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
Manchester · QS World #40
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.
1/11
Bedfordshire
scored higher in 1 category
10/11
Manchester
scored higher in 10 categories
Quick Verdict
University of Manchester leads in 10 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, TEF, established, employment, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). University of Bedfordshire is ahead on satisfaction.
University of Bedfordshire vs University of Manchester at a glance
University of Bedfordshire and University of Manchester both teach 48 subject areas, the largest being Business & Management (General), Politics & International Relations and Microbiology & Cell Biology. University of Bedfordshire offers 306 courses across 59 subject areas; University of Manchester offers 1,041 courses across 116 subject areas.
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £16,900 a year at University of Bedfordshire and £32,300 at University of Manchester: University of Bedfordshire is about £15,400 a year cheaper.
Of the 22 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Manchester is higher in 18 and University of Bedfordshire in 4. The widest gap is in Computer Science: £27,500 three years after graduating from University of Bedfordshire, against £44,000 from University of Manchester. Of the 24 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Bedfordshire is higher in 13 and University of Manchester in 11.
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 Manchester
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%
Manchester
120 countries · 40% international
- 🇨🇳China51%
- 🇮🇳India7.6%
- 🇲🇾Malaysia4.9%
- 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.1%
- 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.5%
Subjects
48 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 Manchester
Business & Management (General)
44 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
16 coursesTypical fee £27,800 (UG)
Politics & International Relations
1 courseFee not available
39 coursesTypical fee £27,800 (UG)
Microbiology & Cell Biology
1 courseFee not available
31 coursesTypical fee £36,200 (UG)
Law
13 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
17 coursesTypical fee £28,400 (UG)
Economics
3 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
25 coursesTypical fee £32,050 (UG)
Sociology & Criminology
6 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
21 coursesTypical fee £27,800 (UG)
Chemistry
2 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
24 coursesTypical fee £37,800 (UG)
Electronic & Electrical Engineering
5 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
17 coursesTypical fee £35,700 (UG)
Public Health & Epidemiology
3 coursesFee not available
19 coursesTypical fee £12,600 (PG)
Education Studies
11 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
10 coursesTypical fee £30,500 (UG)
Business Studies
Anatomy & Pathology
1 courseFee not available
16 coursesTypical fee £36,200 (UG)
Biomedical Sciences
3 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
14 coursesTypical fee £36,200 (UG)
Computer Science
12 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
5 coursesTypical fee £37,800 (UG)
Pharmacology
5 coursesTypical fee £16,900 (UG)
11 coursesTypical fee £36,200 (UG)
Also taught at both: Psychology (General), Accounting, Childhood & Youth Studies, Design & Fashion, Linguistics, Media & Film Studies, Human Resource Management, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Marketing, Mechanical Engineering, Biological Sciences (General), Biotechnology, Music, Teacher Training, Finance & Actuarial Science, English Language, Human Geography & Environment, Social Work, Mental Health Nursing, Optometry & Ophthalmics, Software Engineering, Applied Psychology, Developmental & Educational Psychology, Health & Social Care, Midwifery, Philosophy, Computing & IT, Adult Nursing, Forensic Science, General Engineering, Children's Nursing, Counselling & Psychotherapy.
Only at University of Bedfordshire
- Hospitality, Events & Tourism · 16
- Sport & Exercise Sciences · 13
- Building & Construction · 5
- Games Design & Computer Animation · 4
- Film Production & Cinematography · 2
- Journalism · 2
- Social Sciences (General) · 2
- Community & Specialist Nursing · 1
- Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation · 1
- Specialist Clinical Nursing · 1
- and 1 more
Only at University of Manchester
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 Manchester
- £32,300
University of Bedfordshire is about £15,400 a year cheaper.
Postgraduate
- University of Bedfordshire
- No data
- University of Manchester
- £26,800
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 Manchester
Business & Management (General)
£22,000Salary (3 years)£29,00086%Satisfaction88%Law
£18,500Salary (3 years)£24,00086%Satisfaction89%Economics
£20,000Salary (3 years)£32,50094%Satisfaction85%Sociology & Criminology
£19,500Salary (3 years)£23,50095%Satisfaction84%Chemistry
No dataSalary (3 years)£27,50099%Satisfaction87%Electronic & Electrical Engineering
No dataSalary (3 years)£33,50088%Satisfaction86%Public Health & Epidemiology
£19,500Salary (3 years)£29,50070%Satisfaction90%Education Studies
£21,000Salary (3 years)£23,00093%Satisfaction92%Business Studies
£22,500Salary (3 years)£30,50088%Satisfaction92%Biomedical Sciences
£29,000Salary (3 years)£28,00095%Satisfaction86%Computer Science
£27,500Salary (3 years)£44,00085%Satisfaction82%Pharmacology
£29,000Salary (3 years)£35,00085%Satisfaction86%
Showing the 12 largest of 27 shared subjects with published outcomes.
Scholarships for International Students
ExclusiveUniversity of Bedfordshire
View all scholarships →University of Manchester
Spärck AI Scholarship
£20,780
Deadline: N/A
The Sadler Bursary
£10,000
Deadline: N/A
The Bason Family Bursary
£6,000
Deadline: N/A
The Cowrie Foundation Scholarships
£6,000
Deadline: N/A
Accommodation Bursary
£2,050
Deadline: Jul 2026
FAQ
University of Bedfordshire vs University of Manchester: common questions
Is University of Bedfordshire or University of Manchester cheaper for international students?
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £16,900 a year at University of Bedfordshire and £32,300 at University of Manchester: University of Bedfordshire is about £15,400 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 Manchester?
Both universities teach 48 subject areas: Business & Management (General), Politics & International Relations, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Law, Economics, Sociology & Criminology, Chemistry, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Public Health & Epidemiology, Education Studies, Business Studies, Anatomy & Pathology and 36 more.
Is University of Bedfordshire or University of Manchester better for Business & Management (General)?
Business & Management (General) graduates earn a median £22,000 three years after graduating from University of Bedfordshire, and £29,000 from University of Manchester. Student satisfaction with teaching is 86% at University of Bedfordshire and 88% at University of Manchester. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.
Does University of Bedfordshire or University of Manchester offer more courses?
University of Manchester lists 1,041 courses on CourseOptions and University of Bedfordshire lists 306 courses.
What can you study at University of Bedfordshire but not at University of Manchester?
University of Bedfordshire teaches 11 subject areas that University of Manchester does not, including Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Building & Construction, Games Design & Computer Animation, Film Production & Cinematography, Journalism, Social Sciences (General), Community & Specialist Nursing and 3 more.
What can you study at University of Manchester but not at University of Bedfordshire?
University of Manchester teaches 68 subject areas that University of Bedfordshire does not, including Physics, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Dentistry, Management, Mathematics, Civil Engineering, Materials Science and 60 more.
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