Karia Kiritbhai Study Abroad Course Expert
Study Abroad Course Expert
The University of Southampton is a public, research-focused university on the south coast of England. It has a total enrollment of about 22,000 students, and rankings are moderately selective with an acceptance rate of about 84%. Southampton is considered strong with and most reputable programs that include Engineering, Oceanography, Computer Science, and Business. The graduation rate is around 80-83%, with early alumni reporting average salaries of 34-38 lakh per year (31,000–35,000 GBP).
The University of Birmingham is the largest public research-based university in the West Midlands, with a total enrollment of about 36,000 students. Rankings are slightly more selective with an acceptance rate is around 13.80%. Birmingham is recognized for its flagship programs in Law, Medicine, Engineering and Political Science. The graduation rate is similarly high at around 82-85%, with early alumni reporting average salaries of around 36-40 lakh annually (33,000-37,000 GBP).
| University of Southampton | University of Birmingham | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.1 Out of 10 | 6.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 20 The Guardian 2026 # 87 QS World University 2026 # 129 Times Higher Education 2026 | # 28 The Guardian 2026 # 76 QS World University 2026 # 98 Times Higher Education 2026 |
| Subject Strength | # 101 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 81 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 10 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 -45 PG Programs -37 Doctorate Programs -3 | UG Programs -52 PG Programs -145 Doctorate Programs -54 |
| Acceptance Rate | 75.0 % | 13.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-600 IELTS-6.5 PTE-68 SAT-1300 TOEFL-100 | GMAT-500 GRE-292 IELTS-6 PTE-59 TOEFL-88 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 25928 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 31864 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 25278 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 27180 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 26640 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 17136 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Graduate employability rankings: #101-110. | 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 | All UG applications are accepted through UCAS, | Academic transcripts; 2 reference letters; personal statement; essay; research proposal (for research programs); Proof of English language proficiency |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.9/10 Read 16 reviews | 8.0/10 Read 27 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 42 for Business by The Guardian 2026 # 101 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 251 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 40 for Business by The Guardian 2026 # 131 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 101 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 68/90TOEFL - 92/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 67/90TOEFL - 88/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -49084 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -53460 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Aug 26, 2026 (Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake) | Jul 3, 2026 (Application Deadline For September 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Southampton | University of Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1862 | 1900 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 12:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 48% Male, 52% Female | 42% Male, 58% Female |
| Location Facts | The main campus is located on the South coast of England and has other campuses in Winchester and Malaysia. Highfield Campus is set in beautiful green surroundings and is accessible from the city center. | 2 campuses- Edgbaston and Selly Oak located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK; centered around Chancellor’s Court and Old Joe. |
| Library | The university library has over 1 million books and 2 million articles and databases. These include both print and electronic resources. | 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 university campuses offer facilities like gym, sports, swimming, concert hall, art gallery, and more. The student union offers over 90 sports clubs and 216 societies. Students are also offered wide variety of opportunities to volunteer through a volunteering bank. The student union also supports students in finding part-time jobs. | 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 | #Rooms (Ensuite Room) - $11142 #Rooms (Studio Room) - $14136 | #Accommodation (Catered) - $8442 #Accommodation (Self Catered) - $8694 |
| Famous Alumni | John Sopel (BBC journalist), Anna Calvi (singer-songwriter), Andrian Newey (Formula One engineer), Justine Greening (former Minister for Women and Equality), Anjem Choudhary (British activist), Alan Whitehead (MP of UK), Sally Clark (Solicitor), David Kurten (politician), Chris Stark (radion One presenter), 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 | Southampton is one of Britain’s top 5 cities for economic growth, with an unemployment rate of 4.1%. It has a rich student diversity bringing together students from over 135 nations and cultures. The city offers over 50 parks and greens spaces and is a great place to indulge in sailing and water sports. Portswood high street is the best location for a food junkie offering a variety of cafes and restaurants to chose from. | 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 Southampton vs University of Birmingham
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both Birmingham and Southampton consistently feature within the top 100-150 universities worldwide. Southampton is regarded as a strong institution in Engineering, Computer Science, Oceanography, and Sound & Vibration Studies, with particular expertise in Maritime and Aeronautics. Birmingham has strong rankings for Business, Law, Medicine, Arts & Humanities, and Social Sciences subject areas. Birmingham, in a global sense, is marginally more recognized, while Southampton is recognized for STEM and more niche research areas.
General Information
The University of Southampton was founded in 1862 and is a member of the Russell Group with approximately 24,000 students in a research/innovation driven environment, particularly strong in STEM. The university has 7 campuses, with the National Oceanography Centre of particular interest. The University of Birmingham is a Royal Charter established in 1900 as the UK’s first civic university with over 32,000 students. It's a Russell Group university with more historic prestige, and breadth of disciplines all with a lively urban campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both institutions are selective. Southampton has an aggregate acceptance rate of about 84%, but there are obviously areas of more or less competition, such as Engineering, Computer Science, Health Sciences, etc. The acceptance rate for Birmingham is around 13.80%, which reflects on the prestige of the institution, and the strong interest in applicants for Medicine, Law, and Business programs. Both institutions are competitive for international students, but Birmingham is slightly more difficult to enter overall.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both hold strong research portfolios as Russell Group universities. Southampton leads in engineering, electronics, computer science, oceanography, and sustainability-related research. Birmingham has high global impact in medical research, law, economics, social sciences, and humanities. Southampton is STEM-oriented with state-of-the-art labs, while Birmingham balances STEM and humanities with large interdisciplinary research centers.
Cost & Financial Aid
International tuition fees typically range between £20,000–25,000 per year for both, depending on the course. Living costs in Southampton are moderate, slightly lower than Birmingham, which is a larger city with higher urban living expenses. Scholarships are offered at both institutions, though Birmingham provides a wider range of merit and subject-based awards due to its scale and international outreach.
Career Destinations & Graduates' Success
Southampton graduates are highly employable in STEM fields, especially engineering, IT, and maritime industries, with strong links to tech and research sectors. Birmingham graduates excel in law, finance, business, healthcare, and public service, benefiting from the university’s wide alumni network and proximity to the UK’s second-largest city. Southampton is ideal for tech-driven careers, while Birmingham offers a broader scope across both STEM and non-STEM professions.
