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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 Southampton

Southampton · QS World #111

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

Southampton

scored higher in 6 categories

Quick Verdict

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

University College Birmingham vs University of Southampton at a glance

University College Birmingham and University of Southampton both teach 26 subject areas, the largest being Business & Management (General), Finance & Actuarial Science and Mechanical Engineering. University College Birmingham offers 115 courses across 36 subject areas; University of Southampton offers 545 courses across 91 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £26,000 at University of Southampton: University College Birmingham is about £12,500 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £31,200 at University of Southampton: University College Birmingham is about £14,200 a year cheaper.

Of the 7 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Southampton is higher in 7 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 £39,500 from University of Southampton. Of the 11 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University College Birmingham is higher in 7 and University of Southampton in 4.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
#111
—
THE World
#129
—
Guardian UK
#16
1957
Established
1862
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 Southampton

88.3%
87%

Satisfaction

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

£25,600
£37,200

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

77.8%
82.1%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

47%
35.1%

International

International student share

115
545

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

7
52

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

Southampton

103 countries · 35.1% international

  • 🇨🇳China63.5%
  • 🇮🇳India4.8%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia2.8%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia2.6%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.5%

Subjects

26 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 Southampton

Also taught at both: Politics & International Relations, Psychology (General), Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Clinical & Health Psychology, Adult Nursing, Applied Psychology, Creative Arts (General), Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Architecture, Business Information Systems, Mental Health Nursing.

Only at University College Birmingham

Only at University of Southampton

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 Southampton
£26,000

University College Birmingham is about £12,500 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

University College Birmingham
£17,000
University of Southampton
£31,200

University College Birmingham is about £14,200 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 Southampton

  • Business & Management (General)

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£31,500
    93%Satisfaction80%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£39,500
    89%Satisfaction84%

  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)£47,000
    87%Satisfaction80%

  • Business Studies

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£31,500
    86%Satisfaction66%

  • Design & Fashion

    £18,500Salary (3 years)£21,500
    No dataSatisfaction89%

  • Marketing

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£31,000
    85%Satisfaction88%

  • Education Studies

    £17,000Salary (3 years)£25,000
    98%Satisfaction88%

  • Software Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)£47,000
    89%Satisfaction79%

  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

    No dataSalary (3 years)£47,000
    86%Satisfaction73%

  • Adult Nursing

    No dataSalary (3 years)£30,000
    91%Satisfaction93%

  • Creative Arts (General)

    £18,500Salary (3 years)£21,500
    No dataSatisfaction90%

  • Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation

    No dataSalary (3 years)£28,500
    88%Satisfaction95%

Showing the 12 largest of 13 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 Southampton

Horizon Europe fee waiver

100%

Deadline: N/A

Cowrie Foundation Scholarship

£8,000

Deadline: N/A

Xiamen University PhD Scholarships

See details

Deadline: N/A

Sociology Criminology International Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

Southampton Ageing & Gerontology Talent Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

University College Birmingham vs University of Southampton: common questions

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

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £26,000 at University of Southampton: University College Birmingham is about £12,500 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £31,200 at University of Southampton: University College Birmingham is about £14,200 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 Southampton?

Both universities teach 26 subject areas: Business & Management (General), Finance & Actuarial Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Sociology & Criminology, Computer Science, Business Studies, Design & Fashion, Marketing, Building & Construction, Education Studies, Health & Social Care and 14 more.

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

Business & Management (General) graduates earn a median £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, and £31,500 from University of Southampton. Student satisfaction with teaching is 93% at University College Birmingham and 80% at University of Southampton. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

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

University of Southampton lists 545 courses on CourseOptions and University College Birmingham lists 115 courses.

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

University College Birmingham teaches 10 subject areas that University of Southampton does not, including Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Food Science, Childhood & Youth Studies, Food Production & Technology, Planning & Housing, Crafts & Applied Arts, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Developmental & Educational Psychology and 2 more.

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

University of Southampton teaches 65 subject areas that University College Birmingham does not, including Electronic & Electrical Engineering, General Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Geology & Earth Sciences, Physics, Media & Film Studies, Archaeology, Chemical Engineering and 57 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 Southampton545 courses · 52 scholarshipsBrowse Courses