University of Pennsylvania Vs Durham University: Compare Fees, Placement, Reviews
Compare University of Pennsylvania Vs Durham University based on their rankings, fees, programs, acceptance rate, admission requirements, placements, and more. Analyze University of Pennsylvania Vs Durham University on various parameters to choose the right university for International students.
Compare University of Pennsylvania Vs Durham University based on their rankings, fees, programs, acceptance rate, admission requirements, placements, and more. Analyze University of Pennsylvania Vs Durham University on various parameters to choose the right university for International students.
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University of Pennsylvania V/s Durham UniversityStudent Ratings
Rating of colleges
3.4/5
7 Verified Reviews
2.7 Internships- 3.9 Part time work
- 3.1 Post study jobs
- 4.1 Quality of faculty
- 3.4 Student Life
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3.6/5
6 Verified Reviews- 2.8 Internships
- 3.5 Part time work
- 2.8 Post study jobs
- 4.3 Quality of faculty
- 4.7 Student Life
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University of Pennsylvania V/s Durham UniversityCourse Comparison
5 Popular courses in colleges
University of Pennsylvania V/s Durham University MS
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University of Pennsylvania V/s Durham University B.A.
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University of Pennsylvania V/s Durham University M.A.
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University of Pennsylvania V/s Durham University BBA
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University of Pennsylvania V/s Durham University B.Sc.
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Other courses
- PG Certificate (26 courses)
- B.E. / B.Tech (15 courses)
- Others PG (12 courses)
- MBA/PGDM (3 courses)
- MSN (9 courses)
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- B.E. / B.Tech (19 courses)
- MBA/PGDM (1 course)
- LL.M. (5 courses)
- M.Phil (6 courses)
- UG certificate (1 course)
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University of Pennsylvania V/s Durham UniversityCollege Comparison
About College
Established Year
1740
Number of Campus
1
Number of Scholarships
-/-
Campus Size
299 Acres
Accepted Exams
TOEFL+5 More
Established Year
1832
Number of Campus
1
Number of Scholarships
-/-
Campus Size
-/-
Accepted Exams
TOEFL+2 More
Established Year
-/-
Number of Campus
-/-
Number of Scholarships
-/-
Campus Size
-/-
Accepted Exams
-/-
University of Pennsylvania V/s Durham UniversityCampus Comparison
Campus videos & images
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Student Testimonial
Experience Penn
Welcomes International Students
Why Penn Engineering?
PENN Building
PENN Building
PENN Campus
PENN Campus
PENN Campus
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Annenberg School Library
Chemistry Library
Clinical Research Building
Moore School Building
Atheletic Ground
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Celebration at Campus
Classroom
Classroom
Convocation
Housing
Residential Services
Campus
Campus
Campus Church
Business school
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Computer Science department
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Inside Business School
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Country Facts
Study in USA
Top Ranked and Reputed Universities
Diverse range of world-renowned institutions, offering cutting-edge program- Access to top-notch faculty, resources, and extensive alumni networks
Campus Culture and Safety- Vibrant multicultural environment, fostering tolerance and global exposure
- Stringent safety measures with campus police and emergency protocols
Good Quality of Life- High living standards, comprehensive healthcare, and excellent infra
- Access to diverse recreational activities and and natural attractions
Study in UK
Reputed Higher Education- Globally recognized degrees and top ranking colleges
- Cutting-edge research opportunities with good number of course options
Campus Culture and Safety- Robust safety measures
- Vibrant student life and inclusive environment
Better Quality of Life- Accessible healthcare and public services in UK for students.
- Abundant cultural experiences enhance overall lifestyle for Indians.
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Student’s views on campus
Views on University of Pennsylvania campus
A
Anonymous
BA in Architecture - Batch of 2027
3.3
The campus is quite happening and safe as well.
Tips: So as a freshman, you will not have the option but to reside in campus housing in the first year of college. Following this, you are allowed to switch after, but till then, you will most likely be given a randomly assigned roommate as well. The campus is quite happening and safe as well. The Springs Flying is something to look forward to, and there are a lot of social gatherings in the form of mixers, games and events. The classes include active participation, which may help save your grades as well.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 3675
Prepping time for classes32 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
R
Rohan Nagesh
Master of Science in Engineering in Electrical Engineering - Batch of 2025
2.7
The university has a good campus and loads of resources to live a wholesome student life.
