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.
Luton · Guardian UK #99
Birmingham · QS World #68
Head-to-Head Summary
Based on 11 datapoints
We looked at 11 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.
2/11
Bedfordshire
scored higher in 2 categories
9/11
Birmingham
scored higher in 9 categories
Quick Verdict
University of Birmingham leads in 9 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, TEF, employment, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). University of Bedfordshire is ahead on established, satisfaction.
University of Bedfordshire vs University of Birmingham at a glance
University of Bedfordshire and University of Birmingham both teach 49 subject areas, the largest being Business & Management (General), Law and Politics & International Relations. University of Bedfordshire offers 306 courses across 59 subject areas; University of Birmingham offers 663 courses across 101 subject areas.
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £16,900 a year at University of Bedfordshire and £27,090 at University of Birmingham: University of Bedfordshire is about £10,190 a year cheaper.
Of the 23 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Birmingham is higher in 18 and University of Bedfordshire in 4, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Accounting: £22,000 three years after graduating from University of Bedfordshire, against £37,000 from University of Birmingham. Of the 27 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Bedfordshire is higher in 21 and University of Birmingham in 6.
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 of Bedfordshire
University of Birmingham
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.
Bedfordshire
31 countries · 30.1% international
- 🇮🇳India56.2%
- 🇵🇰Pakistan10.2%
- 🇧🇩Bangladesh8.1%
- 🇳🇬Nigeria7.9%
- 🇷🇴Romania4.6%
Birmingham
104 countries · 31.2% international
- 🇨🇳China55.7%
- 🇮🇳India9.4%
- 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.2%
- 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.8%
- 🇲🇾Malaysia2%
Subjects
49 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 of Bedfordshire
University of Birmingham
Business & Management (General)
44 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
15 coursesFee not available
Law
13 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
24 coursesTypical fee £23,390 (UG)
Politics & International Relations
1 courseFee not available
28 coursesTypical fee £28,080 (UG)
Sport & Exercise Sciences
13 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
14 coursesTypical fee £11,250 (PG)
Education Studies
11 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
11 coursesTypical fee £22,880 (UG)
Health Sciences & Paramedic Science
9 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
13 coursesTypical fee £31,500 (UG)
Marketing
9 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
13 coursesTypical fee £24,340 (UG)
Teacher Training
5 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
17 coursesFee not available
Health & Social Care
4 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
17 coursesTypical fee £25,830 (PG)
Computer Science
12 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
8 coursesTypical fee £11,340 (UG)
Philosophy
2 coursesFee not available
17 coursesTypical fee £11,250 (PG)
Business Studies
Hospitality, Events & Tourism
16 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
1 courseFee not available
Psychology (General)
Sociology & Criminology
6 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
11 coursesTypical fee £10,900 (UG)
Also taught at both: Accounting, Childhood & Youth Studies, Music, Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences, English Language, Human Resource Management, Media & Film Studies, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Economics, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Finance & Actuarial Science, General Engineering, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Public Health & Epidemiology, Social Work, Software Engineering, Adult Nursing, Biological Sciences (General), Linguistics, Mechanical Engineering, Mental Health Nursing, Applied Psychology, Biotechnology, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Social Sciences (General), Computing & IT, Human Geography & Environment, Children's Nursing, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Film Production & Cinematography, Midwifery, Anatomy & Pathology, Counselling & Psychotherapy.
Only at University of Bedfordshire
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 of Bedfordshire
- £16,900
- University of Birmingham
- £27,090
University of Bedfordshire is about £10,190 a year cheaper.
Postgraduate
- University of Bedfordshire
- No data
- University of Birmingham
- £23,390
We do not have reliable international fee data for University of Bedfordshire yet.
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 of Bedfordshire
University of Birmingham
Business & Management (General)
£22,000Salary (3 years)£35,00086%Satisfaction79%Law
£18,500Salary (3 years)£27,50086%Satisfaction83%Sport & Exercise Sciences
£23,000Salary (3 years)£25,00094%Satisfaction88%Education Studies
£21,000Salary (3 years)£24,00093%Satisfaction83%Health Sciences & Paramedic Science
£19,500Salary (3 years)£31,50084%SatisfactionNo dataMarketing
£22,000Salary (3 years)£35,00082%Satisfaction79%Computer Science
£27,500Salary (3 years)£40,00085%Satisfaction93%Business Studies
£22,500Salary (3 years)£35,00088%Satisfaction77%Hospitality, Events & Tourism
£20,500Salary (3 years)£23,00091%Satisfaction80%Psychology (General)
£20,000Salary (3 years)£23,50080%Satisfaction90%Sociology & Criminology
£19,500Salary (3 years)£25,00095%Satisfaction83%Accounting
£22,000Salary (3 years)£37,00095%Satisfaction84%
Showing the 12 largest of 28 shared subjects with published outcomes.
Scholarships for International Students
ExclusiveUniversity of Bedfordshire
View all scholarships →University of Birmingham
Enhanced Chamberlain Award
£3,500
Deadline: N/A
University Music Scholarships
£3,000
Deadline: Jun 2026
University Music Scholarships
£1,000
Deadline: Jun 2026
FAQ
University of Bedfordshire vs University of Birmingham: common questions
Is University of Bedfordshire or University of Birmingham cheaper for international students?
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £16,900 a year at University of Bedfordshire and £27,090 at University of Birmingham: University of Bedfordshire is about £10,190 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 of Bedfordshire and University of Birmingham?
Both universities teach 49 subject areas: Business & Management (General), Law, Politics & International Relations, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Education Studies, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Marketing, Teacher Training, Health & Social Care, Computer Science, Philosophy, Business Studies and 37 more.
Is University of Bedfordshire or University of Birmingham better for Business & Management (General)?
Business & Management (General) graduates earn a median £22,000 three years after graduating from University of Bedfordshire, and £35,000 from University of Birmingham. Student satisfaction with teaching is 86% at University of Bedfordshire and 79% at University of Birmingham. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.
Does University of Bedfordshire or University of Birmingham offer more courses?
University of Birmingham lists 663 courses on CourseOptions and University of Bedfordshire lists 306 courses.
What can you study at University of Bedfordshire but not at University of Birmingham?
University of Bedfordshire teaches 10 subject areas that University of Birmingham does not, including Design & Fashion, Building & Construction, Pharmacology, Games Design & Computer Animation, Forensic Science, Journalism, Community & Specialist Nursing, Optometry & Ophthalmics and 2 more.
What can you study at University of Birmingham but not at University of Bedfordshire?
University of Birmingham teaches 52 subject areas that University of Bedfordshire does not, including History, Civil Engineering, Geology & Earth Sciences, International Development, Physics, Ancient Languages, Mathematics, History of Art & Design and 44 more.
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