vs.

Decide between the most prestigious

universities in the US and UK

A CRIMSON EDUCATION PUBLICATION

 Every year, hundreds of students apply
to the most competitive universities in
the US and the UK to take advantage
of the unparalleled opportunities
offered by a top university education.
Both the US and the UK have some of
the world's most renowned and
respected educational institutions. In
the US, there are the eight Ivy League
universities (Harvard, Princeton, Yale,
Columbia, the University of
Pennsylvania, Cornell, Dartmouth and
Brown) as well as Stanford, MIT,
Caltech and the University of California
‘family’ including UCLA and UC
Berkeley. Meanwhile in the UK, there
are Oxford and Cambridge, along with
the ‘Russell Group’, which consists of
24 prestigious institutions including
the University College London, King’s
College London, London School of
Economics and Political Science and
Imperial College London.
With so many options available, how
do you decide where to apply? First,
let's take a look at how the US and UK
education systems differ:
US Education System
Students at US universities typically
spend four years as an undergraduate
where they mostly study liberal arts
degrees and science and engineering
programs. As part of their commitment
to providing students with a broad and
comprehensive education, most US
universities do not require their
students to select a 'major', or area of
study, until they are in their
second year.
Courses in liberal arts are
interdisciplinary and cover a wide range
of topics, allowing students to explore
different academic avenues in order to
expand their knowledge in chosen
subjects and discover hidden passions
prior to selecting a major. Additionally,
students can take 'minors' or
'certificates' in other areas of study to
complement their majors and add
diversity to their final two years
at college.

Ivy League
Stanford MIT
Caltech UCLA
UC Berkeley
Oxbridge
Russell Group
UK Education System
The UK educational system places
more emphasis on in-depth
knowledge in a specific area of study,
with undergraduate programs
typically lasting three years. While they
are more traditional and less
concerned with a student’s non-
academic pursuits, they do want to see
evidence of a student’s passion —
what matters to them and why, and
how they intend to pursue these
passions to make academic progress
and contribute to the university
in question.
Particularly at Oxford and Cambridge,
the tutorial system takes this desire to
examine a specific area of study in
great detail to a new and highly
individualized level. In their weekly
tutorials, which are often as small as
one faculty member to three or four
students, students have an
opportunity to learn, enquire, share,
and discuss their thoughts and ideas
with leaders in their chosen field.
Investing in your education is an
investment in your future — and
choosing the right schools is one of the
most important steps in your
admissions journey.
Both US and UK universities offer a
plethora of choices, and we’re here to
help you narrow down your options.
Using the QS World Rankings 2023, we
have compared the top five US and the
top five UK universities in this eBook.
Read on to find out what makes each
one unique and why one may suit you
better than the others.
Crimson has helped thousands of
students gain admission to top US
universities, with more students
getting accepted year after year — so
let’s help you join them soon!
VS.
MIT Cambridge
VS.
Stanford Oxford
VS.
Harvard Imperial
VS.
Caltech UCL
VS.
UChicago University of
Edinburgh
 01

MIT
vs.
Cambridge
MIT
"Mind and Hand" is the motto of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), one of the highest-ranked
private universities in the world. The
coeducational, independent institution
maintains a strong focus on scientific
and technological research. Located in
Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT sits on
the Charles River not far from its highly
prestigious neighbor
Harvard University.
MIT offers undergraduate, graduate,
and postdoctoral degrees across 30
departments and five schools and
colleges. It was founded in 1861 by
William Barton Rogers, who served as
the university’s first president and
envisioned a “new polytechnic
institute” for technical and scientific
education. Built during the Industrial
Revolution, MIT’s original purpose was
to help drive the US industry forward!
Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is one of
the most prestigious universities in the
world, located just an hour south of
London in the town of Cambridge.
After Oxford, Cambridge is the second-
oldest English-speaking university in
the world, founded in 1209.
Cambridge’s six schools are spread
across the university’s colleges: Arts
and Humanities, Biological Sciences,
Clinical Medicine, Humanities and
Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and
Technology. In contrast to most UK
universities, undergraduate programs
at Cambridge start with a broad focus
before allowing students to
specialize later.
 01 Admission Stats and Requirements

