Birmingham City University is a public institution in Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is a big school with an enrollment of approximately 31,000 students (HESA Student Record 2021/22). Admissions are relatively competitive with an acceptance rate of 53% at Birmingham City University. Business, Health & Social Care (including Nursing) and Media & Cultural Studies are the most popular majors. Graduating ~78% of students, Birmingham City University graduates continue on to earn a median starting income of £21,500.
Coventry University is a public research university in Coventry, United Kingdom. It has a large student body of more than 38,000 students at UK campuses (including international students) students. Admissions are moderately competitive since the Coventry University acceptance rate stands at 32%. The most popular majors include Business, Engineering (with automotive/motorsport/aerospace specializations) and Computing / Computer Science. Graduating 78.0% for the cohort in question (2018-19 starters to achieve a degree) of students, the alumni of Coventry University have a median starting salary of £24.8k.
| Coventry University | Birmingham City University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.2 Out of 10 | 4 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 70 The Guardian 2026 # 558 QS World University 2026 # 601 Times Higher Education 2026 | # 113 The Guardian 2026 # 801 Times Higher Education 2026 # 1001 QS World University 2026 |
| Subject Strength | # 451 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 651 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 90 for Law by The Guardian 2026 | # 601 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 109 for Law by The Guardian 2026 |
| Programs | UG Programs -96 PG Programs -131 | UG Programs -139 PG Programs -74 Doctorate Programs -12 |
| Acceptance Rate | 32.0 % | 53.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-590 IELTS-6.5 TOEFL-79 | GMAT-590 IELTS-6.5 PTE-50 TOEFL-88 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 19850 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 21414 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 14792 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 15318.9 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 15154.3 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 9306 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Coventry University is one of the top public universities in Coventry, United Kingdom. It is ranked #651-700 in QS World University Rankings 2023.
| Some programs and the average salary are as follows:
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| application requirements | Applicants should have a minimum of 65% on average Submit English language proficiency test scores Check program specific requirements | Submit official transcripts of all previous education Submit English language proficiency test scores Submit personal statement Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.2/10 Read 26 reviews | 7.0/10 Read 8 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 59 for Business by The Guardian 2026 # 301 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 401 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 112 for Business by The Guardian 2026 # 601 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| application | - | - |
| exam scores | IELTS - 6.5/9 | IELTS - 6/9PTE - 59/90TOEFL - 80/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -30138 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -19970 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Oct 31, 2025 (Application Deadline For January 2026 Intake) | Dec 5, 2025 (Application Deadline For January 2026 Intake) Dec 20, 2025 (Fee Deposit Deadline for January 2026 Intake) Jan 4, 2026 (Last date for Pre-CAS Interview for January 2026 Intake) Jul 18, 2026 (Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Coventry University | Birmingham City University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1843 | 2013 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 15:1:1 | 19:1 |
| Male:Female | 49% Male, 0% Female | 38% Male, 62% Female |
| Location Facts | Located in the City of London, Coventry University London is serious about business. We are part of one of the largest providers of business-related degree courses in Europe. To make sure our students maintain a leading edge and get the best possible business experience, we launched Coventry University London in the heart of the financial district in 2010. Our achievements are a clear indication that the University is consistently delivering quality across a number of key areas, including student satisfaction, teaching and research quality, graduate job prospects, degree results achieved and more. | The university has campuses spread across different locations: City centre campus, City South Campus in Edgbaston, Victoria street in Birmhimgam, Margaret street, Bournville, |
| Library | Physical stock is divided over three floors:
The main body of the media collection (DVDs and CDs) can be found on Floor 2 of the Library. The collection includes:
| The Learning Centre has a collection of more than 23,000 items containing relevant course books and materials. It has print subscriptions to more than 115 journal titles and electronic access to more than 1,000. It also holds DVDs, reference books, directories, encyclopaedias, tip sheets, advice relating to the final year project, 29 computers with internet access, and binding, printing and photocopying services. Students can access electronic books, full-text electronic journals, newspaper articles, full-text British and international standards, market research reports, legal and bibliographic databases. Most of these can be accessed from both within the building and externally. |
| Campus Life |
