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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 Glasgow

Glasgow · QS World #80

U
University of Portsmouth

Portsmouth · QS World #662

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.

8/11

Glasgow

scored higher in 8 categories

VS

3/11

Portsmouth

scored higher in 3 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Glasgow leads in 8 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, international, graduate salary, courses). University of Portsmouth is ahead on satisfaction, employment, scholarship.

University of Glasgow vs University of Portsmouth at a glance

University of Glasgow and University of Portsmouth both teach 63 subject areas, the largest being History, Management and Politics & International Relations. University of Glasgow offers 1,022 courses across 97 subject areas; University of Portsmouth offers 446 courses across 84 subject areas.

For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £15,160 a year at University of Glasgow and £18,600 at University of Portsmouth: University of Glasgow is about £3,440 a year cheaper.

Of the 34 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Glasgow is higher in 24 and University of Portsmouth in 9, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Biomedical Sciences: £22,500 three years after graduating from University of Glasgow, against £30,500 from University of Portsmouth. Of the 34 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Portsmouth is higher in 17 and University of Glasgow in 13, with 4 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#80
QS World
#662
#84
THE World
#401
#12
Guardian UK
#55
1451
Established
1869
Yes
Russell Group
No
—
TEF Rating
Gold

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

Longer bars indicate better performance. Metrics include student satisfaction, graduate salaries, and more.

University of Glasgow

University of Portsmouth

86.1%
86.9%

Satisfaction

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

£36,500
£32,100

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

81.9%
84.4%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

35.9%
24.5%

International

International student share

1022
446

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

4
5

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.

Glasgow

121 countries · 35.9% international

  • 🇨🇳China51.9%
  • 🇺🇸United States7.4%
  • 🇮🇳India7%
  • 🌐Kuwait1.7%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong1.5%
VS

Portsmouth

96 countries · 24.5% international

  • 🇮🇳India22.1%
  • 🇨🇳China11.6%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria7.8%
  • 🌐Kuwait7.1%
  • 🇵🇰Pakistan5.6%

Subjects

63 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 Glasgow

University of Portsmouth

Also taught at both: English Language, Social Policy & Public Policy, Music, Ancient Languages, Accounting, Mechanical Engineering, Business Studies, Finance & Actuarial Science, Building & Construction, Business & Management (General), Design & Fashion, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Civil Engineering, Human Geography & Environment, Media & Film Studies, Public Health & Epidemiology, Childhood & Youth Studies, Drama & Theatre, Software Engineering, Marketing, Film Production & Cinematography, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Dentistry, Human Resource Management, Anatomy & Pathology, Creative Writing, GIS & Remote Sensing, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Planning & Housing, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Ecology & Conservation, International Development, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Environmental Sciences, Geology & Earth Sciences, Linguistics, Nursing (General), Clinical & Health Psychology, Computing & IT, Mental Health Nursing, Social Sciences (General), Pharmacology, Chemical Engineering, Creative Arts (General).

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 Glasgow
No data
University of Portsmouth
£17,900

We do not have reliable international fee data for University of Glasgow yet.

Postgraduate

University of Glasgow
£15,160
University of Portsmouth
£18,600

University of Glasgow is about £3,440 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 of Glasgow

University of Portsmouth

  • History

    £23,500Salary (3 years)£24,000
    90%Satisfaction90%
  • Management

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    73%Satisfaction87%
  • Politics & International Relations

    £25,500Salary (3 years)£24,000
    88%Satisfaction87%
  • Law

    £27,500Salary (3 years)£25,500
    86%Satisfaction88%
  • Mathematics

    £30,500Salary (3 years)£27,500
    82%Satisfaction87%
  • Computer Science

    £32,500Salary (3 years)£25,500
    85%Satisfaction82%
  • Psychology (General)

    £24,000Salary (3 years)£23,500
    91%Satisfaction86%
  • Sociology & Criminology

    £23,000Salary (3 years)£24,000
    91%Satisfaction87%
  • Teacher Training

    £32,000Salary (3 years)£27,500
    92%Satisfaction68%
  • Economics

    £34,500Salary (3 years)£30,500
    79%Satisfaction85%
  • Physics

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£27,000
    83%Satisfaction97%
  • English Literature

    £21,500Salary (3 years)£23,000
    93%Satisfaction95%

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

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

University of Glasgow

Minerva Scholarships

£22,000

Deadline: N/A

Excellence Bursaries

100%

Deadline: N/A

Travel Bursaries

£50

Deadline: N/A

School of Computing Science postgraduate research excellence bursaries

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

University of Portsmouth

Portsmouth Football Club Partnership Scholarship

£3,000

Deadline: N/A

Estée Lauder Companies - Whitman Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

Portsmouth Football Club Partnership Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

Sanctuary Language Bursary

See details

Deadline: N/A

Sanctuary Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

University of Glasgow vs University of Portsmouth: common questions

Is University of Glasgow or University of Portsmouth cheaper for international students?

For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £15,160 a year at University of Glasgow and £18,600 at University of Portsmouth: University of Glasgow is about £3,440 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 Glasgow and University of Portsmouth?

Both universities teach 63 subject areas: History, Management, Politics & International Relations, Law, Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology (General), Sociology & Criminology, Teacher Training, Economics, Education Studies, Information Systems & Data Science and 51 more.

Is University of Glasgow or University of Portsmouth better for History?

History graduates earn a median £23,500 three years after graduating from University of Glasgow, and £24,000 from University of Portsmouth. Student satisfaction with teaching is 90% at University of Glasgow and 90% at University of Portsmouth. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does University of Glasgow or University of Portsmouth offer more courses?

University of Glasgow lists 1,022 courses on CourseOptions and University of Portsmouth lists 446 courses.

What can you study at University of Glasgow but not at University of Portsmouth?

University of Glasgow teaches 34 subject areas that University of Portsmouth does not, including Spanish & Portuguese, Classical Studies, Eastern European Languages, Theology & Religious Studies, Philosophy, Celtic Studies, History of Art & Design, Scottish Gaelic and 26 more.

What can you study at University of Portsmouth but not at University of Glasgow?

University of Portsmouth teaches 21 subject areas that University of Glasgow does not, including General Engineering, Games Design & Computer Animation, Architecture, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Journalism, Applied Computing, Social Work, Adult Nursing and 13 more.

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