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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.

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University of Leicester

Leicester · QS World #314

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University of Southampton

Southampton · QS World #111

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 12 datapoints

We looked at 12 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

1/12

Leicester

scored higher in 1 category

VS

11/12

Southampton

scored higher in 11 categories

Quick Verdict

University of Southampton leads in 11 of 12 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, satisfaction, employment, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). University of Leicester is ahead on TEF.

University of Leicester vs University of Southampton at a glance

University of Leicester and University of Southampton both teach 54 subject areas, the largest being General Engineering, Electronic & Electrical Engineering and Business & Management (General). University of Leicester offers 351 courses across 72 subject areas; University of Southampton offers 545 courses across 91 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £25,100 a year at University of Leicester and £26,000 at University of Southampton: University of Leicester is about £900 a year cheaper.

Of the 36 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Southampton is higher in 31 and University of Leicester in 4, with 1 about level. The widest gap is in Software Engineering: £35,500 three years after graduating from University of Leicester, against £47,000 from University of Southampton. Of the 35 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of Leicester is higher in 20 and University of Southampton in 15.

World & National Rankings

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

#314
QS World
#111
#192
THE World
#129
#30
Guardian UK
#16
1921
Established
1862
No
Russell Group
Yes
Gold
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 Leicester

University of Southampton

86.2%
87%

Satisfaction

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

£35,400
£37,200

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

79%
82.1%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

19.3%
35.1%

International

International student share

351
545

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

28
52

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.

Leicester

81 countries · 19.3% international

  • 🇮🇳India36.3%
  • 🇨🇦Canada14.8%
  • 🇨🇳China9.4%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria5.9%
  • 🇦🇪United Arab Emirates1.9%
VS

Southampton

103 countries · 35.1% international

  • 🇨🇳China63.5%
  • 🇮🇳India4.8%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia2.8%
  • 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia2.6%
  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.5%

Subjects

54 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 Leicester

University of Southampton

Also taught at both: Ancient Languages, Mathematics, Chemistry, Archaeology, Civil Engineering, Economics, English Literature, Environmental Sciences, Marketing, Psychology (General), Software Engineering, Accounting, Biomedical Engineering, Business Studies, Management, Health & Social Care, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, English Studies, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Adult Nursing, Children's Nursing, Human Geography & Environment, Information & Library Studies, Medicine, Physical Geography & Climate, Statistics, Applied Computing, Applied Psychology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Human Resource Management, Business Information Systems, Creative Writing, Cultural Studies, Humanities, Midwifery, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Social Sciences (General).

Only at University of Leicester

Only at University of Southampton

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 Leicester
£25,100
University of Southampton
£26,000

University of Leicester is about £900 a year cheaper.

Postgraduate

University of Leicester
No data
University of Southampton
£31,200

We do not have reliable international fee data for University of Leicester 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 Leicester

University of Southampton

  • General Engineering

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£34,500
    83%Satisfaction90%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£40,500
    83%Satisfaction89%

  • Business & Management (General)

    £27,500Salary (3 years)£31,500
    82%Satisfaction80%

  • Law

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£28,500
    85%Satisfaction87%

  • Computer Science

    £36,000Salary (3 years)£47,000
    83%Satisfaction80%

  • Finance & Actuarial Science

    £33,000Salary (3 years)£39,500
    88%Satisfaction84%

  • Mechanical Engineering

    £30,500Salary (3 years)£34,500
    89%Satisfaction87%

  • Physics

    £28,000Salary (3 years)£32,000
    90%Satisfaction87%

  • History

    £24,000Salary (3 years)£26,500
    94%Satisfaction91%

  • Media & Film Studies

    £25,000Salary (3 years)£23,500
    93%Satisfaction87%

  • Sociology & Criminology

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

  • Aerospace Engineering

    £30,000Salary (3 years)£33,500
    81%Satisfaction94%

Showing the 12 largest of 36 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

University of Leicester

International Undergraduate Tuition Fee Waiver

100%

Deadline: N/A

ULSB International Deans Scholarship

£8,000

Deadline: N/A

Leicester-King Power Thai Scholarship

£5,000

Deadline: N/A

International Postgraduate Taught Merit Scholarship

£5,000

Deadline: N/A

International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship

£5,000

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

University of Southampton

Horizon Europe fee waiver

100%

Deadline: N/A

Cowrie Foundation Scholarship

£8,000

Deadline: N/A

Xiamen University PhD Scholarships

See details

Deadline: N/A

Sociology Criminology International Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

Southampton Ageing & Gerontology Talent Scholarship

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

FAQ

University of Leicester vs University of Southampton: common questions

Is University of Leicester or University of Southampton cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £25,100 a year at University of Leicester and £26,000 at University of Southampton: University of Leicester is about £900 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 Leicester and University of Southampton?

Both universities teach 54 subject areas: General Engineering, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Business & Management (General), Law, Computer Science, Finance & Actuarial Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, History, Media & Film Studies, Biological Sciences (General), Sociology & Criminology and 42 more.

Is University of Leicester or University of Southampton better for General Engineering?

General Engineering graduates earn a median £30,000 three years after graduating from University of Leicester, and £34,500 from University of Southampton. Student satisfaction with teaching is 83% at University of Leicester and 90% at University of Southampton. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.

Does University of Leicester or University of Southampton offer more courses?

University of Southampton lists 545 courses on CourseOptions and University of Leicester lists 351 courses.

What can you study at University of Leicester but not at University of Southampton?

University of Leicester teaches 18 subject areas that University of Southampton does not, including Childhood & Youth Studies, Journalism, Classical Studies, Genetics & Genomics, Geography (General), Astronomy & Astrophysics, History of Art & Design, Anatomy & Pathology and 10 more.

What can you study at University of Southampton but not at University of Leicester?

University of Southampton teaches 37 subject areas that University of Leicester does not, including Chemical Engineering, Design & Fashion, Marine Engineering & Technology, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Music, Philosophy, Education Studies, Social Policy & Public Policy and 29 more.

Ready to explore courses?

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

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University of Leicester351 courses · 28 scholarshipsBrowse Courses
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University of Southampton545 courses · 52 scholarshipsBrowse Courses