Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is a public research university in Nottingham, England, positioned predominantly in the city center. It is a big school with around 28,000 undergraduate students. Admissions are fairly competitive with an acceptance rate of about 79%. Some popular majors are Business, Art & Design, Journalism, Social Sciences, and Criminology. Six-year graduation rate is 93%, and the median starting salary of NTU graduates is around INR 36,50,000 (based on a conversion of $44,100 median salaries a decade after graduation).
Northumbria University is a public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England, with its principal campus in the city centre. It is a mid-sized university with about 20,000 undergraduates. Admissions are fairly competitive, and they have an acceptance rate of approximately 76.58%. Some of the popular majors are Business, Engineering, Nursing, Design, and Social Sciences. The six-year graduation rate stands at 96%, and Northumbria alumni receive a median starting salary of around INR 35,25,000 (converted from $42,600 median earnings ten years post-graduation).
| Nottingham Trent University | Northumbria University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.2 Out of 10 | 4.3 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 25 The Guardian 2026 # 601 Times Higher Education 2026 # 609 QS World University 2026 | # 47 The Guardian 2026 # 401 Times Higher Education 2026 # 550 QS World University 2026 |
| Subject Strength | # 401 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 451 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 32 for Law by The Guardian 2026 | # 251 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 651 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 44 for Law by The Guardian 2026 |
| Programs | UG Programs -131 PG Programs -74 | UG Programs -102 PG Programs -112 |
| Acceptance Rate | 22.0 % | 0.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-640 IELTS-6.5 PTE-54 SAT-1090 TOEFL-62 | IELTS-7 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 21280 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 21700 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 14757 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 21920 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 25345 [For PG Program] |
| placement (average package) | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: Masters in Science: $68,000 Masters in Management: $54,000 LLM: $53,000 MBA: $49,000 Bachelor of Science: $48,000 Bachelor (Other): $45,000 | Average Salaries based on Degree
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| application requirements | Applicants must have a grade average of 50% Submit official transcripts Submit English language proficiency scores Check program specific requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit English language proficiency Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.5/10 Read 20 reviews | 7.4/10 Read 17 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 17 for Computer Science by The Guardian 2026 # 401 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 # 701 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 | # 77 for Computer Science by The Guardian 2026 # 301 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 # 551 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 62/90TOEFL - 79/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Nottingham Trent University | Northumbria University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1843 | 1969 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | :1 |
| Male:Female | 43% Male, 57% Female | 0% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | The university has five campuses: City, Clifton, Confetti, Brackenhurst and Mansfield & Ashfield. |
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| Library | The Boots Library is the main library of the university. There are branch libraries on the Clifton and Brackenhurst campuses serving the schools located there, and include additional Animal Planet digital facilities. Literature covered includes journals, magazines, books, videos, and conference proceedings with from 1990 to 2012. | The digital services, including Library Search, provide access to our comprehensive and multidisciplinary print and online Library Collection including around 450,000 print books, over 936,000 ebooks, more than 82,000 print and ejournals, including major publications such as Nature and Science, 170 subscribed scholarly resources including databases and primary digital archives and wider resources available on demand through cooperative international library sharing. |
| Campus Life | Nottingham Trent Students' Union (NTSU) provides student activities and events, a Student Advice Centre, leisure and retail services, democratic representation and night-time entertainment at all three NTU campuses. NTU sports scholars have competed in the summer and winter Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games and world championships. NTU alumni include England Rugby player Nick Easter and GB Hockey players Crista Cullen and Alistair Wilson. |
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| Hostel | #Room and Board - $14757 | - |
| Famous Alumni | Richard Evershed – Professor of Biogeochemistry and Fellow of the Royal Society. | Northumbria University has over 222,000 alumni spread across 170 countries. Some notable Northumbria University Alumni are Steve Cram – Athlete; Bibiana Aído - Former minister of Spain; Amanda Sonia Berry - CEO of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts; Neil Marshall - Film Director, Julie Elliott - Member of U.K. parliament and Micky Young - Rugby player. |