MIT Cambridge

TOTAL
STUDENTS 11,035 20,871

UNDERGRADUATE
POPULATION 39% 63%

PERCENTAGE OF
INTERNATIONAL 29% 36%
STUDENTS

Average SAT
Score 1520 - 1580 -

A-Level
Requirements - A*A*A-AAA

Average IB
Score 40 40

Did you know: Researchers at MIT identified the first

genes responsible for cancer in humans!

02 Comparison by the Numbers

MIT Cambridge

QS World University
ranking 2023 #1 #2

Student-Faculty
ratio 3:1 11:1

Median starting
salary for graduates $95,000 USD £27,000

Fun fact: The double-helical structure of DNA, the

molecule that carries human genes, was discovered by
two Cambridge University scientists!
03 QS World Ranking by Subject Areas

MIT Cambridge

Arts and
Humanities #13 #2

Engineering and
Technology #1 #2

Life Sciences
& Medicine #6 #4

Natural
Sciences #1 #3

Social Sciences
& Management #6 #4
 02

Stanford
vs.
Oxford
Stanford Oxford
Located in Palo Alto, California, The University of Oxford is the oldest
Stanford University is one of the university in the English-speaking
largest college campuses in the world and the second oldest surviving
country, covering 8,180 acres. In the university, located in and around
heart of Silicon Valley, the private Oxford’s medieval city center.
liberal arts university produces a crop Although its exact founding date is
of innovative entrepreneurs who unknown, Oxford has been teaching in
become creators, inventors, developers some form since 1096! Among the
and champions of large-scale university's academic offerings are
initiatives around the globe. Humanities, Mathematical Sciences,
Physical and Life Sciences, Medical
Stanford boasts 18 interdisciplinary Sciences, and Social Sciences.
research institutes on its single
campus and seven schools. This
university was founded in 1885 by
Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane,
who sought advice from the
presidents of Harvard, Cornell and MIT
regarding their vision to establish a
university that would promote the
welfare of humanity and civilization.
 01 Admission Stats and Requirements

Stanford Oxford

TOTAL
STUDENTS 14,518 21,972

UNDERGRADUATE
POPULATION 41% 54%

PERCENTAGE OF
INTERNATIONAL 24% 40%
STUDENTS

Average SAT
Score 1460 - 1580 -

A-Level
Requirements - A*A*A-AAA

Average IB
Score 40 38

Did you know: Stanford is the alma mater of 30 living

billionaires and 17 current astronauts!

02 Comparison by the Numbers

Stanford Oxford

QS World University
ranking 2023 #3 #4

Student-Faculty
ratio 5:1 11:1

Median starting
salary for graduates $93,000 USD £27,000

Fun fact: Oxford is home to more than 100 libraries,

making it the largest library system in the UK!
03 QS World Ranking by Subject Areas

Stanford Oxford

Arts and
Humanities #5 #1

Engineering and
Technology #5 #3

Life Sciences
& Medicine #5 #2

Natural
Sciences #5 #4

Social Sciences
& Management #5 #2
 03

Harvard
vs.
Imperial
Harvard
Harvard University is one of the most
highly ranked and globally respected
academic institutions in the world. The
private, medium-sized liberal arts
university offers 4-year undergraduate
programs and 11 postgraduate
institutions, including the highly
ranked business school, law school,
medical school, and John F. Kennedy
School of Government. Founded in
1636, it was named for the college’s
first benefactor, the young minister
John Harvard, who, upon his death in
1638, left his library and half his estate
to the institution.
Imperial
Imperial College London is based in
South Kensington in London, in an
area known as ‘Albertopolis’ — Prince
Albert and Sir Henry Cole’s 19th-
century vision for a place where
science and the arts would come
together. The university was granted
its charter in 1907, merging the Royal
College of Science, Royal School of
Mines and City & Guilds College.
Imperial is a one-of-a-kind institution
in the UK, focusing solely on science,
engineering, medicine and business.
 01 Admission Stats and Requirements

