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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 Manchester

Manchester · QS World #40

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

Manchester

scored higher in 5 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Manchester 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 Manchester at a glance

University College Birmingham and University of Manchester both teach 27 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, Sociology & Criminology and Civil Engineering. University College Birmingham offers 115 courses across 36 subject areas; University of Manchester offers 1,041 courses across 116 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £32,300 at University of Manchester: University College Birmingham is about £18,800 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £26,800 at University of Manchester: University College Birmingham is about £9,800 a year cheaper.

Of the 5 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Manchester is higher in 5 and University College Birmingham in 0. The widest gap is in Finance & Actuarial Science: £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, against £30,500 from University of Manchester. Of the 6 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University College Birmingham is higher in 5 and University of Manchester in 1.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#40
—
THE World
#56
—
Guardian UK
#29
1957
Established
1824
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 Manchester

88.3%
85.1%

Satisfaction

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

£25,600
£36,500

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

77.8%
80%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

47%
40%

International

International student share

115
1041

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

7
6

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

Manchester

120 countries · 40% international

  • 🇨🇳China51%
  • 🇮🇳India7.6%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia4.9%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.1%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.5%

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 Manchester

Also taught at both: Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Computer Science, Health & Social Care, Applied Psychology, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Marketing, Business Information Systems, Mental Health Nursing, Adult Nursing, Nutrition & Dietetics, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning.

Only at University College Birmingham

Only at University of Manchester

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 Manchester
£32,300

University College Birmingham is about £18,800 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

University College Birmingham
£17,000
University of Manchester
£26,800

University College Birmingham is about £9,800 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 Manchester

  • Business & Management (General)

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£29,000
    93%Satisfaction88%

  • Planning & Housing

    No dataSalary (3 years)£27,000
    91%Satisfaction81%

  • Business Studies

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£30,500
    86%Satisfaction92%

  • Education Studies

    £17,000Salary (3 years)£23,000
    98%Satisfaction92%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£30,500
    89%Satisfaction81%

  • Design & Fashion

    £18,500Salary (3 years)£21,000
    No dataSatisfaction88%

  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£44,000
    87%Satisfaction82%

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 Manchester

Spärck AI Scholarship

£20,780

Deadline: N/A

The Sadler Bursary

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

The Bason Family Bursary

£6,000

Deadline: N/A

The Cowrie Foundation Scholarships

£6,000

Deadline: N/A

Accommodation Bursary

£2,050

Deadline: Jul 2026

View all scholarships →

FAQ

University College Birmingham vs University of Manchester: common questions

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

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £32,300 at University of Manchester: University College Birmingham is about £18,800 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £26,800 at University of Manchester: University College Birmingham is about £9,800 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 Manchester?

Both universities teach 27 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, Sociology & Criminology, Civil Engineering, Business & Management (General), Public Health & Epidemiology, Planning & Housing, Business Studies, Education Studies, Finance & Actuarial Science, Childhood & Youth Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Clinical & Health Psychology and 15 more.

Is University College Birmingham or University of Manchester better for Business & Management (General)?

Business & Management (General) graduates earn a median £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, and £29,000 from University of Manchester. Student satisfaction with teaching is 93% at University College Birmingham and 88% at University of Manchester. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

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

University of Manchester lists 1,041 courses on CourseOptions and University College Birmingham lists 115 courses.

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

University College Birmingham teaches 9 subject areas that University of Manchester does not, including Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Building & Construction, Food Science, Food Production & Technology, Crafts & Applied Arts, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Creative Arts (General) and 1 more.

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

University of Manchester teaches 89 subject areas that University College Birmingham does not, including Physics, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Dentistry, Economics, Management, Chemistry and 81 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 Manchester1,041 courses · 6 scholarshipsBrowse Courses