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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 of Birmingham

Birmingham · QS World #68

U
University of Sussex

Brighton · QS World #273

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.

10/11

Birmingham

scored higher in 10 categories

VS

1/11

Sussex

scored higher in 1 category

Quick Verdict

University of Birmingham leads in 10 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, employment, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). University of Sussex is ahead on satisfaction.

University of Birmingham vs University of Sussex at a glance

University of Birmingham and University of Sussex both teach 62 subject areas, the largest being Politics & International Relations, Law and Childhood & Youth Studies. University of Birmingham offers 663 courses across 101 subject areas; University of Sussex offers 463 courses across 76 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £27,090 a year at University of Birmingham and £23,500 at University of Sussex: University of Sussex is about £3,590 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £23,390 a year at University of Birmingham and £23,500 at University of Sussex, so the two cost about the same.

Of the 32 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Birmingham is higher in 25 and University of Sussex in 5, with 2 about level. The widest gap is in Marketing: £35,000 three years after graduating from University of Birmingham, against £28,500 from University of Sussex. Of the 33 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Sussex is higher in 19 and University of Birmingham in 12, with 2 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#68
QS World
#273
#98
THE World
#201
#18
Guardian UK
#31
1900
Established
1961
Yes
Russell Group
No
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 of Birmingham

University of Sussex

86.7%
86.9%

Satisfaction

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

£38,700
£34,700

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

83.3%
81.7%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

31.2%
25.3%

International

International student share

663
463

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

3
2

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.

Birmingham

104 countries · 31.2% international

  • 🇨🇳China55.7%
  • 🇮🇳India9.4%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.2%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.8%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia2%
VS

Sussex

115 countries · 25.3% international

  • 🇨🇳China21.6%
  • 🇮🇳India7.9%
  • 🇨🇦Canada4.7%
  • 🇹🇷Turkey4.6%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.4%

Subjects

62 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 Birmingham

University of Sussex

Also taught at both: Marketing, Psychology (General), Business Studies, Media & Film Studies, Biomedical Sciences, Teacher Training, Chemistry, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Education Studies, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, History of Art & Design, Anthropology, Mechanical Engineering, Ancient Languages, Biochemistry, Social Work, Biology, Theology & Religious Studies, English Studies, General Engineering, Accounting, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Chemical Engineering, Drama & Theatre, English Language, Geography (General), Human Geography & Environment, Public Health & Epidemiology, Clinical Specialities, Social Policy & Public Policy, Creative Writing, Linguistics, Management, Clinical & Health Psychology, Social Sciences (General), Applied Psychology, Film Production & Cinematography, Genetics & Genomics, Physical Geography & Climate, Software Engineering, Anatomy & Pathology, English Literature, Liberal Arts, Computing & IT, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Human Resource Management.

Only at University of Birmingham

Only at University of Sussex

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 Birmingham
£27,090
University of Sussex
£23,500

University of Sussex is about £3,590 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

University of Birmingham
£23,390
University of Sussex
£23,500

About the same.

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 Birmingham

University of Sussex

  • Politics & International Relations

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£25,500
    86%Satisfaction87%

  • Law

    £27,500Salary (3 years)£27,500
    83%Satisfaction90%

  • History

    £26,000Salary (3 years)£25,500
    89%Satisfaction90%

  • Physics

    £32,500Salary (3 years)£31,000
    93%Satisfaction88%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£25,500
    83%Satisfaction90%

  • Mathematics

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£30,000
    85%Satisfaction93%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £35,000Salary (3 years)£29,000
    80%Satisfaction86%

  • Economics

    £34,500Salary (3 years)£30,500
    85%Satisfaction87%

  • Philosophy

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£24,000
    93%Satisfaction84%

  • Computer Science

    £40,000Salary (3 years)£39,000
    93%Satisfaction78%

  • Music

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£22,000
    89%Satisfaction85%

  • Marketing

    £35,000Salary (3 years)£28,500
    79%Satisfaction84%

Showing the 12 largest of 35 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

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

View all scholarships →

University of Sussex

Chancellor's International Scholarships

£5,000

Deadline: N/A

Sussex Bursary

£1,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

University of Birmingham vs University of Sussex: common questions

Is University of Birmingham or University of Sussex cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £27,090 a year at University of Birmingham and £23,500 at University of Sussex: University of Sussex is about £3,590 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £23,390 a year at University of Birmingham and £23,500 at University of Sussex, so the two cost about the same. 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 Birmingham and University of Sussex?

Both universities teach 62 subject areas: Politics & International Relations, Law, Childhood & Youth Studies, History, Physics, Sociology & Criminology, Mathematics, Business & Management (General), Finance & Actuarial Science, Economics, Philosophy, Computer Science and 50 more.

Is University of Birmingham or University of Sussex better for Politics & International Relations?

Politics & International Relations graduates earn a median £28,000 three years after graduating from University of Birmingham, and £25,500 from University of Sussex. Student satisfaction with teaching is 86% at University of Birmingham and 87% at University of Sussex. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does University of Birmingham or University of Sussex offer more courses?

University of Birmingham lists 663 courses on CourseOptions and University of Sussex lists 463 courses.

What can you study at University of Birmingham but not at University of Sussex?

University of Birmingham teaches 39 subject areas that University of Sussex does not, including Civil Engineering, Geology & Earth Sciences, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Classical Studies, Environmental Sciences, French, Medicine and 31 more.

What can you study at University of Sussex but not at University of Birmingham?

University of Sussex teaches 14 subject areas that University of Birmingham does not, including American & Comparative Studies, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Journalism, Zoology & Animal Biology, Cultural Studies, Ecology & Conservation, Games Design & Computer Animation, Welsh Studies and 6 more.

Ready to explore courses?

Browse available courses, check entry requirements, and find scholarships at each university.

U
University of Birmingham663 courses · 3 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
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University of Sussex463 courses · 2 scholarshipsBrowse Courses