Harvard Imperial

TOTAL
STUDENTS 21,877 20,191

UNDERGRADUATE
POPULATION 26% 49%

PERCENTAGE OF
INTERNATIONAL 12% 51%
STUDENTS

Average SAT
Score 1460 - 1580 -

A-Level
Requirements - A*A*A-AAA

Average IB
Score 42 38

Did you know: Harvard is the oldest university in the

US and has educated seven US presidents!

02 Comparison by the Numbers

Harvard Imperial

QS World University
ranking 2023 #5 #6 (tie)

Student-Faculty
ratio 7:1 11:1

Median starting
salary for graduates $69,000 USD £30,000

Fun fact: Three Imperial Earth Science and Engineering

professors have recently had asteroids named after them!
03 QS World Ranking by Subject Areas

Harvard Imperial

Arts and
Humanities #3 #223

Engineering and
Technology #12 #8

Life Sciences
& Medicine #1 #10

Natural
Sciences #2 #9

Social Sciences
& Management #1 #45
 04

Caltech
vs.
UCL
Caltech
The California Institute of Technology
(Caltech) is a world-renowned science
and engineering institute located
about 10 miles north of Los Angeles in
Pasadena, California. Known for its
academic excellence in STEM fields,
the small, private university receives
grants from NASA, the National
Science Foundation, and the Health
and Human Services Department. It
was established in 1891 as Throop
University and became the California
Institute of Technology in 1920 on the
principle that "the fundamental
science of one generation is the
applied science of the next."
UCL
University College London (UCL) is
located at the heart of London and is
often described as the city’s leading
multi-disciplinary university thanks to
its modern, outward-looking
commitment to engage with the
major issues of our times. It was
founded in 1826 to provide higher
education to those who were
traditionally excluded from university
studies. Arts & Humanities, Built
Environment, Brain Sciences,
Engineering, Education, Law, Life
Sciences, Math and Physical Sciences,
Health Sciences, and Social Sciences
are among UCL's faculties.
 01 Admission Stats and Requirements

Caltech UCL

TOTAL
STUDENTS 2,240 41,194

UNDERGRADUATE
POPULATION 40% 52%

PERCENTAGE OF
INTERNATIONAL 8% 45%
STUDENTS

Average SAT
Score 1530-1570 -

A-Level
Requirements - A*A*A-ABB

Average IB
Score 41 35

Did you know: 64 Caltech faculty and alumni have received

a National Medal of Science, and the university has seven
Nobel laureates currently in residence!

02 Comparison by the Numbers

Caltech UCL

QS World University
ranking 2023 #6 #8

Student-Faculty
ratio 3:1 11:1

Median starting
salary for graduates $105,000 USD £26,000

Fun fact: UCL was the first university in England to admit

women on equal terms with men in 1878
03 QS World Ranking by Subject Areas

Caltech UCL

Arts and
Humanities #313 #11

Engineering and
Technology #15 #25

Life Sciences
& Medicine #160 #8

Natural
Sciences #7 #18

Social Sciences
& Management #187 #18
 04 Notable Alumni
California
Institute of
Technology
alumni and faculty have won 46 Nobel
Prizes to date, including Physics winners
Robert A. Millikan and Richard P.
Feynman, and Chemistry winner Frances
H. Arnold.
Spotlight
Donald
Knuth
Mathematician and
computer scientist
Donald Ervin Knuth is known as the
"father of the analysis of algorithms" and
was awarded the ACM Turing Award In
1974, also known as the Nobel Prize for
computer science. Between 1963 and
1968, he was an assistant and associate
professor at the California Institute of
Technology where he earned his
doctorate in mathematics.
Beyond claiming a number of former
students as Nobel Prize winners in
Physics, Molecular Biology and Chemistry,
UCL alumni include: film director
Christopher Nolan,
preeminent leader of the Indian
Independence Movement, Mahatma
Gandhi, Baroness Patricia Scotland, who
became the UK’s first female Attorney
General, former Japanese Prime Minister,
Junichiro Koizumi and Coldplay frontman
Chris Martin.
Spotlight
Mahatma
Gandhi
Indian Independence
Movement Leader
Former UCL law student, Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian
lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and
political ethicist, who employed
nonviolent resistance to lead the
successful campaign for India's
independence from British Rule, and in
turn inspired movements for civil rights
and freedom across the world.
 05

