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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 Portsmouth

Portsmouth · QS World #662

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

Portsmouth

scored higher in 5 categories

Quick Verdict

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

University College Birmingham vs University of Portsmouth at a glance

University College Birmingham and University of Portsmouth both teach 28 subject areas, the largest being Sociology & Criminology, Building & Construction and Computer Science. University College Birmingham offers 115 courses across 36 subject areas; University of Portsmouth offers 446 courses across 84 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £17,900 at University of Portsmouth: University College Birmingham is about £4,400 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £18,600 at University of Portsmouth: University College Birmingham is about £1,600 a year cheaper.

Of the 9 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Portsmouth is higher in 9 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 Portsmouth. Of the 14 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University College Birmingham is higher in 11 and University of Portsmouth in 3.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#662
—
THE World
#401
—
Guardian UK
#55
1957
Established
1869
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 Portsmouth

88.3%
86.9%

Satisfaction

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

£25,600
£32,100

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

77.8%
84.4%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

47%
24.5%

International

International student share

115
446

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

7
5

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

Portsmouth

96 countries · 24.5% international

  • 🇮🇳India22.1%
  • 🇨🇳China11.6%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria7.8%
  • 🌐Kuwait7.1%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan5.6%

Subjects

28 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 Portsmouth

Also taught at both: Civil Engineering, Psychology (General), Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Adult Nursing, Applied Psychology, Planning & Housing, Software Engineering, Mental Health Nursing, Public Health & Epidemiology, Clinical & Health Psychology, Creative Arts (General), Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Business Information Systems.

Only at University College Birmingham

Only at University of Portsmouth

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 Portsmouth
£17,900

University College Birmingham is about £4,400 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

University College Birmingham
£17,000
University of Portsmouth
£18,600

University College Birmingham is about £1,600 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 Portsmouth

  • Building & Construction

    No dataSalary (3 years)£36,500
    91%Satisfaction89%

  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£25,500
    87%Satisfaction82%

  • Hospitality, Events & Tourism

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£22,500
    93%Satisfaction87%

  • Business Studies

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    86%Satisfaction85%

  • Education Studies

    £17,000Salary (3 years)£21,000
    98%Satisfaction89%

  • Sport & Exercise Sciences

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£24,000
    96%Satisfaction86%

  • Business & Management (General)

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    93%Satisfaction87%

  • Design & Fashion

    £18,500Salary (3 years)£21,500
    No dataSatisfaction83%

  • Childhood & Youth Studies

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£25,500
    98%Satisfaction85%

  • Marketing

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£28,000
    85%Satisfaction86%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£30,500
    89%Satisfaction93%

  • Architecture

    No dataSalary (3 years)£27,000
    91%Satisfaction85%

Showing the 12 largest of 15 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 Portsmouth

Portsmouth Football Club Partnership Scholarship

£3,000

Deadline: N/A

Estée Lauder Companies - Whitman Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

Portsmouth Football Club Partnership Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

Sanctuary Language Bursary

See details

Deadline: N/A

Sanctuary Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

University College Birmingham vs University of Portsmouth: common questions

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

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £17,900 at University of Portsmouth: University College Birmingham is about £4,400 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £18,600 at University of Portsmouth: University College Birmingham is about £1,600 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 Portsmouth?

Both universities teach 28 subject areas: Sociology & Criminology, Building & Construction, Computer Science, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Business Studies, Education Studies, Politics & International Relations, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Business & Management (General), Design & Fashion, Childhood & Youth Studies, Marketing and 16 more.

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

Hospitality, Events & Tourism graduates earn a median £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, and £22,500 from University of Portsmouth. Student satisfaction with teaching is 93% at University College Birmingham and 87% at University of Portsmouth. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

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

University of Portsmouth lists 446 courses on CourseOptions and University College Birmingham lists 115 courses.

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

University College Birmingham teaches 8 subject areas that University of Portsmouth does not, including Food Science, Health & Social Care, Food Production & Technology, Crafts & Applied Arts, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning and Nutrition & Dietetics.

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

University of Portsmouth teaches 56 subject areas that University College Birmingham does not, including Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Management, Law, Accounting, General Engineering, Games Design & Computer Animation, Social Policy & Public Policy, Teacher Training and 48 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 Portsmouth446 courses · 5 scholarshipsBrowse Courses