| City Life | The city bustles with students as it is home to two major universities, attracting over 60,000 students to the city. In fact, the city has one of the youngest populations of any major UK city. Nottingham is currently the second youngest core city, with more under 30s than any other except Manchester. This city has been awarded a Purple Flag Award for the seventh year in a row, recognizing Nottingham as one of the best nights out in the UK. Discover bars hidden down alleyways and under pavements, chic cocktail bars and cosy pubs, as well as indie hotspots and nightclubs playing cheesy tunes. Nottingham is consistently ranked as one of the top shopping destinations in the UK. You'll find all the major high street names here, sitting alongside designer boutiques like Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith. There are two shopping centres in the city centre – Broadmarsh and the Victoria Centre – as well as streets of high street favourites around Old Market Square and Hockley. | Newcastle is the 'Best UK Student City' 2022 according to the Student Crowd, as voted by students. The fast growing culture of Newcastle is one to witness. Newcastle upon Tyne is regularly hailed as one of the best cities for student life. It’s partly due to the city’s compactness, which makes it large enough to be vibrant and exciting while small enough to feel like home. It’s also due to the sheer number of students: one in every six people in the city is a student. |
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Nottingham Trent University vs Northumbria University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
NTU and Northumbria are both good UK universities, but NTU tends to rank slightly higher worldwide. NTU is ranked 609th and Northumbria 550th according to QS World University Rankings 2026. In Times Higher Education 2025, Northumbria is ranked 401st, narrowly better than the 601st rank of NTU. NTU leads in Art & Design, Journalism, and Game Design (ranked 73rd worldwide), with excellent scores for Law (251st in THE 2025) and Business. Northumbria is notable for Engineering (251st in THE 2025), Nursing, and Design, with a focus on applied sciences and health-related fields, often ranking in the top 50% globally for these subjects.
General Information
NTU, established in 1843 and granted university status in 1992, has a larger student body of around 28,000 and operates across multiple campuses (City, Clifton, Brackenhurst, and Confetti). It provides 131 undergraduate and 74 graduate courses, focusing on real-world, industry-relevant education. Northumbria, established in 1969, consists of around 20,000 students and has campuses in Newcastle, London, and Amsterdam, providing 102 undergraduate and 112 graduate programs. Northumbria's city centre Newcastle location offers an active student life, while NTU's multiple campuses serve different academic interests.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Admission to NTU is fairly competitive with an around 73% acceptance rate. NTU demands slightly higher levels of English proficiency (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 62, PTE 54) and sometimes portfolios for arts programs such as Art & Design. The requirements at Northumbria are also lesser (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 88, PTE 62), but with an emphasis on accessibility, along with program-specific requirements for areas such as Nursing and Engineering. NTU's higher acceptance rate is an indication of its focus on selective admissions, while Northumbria focuses on wider access.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both universities are active in research, with NTU publishing 24,177 works and 553,669 citations in Social Sciences, Business, and Creative Technologies. Northumbria's research strength lies in Engineering, Health Sciences, and Design, backed by facilities such as the Northumbria Space Technology Laboratory and health simulation labs. NTU's City Campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities such as the Newton Building, while Northumbria's Newcastle campus incorporates urban research centers. NTU has a wider research focus due to its larger size, but Northumbria's focused facilities maximize its applied research impact.
Cost & Financial Aid
NTU has an average undergraduate fee of £21,280, with postgraduate rates at £21,700 and living expenses of approximately £14,757 a year. Northumbria is marginally more expensive at £21,920 for undergraduate and £25,345 for postgraduate tuition, with living expenses at £17,608. They both have need-based and merit-based aid available, with NTU extending more comprehensive scholarships to international students because of its larger budget. Northumbria's aid is strong but not as expansive, with regional and program-based aid as its primary focus.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
NTU ranks 1st in the UK for employability (Uni Compare 2025), with strong outcomes in Business ($54,000 for Masters in Management) and creative fields like Journalism and Design. Northumbria’s employability is solid, with graduates earning $63,000 for MBAs and $38,000 for Bachelor of Science degrees, particularly in Engineering and Nursing. NTU’s alumni thrive in creative and industry-linked roles, supported by Nottingham’s vibrant economy. Northumbria's position in Newcastle's health and tech cluster increases prospects in applied sciences with a robust regional alumni base.
