The University of Manchester vs London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE vs The Open University - OU vs University of Northampton vs University of St Andrews

Side-by-side comparison from 829 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: ONCAMPUS Global (4.70)
The University of Manchester: wins 0/7 categories
London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE: wins 2/7 categories
The Open University - OU: wins 1/7 categories
University of Northampton: wins 1/7 categories
University of St Andrews: wins 1/7 categories
ONCAMPUS Global: wins 2/7 categories
Le Cordon Bleu Paris: wins 0/7 categories
Comparing
Manchester, The United Kingdom
4.30
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311 reviews
×
Best programme: Mechanical Engineering
Best programme: Economics
Milton Keynes, The United Kingdom
4.40
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68 reviews
×
Best programme: Business and Marketing
Northampton, The United Kingdom
4.10
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24 reviews
×
Best programme: MBA
Saint Andrews, The United Kingdom
4.50
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80 reviews
×
Best programme: History
London, The United Kingdom
4.70
Top
Read more reviews
12 reviews
×
Best programme: Accounting and Business Finance
Best programme: Culinary Arts
Category ratings
Facilities
4.32
4.05
3.84
4.43
Win
4.29
4.30
4.40
Location
4.52
4.78
Win
4.33
4.00
4.03
4.73
4.70
Professors
4.22
4.26
4.26
3.96
4.51
4.75
Win
4.60
Internationality
4.56
4.80
Win
4.36
3.91
4.44
4.58
4.60
Student life
4.39
3.63
3.81
3.62
4.47
Win
4.40
3.90
Value
4.12
4.04
4.44
Win
4.00
4.38
4.42
3.90
Accommodation
3.67
3.79
3.14
3.68
3.77
4.27
Win
3.00
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Inspiring and supportive teaching and lecturers
  • +Vibrant student life and positive social experience
  • +Engaging and rigorous academic programmes
  • +Marketable courses and high academic standards
  • +Excellent, expert faculty with industry experience
  • +Supportive, respectful, and flexible learning environment
  • +Flexible self-paced study options
  • +Supportive and helpful tutors and resources
  • +Wide variety of course choices
  • +Well-organized programs and available technology
  • +Helpful staff and supportive learning environment
  • +Access to specialized equipment and resources
  • +Inspiring academic environment and dedicated professors
  • +Vibrant student community and sense of belonging
  • +Beautiful campus and engaging course content
  • +Supportive and approachable lecturers
  • +Well-organized courses and learning resources
  • +Personal and academic development
  • +Exceptional teaching quality from passionate, experienced instructors
  • +Unmatched precision, emphasis on quality, and professional skill development
  • +Welcoming environment, strong support, and valuable alumni network
Cons
  • -Outdated or non-functional facilities hindering practical learning.
  • -Poor course structure and irrelevant academic content.
  • -Unresponsive or critical staff regarding feedback.
  • -Poor teaching quality and lack of structure in programs.
  • -High fees are not justified by the quality of education and support.
  • -Limited social life and inadequate student support services.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frequent frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources hinder effective learning.
  • -Lack of clear communication and transparency is a recurring problem.
  • -Administrative and management issues, including lack of support.
  • -Rushed and confusing teaching leading to increased independent learning.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources hinder learning.
  • -Lack of clear communication and support is a recurring problem.
  • -Administrative and management issues are frequently cited as a source of frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of necessary resources are a common complaint.
  • -The curriculum is perceived as irrelevant or poorly delivered.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and lack of modern resources are disappointing.
  • -The curriculum feels irrelevant and disconnected from real-world needs.
Rating summary
What students say

This institution garners strong acclaim in several key areas. Internationality and location stand out as its strongest attributes, both receiving ratings above 4.5. Student life and facilities also score highly, indicating positive experiences in these domains. Conversely, accommodation presents the weakest area, with a considerably lower rating compared to other categories. Value and professor quality are rated moderately well.

With a strong emphasis on **Internationality** (4.80) and **Location** (4.78), this institution presents a globally connected and well-situated environment. Professors also receive high marks (4.26). Conversely, **Student Life** (3.63) and **Accommodations** (3.79) are the areas with the lowest reported satisfaction, suggesting room for improvement in campus vibrancy and living arrangements.

The university demonstrates exceptional strength in its **Value** (4.44) and **Internationality** (4.36) ratings. **Location** (4.33) and **Professors** (4.26) also receive very positive feedback. Conversely, **Accomodation** stands out as the weakest area with a rating of 3.14. **Facilities** (3.84) and **Student Life** (3.81) fall in the middle range, suggesting room for improvement in these aspects.

Across several key metrics, this institution demonstrates notable strengths in its **Facilities**, achieving a high score of 4.43, and offers good **Value** at 4.0. Areas receiving slightly lower scores, indicating potential for improvement, include **Student Life** (3.62) and **Accomodation** (3.68). **Professors** and **Internationality** also score well, around 3.9, with **Location** rated a solid 4.0.

