University of Hertfordshire vs University of Bedfordshire

University of Hertfordshire vs University of Bedfordshire

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The University of Hertfordshire, situated in Hatfield to the north of London, is a contemporary public university that serves nearly 30,000 students. It has a fairly easy admission process, with about a 70% acceptance rate. Hertfordshire has a solid reputation in programs like Engineering, Computer Sciences, Business Studies, and Health Sciences. The graduation rate is about 65-70%, and early career graduates make approximately INR 28-32 lakhs per year (£26,000-30,000) in the UK job market. 

The University of Bedfordshire has two campuses located in Luton and Bedford, is a teaching university and serves about 20,000 students. It has an open admissions policy with about an 80% acceptance rate. Bedfordshire's flagship programs include Media, Business, Education, and Health & Social Care. The graduation rate is approximately 55-60%. The average early career wages for Bedfordshire graduates is about INR 25-29 lakhs per year (£23,000-27,000).

Overview Comparison
University of HertfordshireUniversity of Bedfordshire
Collegedunia Score4.2 Out of 104.1 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 48 The Guardian 2026
# 601 Times Higher Education 2026
# 901 QS World University 2026
# 103 The Guardian 2026
# 1001 Times Higher Education 2026
# 1001 Times Higher Education 2025
Subject Strength# 601 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025
# 701 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 40 for Law by The Guardian 2026
# 801 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2023
# 93 for Law by The Guardian 2026
ProgramsUG Programs -63
PG Programs -94
UG Programs -126
PG Programs -66
Acceptance Rate70.0 %80.0 %
Exam ScoreGMAT-600
IELTS-6.5
PTE-58
SAT-1210
TOEFL-72
IELTS-6
PTE-54
TOEFL-72
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   18426
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  17250
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 900 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   15030.6
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  15600
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 7584 Per Year
placement (average package)

University of Hertfordshire is one of the top public universities in Hatfield, United Kingdom. It is ranked #801-1000 in QS World University Rankings 2023.

  • LLM: $64,000 
  • PhD: $59,000 
  • Bachelor of Science: $50,000 
  • Masters in Management: $48,000 
  • Master (Other): $47,000 
  • Masters in Finance: $46,000 

Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows:

Masters of Arts: $69,000

Bachelor (Other): $57,000

Masters in Science: $48,000

Other Degree: $45,000

Bachelor of Science: $40,000

Master (Other): $36,000 


application requirements

Students should submit English language proficiency test scores

Check program specific requirements

Submit official transcripts 

Submit English language proficiency

Check program specific requirements

CollegeDunia Reviews7.4/10 Read 24 reviews6.8/10 Read 5 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking# 56 for Business by The Guardian 2026
# 801 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 108 for Business by The Guardian 2026
exam scoresDuolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6/9PTE - 59/90TOEFL - 79/120Duolingo - 110/160IELTS - 6/9PTE - 59/90TOEFL - 72/120
cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -34450Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -18900
documents required#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose
application datesNov 15, 2026 (Application Deadline for January Intake)
Sep 12, 2025 (Application Deadline For November 2025 Intake)
Nov 7, 2025 (Application Deadline For January 2026 Intake)
General Facts Comparison
General FactsUniversity of HertfordshireUniversity of Bedfordshire
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1952
2006
Student:Faculty Ratio18:1
25:1
Male:Female0% Male, 0% Female39% Male, 61% Female
Location Facts

The University of Hertfordshire is located in Hatfield, just 25 minutes by train from London's King's Cross station and within easy access of the A1(M).

Our 2 sites, College Lane and de Havilland, are situated less than a kilometre apart. A network of pathways, cycle routes and handy shuttle buses connects the sites.


The University of Bedfordshire has five campuses: Luton, Bedford, Putteridge bury, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes


Library

Extensive digital and printed library collections 

  • Over 900,000 books, including 490,000 online e-books
  • Online and print journals (over 40,000 titles)
  • Online information databases
  • Multiple copies of key texts
  • Past examination papers online
  • Generous book borrowing privileges
  • Self-service inter-library loan facility

There is library provision at 4 of our main Campuses at: Luton, Bedford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury.

You have access to:

130,000+ ebooks
285,000+ books
135,000+ ejournals
1,200+ print journals
2,600+ reading lists
100+ databases
University past examination papers where available
examples of dissertations
PhD and research masters theses via the University repository


Campus Life
  • The campus of the University has 6,000 Square meters of laboratory, including office space for health technology business and life science.
  • The 50-hectare site in Bayfordbury houses the atmospheric physics remote sensing observatory and laboratory.
  • The Student Wellbeing Center on the College Lane campus of the University provides mental health, disability, emotional and health-related issues to the students.
  • The campus offers first-class facilities such as a gym, social sciences spaces, and a central hub. They also have sports facilities including a climbing wall and a pool. De Harville Campus is provided with a library, computer center, and resource center.
  • The campus has many educational spots, including a biology lab, creative art gallery, simulation wards, an aerospace lab, an observatory, and a law building.

