursing, Software Engineering.

Only at University College Birmingham

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

University College Birmingham
£13,500
University of Birmingham
£27,090

University College Birmingham is about £13,590 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

University College Birmingham
£17,000
University of Birmingham
£23,390

University College Birmingham is about £6,390 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.

University College Birmingham

University of Birmingham

  • Sport & Exercise Sciences

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£25,000
    96%Satisfaction88%

  • Business & Management (General)

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£35,000
    93%Satisfaction79%

  • Hospitality, Events & Tourism

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£23,000
    93%Satisfaction80%

  • Marketing

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£35,000
    85%Satisfaction79%

  • Education Studies

    £17,000Salary (3 years)£24,000
    98%Satisfaction83%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£35,000
    89%Satisfaction80%

  • Business Studies

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£35,000
    86%Satisfaction77%

  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£40,000
    87%Satisfaction93%

  • Planning & Housing

    No dataSalary (3 years)£26,500
    91%Satisfaction94%

  • Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation

    No dataSalary (3 years)£31,500
    88%Satisfaction84%

  • Adult Nursing

    No dataSalary (3 years)£28,500
    91%Satisfaction83%

  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

    No dataSalary (3 years)£40,000
    86%Satisfaction94%

Showing the 12 largest of 13 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

University College Birmingham

GREAT Scholarship

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

Vice-Chancellor's Award

100%

Deadline: N/A

Dean's Award

50%

Deadline: N/A

Early Action Scholarship

£4,500

Deadline: Jul 2026

Alumni Scholarship

25%

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

University College Birmingham vs University of Birmingham: common questions

Is University College Birmingham or University of Birmingham cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £27,090 at University of Birmingham: University College Birmingham is about £13,590 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £23,390 at University of Birmingham: University College Birmingham is about £6,390 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 University College Birmingham and University of Birmingham?

Both universities teach 27 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, Health & Social Care, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Business & Management (General), Civil Engineering, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Marketing, Sociology & Criminology, Education Studies, Finance & Actuarial Science, Business Studies, Psychology (General) and 15 more.

Is University College Birmingham or University of Birmingham better for Sport & Exercise Sciences?

Sport & Exercise Sciences graduates earn a median £20,500 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, and £25,000 from University of Birmingham. Student satisfaction with teaching is 96% at University College Birmingham and 88% at University of Birmingham. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does University College Birmingham or University of Birmingham offer more courses?

University of Birmingham lists 663 courses on CourseOptions and University College Birmingham lists 115 courses.

What can you study at University College Birmingham but not at University of Birmingham?

University College Birmingham teaches 9 subject areas that University of Birmingham does not, including Building & Construction, Food Science, Crafts & Applied Arts, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Creative Arts (General), Design & Fashion, Architecture, Business Information Systems and 1 more.

What can you study at University of Birmingham but not at University College Birmingham?

University of Birmingham teaches 74 subject areas that University College Birmingham does not, including Law, History, Philosophy, Teacher Training, Geology & Earth Sciences, International Development, Physics, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science and 66 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

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University College Birmingham115 courses · 7 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
U
University of Birmingham663 courses · 3 scholarshipsBrowse Courses