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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.

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University College Birmingham

Birmingham

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University of Plymouth

Plymouth · QS World #691

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.

2/8

University College Birmingham

scored higher in 2 categories

VS

6/8

Plymouth

scored higher in 6 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Plymouth leads in 6 of 8 categories where both have data (TEF, established, employment, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). University College Birmingham is ahead on satisfaction, international.

University College Birmingham vs University of Plymouth at a glance

University College Birmingham and University of Plymouth both teach 27 subject areas, the largest being Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Business & Management (General) and Psychology (General). University College Birmingham offers 115 courses across 36 subject areas; University of Plymouth offers 310 courses across 78 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £19,200 at University of Plymouth: University College Birmingham is about £5,700 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £19,500 at University of Plymouth: University College Birmingham is about £2,500 a year cheaper.

Of the 9 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Plymouth is higher in 9 and University College Birmingham in 0. The widest gap is in Childhood & Youth Studies: £20,500 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, against £29,000 from University of Plymouth. Of the 14 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University College Birmingham is higher in 9 and University of Plymouth in 4, with 1 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#691
—
THE World
#501
—
Guardian UK
#56
1957
Established
1862
No
Russell Group
No
Silver
TEF Rating
Gold

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 Plymouth

88.3%
86.6%

Satisfaction

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

£25,600
£30,300

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

77.8%
84.2%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

47%
11.9%

International

International student share

115
310

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

7
10

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

Plymouth

71 countries · 11.9% international

  • 🇳🇬Nigeria14.6%
  • 🇨🇳China12.2%
  • 🇮🇳India11%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong4.7%
  • 🌐Sri Lanka3.3%

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 Plymouth

Also taught at both: Childhood & Youth Studies, Education Studies, Marketing, Clinical & Health Psychology, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Software Engineering, Creative Arts (General), Mental Health Nursing, Applied Psychology, Architecture, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning.

Only at University College Birmingham

Only at University of Plymouth

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 Plymouth
£19,200

University College Birmingham is about £5,700 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

University College Birmingham
£17,000
University of Plymouth
£19,500

University College Birmingham is about £2,500 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 Plymouth

  • Hospitality, Events & Tourism

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£21,000
    93%Satisfaction83%

  • Business & Management (General)

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£24,000
    93%Satisfaction83%

  • Design & Fashion

    £18,500Salary (3 years)£21,000
    No dataSatisfaction77%

  • Building & Construction

    No dataSalary (3 years)£31,500
    91%Satisfaction90%

  • Business Studies

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£24,000
    86%Satisfaction74%

  • Adult Nursing

    No dataSalary (3 years)£28,000
    91%Satisfaction87%

  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£28,000
    87%Satisfaction72%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£24,000
    89%Satisfaction90%

  • Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation

    No dataSalary (3 years)£27,500
    88%Satisfaction92%

  • Childhood & Youth Studies

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£29,000
    98%Satisfaction79%

  • Education Studies

    £17,000Salary (3 years)£19,500
    98%Satisfaction94%

  • Marketing

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£24,000
    85%Satisfaction90%

Showing the 12 largest of 16 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 Plymouth

GREAT Scholarships

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

Sanctuary Scholarships

100%

Deadline: N/A

International Undergraduate Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship

£6,000

Deadline: N/A

Tamar Engineering Project

£4,500

Deadline: Jun 2026

International Postgraduate Welcome to Plymouth Scholarship

£4,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

University College Birmingham vs University of Plymouth: common questions

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

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £19,200 at University of Plymouth: University College Birmingham is about £5,700 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £19,500 at University of Plymouth: University College Birmingham is about £2,500 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 Plymouth?

Both universities teach 27 subject areas: Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Business & Management (General), Psychology (General), Design & Fashion, Building & Construction, Business Studies, Sociology & Criminology, Civil Engineering, Adult Nursing, Computer Science, Finance & Actuarial Science, Nutrition & Dietetics and 15 more.

Is University College Birmingham or University of Plymouth better for Hospitality, Events & Tourism?

Hospitality, Events & Tourism graduates earn a median £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, and £21,000 from University of Plymouth. Student satisfaction with teaching is 93% at University College Birmingham and 83% at University of Plymouth. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

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

University of Plymouth lists 310 courses on CourseOptions and University College Birmingham lists 115 courses.

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

University College Birmingham teaches 9 subject areas that University of Plymouth does not, including Sport & Exercise Sciences, Food Science, Health & Social Care, Food Production & Technology, Planning & Housing, Crafts & Applied Arts, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Business Information Systems and 1 more.

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

University of Plymouth teaches 51 subject areas that University College Birmingham does not, including Geology & Earth Sciences, Law, Biomedical Sciences, Ecology & Conservation, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Physical Geography & Climate, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Dentistry and 43 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 Plymouth310 courses · 10 scholarshipsBrowse Courses