| At Birmingham City University, the university does everything possible to make the students feel welcome and to make the most of their time at the university both academically and socially. The Students’ Union International Student Group runs social activities throughout the year to help students settle in and meet other students with similar interest. You’ll also have many opportunities to learn from Birmingham’s wider creative and business communities in a city which has the UK's largest concentration of businesses outside of London. |
| Hostel | #Rooms Ensuite - $6837 #Standard studio Room - $7955 | #Rooms - $6706 |
| Famous Alumni | The alumni network at Coventry University is extensive. Some of the names of the notable alumni of Coventry University are:
| Television presenter Kirsten O'Brien, Sports TV presenter Mary Rhodes, Radio and TV presenters Fiona Phillips Investigative journalist Mark Williams-Thomas |
| City Life | London is a city for people who enjoy limitless options of things to do, places to go, and restaurants at which to eat. You have virtually everything on your doorstep, and one thing that might surprise you is the abundance of green space to enjoy. Greenspace Information for Greater London say 47% of Greater London is green space and nearly 6% of this is made up of parks and gardens. | Studying in Birmingham offers you the chance to live and work in the youngest major city in Europe with world-class restaurants, entertainment and shops. Birmingham is home to more than one million people from a range of different cultures and ethnic groups, 40 per cent of this population is 25 and younger. Birmingham Hippodrome, one of the most popular musical theatres in the UK, attracts over 500,000 visitors a year. The famous NEC holds over 500 events and exhibitions per year, including the international Crufts dog show. Birmingham has more than 500,000 works of art in one square mile. Did you know Birmingham has more miles of canals than Venice, with 56 kilometres of waterways! The city is in England’s top three most visited places to shop, and is known as one of Europe’s best shopping experiences. |
| Weather |
Comparison between Birmingham City University and Coventry University
Subject Strength
Coventry boasts a powerful, industry-oriented engineering provision (motorsport/aerospace etc./automotive etc.) and strong employer connections; both institutions have business courses but Coventry's own profile is based around employability and industry partnerships. BCU excels for creative/media courses and design-oriented subjects. Coventry's engineering subjects fall in the mid-to-higher QS subject bands (approximately the 400–550 bands in current QS tables) and Coventry does place significant automotive and cyber-related activity. Media & design at BCU are located mostly in the Faculty of Arts, Design & Media (Parkside / City Centre buildings). BCU does have engineering/computing faculties, but media/design strengths (creative workshops, TV/radio studios, digital media) are located in Parkside and the ART/DESIGN faculties. For nursing, BCU's course is excellent. Those who focus on engineering or business might find Coventry more suitable, while BCU is better for media and nursing.
General Information
Birmingham City University, established in 1843, is a public university with 31,745 students, including about 7,840 postgraduates, on several campuses in Birmingham, including City Centre and City South. Coventry University, which was founded in 1843, It became Coventry Polytechnic through mergers in 1970 and finally achieved university status in 1992, is a public research university with more than 38,000 students, including 10,000 postgraduate students, mainly on its main Coventry campus. Coventry has a global focus with satellite campuses in London and Poland, while BCU focuses on regional business connections and work-oriented learning.
Acceptance Rate
Coventry University's 32% acceptance rate is higher than BCU's 53%. Coventry's entry average is IELTS 6.0 (UG) and 6.5 (PG), and so is BCU's acceptance of IELTS 6.0 (UG) and 6.5 (PG) depending on the course. Both Coventry's and BCU's application fees are £22 and £26 respectively through UCAS. International students might find BCU's higher acceptance rate and somewhat lower entry requirements more favorable.
Location Facts
BCU's Birmingham campuses are situated in a multicultural, thriving city center, surrounded by cultural attractions such as Symphony Hall and business connections in the UK's second-largest city. Coventry campus, 20 miles from Birmingham, provides a smaller, student-oriented city environment with historic attractions such as Coventry Cathedral. Both cities offer lively student lifestyles, but Birmingham's larger city has more professional networking.
Hostel Fees
BCU's on-campus accommodation prices are £5,400-£8,200 annually, while off-campus prices average £450-£600 monthly. Coventry's is marginally cheaper at £4,700-£7,600 annually due to Coventry's more modest cost of living. Both are funded by the government as public universities.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Coventry graduates receive a median first-year salary of ~£28k, with robust engineering and business recruitment and strong partnerships with organizations such as Jaguar Land Rover. BCU graduates receive a median of £24,500, with solid placements in healthcare and media; 97% of BCU students are in employment or further study after six months (HESA 2023). Coventry's career support is higher (#301-500 in QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2023), while BCU's local connections fuel regional industry placements.
Infrastructure
BCU's City Centre Campus is equipped with state-of-the-art buildings such as the Parkside Building for media and design, with more than 1.2 million volumes in its library. Coventry's library is equipped with 1.5 million items, including state-of-the-art facilities such as the Lanchester Library and the Delia Derbyshire Building for creative arts. Coventry's campus is relatively centralized, whereas BCU's several campuses have specialized facilities for various disciplines.
