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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 Essex

Colchester · QS World #438

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

VS

4/7

Essex

scored higher in 4 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Essex leads in 4 of 7 categories where both have data (employment, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). University College Birmingham is ahead on established, satisfaction, international.

University College Birmingham vs University of Essex at a glance

University College Birmingham and University of Essex both teach 24 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, Sport & Exercise Sciences and Sociology & Criminology. University College Birmingham offers 115 courses across 36 subject areas; University of Essex offers 748 courses across 74 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £21,500 at University of Essex: University College Birmingham is about £8,000 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £23,880 at University of Essex: University College Birmingham is about £6,880 a year cheaper.

Of the 9 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Essex is higher in 8 and University College Birmingham in 1. The widest gap is in Finance & Actuarial Science: £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, against £33,000 from University of Essex. Of the 11 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University College Birmingham is higher in 10 and University of Essex in 1.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#438
—
THE World
#301
—
Guardian UK
#44
1957
Established
1964
No
Russell Group
No
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 Essex

88.3%
87.2%

Satisfaction

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

£25,600
£31,800

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

77.8%
79.7%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

47%
33.7%

International

International student share

115
748

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

7
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.

University College Birmingham

26 countries · 47% international

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

Essex

97 countries · 33.7% international

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

Subjects

24 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 Essex

Also taught at both: Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Adult Nursing, Clinical & Health Psychology, Creative Arts (General), Design & Fashion, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Mental Health Nursing.

Only at University College Birmingham

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

University College Birmingham
£13,500
University of Essex
£21,500

University College Birmingham is about £8,000 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

University College Birmingham
£17,000
University of Essex
£23,880

University College Birmingham is about £6,880 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 Essex

  • Sport & Exercise Sciences

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£25,000
    96%Satisfaction87%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£33,000
    89%Satisfaction77%

  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£33,500
    87%Satisfaction81%

  • Hospitality, Events & Tourism

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    93%Satisfaction86%

  • Business Studies

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    86%Satisfaction83%

  • Business & Management (General)

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    93%SatisfactionNo data

  • Marketing

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    85%Satisfaction75%

  • Childhood & Youth Studies

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    98%Satisfaction71%

  • Health & Social Care

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    94%SatisfactionNo data

  • Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation

    No dataSalary (3 years)£26,500
    88%Satisfaction94%

  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

    No dataSalary (3 years)£33,000
    86%Satisfaction80%

  • Adult Nursing

    No dataSalary (3 years)£29,500
    91%Satisfaction87%

Showing the 12 largest of 14 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 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

University College Birmingham vs University of Essex: common questions

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

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £21,500 at University of Essex: University College Birmingham is about £8,000 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £23,880 at University of Essex: University College Birmingham is about £6,880 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 Essex?

Both universities teach 24 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Sociology & Criminology, Finance & Actuarial Science, Computer Science, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Business Studies, Psychology (General), Business & Management (General), Marketing, Childhood & Youth Studies, Applied Psychology and 12 more.

Is University College Birmingham or University of Essex 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 Essex. Student satisfaction with teaching is 96% at University College Birmingham and 87% at University of Essex. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

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

University of Essex lists 748 courses on CourseOptions and University College Birmingham lists 115 courses.

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

University College Birmingham teaches 12 subject areas that University of Essex does not, including Food Science, Food Production & Technology, Planning & Housing, Crafts & Applied Arts, Education Studies, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering and 4 more.

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

University of Essex teaches 50 subject areas that University College Birmingham does not, including History, Economics, Philosophy, History of Art & Design, Law, Drama & Theatre, Mathematics, Accounting and 42 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
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University of Essex748 courses · 30 scholarshipsBrowse Courses