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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 the West of Scotland

Paisley · Guardian UK #115

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

VS

5/7

West of Scotland

scored higher in 5 categories

Quick Verdict

University of the West of Scotland leads in 5 of 7 categories where both have data (established, satisfaction, employment, graduate salary, courses). University College Birmingham is ahead on international, scholarship.

University College Birmingham vs University of the West of Scotland at a glance

University College Birmingham and University of the West of Scotland both teach 19 subject areas, the largest being Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Business Studies and Sport & Exercise Sciences. University College Birmingham offers 115 courses across 36 subject areas; University of the West of Scotland offers 119 courses across 49 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £15,500 at University of the West of Scotland: University College Birmingham is about £2,000 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £16,280 at University of the West of Scotland: University of the West of Scotland is about £720 a year cheaper.

Of the 7 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University College Birmingham is higher in 3 and University of the West of Scotland in 3, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Health & Social Care: £20,500 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, against £26,000 from University of the West of Scotland. Of the 8 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University College Birmingham is higher in 6 and University of the West of Scotland in 0, with 2 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

—
QS World
—
—
THE World
#601
—
Guardian UK
#115
1957
Established
1897
No
Russell Group
No
Silver
TEF Rating
—

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 the West of Scotland

88.3%
89%

Satisfaction

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

£25,600
£31,134.9

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

77.8%
81.8%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

47%
30.3%

International

International student share

115
119

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

7
0

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

West of Scotland

33 countries · 30.3% international

  • 🇵🇰Pakistan36.2%
  • 🌐Nepal20.4%
  • 🇮🇳India19.3%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria7.4%
  • 🇧🇩Bangladesh5.3%

Subjects

19 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 the West of Scotland

Also taught at both: Mechanical Engineering, Politics & International Relations, Public Health & Epidemiology, Mental Health Nursing.

Only at University College Birmingham

Only at University of the West of Scotland

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 the West of Scotland
£15,500

University College Birmingham is about £2,000 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

University College Birmingham
£17,000
University of the West of Scotland
£16,280

University of the West of Scotland is about £720 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 the West of Scotland

  • Hospitality, Events & Tourism

    £20,000Salary (3 years)£19,000
    93%Satisfaction93%

  • Business Studies

    £21,000Salary (3 years)£21,000
    86%Satisfaction75%

  • Sport & Exercise Sciences

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£21,000
    96%Satisfaction91%

  • Childhood & Youth Studies

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£24,500
    98%Satisfaction92%

  • Health & Social Care

    £20,500Salary (3 years)£26,000
    94%Satisfaction90%

  • Design & Fashion

    £18,500Salary (3 years)£17,500
    No dataSatisfaction91%

  • Education Studies

    £17,000Salary (3 years)No data
    98%Satisfaction96%

  • Adult Nursing

    No dataSalary (3 years)£28,500
    91%Satisfaction87%

  • Creative Arts (General)

    £18,500Salary (3 years)£16,000
    No dataSatisfaction91%

  • Mental Health Nursing

    No dataSalary (3 years)£28,500
    91%Satisfaction91%

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 the West of Scotland

View all scholarships →

FAQ

University College Birmingham vs University of the West of Scotland: common questions

Is University College Birmingham or University of the West of Scotland cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £13,500 a year at University College Birmingham and £15,500 at University of the West of Scotland: University College Birmingham is about £2,000 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,000 a year at University College Birmingham and £16,280 at University of the West of Scotland: University of the West of Scotland is about £720 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 the West of Scotland?

Both universities teach 19 subject areas: Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Business Studies, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Business Information Systems, Childhood & Youth Studies, Health & Social Care, Applied Psychology, Business & Management (General), Sociology & Criminology, Design & Fashion, Education Studies, Marketing and 7 more.

Is University College Birmingham or University of the West of Scotland better for Hospitality, Events & Tourism?

Hospitality, Events & Tourism graduates earn a median £20,000 three years after graduating from University College Birmingham, and £19,000 from University of the West of Scotland. Student satisfaction with teaching is 93% at University College Birmingham and 93% at University of the West of Scotland. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does University College Birmingham or University of the West of Scotland offer more courses?

University of the West of Scotland lists 119 courses on CourseOptions and University College Birmingham lists 115 courses.

What can you study at University College Birmingham but not at University of the West of Scotland?

University College Birmingham teaches 17 subject areas that University of the West of Scotland does not, including Building & Construction, Food Science, Finance & Actuarial Science, Food Production & Technology, Planning & Housing, Crafts & Applied Arts, Civil Engineering, Clinical & Health Psychology and 9 more.

What can you study at University of the West of Scotland but not at University College Birmingham?

University of the West of Scotland teaches 30 subject areas that University College Birmingham does not, including Teacher Training, Applied Computing, Chemistry, Computing & IT, General Engineering, Accounting, Physics, Social Sciences (General) and 22 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 the West of Scotland119 courses · 0 scholarshipsBrowse Courses