Tips: The university is expensive and the city is not really that safe. The workload is high with a lot of assignments. The university offers a diverse range of courses but lacks concentration on one. Prospects of engineering jobs are low with not many university recruiters approaching students for post-study options.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 0
Prepping time for classes50 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
P
Priyanshu Mittal
MSE Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics - Batch of 2024
3.7
Give a second thought before applying.
Tips: The university life here is very much different from that in India. At least in engineering, students spend most of their time completing assignments and completing lectures. UPenn doesn't offer scholarships to Master's students but you can apply for part-time job as soon as you are on campus which will help you meet your living costs. Though the city is great, I would advise anybody who is coming to definitely give it a second thought as the job market right now is not good and doesn't look like will be better soon.
Likes (Public transportation): Philadelphia has buses, inter and intra-city trains, subways as well as trams. Also, it is easy to get cabs. Philadelphia as a city is small, hence, it is easy to go from one place to another through public transport. Furthermore, the university is located in the heart so one can go to most places by walking or cycling.
Dislikes (Value for money): Being an IVY League, the fee for the program is a lot. But compared to other universities UPenn doesn't have affiliation with the working industry. So the students don't get any benefit while looking for jobs in the market. At least in the US going to cheaper universities would be a better choice
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1100
Prepping time for classes40 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 80000
A
Anonymous
Master of Science in Engineering in Electrical Engineering - Batch of 2024
3.0
Challenging and Stressful but equally rewarding experience at this college.
Tips: There are no scholarships available and there is no significant cultural shift. Transitioning with respect to weather may take time. Overall, university courses are good but challenging, and finding jobs and internship can be difficult. While on-campus jobs are available and helpful, they do not offer any tuition fee waivers.
Likes (Quality of faculty): The faculty at this college are highly approachable and knowledgeable. They employ an intuitive teaching method and assign practical tasks. The teaching faculty is mostly of Asian and American background representing all types of specializations in Electrical engineering. The courses are rather challenging and not easy.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1100
Prepping time for classes25 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
R
Rajnish Gupta
Scientific Computing, MSE - Batch of 0
3.5
Best learning experience.
Tips: The University might not exactly be what you expected. It is a great learning experience, and there are a lot of things to do, that it can become overwhelming and stressful at times. But if I were to choose to do it again, at some other time, with a better job market, I would. Try not to get distracted by a lot of things you see around you, as that can happen initially.
Likes (Public transportation): Philly has great and affordable public transport, you can reach pretty much anywhere in 30-40 mins, and most places of interest, downtown can be accessed in 10-15mins through the subway from University, and the transport runs at longer hours, although not the safest way to travel during certain hours the day if you're alone, but that comes in safety as per the city. The connectivity and timing itself are great.
Dislikes (Indian Food): There are no Indian food options in University dining, and in general Indian food options around Philly are although not limited, but are not excellent, or anywhere close to what you can find in cities like NYC, Jersey or Chicago. There is a lot of frozen food at Indian Stores, but that is not the most healthy option out there.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1025
Prepping time for classes30 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
A
Anonymous
MSE Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering - Batch of 2024
3.6
Biotech research powerhouse. Amazing opportunities.
Tips: For the CBE department, most research is in the biotech sector and so are the jobs and internships. Professors are very nice and will help you if you ask for it.
The courses are tough but are of very high quality. However, the CBE courses are very theoretical.
Dislikes (Safety): Philadelphia is not a very safe city. There are lots of break-ins and thefts. Cycles parked outside will get stolen even if locked. The Penn campus is very safe with good security. Penn also has shuttles that run at night and walking escorts for student safety.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2000
Prepping time for classes25 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
A
Anonymous
Robotics, MSE - Batch of 2024
4.3
Lots of work and hard courses but great program. Effort is respected
Tips: The classes consist of diverse ethnicities and you hence experience an initial cultural shock. Scholarships are not available for MS students. RA opportunities are also very selective for MS students. TA opportunities are much easier to come by. Quite happy with my choice of university.
