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.
Pontypridd · QS World #1201
Southampton · QS World #111
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
South Wales
scored higher in 1 category
10/11
Southampton
scored higher in 10 categories
Quick Verdict
University of Southampton leads in 10 of 11 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, satisfaction, international, graduate salary, courses, scholarship). University of South Wales is ahead on employment.
University of South Wales vs University of Southampton at a glance
University of South Wales and University of Southampton both teach 50 subject areas, the largest being Business & Management (General), Electronic & Electrical Engineering and General Engineering. University of South Wales offers 331 courses across 63 subject areas; University of Southampton offers 545 courses across 91 subject areas.
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £16,200 a year at University of South Wales and £26,000 at University of Southampton: University of South Wales is about £9,800 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,900 a year at University of South Wales and £31,200 at University of Southampton: University of South Wales is about £13,300 a year cheaper.
Of the 30 subject areas both teach where each publishes a graduate salary, University of Southampton is higher in 29 and University of South Wales in 1. The widest gap is in Computer Science: £19,500 three years after graduating from University of South Wales, against £47,000 from University of Southampton. Of the 29 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, University of South Wales is higher in 18 and University of Southampton 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 South Wales
University of Southampton
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.
South Wales
71 countries · 22% international
- 🇳🇬Nigeria17.6%
- 🇧🇩Bangladesh16.6%
- 🇮🇳India16.1%
- 🇵🇰Pakistan15.7%
- 🌐Sri Lanka6.6%
Southampton
103 countries · 35.1% international
- 🇨🇳China63.5%
- 🇮🇳India4.8%
- 🇲🇾Malaysia2.8%
- 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia2.6%
- 🇭🇰Hong Kong2.5%
Subjects
50 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 South Wales
University of Southampton
Business & Management (General)
18 coursesTypical fee £16,800 (UG)
22 coursesTypical fee £25,500 (UG)
Electronic & Electrical Engineering
6 coursesTypical fee £16,200 (UG)
34 coursesTypical fee £31,000 (UG)
General Engineering
1 courseFee not available
34 coursesTypical fee £24,800 (UG)
Aerospace Engineering
13 coursesTypical fee £16,200 (UG)
15 coursesTypical fee £31,000 (UG)
Healthcare Science
23 coursesFee not available
5 coursesTypical fee £31,000 (UG)
Psychology (General)
20 coursesTypical fee £16,200 (UG)
5 coursesTypical fee £31,000 (UG)
Law
15 coursesTypical fee £16,200 (UG)
9 coursesTypical fee £25,500 (UG)
Mechanical Engineering
5 coursesTypical fee £16,200 (UG)
19 coursesTypical fee £31,000 (UG)
Finance & Actuarial Science
3 coursesTypical fee £16,200 (UG)
20 coursesTypical fee £25,500 (UG)
Design & Fashion
11 coursesTypical fee £16,200 (UG)
11 coursesTypical fee £24,800 (UG)
Civil Engineering
6 coursesTypical fee £15,850 (UG)
14 coursesTypical fee £31,000 (UG)
Media & Film Studies
6 coursesTypical fee £16,200 (UG)
14 coursesTypical fee £26,000 (UG)
Computer Science
4 coursesTypical fee £16,200 (UG)
12 coursesTypical fee £31,000 (UG)
Nursing (General)
12 coursesTypical fee £16,200 (UG)
3 coursesTypical fee £31,200 (UG)
Sociology & Criminology
4 coursesTypical fee £16,700 (UG)
11 coursesTypical fee £25,500 (UG)
Also taught at both: Building & Construction, History, Marketing, Software Engineering, Teacher Training, Music, Sport & Exercise Sciences, Business Studies, Chemistry, Accounting, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Education Studies, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Community & Specialist Nursing, Health & Social Care, Management, Politics & International Relations, Biology, Social Policy & Public Policy, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Applied Computing, Biomedical Sciences, Games Design & Computer Animation, Information Systems & Data Science, Statistics, Operational Research, Social Sciences (General), English Studies, Fine Art, Human Geography & Environment, Human Resource Management, Midwifery, Specialist Clinical Nursing, Creative Arts (General), Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation.
