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The University of Bristol in southwest England is a top-tier Russell Group university that has approximately 29,000 students. The admissions are highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of nearly 12%. Some of the most sought-after majors at the university are Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Social Sciences, and Medicine. The university's graduation rate is nearly 85%, and the alumni have average early-career salaries of INR 38–42 lakhs per annum (£36,000–40,000).
The University of Birmingham, in Edgbaston, Birmingham, is another prominent Russell Group university with more than 35,000 students. It is very selective with an acceptance rate of around 13–14%. Major subjects are Business, Medicine, Law, Engineering, and Social Sciences. The graduation rate is roughly 83%, and the alumni receive average early-career salaries of INR 40–45 lakhs annually (£38,000–42,000).
| University of Bristol | University of Birmingham | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.1 Out of 10 | 6.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 15 The Guardian 2026 # 51 QS World University 2026 # 80 Times Higher Education 2026 | # 28 The Guardian 2026 # 76 QS World University 2026 # 98 Times Higher Education 2026 |
| Subject Strength | # 100 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 59 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 96 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 67 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 41 for Law by The Guardian 2026 |
| Programs | UG Programs -168 PG Programs -114 Doctorate Programs -49 | UG Programs -52 PG Programs -145 Doctorate Programs -54 |
| Acceptance Rate | 67.0 % | 13.0 % |
| Exam Score | GRE-316 IELTS-6.5 PTE-67 SAT-650 TOEFL-103 | GMAT-500 GRE-292 IELTS-6 PTE-59 TOEFL-88 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 45952 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 20100 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 9720 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 27180 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 26640 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 17136 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Ranked #61 in QS world University Rankings ; #49 in Graduate Employment Ranking Top Recruiters Are : Atkins, IBM, MI5, AstraZeneca, BT, HSBC, PwC, KPMG, Deloitte etc Bristol University Graduates & Alumni Salaries - By Degree
| Graduate employability ranking #86; Annual average salary 57,100 USD; Top recruiters: IBM, Capgemini, Peter Brett Associates, WSP Global Inc., Barclays Bank, etc.; Highest paid degrees: Executive MBA (127,000 USD), MBA (104,000 USD), Bachelor (101,000 USD), LLM (85,000 USD), Masters in Finance (76,000 USD). |
| application requirements | academic transcripts; 2 academic references; translations of relevant documents; personal statement/essay; research proposal; poof of English language proficiency | Academic transcripts; 2 reference letters; personal statement; essay; research proposal (for research programs); Proof of English language proficiency |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.3/10 Read 16 reviews | 8.0/10 Read 27 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 10 for Computer Science by The Guardian 2026 # 101 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 # 134 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 | # 5 for Computer Science by The Guardian 2026 # 174 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 # 176 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| application | - | - |
| exam scores | IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 67/90TOEFL - 88/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 67/90TOEFL - 88/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -35500 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Aug 27, 2026 (Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake) | Jul 3, 2026 (Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Bristol | University of Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1595 | 1900 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | :1 | 12:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 47% Male, 53% Female | 42% Male, 58% Female |
| Location Facts | Located in Bristol, England; a gateway to the South West; provides easy access to Bath, Cardiff, surrounding countryside, etc. Students can take a hike to Mendip Hills, discover Glastonbury, Cotswolds, Forest of Dean, local beaches at Weston-super-Mare, Brean Down and Sand Bay, etc. | 2 campuses- Edgbaston and Selly Oak located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK; centered around Chancellor’s Court and Old Joe. |
