The University of Manchester is a highly ranked public university based in Manchester, England in the Greater Manchester metropolitan region. It is a large university with a student enrollment of approximately 40,000 students. Admissions are moderately selective and have an acceptance rate of nearly 76%. Major fields of study include Engineering, Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Computer Science, and Business. The six-year graduation rate is around 87%, and Manchester graduates have a median beginning salary of around INR 42,50,000 (converted from £41,000 average salaries ten years after graduation).
The University of Birmingham is one of the top public universities located in Birmingham, England in the West Midlands region. It is also a large university with a student enrollment of around 35,000. Admissions are moderately competitive with an acceptance rate of almost 13.8%. Typical majors are Business, Engineering, Social Sciences, Medicine, and Law. The six-year graduation rate is approximately 89%, and the median starting salary of Birmingham graduates is around INR 40,20,000 (based on conversion from £38,800 average earnings a decade after graduation).
| The University of Manchester | University of Birmingham | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.5 Out of 10 | 6.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 35 QS World University 2026 # 36 The Guardian 2026 # 56 Times Higher Education 2026 | # 28 The Guardian 2026 # 76 QS World University 2026 # 98 Times Higher Education 2026 |
| Subject Strength | # 32 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 33 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 25 for Law by The Guardian 2026 | # 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 -143 PG Programs -122 Doctorate Programs -6 | UG Programs -52 PG Programs -145 Doctorate Programs -54 |
| Acceptance Rate | 76.0 % | 13.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-650 GRE-330 IELTS-6.5 PTE-59 SAT-1090 TOEFL-109 | GMAT-500 GRE-292 IELTS-6 PTE-59 TOEFL-88 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 31680 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 31200 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 15940 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 27180 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 26640 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 17136 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | The University of Manchester is one of the top public universities in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is ranked #28 in QS World University Rankings 2023.
| 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 | Indian students applying for bachelors must have at least 80%, PG aspirants must have a first-class degree. | Academic transcripts; 2 reference letters; personal statement; essay; research proposal (for research programs); Proof of English language proficiency |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.8/10 Read 38 reviews | 8.0/10 Read 27 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 13 for Computer Science by The Guardian 2026 # 67 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 # 68 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 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 |
| exam scores | IELTS - 7.0/9TOEFL - 100/120 | IELTS - 5.5/9PTE - 51/90SAT - 1280/1600TOEFL - 80/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jan 29, 2025 (UCAS Equal Consideration Deadline for 2025 intake) Jun 30, 2026 (Final Application Deadline For 2025 Intake) | Jan 29, 2025 (UCAS Equal Consideration Deadline) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | The University of Manchester | University of Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1824 | 1900 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 13:1:1 | 12:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 47% Male, 53% Female | 42% Male, 58% Female |
| Location Facts | The university is located on the south side of city center, mainly on the Oxford road area and Sackville Street area. The Oxford Road campus is located close to city center and curry mile. | 2 campuses- Edgbaston and Selly Oak located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK; centered around Chancellor’s Court and Old Joe. |
| Library | University library has 4 million titles, 41,000 electronic journals; 500,000 e-books. It is one of the five national research libraries. | 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 | The campus has its own museums, art galleries, theatres, a music venue- Manchester academy, and much more. Over 400 student clubs and societies are offered by the largest student union of the UK at the University of Manchester. Jodrell Bank Discovery Center is utilized for conducting exhibitions, and activities engaging physics, astronomy, etc. From freshly brewed coffee to pizza’s all kinds of shops are available on-campus. | 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 | #Board and Room --Undergraduate - $7360 #Board and Room --Postgraduate - $8580 | #Accommodation (Catered) - $8442 #Accommodation (Self Catered) - $8694 |
| Famous Alumni | Benedict Cumberbatch (actor), Andre Geim (physicist), Ben Alton (comedian), James Chadwick (physicist), Toby Jones (actor), Meera Sayal (comedian), Arthur Eddington (astronomer), Liam Byrne (MP in UK Parliament), Nick Brown (MP in UK Parliament), etc. | 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 | Manchester is recognized as UK’s most liveable and popular city. The city offers live, classical music performances and a buzzing social scene with various pubs and discos catering to audiences with different musical interests. Sports activities in the city are taken seriously, from football teams like Manchester United to Lancashire Cricket Club, every sport is encouraged. Shop around at Trafford Center, Northern Quarter, Harvey Nichols, and Selfridges. The unemployment rate of the city is around 5%. | 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 |
| Weather |
University of Manchester vs University of Birmingham
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Manchester and Birmingham are both top Russell Group universities, worldwide known for research and teaching. Manchester ranks #35 in QS and 53 in Times Higher Education globally and Birmingham ranks #76 in QS and 93 in Times Higher Education. By field, Manchester leads the world in Engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences, Physics, Social Sciences, and Business, and is also very strong in Humanities and Medicine. Birmingham has specific strengths in Clinical Medicine, Business, Law, Education, and Social Sciences, and excels in energy and physics research.
General Information
The University of Manchester, formally established in 2004 by the merger of two ancient foundations, contains approximately 46,000 students, one of the UK's largest. Its core Manchester campus is very urban, woven into the city's economic and cultural existence.The University of Birmingham, founded in 1900, has approximately 38,000 students. The green Edgbaston campus is a combination of historic "red brick" buildings and newer facilities, just a short distance from the city center of Birmingham.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Manchester and Birmingham are competitive, but Manchester's higher international ranking makes its competitive programs particularly difficult to get into. Manchester's acceptance rate is approximately 76%, whereas Birmingham's is around 13.8%. Both universities demand high marks in A-levels, IB, or equivalent qualifications, along with English proficiency tests (IELTS/TOEFL) for international students.
Research Impact & Facilities
Manchester is famous globally for its research output, particularly in material sciences (birthplace of graphene), engineering, computer science, and life sciences. It boasts one of the highest research spends in the UK and institutes such as the National Graphene Institute.Birmingham is equally a research hub, leading in clinical health, physics, social policy, and engineering. It boasts institutes such as the Birmingham Energy Institute and close partnerships with the NHS and international partners.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both international tuition rates at these universities fall within £20,000–32,000 annually, varying with the field of study, with medicine and laboratory-based courses being more expensive. Daily expenses in Manchester and Birmingham are comparable, both being less than in London. Both universities have available scholarships, merit-based grants, and need-based grants for international students.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Manchester boasts one of the UK's biggest and most international alumni networks, with graduates performing very well in STEM, business, medicine, and policy-making. Its international fame provides graduates with high employability across the globe.Birmingham alumni also do well in law, business, healthcare, and engineering, with strong links to sectors in the UK overall, particularly in the Midlands and London. Although both generate highly employable graduates, Manchester has a more global prestige.
