University of Nottingham vs University of Leeds

University of Nottingham vs University of Leeds

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The University of Nottingham is a highly regarded public research institution located in Nottinghamshire, England, with about 35,000 students. It has a moderately selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 11%. The University's strongest programs of study include Medicine, Engineering, Law, and Life Sciences. The graduation rate is approximately 78–82%, and its graduates report early career salaries of about INR 32–36 lakhs per annum (£29,000–33,000). 

Located in West Yorkshire, the University of Leeds is another major public university focusing on research with a student population of about 39000. The admissions process is somewhat more selective than Liverpool, with an acceptance rate of approximately 64–77%. Some of the flagship programs are in Business, Engineering, Law, and Media Studies. The graduation rate is about 75–80%, and graduates earn about INR 33–37 lakhs (or £30,000–34,000) per year in early career earnings.

Overview Comparison
University of NottinghamUniversity of Leeds
Collegedunia Score6 Out of 105.9 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 50 The Guardian 2026
# 97 QS World University 2026
# 145 Times Higher Education 2026
# 28 The Guardian 2026
# 86 QS World University 2026
# 118 Times Higher Education 2026
Subject Strength# 101 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025
# 96 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 24 for Law by The Guardian 2026
# 92 for Engineering by QS World University 2025
# 96 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 34 for Law by The Guardian 2026
ProgramsUG Programs -96
PG Programs -126
Doctorate Programs -1
UG Programs -129
PG Programs -164
Acceptance Rate11.0 %56.7 %
Exam ScoreGMAT-640
IELTS-6
PTE-55
TOEFL-80
GMAT-600
GRE-299
IELTS-6
PTE-60
SAT-1200
TOEFL-88
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   27200
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  34500
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 14297 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   34592
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  35277
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 4236 Per Year
placement (average package)

Graduate Employability Rankings: #66

University of Nottingham is one of the top public universities in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It is ranked #114 in QS World University Rankings 2023.

Top recruiters: National Health Service (NHS), Pentland, Vision Express Ltd., University of Nottingham, University of Central Lancashire etc

Base Salaries by Degree:

  • Masters in Management: $96,000 
  • MBA: $94,000 
  • Executive Masters: $75,000 
  • LLM: $72,000 
  • Masters in Finance: $70,000 
  • PhD: $67,000 

Graduate Employability Ranking 2023: 52;

University of Leeds is one of the top public universities in Leeds, United Kingdom. It is ranked #86 in QS World University Rankings 2023.

Average Salaries Of :

  • MBA : $91,000 
  • Executive MBA :  $83,000 
  • Masters in Management : $70,000 
  • Doctorate : $64,000 
  • Other Degree  :  $63,000 
  • Bachelor (Other) :  $61,000 

application requirements

Transcripts, Personal Statement, School Reference, Proof of English language proficiency, Country-specific requirements, 2 References, Resume, Work Experience (if required)

Minimum 60% in bachelors for admission in PG; Letter of Intent, Statement of Purpose, CV, at least 2 references

Campuses and B-SchoolsUniversity of Nottingham Malaysia
Leeds University Business School
CollegeDunia Reviews7.5/10 Read 26 reviews7.5/10 Read 56 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking# 39 for Business by The Guardian 2026
# 77 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 131 for Business by QS World University 2025
# 11 for Business by The Guardian 2026
# 101 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 102 for Business by QS World University 2025
exam scoresIELTS - 7.0/9PTE - 76/90TOEFL - 100/120GMAT - 600/800IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 64/90TOEFL - 88/120
cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -49598
documents required#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose
application datesAug 3, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake)
Sep 21, 2026 (Course Start Date for Fall 2026 Intake)
Jul 31, 2026 (Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake)
General Facts Comparison
General FactsUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of Leeds
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1881
1904
Student:Faculty Ratio15:1
13:1
Male:Female46% Male, 54% Female40% Male, 60% Female
Location Facts

Campuses in UK, China & Malaysia; UK campuses located mainly in Nottingham include University Park (Main Campus), Jubilee Campus, Sutton Bonington Campus, King’s Meadow Campus, Queen’s Medical Center (also include 2 University Hospital sites); University Park- one of the largest & most attractive in UK; spread across 300 acres; 2 miles from city center in extensive greenery and around a lake.


Campus is 10 minutes away from Leed’s city center; well-connected with regular public transport services; it has Parkinson Building, Maurice Keyworth Building, Great Hall and Post-war buildings


Library

10 libraries across its UK and international campuses; over 1 million books and journals; over 3 million manuscripts; one of the most heavily-used electronic collections (ebooks, e-journals, databases) in UK.


5 libraries with 3900 study spaces; Brotherton library: for arts, social sciences, and law; Edward Boyle library: for science and engineering; Health Sciences Library: for medicine and health-related subjects; Laidlaw Library: for group work, bookable space and on-site academic skills support, St James University Hospital Library: supports university’s research & teaching staff, medical & healthcare students and employees of the Hospital trust; 


Campus Life

Period buildings; 12 halls of residence (accommodating over 3,000 students); East Midlands Conference Centre (a conference & exhibition center for upto 1,000 people); sports facilities- 70 sports clubs, Sports Centre, Fitness Centre, swimming pool; Lakeside Arts Centre (University’s public art program engaging over 200,000 people); Portland Building (housing Students' Union, Student Support Centre, banks, bars & restaurants).