| Library | 10 libraries; 45,000 meters of printed stock; millions of books, ebooks, journals, manuscripts, etc; special collections with materials dating from the 11th century to the present day | 7 libraries and resource center; 2.7 million books and scholarly periodicals, over 16,000 electronic resources; 1.8 million print; 500,000 online books; over 85,000 print & online journals. |
| Campus Life | 350 societies, sports clubs, groups & support networks; Indoor Sports Centre (consisting of gyms, studios, sports halls, etc.); swimming pool; University Boathouse. | 250 clubs & societies; Houses the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Shakespeare Institute, Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts, Lapworth Museum of Geology, Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower; UoB Sport & Fitness club (consisting of 50m swimming pool, multi-sports arena, 6 glass-backed squash courts, 200-station gym, 10m climbing wall, Performance Centre, 5 activity studios, etc.); 9 Costas, 2 Starbucks; other university cafes; etc. |
| Hostel | #Rent and Bills - $9720 | #Accommodation (Catered) - $8442 #Accommodation (Self Catered) - $8694 |
| Famous Alumni | 13 Nobel Prize winners; Simon Pegg (Writer & Actor); Jonathan Evans (Former Head of MI5); Alastair Stewart (Journalist); Paul Dirac (Physicist & Nobel Prize winner); Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (Former South African Minister of Health); Parambrata Chattopadhyay (Indian Film Actor & Director); William Jack Poulter (Actor). | 11 Nobel laureates; Neville Chamberlain & Stanley Baldwin (Former British PM); Sir Edward Elgar (British composer); Baroness Amos (UN Under-Secretary-General); Lord Roll of Ipsden (Director of the Bank of England); Isaac Hempstead Wright (Actor); Rodolfo Neri Vela (Mexican scientist & astronaut); Tim Curry (Actor) |
| City Life | The largest city in the South West; 90 minutes from London; Known for Georgian architecture, gritty graffiti, harbourside living, etc.; Economy based on creative media, electronics, aerospace industries; Home to 30 art galleries; Famous attractions include Bristol Zoo Gardens, At-Bristol, Bristol Harbour, St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol Cathedral, Clifton Suspension Bridge, Cheddar Gorge. | A city in West Midlands, England; 2nd largest city in England; Economy dominated by the service sector; 2nd largest metropolitan economy in UK with a GDP of 121.1 billion USD; Top tourist attractions include Victoria Square, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Thinktank- Birmingham Science Museum, National SEA LIFE Centre, St. Philip's Cathedral, Cadbury World |
University of Bristol vs University of Birmingham
Topic Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both universities feature in the top 100–120 worldwide. Bristol is particularly renowned for Engineering, Computer Science, and Life Sciences, with QS placing it consistently within the top-ranked research impact globally. Birmingham performs well in Medicine, Business, and Law, frequently ranking among the top 10 in the UK for the same. Globally, Bristol occasionally rates slightly higher in the STEM rankings, whereas Birmingham enjoys more even recognition in medicine, business, and social sciences.
Bristol boasts a city-campus environment incorporated within a vibrant and innovative city with a sound track record for research-led teaching. Birmingham's Edgbaston campus is a large traditional UK university environment with superb student facilities and close proximity to the UK's second-largest city for business and employment.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both are selective, but Bristol is ever so slightly more competitive as a whole (13–14% vs Bristol's ~12%). Bristol has a stronger draw of international STEM students, whereas Birmingham is very competitive for Business, Medicine, and Law.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both are Russell Group institutions with R1-level research profiles. Bristol excels in computer science, aerospace engineering, and climate sciences, with significant EU and international partnerships. Birmingham boasts world-class facilities in medicine, law, and social sciences, with one of the UK's biggest medical schools.
Cost & Financial Aid
International fees are between £20,000–25,000 at both universities, and medicine and STEM programs cost more. Costs of living in Bristol are a little higher than in Birmingham because the city is so student-popular. Both institutions offer scholarships for academic achievement and research distinction.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Bristol graduates are in strong demand in tech, finance, and research, with a high reputation among employers in STEM and innovation industries. Birmingham graduates perform well in medicine, law, politics, and business, with many going into top-level professional careers. Both universities are high for employability but with more connections to law and healthcare industries for Birmingham and with Bristol excelling in tech, engineering, and finance.