Notably, the university excels in its **Professors** (4.51) and **Student Life** (4.47), with **Internationality** (4.44) and **Value** (4.38) also receiving very positive scores. **Facilities** (4.29) and **Location** (4.03) are rated well. The lowest-scoring area is **Accomodation** (3.77), indicating room for improvement in this aspect.

Overall, this institution garners favorable reviews across multiple aspects. The highest-rated areas are Professors (4.75) and Location (4.73), indicating significant strengths in these domains. Conversely, Facilities (4.3) and Accomodation (4.27) received the lowest scores, suggesting these might be areas for potential improvement. Student Life and Internationality also scored highly.

This university demonstrates exceptional strength in its **location** (4.7), **professors** (4.6), and **internationality** (4.6). Students are particularly impressed with the quality of instruction and the global environment. Conversely, **accommodation** stands out as the lowest-rated area at 3.0, suggesting room for improvement in this aspect. Student life and value for money also received moderate scores.

Reviews summary
Highlights

With a 4.25/5 average rating from 311 reviews, ~87% praise excellent courses, inspiring lecturers, and vibrant lifestyles. A very small percentage (~1.3%) report disorganization or irrelevant coursework.

Most reviews (~74%) praise marketable courses, expert faculty, and excellent research opportunities. Very few (~3.4%) express concerns about teaching quality, grading consistency, and career services.

With an average rating of 4.41/5, ~93% of reviews are positive, highlighting flexibility, excellent tutors, and comprehensive resources. No negative feedback was recorded.

Most reviews are positive (~92%), highlighting excellent modules, organised programmes, updated facilities, and friendly colleagues. A small percentage (~8%) of negative feedback mentioned course quality decline due to online learning and lack of support.

Overwhelmingly positive reviews (~95%) praise the beautiful campus, inspiring academic atmosphere, dedicated professors, and diverse student societies. No negative feedback was recorded from the 80 reviews.

Reviews are overwhelmingly positive (~100%), highlighting excellent teaching, supportive staff, and well-organized courses that improve language and academic skills. Minor scheduling changes were the only noted inconvenience.

Students highly praise the exceptional quality of teaching and knowledgeable instructors. Facilities are noted as impeccable and the learning environment welcoming, contributing to professional and personal growth for ~100% of reviewers.

Rating distribution
5★
39%
34%
47%
38%
55%
67%
60%
4★
49%
44%
47%
46%
40%
33%
40%
3★
11%
19%
6%
8%
5%
0%
0%
2★
1%
2%
0%
4%
0%
0%
0%
1★
1%
1%
0%
4%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
Practical

The course content is well-structured and covers key areas such as digital forensics, threat intelligence, network security, incident response, and cyber risk management. One of the biggest strengths of the programme is its practical approach. Lab-based sessions, real-world case studies, and hands-on tools helped me understand how cyber attacks and investigations work in real scenarios. The lecturers are knowledgeable, supportive, and approachable, and they encourage critical thinking and independent research. The university also offers good learning resources, including online materials, libraries, and lab facilities. Group projects and assignments helped develop teamwork, problem-solving, and technical skills, which are very important for a career in cyber security. Overall, the programme prepared me well for further study and professional opportunities in the cyber security field. However, there are some areas that could be improved. In some modules, the workload was quite heavy within a short period, which made it challenging to manage deadlines. A few topics could have been explained in more depth, especially advanced threat intelligence and real-world industry tools. Additionally, more industry collaboration, internships, or career guidance would make the programme even stronger. Some technical resources and lab environments could also be updated to reflect the latest cyber security trends and technologies.

Great Experience

LSE is a great place to create life-long connections and friends. There's a certain sense of community that is special to the university. The staff are hands-on and approachable. The facilities are modern and well-equipped.

Library Science

this university suits you who wants or need to get a job before finishing your degree. what i like about this uni is they have this option to do learn without coming to campus. what i hate is their system is developing slowly through the era. I wish i was enrolled 2 years prior, but their online system at that time wasn't today's good. I would recommend this learning center to those who wants to pursue their degree a little late like me.

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Student in 2013

I really enjoyed my time at LCB! I've found that my skills when I entered the work force were much higher than others. I think though there was a big portion missing in recipe development and composition. True- we did learn it through memorizing the recipes, but we really were missing classes on how different ingredients affect the final textures.. how you can change them... etc. That I still am not an expert in .. and I create recipes! Ouf! Also, I don't know if you still do a month of sugar work... but that really wasn't necessary and should be either cut or minimized to just 2 lessons. It's such a niche skill to know that I would have really preferred more technical skills. I loved the old location. The "rumors" I'm getting about the new location are that it's not as good, unfortunately - that i's become more of a money focused/marketing machine. I really hope that this image can be fixed as I love LCB and enjoyed my time there! Oh also - there should be more help for students to get jobs and featuring old students accomplishments - from cookbook launches to new bakeries so that current and old students can support them.

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