UChicago
vs.
University
of Edinburgh
UChicago
The University of Chicago is a private,
medium-sized urban research
university, which has a reputation for
its professional schools, including the
Pritzker School of Medicine, the Booth
School of Business, and the Harris
School of Public Policy. The university
was founded in 1856 with the aim of
providing rigorous academics and
equal opportunity for both sexes in all
departments of higher education.
There are 14 different schools and
colleges at the university, as well as
two US Department of Energy
laboratories and the Marine
Biological Laboratory.
University
of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh (UoE) is
located in the Scottish capital of
Edinburgh and was founded in 1583,
making it the sixth-oldest university
in the English-speaking world and
one of Britain and Ireland’s seven
ancient universities. A world-leading
research-intensive university, UoE
offers an entrepreneurial and
cross-disciplinary culture that attracts
students and staff from across
the globe.
 01 Admission Stats and Requirements

UChicago UoE

TOTAL
STUDENTS 16,325 33,861

UNDERGRADUATE
POPULATION 43% 71%

PERCENTAGE OF
INTERNATIONAL 13% 37%
STUDENTS

Average SAT
Score 1500-1560 -

A-Level
Requirements - A*A*A-ABB

Average IB
Score 36 37

Did you know: With over 11 million volumes, the University

of Chicago Library is the tenth largest research library in
North America!

02 Comparison by the Numbers

UChicago UoE

QS World University
ranking 2023 #10 #15

Student-Faculty
ratio 5:1 14:1

Median starting
salary for graduates $58,000 USD £22,500

Fun fact: UoE’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social

Sciences enrolls nearly 15,000 undergraduate students —
more than twice the number of undergraduates enrolled
in its other two Colleges combined!
03 QS World Ranking by Subject Areas

UChicago UoE

Arts and
Humanities #13 #9

Engineering and
Technology #121 #66

Life Sciences
& Medicine #54 #24

Natural
Sciences #19 #40

Social Sciences
& Management #13 #53
 04 Notable Alumni
UChicago
has produced 34 Nobel Laureates, 5
heads of state and 17 Pulitzer Prize
winners. Notable alumni include
presidential nominee Bernie Sanders,
American economist Milton Friedman,
writer Susan Sontag and economist
Paulo Guedes.
Spotlight
Bernie
Sanders
United States Senator
Bernie Sanders transferred to the
University of Chicago in the mid-1950s.
Although originally an English major, he
soon switched to political science once
becoming more involved with social
activism on campus. As student
chairman of the Congress of Racial
Equality’s social action committee, he
became particularly learned on the topic
of the trade union, civil rights and
foreign policy and peace movements.
University of
Edinburgh
boasts some of the most accomplished
alumni in the world including 20 Nobel
laureates including winners of Prizes in
Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or
Medicine, Peace, Literature and the
Memorial Prize in Economic Science.
Other notable alumni include Pippa
Middleton, David Hume, Alexander
Graham Bell and Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle and many more.
Spotlight
Charles
Darwin
English naturalist,
geologist and biologist
Surprisingly, Charles Darwin did not
study biology or natural history at the
University of Edinburgh — he enrolled
to study medicine in 1825, when he was
just 16 years old. However, while at
Edinburgh, Darwin became a member
of a student natural history group called
the Plinian Society. Four years after
leaving Edinburgh, Darwin joined HMS
Beagle as the ship's naturalist, his
resultant theory of evolution by natural
selection forming the basis of modern
evolutionary study.