Likes (Student Life): Regular socializing events are conducted on campus. Study environment is not too stressful. Happy hours are organized once a month by every department and apart from that all the festivities also have an associated event. Regional festivities are dealt with by the Pan-Asian community and it depends on their yearly budget.
Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): Hard to find a job that sponsors H1B. The green card process is another big headache. H1B is got through a lottery system and is then renewed every 3 years until you are eligible to apply for a green card. And you need to hold the green card for a certain number of years before you are eligible for citizenship.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1150
Prepping time for classes50 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
Views on Durham University campus
A
Anonymous
MSc Management - Batch of 2026
Offered by Durham University
2.7
Good for foreign exposure, learnings would still be better in IITs/IIMs, pretty underrated.
Tips: Honestly, if you have the stamina for it, staying in India and grinding for the CAT or JEE to get into an IIM or IIT is usually a much better bet. Unless you're getting into Oxbridge or LSE, the actual return on investment and the immediate job placement rates from top-tier Indian colleges are going to blow most UK universities out of the water. Take a place like Durham University, for example. It’s an incredible, historic institution with a really prestigious collegiate system—sort of like Hogwarts—and it carries massive weight inside the UK. But if your main goal is just to land a high-paying corporate job back home right after graduating, a Durham degree might not get you the same instant leverage as an old-school IIM tag. Going to Durham really only makes sense under two conditions: either you are 100% committed to settling down abroad and navigating the UK visa hustle, or your parents are wealthy enough to fund the massive international fees purely so you can get that unique cultural exposure and global network without worrying about a massive education loan hanging over your head.
Total Monthly ExpensePound 1000
Prepping time for classes15 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryPound 28000
S
Shambhavi sharma
MA Archaeology - Batch of 2025
Offered by Durham University
3.8
The faculty is highly trained and internationally recognised.
Tips: Before joining Durham, students should know it's quite academically intense, especially for subjects like archaeology or history. There is a big shift from rote learning, as in most universities in India, to independent thinking. You are expected to read a lot, form your own arguments and participate in events and class projects. The collegiate system is a huge part of life here; all colleges have their own events, societies, living halls, and bars that form your main social experience. Durham is a small town, so coming from big cities like Delhi or Mumbai can be tough, but bigger cities like Newcastle and Edinburgh are not far away. There are many scholarships available at the university or college level. I did receive an international merit scholarship on tuition fees, some bursaries cover academic and conference-related expenses and full scholarships that cover everything from tuition to living. Overall, my experience has been very rewarding. The academic exposure, quality of teaching, and research opportunities are excellent. Of course, the weather and cost are challenges, but growth on both academic and personal fronts makes it worth it.
Likes (Quality of faculty): The faculty is highly trained and internationally recognised; they are experts in their fields and teach not just from textbooks but also from their real-world experience. They are also extremely helpful and can be visited during their office hours and they would definitely go out of their way to help and build your concepts as well as just talk when needed.
Dislikes (Indian Food): Durham is a small university town in northern England; thus, authentic Indian food options are limited. There are some Indian restaurants, but they are hardly authentic. However, you will get all ingredients in Tesco and other stores as well as plenty of off-license and desi stores to make anything from scratch. Tesco does have an indian section where you will get a lot of things as well.
Total Monthly ExpensePound 1200
Prepping time for classes11 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryPound 25000
H
Harshit Vadalia
MSc Management - Batch of 2025
Offered by Durham University
3.8
A rewarding academic journey with real life skills.
Tips: I just grew into myself. I learned life skills like cooking, laundry and learned to handle my expenses better. I didn't avail any scholarships. Very satisfied, good course, learned 2-3 new modules which are actually good for practical uses in my business. The country is very amazing, be it culture, people are very hospitable, peaceful and beautiful. Durham, especially, I found to be one of the safest cities in the UK.
Likes (Value for money): We had top tier faculty and a wide range of facilities at the business school. Business school itself was a state of the art facility where we had meeting rooms, presentation rooms, faculty meetings, bloomberg terminals and lecture halls. Communication with the university and faculty was really feasible and they helped with the queries with best of their ability.
