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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 Leeds

Leeds · QS World #77

U
University of Liverpool

Liverpool · QS World #139

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.

7/11

Leeds

scored higher in 7 categories

VS

4/11

Liverpool

scored higher in 4 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Leeds leads in 7 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, employment, international, graduate salary, scholarship). University of Liverpool is ahead on TEF, established, satisfaction, courses.

University of Leeds vs University of Liverpool at a glance

University of Leeds and University of Liverpool both teach 75 subject areas, the largest being Music, Politics & International Relations and Sociology & Criminology. University of Leeds offers 579 courses across 110 subject areas; University of Liverpool offers 793 courses across 94 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £33,700 a year at University of Leeds and £32,000 at University of Liverpool: University of Liverpool is about £1,700 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £31,500 a year at University of Leeds and £30,000 at University of Liverpool: University of Liverpool is about £1,500 a year cheaper.

Of the 50 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Leeds is higher in 40 and University of Liverpool in 9, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Microbiology & Cell Biology: £35,000 three years after graduating from University of Leeds, against £24,500 from University of Liverpool. Of the 51 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Liverpool is higher in 30 and University of Leeds in 16, with 5 about level.

World & National Rankings

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

#77
QS World
#139
#118
THE World
#143
#15
Guardian UK
#28
1904
Established
1881
Yes
Russell Group
Yes
Silver
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 Leeds

University of Liverpool

85.7%
87.7%

Satisfaction

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

£37,200
£34,300

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

82.7%
79.9%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

31.5%
24.1%

International

International student share

579
793

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

13
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.

Leeds

105 countries · 31.5% international

  • 🇨🇳China49.5%
  • 🇮🇳India9.6%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia3.9%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia3.4%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.8%
VS

Liverpool

93 countries · 24.1% international

  • 🇨🇳China40.6%
  • 🇮🇳India17.1%
  • 🌐Kuwait4.3%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia4%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia3.1%

Subjects

75 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 Leeds

University of Liverpool

Also taught at both: English Studies, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Classical Studies, French, Italian, German & Scandinavian Studies, Business & Management (General), Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Spanish & Portuguese, Design & Fashion, Geology & Earth Sciences, Aerospace Engineering, English Literature, Management, Marketing, Mechanical Engineering, Finance & Actuarial Science, Medical Imaging, Social Policy & Public Policy, Ancient Languages, Biology, Human Geography & Environment, Personal & Professional Development, Biomedical Engineering, Dentistry, Ecology & Conservation, General Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Drama & Theatre, Psychology (General), Zoology & Animal Biology, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, English Language, Medicine, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Planning & Housing, Architecture, Biological Sciences (General), Health & Social Care, Human Resource Management, Information Systems & Data Science, Physical Geography & Climate, Public Health & Epidemiology, Childhood & Youth Studies, Pharmacology, Software Engineering, Anatomy & Pathology, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Eastern European Languages, Environmental Sciences, Film Production & Cinematography, GIS & Remote Sensing, Information & Library Studies, Pharmacy, African & Middle Eastern Studies, Agricultural Sciences, Clinical & Health Psychology, Humanities.

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 Leeds
£33,700
University of Liverpool
£32,000

University of Liverpool is about £1,700 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

University of Leeds
£31,500
University of Liverpool
£30,000

University of Liverpool is about £1,500 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 Leeds

University of Liverpool

  • Music

    £21,500Salary (3 years)£19,000
    87%Satisfaction91%
  • Politics & International Relations

    £28,500Salary (3 years)£23,500
    85%Satisfaction87%
  • Sociology & Criminology

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£24,000
    82%Satisfaction86%
  • Physics

    £29,000Salary (3 years)£28,000
    89%Satisfaction95%
  • History

    £26,000Salary (3 years)£23,500
    94%Satisfaction93%
  • Law

    £26,000Salary (3 years)£23,000
    87%Satisfaction86%
  • Civil Engineering

    £31,000Salary (3 years)£32,000
    89%Satisfaction91%
  • Media & Film Studies

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£22,500
    90%Satisfaction87%
  • Mathematics

    £31,500Salary (3 years)£26,500
    83%Satisfaction82%
  • Business Studies

    £36,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    84%Satisfaction83%
  • Asian Languages & Studies

    £28,500Salary (3 years)£23,000
    75%Satisfaction91%
  • Computer Science

    £42,000Salary (3 years)£32,500
    79%Satisfaction77%

Showing the 12 largest of 51 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

University of Leeds

Gazan Humanitarian Scholarship

100%

Deadline: N/A

Gazan Humanitarian Scholarship

100%

Deadline: N/A

Global Community Bursary

£10,000

Deadline: Jun 2026

Sanctuary Scholarship

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

Sanctuary Scholarship

£10,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

University of Liverpool

Liverpool Advancement Scholarship

£5,000

Deadline: N/A

Postgraduate Opportunity Bursary

£3,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

University of Leeds vs University of Liverpool: common questions

Is University of Leeds or University of Liverpool cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £33,700 a year at University of Leeds and £32,000 at University of Liverpool: University of Liverpool is about £1,700 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £31,500 a year at University of Leeds and £30,000 at University of Liverpool: University of Liverpool is about £1,500 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 Leeds and University of Liverpool?

Both universities teach 75 subject areas: Music, Politics & International Relations, Sociology & Criminology, Physics, History, Law, Civil Engineering, Media & Film Studies, Mathematics, Business Studies, Asian Languages & Studies, Computer Science and 63 more.

Is University of Leeds or University of Liverpool better for Music?

Music graduates earn a median £21,500 three years after graduating from University of Leeds, and £19,000 from University of Liverpool. Student satisfaction with teaching is 87% at University of Leeds and 91% at University of Liverpool. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does University of Leeds or University of Liverpool offer more courses?

University of Liverpool lists 793 courses on CourseOptions and University of Leeds lists 579 courses.

What can you study at University of Leeds but not at University of Liverpool?

University of Leeds teaches 35 subject areas that University of Liverpool does not, including Education Studies, Linguistics, Theology & Religious Studies, Natural Sciences, Nutrition & Dietetics, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, Genetics & Genomics and 27 more.

What can you study at University of Liverpool but not at University of Leeds?

University of Liverpool teaches 19 subject areas that University of Leeds does not, including Archaeology, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Irish Studies, Accounting, Business Information Systems, Computing & IT, Geography (General), Nursing (General) and 11 more.

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