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.
Birmingham
Chester · Guardian UK #91
Head-to-Head Summary
Based on 7 datapoints
We looked at 7 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.
3/7
University College Birmingham
scored higher in 3 categories
4/7
Chester
scored higher in 4 categories
Quick Verdict
University of Chester leads in 4 of 7 categories where both have data (established, employment, graduate salary, courses). University College Birmingham is ahead on satisfaction, international, scholarship.
University College Birmingham vs University of Chester at a glance
University College Birmingham and University of Chester both teach 23 subject areas, the largest being Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Childhood & Youth Studies and Sociology & Criminology. University College Birmingham offers 115 courses across 36 subject areas; University of Chester offers 329 courses across 73 subject areas.
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £14,950 at University of Chester: University College Birmingham is about £1,450 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £15,500 at University of Chester: University of Chester is about £1,500 a year cheaper.
Of the 9 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Chester is higher in 8 and University College Birmingham in 1. The widest gap is in Education Studies: £17,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, against £21,500 from University of Chester. Of the 11 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University College Birmingham is higher in 9 and University of Chester in 2.
World & National Rankings
Compare world and national league table positions, TEF ratings, and Russell Group membership.
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 Chester
Satisfaction
Student satisfaction with teaching (NSS Survey, out of 100%)
Graduate Salaries (5y)
Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation
Employment
Graduate employment rate
International
International student share
Course Counts
Number of courses offered
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%
Chester
52 countries · 28.7% international
- 🇮🇳India32.1%
- 🇵🇰Pakistan26.7%
- 🇳🇬Nigeria11.7%
- 🌐Sri Lanka7.1%
- 🇧🇩Bangladesh2.8%
Subjects
23 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 Chester
Hospitality, Events & Tourism
15 coursesTypical fee £13,500 (UG)
21 coursesTypical fee £14,950 (UG)
Childhood & Youth Studies
4 coursesTypical fee £13,500 (UG)
26 coursesTypical fee £14,950 (PG)
Sociology & Criminology
4 coursesTypical fee £16,000 (UG)
16 coursesTypical fee £14,950 (UG)
Business & Management (General)
4 coursesTypical fee £13,500 (UG)
14 coursesTypical fee £14,950 (UG)
Psychology (General)
3 coursesTypical fee £17,000 (PG)
14 coursesTypical fee £14,950 (UG)
Sport & Exercise Sciences
Design & Fashion
Computer Science
Finance & Actuarial Science
Marketing
Politics & International Relations
Software Engineering
Building & Construction
Business Studies
Nutrition & Dietetics
Also taught at both: Adult Nursing, Health & Social Care, Mental Health Nursing, Applied Psychology, Education Studies, Public Health & Epidemiology, Business Information Systems, Manufacturing & Production Engineering.
Only at University College 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 Chester
- £14,950
University College Birmingham is about £1,450 a year cheaper.
Postgraduate
- University College Birmingham
- £17,000
- University of Chester
- £15,500
University of Chester is about £1,500 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.
University College Birmingham
University of Chester
Hospitality, Events & Tourism
£20,000Salary (3 years)£19,50093%Satisfaction83%Childhood & Youth Studies
£20,500Salary (3 years)£21,00098%SatisfactionNo dataBusiness & Management (General)
£20,000Salary (3 years)£21,50093%Satisfaction79%Sport & Exercise Sciences
£20,500Salary (3 years)£21,00096%Satisfaction90%Design & Fashion
£18,500Salary (3 years)£19,000No dataSatisfaction82%Computer Science
No dataSalary (3 years)£23,00087%Satisfaction83%Finance & Actuarial Science
£20,000Salary (3 years)£21,50089%Satisfaction77%Marketing
£20,000Salary (3 years)£22,50085%Satisfaction89%Software Engineering
No dataSalary (3 years)£23,00089%Satisfaction66%Business Studies
£21,000Salary (3 years)£21,50086%Satisfaction88%Adult Nursing
No dataSalary (3 years)£27,50091%Satisfaction82%Mental Health Nursing
No dataSalary (3 years)£30,00091%Satisfaction83%
Showing the 12 largest of 13 shared subjects with published outcomes.
Scholarships for International Students
ExclusiveUniversity 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
University of Chester
NHS Learning Support Fund
£5,000
Deadline: N/A
Visit Us Travel Bursary
£100
Deadline: N/A
Futures Employability Fund
See details
Deadline: N/A
FAQ
University College Birmingham vs University of Chester: common questions
Is University College Birmingham or University of Chester cheaper for international students?
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £14,950 at University of Chester: University College Birmingham is about £1,450 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £15,500 at University of Chester: University of Chester is about £1,500 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 University College Birmingham and University of Chester?
Both universities teach 23 subject areas: Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Childhood & Youth Studies, Sociology & Criminology, Business & Management (General), Psychology (General), Sport & Exercise Sciences, Design & Fashion, Computer Science, Finance & Actuarial Science, Marketing, Politics & International Relations, Software Engineering and 11 more.
Is University College Birmingham or University of Chester better for Hospitality, Events & Tourism?
Hospitality, Events & Tourism graduates earn a median £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, and £19,500 from University of Chester. Student satisfaction with teaching is 93% at University College Birmingham and 83% at University of Chester. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.
Does University College Birmingham or University of Chester offer more courses?
University of Chester lists 329 courses on CourseOptions and University College Birmingham lists 115 courses.
What can you study at University College Birmingham but not at University of Chester?
University College Birmingham teaches 13 subject areas that University of Chester does not, including Food Science, Food Production & Technology, Planning & Housing, Crafts & Applied Arts, Civil Engineering, Clinical & Health Psychology, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Creative Arts (General) and 5 more.
What can you study at University of Chester but not at University College Birmingham?
University of Chester teaches 50 subject areas that University College Birmingham does not, including Law, Archaeology, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Geography (General), Journalism, Accounting, Animal Science, History and 42 more.
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