Dislikes (Post study jobs): I didn't apply for the job so I am unaware of the post study sponsored jobs. But from what I have heard from my fellow mates, the UK's job market is very bad at the moment so even getting a job is difficult and sponsored is difficult.
Total Monthly ExpensePound 100
Prepping time for classes25 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryPound
A
Anonymous
MSc Finance - Batch of 2025
Offered by Durham University
3.8
An amazing university with great facilities.
Tips: Students should know the reality of not a lot of people being able to get a job after completing the course. It is a really tough period for the students who take up huge loans and work part time there to repay the loan and end up not getting a job. Think twice before joining.
Total Monthly ExpensePound 1300
Prepping time for classes30 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryPound
A
Ananya Sinha
MSc Management - Batch of 2024
Offered by Durham University
3.2
This University is a good choice.
Tips: The university is well recognised amongst the recruiters in the UK. The programs are very well structured and the professors are very helpful.
However, the Durham as a city is very dull. There is not much to do around. There are very less opportunities for part-time jobs because the city is so small.
The 1st month in Durham is very difficult as the city is very cold, windy and hilly. You will have to walk a lot on inclined paths. So it is better to be mentally and physically prepared for that.
Likes (Safety): People around the city are very helpful.
There are porters in every college to help students whenever needed.
I have hardly faced any kind of racism from the people around me.
The university has a night line for the female students to drop them to their destination late at night at a very low price of 2 pounds.
Dislikes (Indian Food): There are hardly 2-3 Indian restaurants in Durham and the food is not that great. The taste doesn’t justify the high prices. Cooking on my own is so much more affordable and satisfying. The ingredients are easily available around the city. There is only one Indian grocery store though.
Total Monthly ExpensePound 900
Prepping time for classes15 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryPound 28150
A
Anonymous
MSc Finance - Batch of 2024
Offered by Durham University
4.3
Overwhelming, challenging and beautiful
Tips: Students should know the essence of Durham is concerned with staying in college accommodation which offers a sense of community and belonging. Secondly, Durham is a very close-knit and quiet city and the weather is mostly rainy and cold. Thirdly, the course a student selects will get challenging eventually.
0Reviewed on 21 Aug 2023Read more
A
Anonymous
MSc Marketing - Batch of 2025
Offered by Durham University
3.8
It is really difficult to obtain permanent residency.
Tips: A lot of things changed. I got to know different cultures and accents, which were quite difficult to understand at the start. Upon that you might face discrimination at work place as they be bias towards their own people, even if they are wrong, telling out of their own experience. I got 7500 scholarships from the university; it totally depends on how early you apply and get selected, as there are very limited numbers. The university was really good and the course was ranked 30th in the world. Overall, it was a really good experience, learned a lot of things, and no regrets.
Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): It’s really difficult to obtain permanent residency as the ILR rule has changed and there’s no certainty that even after spending 5 years, you will get ILR. If I’ve to talk about myself I won’t get settled over here won’t mind to spend few years but not permanently as for me the place was a bit depressing as the whole Durham place is only surviving due to university if the term break starts we hardly get to see people as the students go back to their countries and it feels like you are living somewhere out of the world.
Total Monthly ExpensePound 1000
Prepping time for classes3 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryPound 25050
S
shambhavi sharma
MA Archaeology - Batch of 2026
Offered by Durham University
3.8
A lifetime of welcoming experiences.
Tips: Durham University is one of the leading universities in the world, the transition from India to UK study was pretty common and expected, the focus relies in the UK mostly of self study, independent research and less on exams, infact for my course we only had to submit research papers no exams, the marking is however quite tough and it was interesting to adapt to 60+ being considered a good score and 75 being the highest. Almost all international students got a scholarship of 5000 pounds or more, depending on the course, and there are a variety of other scholarships and bursaries available at the university as well as at the collegiate level. I was adequately satisfied with my university. After the completion of the degree, I have nothing but fond memories and invaluable academic and extracurricular knowledge.