University’s union has over 300 clubs and societies; Free counseling, mental health support groups, workshops, etc; discounted access to university’s sports center: The Edge; Sports Park Weetwood for outdoor sports; various sports clubs and programs; University has shops, cafes, bars, nightclubs, theatre, spa, hairdressers, bank and a student advice center on-campus


Hostel#Broadgate Park--Single Room - $5764
#Ancaster Hall Rooms-- With meal - $8533
#Self Catered En-Suite Room - $1404
#Catered En-suite Room - $2460
Famous Alumni

Over 280,000 alumni; D.H. Lawrence (English Writer); Ruth Wilson (Actor); Sir Clive Granger (British Economist); Theo James (Actor); Anil Kakodkar (Indian physicist); Nadia Edith Whittome (Member of the Parliament of UK); Matthew Paul Walker (British Scientist); Major Levison James Wood (British Explorer)


George Porter (Nobel Prize in Chemistry); Wole Soyinka (Nobel Prize in Literature); Archer John Porter Martin (Nobel Prize in Chemistry); Emma Mackey (actress); Tony Harrison (poet); Alan Yentob (former BBC executive); Piers Sellers (NASA astronaut)


City Life

Nottingham- a city in Nottinghamshire, England; City has links to the legend of Robin Hood, lace-making, Raleigh bikes, tobacco industries; 7th largest metropolitan economy in UK; Unemployment rate-2.59% Top tourist attractions: Old Market Square, Lace Market, Nottingham Castle, City of Caves, Highfields Park, Green's Mill and Science Centre, D. H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum.


Leeds is the largest city of West Yorkshire in Northern England; located approximately 170 miles north of Central London; 30 minutes away from Leeds Bradford international airport; 1 hour away from Manchester airport; Unemployment rate in 2019 was 4.1%; it is the 8th largest engineering center and 2nd largest printing manufacturing center in UK


Weather
Comparison Notes

University of Nottingham vs University of Leeds

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

The University of Leeds has an overall global ranking of approximately 100 - 150, with Business, Social Sciences, Engineering, Law, and Arts & Humanities as strong areas. The University of Nottingham has overall global rankings of roughly 100 - 120, with Pharmacy, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Education, and Politics earning it recognition. Both universities are highly reputable institutions, but Nottingham has slightly higher overall global rankings, particularly in the health and life sciences, whereas Leeds has stronger rankings in business and social sciences. 

General Information

The University of Nottingham was founded in 1881 and is a research-intensive institution that is a member of the Russell Group. The University has about 47,000 students across its campuses in the UK, China, and Malaysia, and has a strong international element. The University of Leeds, founded in 1904, has an enrolment of around 39,000 students, and is one of the largest single-site universities in the UK. Leeds earns its reputation based on student life and a diverse range of courses.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Both institutions are moderately selective in the admissions process. Nottingham accepts about 11% of applicants on average, and Medicine, Veterinary Science, and Law are all very competitive programs. Leeds has an acceptance rate that ranges from 64-77%. Leeds is a competitive UK university for Business, Law, and Engineering. Nottingham tends to be more selective in health-related programs, while Leeds has a broader competitiveness in business and social sciences.

Research Impact & Facilities

Both Universities rank among the prestigious Russell Group and as such, have well-regarded research reputations. Specialized areas at Nottingham include world-leading researchers in Pharmacy, Medicine, and agricultural sciences with significant investments in biomedical and sustainable research. Specialized areas at Leeds include prestigious research teams leading the field of climate science and a combination of expertise across engineering, social sciences, and business, with interdisciplinary centres having global reach. Although Nottingham has stronger international reach with global campuses, Leeds has a very strong placement with applied and policy influence through UK-based research effectiveness.

Cost & Financial Aid

International tuition costs at both universities for international students are broadly in line with the costs of between £22,000–28,000 for international tuition, depending on the programme. Living costs in Nottingham and Leeds are fairly similar and Nottingham might be slightly less expensive. While Leeds is a larger city and very popular with students which can push living costs a bit higher. Both universities have a number of scholarships for merit-based students with Nottingham particularly focusing on international/global scholarships, while Leeds featured multiple scholarships across different faculty based awards.

Career Destinations & Graduates' Success

Nottingham graduates are typically seen as internationally employable and are successful are at a high level with students coming out of pharmacy, healthcare, law, politics, and education, in-part due to Nottingham's global campuses and networks, Leeds graduates are as equally successful with strong employers' networks in the UK and continental Europe, particularly in business, finance, social work, and media worldwide. Nottingham has a global brand of sort for international careers and graduate outcomes in the professional/corporate world are very high out of Leeds in the UK and beyond.