The university supports its students in all aspects of their life and encourage through the excellent services:

Superb, modern facilities across all our subject areas
Study skills development
Career and job-seeking guidance
Volunteer and work experience
Health and wellbeing services
Modern accommodation
Personal tutors
International education partners with opportunities to study overseas


Hostel#Monthly Rent - $700
#Room and Board (including accommodation - $7584
Famous Alumni

The University has a strong alumni network of 270,000 graduates. Some of the Hertfordshire University notable alumni include Owen Farrell (England Rugby player), Sanjeev Bhaskar (British comedian), and Claire Margaret Ward (Labour Party politician).


Zema Abbey, former football player
Rickie Haywood Williams, radio dj and producer
Rachel Hopkins, politician and MP
Gemma Hunt, Tv presenter
Becky Jago, TV news presenter


City Life

Hatfield offers plenty of things to do right on your doorstep. From local amenities, including a variety of supermarkets, to days out with your friends and family, you don't have to travel far.

atfield has restaurants and cafes catering to all tastes and dietary requirements including Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Greek, Italian, Tex-Mex and British, fast food, takeaways, gastro pubs and coffee shops. A popular choice for many students is the 'Turkish Kitchen' or 'Wetherspoons.'

Located next to de Havilland campus, Ellenbrook Fields is a large nature reserve open to the public. The area is popular with walkers, runners and cyclists and is host to Hatfield's weekly parkrun.

There are a variety of shopping options from the farmers' market to the The Galleria outlet mall, located between the College Lane and de Havilland campuses. It contains a variety of shops, an Odeon cinema and restaurants - many of which offer discounts to students. Throughout the year they hold student lock-in events which offer even more discounts.

A short walk away, the town centre has many more high street brands.


With impressive house price rises, large scale regeneration plans, ideal location and excellent commuter connections, Luton is an excellent prospect for those looking for new homes in London. Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire, situated in the south of England, with a population of 213,052. In the 1700’s, Luton was famous for its hat-making, which became one of Luton’s largest industries.  One of the UK’s fastest-growing residential property markets, Luton is a modern area with beautiful countryside. Considering its attraction, house prices in Luton are rising, yet still remain low compared to London (half the price), with the average price at £270,331 in November 2020. With plenty of developments in Luton, it offers first-class infrastructure and is a commuter hotspot. It certainly offers an alternative to London-based workers — including first-time buyers and families who cannot progress up the property ladder due to the capital’s prohibitively high house prices.  It is not only a place for commuters to nest, it is a prime location for people at the end of the day coming back to Luton to enjoy their leisure time.


Comparison Notes

University of Hertfordshire vs University of Bedfordshire

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Although both universities do not appear in the global top 500, both universities are regionally strong. The University of Hertfordshire has strengths in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Arts, and Business. The University of Bedfordshire has strengths in Media, Business, Nursing, and Social Sciences. Overall, Hertfordshire has a better academic reputation; Bedfordshire provides a focus on accessibility, focusing on applied professional education.

General Information

Located in Hatfield, the University of Hertfordshire teaches about 30,000 learners and is known for a modern campus and strong links to industry, especially in technology and engineering. The University of Bedfordshire is located in Luton, Bedford, and Milton Keynes and teaches about 20,000 learners, with a focus on employability and widening participation, with a diverse and inclusive environment.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Hertfordshire has an acceptance rate of approximately 70% and prefers learners who wish to pursue STEM and creative arts programs that are recognised internationally. Bedfordshire has a higher acceptance rate (80%) and serves a wider audience of learners, including a significant population of first-generation learners and international learners in the UK. Hertfordshire is moderately more selective, particularly for programs in engineering and design.

Research Impact & Facilities

Hertfordshire places a greater emphasis on its applied research work, especially in the areas of aerospace, robotics, and computer science, allowing for stronger links to industry and technology park connections. In contrast, while Bedfordshire is more focused on its educational approach, it does contribute to the region through applied research in health care, education, and social policy research. In terms of facilities, Hertfordshire has more updated and larger facilities, while Bedfordshire emphasizes affordability of accessibility and practical training space. 

Cost & Financial Aid

International students average between £14,000-16,000 per year at Hertfordshire compared to £12,000-14,000 at Bedfordshire. Living costs are also inexpensive relative to areas further afield of London, with Hatfield being slightly less expensive than Luton. Both universities offer scholarships based on merit, although Hertfordshire has a larger scholarship portfolio specifically for international students.

Career Destinations & Graduates' Success

Hertfordshire graduates typically work in aerospace, IT, creative industries, and business, as Hertfordshire has extensive partnerships with employers and industry placement opportunities. Bedfordshire graduates typically work in nursing, social work, business, and media careers, and takes full advantage of the employment connections in their region. For certain degrees, Hertfordshire carries a higher profile across the globe, particularly around STEM related and creative job students. Bedfordshire does focus on professional pathways and employability, with their students from a wider range of backgrounds.