University of Edinburgh vs University of Oxford

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The University of Edinburgh, based in Scotland's capital city, is a top public research university with approximately 49,000 students. Admissions are competitive with an international student acceptance rate of around 10%. Some popular fields of study are Medicine, Engineering, Informatics, Business, and Social Sciences. The graduation rate is high, and graduates show median income of around INR 55–65 lakhs per year (?£55,000–65,000 or $65,000–78,000 ten years post-graduation).

The University of Oxford, in Oxford, England, is a top global collegiate university and one of the world's oldest, with approximately 27,000 students. Admissions are extremely competitive, with an overall acceptance rate of approximately 17–19% and lower for foreign students. Subjects such as Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE), Medicine, Law, Mathematics, and Computer Science are very popular. The six-year graduation rate is more than 95%, and graduates receive median salaries of INR 80 lakhs–1.2 crore per year (?£80,000–£120,000 or $95,000–145,000).

Overview Comparison
University of EdinburghUniversity of Oxford
Collegedunia Score6.9 Out of 108.9 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 13 The Guardian 2026
# 29 Times Higher Education 2026
# 34 QS World University 2026
# 1 Times Higher Education 2026
# 1 The Guardian 2026
# 4 QS World University 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
# 2 for Engineering by QS World University 2025
# 3 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025
# 2 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
ProgramsUG Programs -41
PG Programs -73
Doctorate Programs -8
UG Programs -22
PG Programs -43
Doctorate Programs -17
Acceptance Rate10.0 %0.0 %
Exam ScoreIELTS-7
PTE-73
TOEFL-100
GMAT-595
GRE-320
IELTS-7.5
TOEFL-110
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   34713
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  28380
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 5200 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   51763
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  37894
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 13680 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:

  • MBA: $129,000 
  • Bachelor (Other): $99,000 
  • Executive MBA: $93,000 
  • PhD: $80,000 
  • Executive Masters: $75,000 
  • Masters of Arts: $69,000 

University of Oxford is one of the top public universities in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is ranked #4 in QS World University Rankings 2023.

  • Executive Masters  : $140,000 
  • Masters in Management  : $135,000 
  • Executive MBA : $127,000 
  • Masters of Arts :  $107,000 
  • LLM : $101,000 
  • Bachelor (Other) : $99,000 

application requirements

Transcripts; Proof of English Language Proficiency; Portfolio; Work experience; LORs; Resume; Standardized scores (Optional); Research papers.

CBSE/ICSE/State Boards certificate with 85-95% (varies with program); 2-3 LORs; Personal Statement; Resume; Standardized test scores; Interview; Proof of English language proficiency; Additional Requirements (Work experience, Research proposals, etc.)

Campuses and B-SchoolsNASaid Business School
CollegeDunia Reviews7.3/10 Read 29 reviews8.3/10 Read 10 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

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
# 1 for Business by The Guardian 2026
# 2 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 5 for Business by QS World University 2025
application-#5183 Applicants
# 311 Admissions
# 6 % Acceptance Rate
exam scoresGMAT - 600/800IELTS - 7/9PTE - 73/90TOEFL - 100/120IELTS - 7.5/9TOEFL - 110/120
cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -106080
documents required#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose
application datesOct 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)
Sep 1, 2025 (Stage 1 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake)
Oct 1, 2025 (Stage 2 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake)
Oct 17, 2025 (Stage 1 Decision Deadline For 2026 Intake)
Nov 3, 2025 (Stage 3 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake)
Nov 14, 2025 (Stage 2 Decision Deadline For 2026 Intake)
Dec 12, 2025 (Stage 3 Decision Deadline For 2026 Intake)
Jan 7, 2026 (Stage 4 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake)
Mar 6, 2026 (Stage 4 Decision Deadline For 2026 Intake)
Mar 16, 2026 (Stage 5 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake)
Apr 24, 2026 (Stage 5 Decision Deadline For 2026 Intake)
General Facts Comparison
General FactsUniversity of EdinburghUniversity of Oxford
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1583
1096
Student:Faculty Ratio:1
:1
Male:Female62% Male, 0% Female2597% Male, 0% Female
Location Facts

5 campuses in Edinburgh- Central, King's Buildings, BioQuarter, Western General, Easter Bush; Comprises of 135 acres of land.


A collegiate research university in Oxford, England; 39 Oxford colleges; located in south England, 90 minutes from London.


Library

Over 3.5 million books; 60 km of Special Collections; Museum and Art Collections; 85,000+ e-journals; 600,000 e-books.


University has over 100 libraries. Bodleian Libraries include university’s main library and 30 other libraries across Oxford having over 12 million printed books and  80,000 e-journals. Also, every college has its own library.


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.


University has over 400 student societies including Oxford Union (debating society), Music Society, Dramatic Society, etc. Two weekly university newspapers are published: Cherwell and The Oxford Student. 


Hostel-#Accommodation - $9900
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)


30 British Prime Ministers, 55 Nobel Prize winners, 120 Olympic medal winners; Helen Fielding (author), Edward de Bono (philosopher), Hugh Grant (actor), Stephen Hawking (physicist), Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (cricketer)


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%.


The city is center for art and culture and has an amazing nightlife to offer. It has museums with ancient Egyptian artifacts, a new theatre dedicated to comedy scenes, and modern art galleries. The rive Isis beautifies the whole city. There are various authentic cuisine cafes and restaurants in the city offering a wide variety of food and drinking options. The unemployment rate is 3.1%


Weather
Comparison Notes

University of Edinburgh vs University of Oxford

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Oxford ranks among the Top 5 universities worldwide by QS and Times Higher Education, topping in Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine, and STEM. Edinburgh generally ranks in the Top 30–40 in the world, leading in Medicine, Artificial Intelligence, Veterinary Science, and Arts & Humanities.

General Information

Oxford has a collegiate system where it provides an intimate and traditional learning experience alongside top-notch research. Edinburgh is a big city university with a cosmopolitan student population, bringing together historic reputation and cutting-edge research, especially in technology and medicine.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Oxford's acceptance rate (~18%) is one of the most selective worldwide, involving superior academic qualifications, entrance examinations, and interviews. Edinburgh's acceptance rate is lower (~10%), particularly in undergraduates, although postgrad admissions are much more competitive.

Research Impact & Facilities

Both belong to the UK's Russell Group and have international R1-level reputations for research. Oxford excels globally for its research output, Nobel laureates, and interdisciplinary impact. Edinburgh excels in data science, informatics, medicine, and veterinary science research, with an international research presence.

Cost & Financial Aid

For international students, Oxford fees are between £28,000–45,000 annually, while Edinburgh costs about £25,000–37,000 depending on the course. Both have scholarships, though Oxford has more internationally renowned awards like the Rhodes and Clarendon Scholarships.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

Oxford alumni are preeminent in world leadership—politics, law, finance, academia—with one of the strongest alumni networks in the world. Edinburgh alumni are also very successful in academia, business, and public service, with placements excellent in the UK and Europe, but Oxford's international reach is without rival.