Mansi parihar Study Abroad Course Expert
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The University of Edinburgh, a public university and among Scotland's capital city institutions, is among the UK's oldest and most prestigious, with a total of around 49,000 students. Admissions are very selective, with an international acceptance rate of approximately 10%. Popular courses of study include Medicine, Informatics, Business, Veterinary Science, and Social Sciences. The graduation rate is excellent, and graduates have a median income of INR 55–65 lakhs per annum (?£55,000–65,000 or $65,000–78,000 ten years postgraduation).
University College London (UCL), situated in London, is a world-class public research university that has around 51,000 students. Its acceptance rate is extremely competitive, approximately 10%. Some of the most popular courses are Medicine, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, and Law. The graduation rate is more than 90%, and alumni median salaries are about INR 70–80 lakhs per year (?£70,000–80,000 or $85,000–95,000 ten years after graduation).
| University of Edinburgh | University College London | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.9 Out of 10 | 7.7 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 13 The Guardian 2026 # 29 Times Higher Education 2026 # 34 QS World University 2026 | # 9 QS World University 2026 # 10 The Guardian 2026 # 22 Times Higher Education 2026 |
| Subject Strength | # 58 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 24 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 20 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 33 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 21 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 8 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -41 PG Programs -73 Doctorate Programs -8 | UG Programs -71 PG Programs -194 Doctorate Programs -9 |
| Acceptance Rate | 10.0 % | 25.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-7 PTE-73 TOEFL-100 | GMAT-600 GRE-318 IELTS-6.5 PTE-75 TOEFL-110 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 34713 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 28380 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 5200 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 33977 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 32100 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 20058 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | The University of Edinburgh is one of the top public universities in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. It is ranked #15 in QS World University Rankings 2023.Graduate Employability Ranking #49;Top recruiters: Tesco Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, Avaloq Evolution AG, Scottish Government; Average Salaries by the degree:
| Graduate employability rank: #22, |
| application requirements | Transcripts; Proof of English Language Proficiency; Portfolio; Work experience; LORs; Resume; Standardized scores (Optional); Research papers. | applications must be made through UCAS. Personal statement and LORs are an important part of both UG and PG applications. |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.3/10 Read 29 reviews | 7.5/10 Read 12 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 6 for Business by The Guardian 2026 # 73 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 121 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 7 for Business by The Guardian 2026 # 22 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 90 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| application | - | - |
| exam scores | GMAT - 600/800IELTS - 7/9PTE - 73/90TOEFL - 100/120 | GMAT - 600/800IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 75/90TOEFL - 92/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -62558 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Oct 15, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Nov 26, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Jan 28, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Mar 4, 2026 (Round 4 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Apr 22, 2026 (Round 5 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Jun 10, 2026 (Round 6 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) | Feb 23, 2026 (Application Deadline For Round 1 Intake) May 25, 2026 (Application Deadline For Round 2 Intake) Aug 24, 2026 (Application Deadline For Round 3 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Edinburgh | University College London |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1583 | 1826 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | :1 | 10:1 |
| Male:Female | 62% Male, 0% Female | 57% Male, 43% Female |
| Location Facts | 5 campuses in Edinburgh- Central, King's Buildings, BioQuarter, Western General, Easter Bush; Comprises of 135 acres of land. | UCL’s main campus is located in Bloomsbury around Queen Square, the university is considered to be placed perfectly to foster enterprise and business partnerships. It is surrounded by great museums, archives, libraries, and professional bodies. |
| Library | Over 3.5 million books; 60 km of Special Collections; Museum and Art Collections; 85,000+ e-journals; 600,000 e-books. | 17 libraries and learning spaces. The main library observed a recent addition of 1.5 million books and 30 databases even during COVID-times. Except for the main library, UCL libraries are mostly dedicated to one specific subject area. |
| Campus Life | Over 290 clubs & societies; Exhibitions; Festivals; Open Days; Gifford Lectures; 10 gyms including- spin studio, Velo-city, Katherine Grainger Rowing Gym, 102-station cardiovascular gym, etc.; 60 Sports clubs; 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool; Multi-activity sports halls; Peffermill Playing Fields. | Various shops on-campus offer computer supplies, clothing, art material, stationery, and other essentials. It has a theatre (Bloomsbury), over 300 student union-run clubs and societies, dance and music clubs, opera house, and three museums. There are various fitness activities and sports teams. |
| Hostel | - | #Rent - $17524 |
| Famous Alumni | 3 UK PM’s; 19 Nobel laureates; 3 Turing Award laureates; 1 Fields Medalist; 1 Abel Prize winner; 2 Pulitzer Prize winners; 2 currently sitting UK Supreme Court Justices; several Olympic gold medallists; Robert Edwards (pioneer of in-vitro fertilization); Daniel Rutherford; Alexander Graham Bell; William Wordsworth; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Charles Darwin; Ian Charleson (Actor); J.K. Rowling; Gordon Brown (Former PM of UK) | Alexander Graham Bell, Christopher Nolan (filmmaker), Chris Martin (singer), Francis Crick (British Biologist), Ricky Gervais (Comedian), Derek Jarman (film director), John Stuart Mill (British Philosopher), Robert Browning (poet), Antony Gormley (sculptor), Mahatma Gandhi |
| City Life | Edinburgh- seat of the Scottish Government, Parliament and the supreme courts of Scotland; 2nd most populous city in Scotland; Known for National Museum of Scotland, National Library of Scotland, Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh International Festival, Fringe (world's largest annual international arts festival), Palace of Holyroodhouse; Unemployment rate 2.9%. | With some amazing bars, buzzing night clubs, and restaurants at its doorstep, London is among the top cities to live in UK. Even though the city is comparatively expensive locations, you can find student discounts while shopping, eating, as well as traveling in London. It is a global capital of culture with hundreds of museums, festivals, live performances, etc and thousands of open spaces, and green parks. The unemployment rate id around 4.4%. It is one of the highest paying cities in UK |
| Weather |
University of Edinburgh vs University College London (UCL)
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
UCL ranks in the Top 20 worldwide (QS and THE), with exceptional programs in Medicine, Law, Arts & Humanities, and Engineering. Edinburgh tends to rank in the Top 30–40 worldwide, being excellent in Informatics, Medicine, Veterinary Science, and Arts & Humanities. UCL generally enjoys a stronger global general reputation, while Edinburgh excels in individual subject areas.
General Information
Edinburgh provides an historic, cosmopolitan setting with high research culture and international student community. UCL, in central London, offers a global center for research and professional networks, with greater interdisciplinarity and access to London's networks.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both Universitie are very competitive with virtually identical acceptance rate of 10-11%, particularly for popular courses such as Economics, Medicine, and Law. Edinburgh is still highly competitive, mostly for professional and STEM courses.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both belong to the UK's elite Russell Group and are designated as world-leading research institutions. UCL boasts one of Europe's largest research outputs, with groundbreaking work in neuroscience, medicine, and sustainability. Edinburgh leads in informatics, AI, data science, medicine, and veterinary research, placed among Europe's leading research universities.
Cost & Financial Aid
For foreign students, UCL fees are £25,000–38,000 program-dependent, whereas Edinburgh is around £22,000–37,000. London is more expensive for living, so UCL is overall more costly. Both universities provide scholarships, although UCL's are more competitive and specifically directed.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
UCL graduates are international business, law, politics, medicine, and arts leaders, underpinned by London's professional network. Edinburgh graduates prosper in Europe and around the world, especially in academia, enterprise, medicine, and technology. UCL's city location provides graduates with stronger more direct access to international recruiters, whereas Edinburgh offers a robust mix of research, culture, and international recognition.