Likes (Student Life): Durham being a student town, most of the demographic is young students, the businesses target students as well, so we have multiple events going on not just on the campus and in the colleges but all around the city. The entire city is our campus, the river is where the rowing team rows, and the restaurants and clubs all have student discounts. Being a collegiate system, all colleges have weekly dinners, daily events, annual days, balls, freshers week, refreshers week, mid sem balls and events, quiz nights in college bars and even the departments and individual societies have events day to day. This means that almost every day, there are some of the other events happening both free and paid that can range from stargazing to sports, and all students have something to do.
Dislikes (Indian Food): Durham is a small town in northern England, though there are some Indian restaurents, they are not as authentic. However, you do get almost all the ingredients you may need to cook Indian food yourself. There are 5-6 desi restaurants which can pass when you really don't want to cook and are okay with some mid-level indian adjacent food. Urban Chai is the only good one.
Total Monthly ExpensePound 1200
Prepping time for classes10 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryPound 25000
A
Anonymous
MSc in Finance (Finance and Investment) - Batch of 2024
Offered by Durham University
3.9
Diverse and friendly campus environment.
Tips: I didn't receive a scholarship, which is difficult to receive. I transitioned well. I made friends with people belonging to various ethnicities and races. Everyone speaks English. A cultural shift was taking the bus and walking quite a bit. You could roam at 1 and 2 am and it'll still be safe.
Likes (Student Life): I got to meet a lot of people belonging to different ethnicities and got to explore their cultures. We have a collegiate system so they regularly organise cultural fairs and have lots of fun activities and sports that we can collectively play.
Dislikes (Indian Food): I personally prefer cooking for myself as I feel it has more value for money than eating out every time. Plus, I was a bit health conscious so I did not want to eat raw meat. They had many affordable restaurants like River View Kitchen, Cafedral, etc.
Total Monthly ExpensePound 1325
Prepping time for classes10 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryPound 60525
A
Anonymous
MSc Management (International Business) - Batch of 2023
Offered by Durham University
4.5
Brilliant overall experience.
Tips: It was a smooth transition, and fellow students and staff were very welcoming and accepting. I didn't feel like an outsider at all. I did not avail any scholarships. I enjoyed every aspect of university, from the course, wider student experience, the city, and the people I met.
Likes (Part time work): Many part time opportunities are available on campus, such as Student Ambassador, etc as well as off campus. Many students manage to secure part time roles through alumni support even before stepping on campus, which ensures a smooth transition. Most students find that managing their academic workload alongside part time work can be quite stressful, but given that students can only work 20 hours a week, with good planning and scheduling, it's definitely manageable.
Dislikes (Public transportation): Public transport is good during the day and this is not an issue when living in college student halls. But buses typically stop running at around 11 pm and start by 6:15 am. So, during this window, if someone wants to get home from a student event and live off campus, the only options are taxis or friends who have cars or bicycles. Students have the option to avail the student day pass for 2.60 within Durham and nearby zones, which allows multiple trips in those zones using the same pass. The Durham Railway Station is well connected to London, Newcastle, and Edinburgh which can all be reached on direct trains making wider travel connectivity very simple and accessible. The nearest international airport is in Newcastle, around 30 minutes by taxi from central Durham.
Total Monthly ExpensePound 800
Prepping time for classes25 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryPound
A
Anonymous
LLM Corporate Law - Batch of 2025
Offered by Durham University
3.7
There is a career support center to guide for opportunities.
Tips: The cultural shift that I experienced was that people mostly got put out of their homes only on weekends and everything closes by 5.
I was given a scholarship of a certain amount on my tuition fees by the university for my course.
I am satisfied with the university, course and country.
Likes (Public transportation): The campus was well connected to the rest of the city since it was a small town and public transportation was easily accessible.
Everyone mostly preferred being on foot and exploring the city and also go to the classes on foot. For the students, public transportation is affordable.
Dislikes (Internships): There is a career support centre to guide. They help you with reviewing your CV by telling if the ATS will go through it or not and guiding which place would be best suited to apply for the same.
There are a few available internships relevant to my field of study. Not in the city specifically but can be anywhere in the UK.
Total Monthly ExpensePound 0
Prepping time for classes25 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryPound 35000
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