Only at University of South Wales
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 South Wales
- £16,200
- University of Southampton
- £26,000
University of South Wales is about £9,800 a year cheaper.
Postgraduate
- University of South Wales
- £17,900
- University of Southampton
- £31,200
University of South Wales is about £13,300 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 South Wales
University of Southampton
Business & Management (General)
£19,000Salary (3 years)£31,50094%Satisfaction80%Electronic & Electrical Engineering
£30,000Salary (3 years)£40,50094%Satisfaction89%Aerospace Engineering
£26,500Salary (3 years)£33,50089%Satisfaction94%Psychology (General)
£19,500Salary (3 years)£25,50090%Satisfaction89%Law
£20,000Salary (3 years)£28,50096%Satisfaction87%Mechanical Engineering
£33,000Salary (3 years)£34,50090%Satisfaction87%Finance & Actuarial Science
£19,000Salary (3 years)£39,50090%Satisfaction84%Design & Fashion
£20,500Salary (3 years)£21,50088%Satisfaction89%Civil Engineering
£28,500Salary (3 years)£29,00083%Satisfaction93%Media & Film Studies
£19,000Salary (3 years)£23,50082%Satisfaction87%Computer Science
£19,500Salary (3 years)£47,00090%Satisfaction80%Nursing (General)
£34,500Salary (3 years)£29,50083%SatisfactionNo data
Showing the 12 largest of 30 shared subjects with published outcomes.
Scholarships for International Students
ExclusiveUniversity of South Wales
USW Postgraduate Refugee Sanctuary Scheme
100%
Deadline: N/A
USW Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship 2026/2027
100%
Deadline: Jul 2026
USW Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship 2027/2028
100%
Deadline: Jul 2027
USW Refugee Sanctuary Scheme
100%
Deadline: N/A
Undergraduate Sanctuary Scholarship 2026/2027
100%
Deadline: Jul 2026
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
FAQ
University of South Wales vs University of Southampton: common questions
Is University of South Wales or University of Southampton cheaper for international students?
For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £16,200 a year at University of South Wales and £26,000 at University of Southampton: University of South Wales is about £9,800 a year cheaper. For postgraduate study, the typical published international fee is £17,900 a year at University of South Wales and £31,200 at University of Southampton: University of South Wales is about £13,300 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 South Wales and University of Southampton?
Both universities teach 50 subject areas: Business & Management (General), Electronic & Electrical Engineering, General Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Healthcare Science, Psychology (General), Law, Mechanical Engineering, Finance & Actuarial Science, Design & Fashion, Civil Engineering, Media & Film Studies and 38 more.
Is University of South Wales or University of Southampton better for Business & Management (General)?
Business & Management (General) graduates earn a median £19,000 three years after graduating from University of South Wales, and £31,500 from University of Southampton. Student satisfaction with teaching is 94% at University of South Wales and 80% at University of Southampton. Figures are medians across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject, from Discover Uni.
Does University of South Wales or University of Southampton offer more courses?
University of Southampton lists 545 courses on CourseOptions and University of South Wales lists 331 courses.
What can you study at University of South Wales but not at University of Southampton?
University of South Wales teaches 13 subject areas that University of Southampton does not, including Film Production & Cinematography, Childhood & Youth Studies, Forensic Science, Drama & Theatre, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Journalism, Social Work, Animal Science and 5 more.
What can you study at University of Southampton but not at University of South Wales?
University of Southampton teaches 41 subject areas that University of South Wales does not, including Geology & Earth Sciences, Physics, Archaeology, Chemical Engineering, Ancient Languages, English Literature, Environmental Sciences, Economics and 33 more.
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