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.
Birmingham
Guildford · QS World #246
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.
2/7
University College Birmingham
scored higher in 2 categories
5/7
Surrey
scored higher in 5 categories
Quick Verdict
University of Surrey leads in 5 of 7 categories where both have data (satisfaction, employment, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). University College Birmingham is ahead on established, international.
University College Birmingham vs University of Surrey at a glance
University College Birmingham and University of Surrey both teach 20 subject areas, the largest being Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Civil Engineering and Business & Management (General). University College Birmingham offers 115 courses across 36 subject areas; University of Surrey offers 271 courses across 62 subject areas.
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £30,000 at University of Surrey: University College Birmingham is about £16,500 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £25,900 at University of Surrey: University College Birmingham is about £8,900 a year cheaper.
Of the 3 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Surrey is higher in 3 and University College Birmingham in 0. The widest gap is in Business & Management (General): £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, against £30,500 from University of Surrey. Of the 7 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University College Birmingham is higher in 3 and University of Surrey in 3, with 1 about level.
World & National Rankings
Compare world and national league table positions, TEF ratings, and Russell Group membership.
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 Surrey
Satisfaction
Student satisfaction with teaching (NSS Survey, out of 100%)
Graduate Salaries (5y)
Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation
Employment
Graduate employment rate
International
International student share
Course Counts
Number of courses offered
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%
Surrey
90 countries · 20.2% international
- 🇮🇳India25%
- 🇨🇳China8.3%
- 🇭🇰Hong Kong5.4%
- 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia5.1%
- 🇦🇪United Arab Emirates3.2%
Subjects
20 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 Surrey
Hospitality, Events & Tourism
15 coursesTypical fee £13,500 (UG)
7 coursesTypical fee £18,000 (UG)
Civil Engineering
2 coursesTypical fee £13,500 (UG)
13 coursesTypical fee £30,000 (UG)
Business & Management (General)
Finance & Actuarial Science
Computer Science
Politics & International Relations
Psychology (General)
Sociology & Criminology
Sport & Exercise Sciences
Business Studies
Food Science
Nutrition & Dietetics
Childhood & Youth Studies
Health & Social Care
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Also taught at both: Marketing, Mechanical Engineering, Adult Nursing, Clinical & Health Psychology, Mental Health Nursing.
Only at University College Birmingham
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 Surrey
- £30,000
University College Birmingham is about £16,500 a year cheaper.
Postgraduate
- University College Birmingham
- £17,000
- University of Surrey
- £25,900
University College Birmingham is about £8,900 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 Surrey
Hospitality, Events & Tourism
£20,000Salary (3 years)£25,00093%Satisfaction85%Business & Management (General)
£20,000Salary (3 years)£30,50093%Satisfaction83%Computer Science
No dataSalary (3 years)£41,50087%Satisfaction78%Sport & Exercise Sciences
£20,500Salary (3 years)£27,50096%Satisfaction96%Food Science
£23,500Salary (3 years)No data94%Satisfaction98%Adult Nursing
No dataSalary (3 years)£30,00091%Satisfaction92%Mental Health Nursing
No dataSalary (3 years)£30,00091%Satisfaction92%
Scholarships for International Students
ExclusiveUniversity 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
University of Surrey
The Professor GQ Max Lu Global Scholarship
£30,000
Deadline: N/A
Machine learning enhanced muon imaging for nuclear waste monitoring and safeguards
£26,000
Deadline: Jul 2026
Nanoscale standardisation of DNA damage for Emerging Isotopes in Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection
£26,000
Deadline: Jul 2026
Understanding the dynamics of space radiation hazards using measurements from novel in-situ detectors
£26,000
Deadline: Jul 2026
AI for proton-acoustics for real-time 3D dosimetry of proton therapy
£25,805
Deadline: Jul 2026
FAQ
University College Birmingham vs University of Surrey: common questions
Is University College Birmingham or University of Surrey cheaper for international students?
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £30,000 at University of Surrey: University College Birmingham is about £16,500 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £25,900 at University of Surrey: University College Birmingham is about £8,900 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 Surrey?
Both universities teach 20 subject areas: Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Civil Engineering, Business & Management (General), Finance & Actuarial Science, Computer Science, Politics & International Relations, Psychology (General), Sociology & Criminology, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Business Studies, Food Science, Nutrition & Dietetics and 8 more.
Is University College Birmingham or University of Surrey better for Hospitality, Events & Tourism?
Hospitality, Events & Tourism graduates earn a median £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, and £25,000 from University of Surrey. Student satisfaction with teaching is 93% at University College Birmingham and 85% at University of Surrey. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.
Does University College Birmingham or University of Surrey offer more courses?
University of Surrey lists 271 courses on CourseOptions and University College Birmingham lists 115 courses.
What can you study at University College Birmingham but not at University of Surrey?
University College Birmingham teaches 16 subject areas that University of Surrey does not, including Building & Construction, Food Production & Technology, Planning & Housing, Crafts & Applied Arts, Education Studies, Applied Psychology, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Creative Arts (General) and 8 more.
What can you study at University of Surrey but not at University College Birmingham?
University of Surrey teaches 42 subject areas that University College Birmingham does not, including Physics, Chemistry, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Management, Mathematics, Economics, Law, Music and 34 more.
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