Comparison
University College London vs University of Melbourne
MSc Data Science · London vs Master of Computer Science · Melbourne
Last reviewed: July 2026
Short answer: University College London (MSc Data Science) is the cheaper program overall, University of Melbourne (Master of Computer Science) reports the higher starting salary, and University College London (MSc Data Science) pays back fastest against the standard ₹8L India baseline. University College London (MSc Data Science)currently has the stronger post-study work / visa pathway. No single program wins on everything - which one is actually "better" depends on your budget, priority (salary vs. migration vs. affordability), and your own admit odds.
| University College London | University of Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | UK | Australia |
| City | London | Melbourne |
| Duration | 12 months | 24 months |
| Total cost | ₹78.4L | ₹1.11Cr |
| Avg. starting salary | ₹48.3L/yr | ₹54.2L/yr |
| Payback period | 1.9 yrs | 2.4 yrs |
| Visa pathway | Moderate | Moderate |
| Min. GPA (4.0 scale) | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Test requirement | IELTS 6.5 | IELTS 6.5 |
| Consultant-oversold flag | No | No |
University College London: the honest note
1-year program lowers opportunity cost. UK Graduate Route currently gives 2 years post-study work, but is shortening to 18 months for visas granted from Jan 2027 - timing matters.
University of Melbourne: the honest note
2-year duration raises total cost. Australia's 485 graduate visa was tightened in 2026 (age cap dropped to 35, IELTS bar raised to 6.5, fees up sharply).
How payback is calculated
Payback = total program cost ÷ (starting salary abroad − ₹8,00,000 India baseline). The baseline rises for IIT/NIT-class graduates, which lengthens payback for those students on both programs above. Full formula and worked example in the payback period guide.
Sources
University College London: Tuition & entry requirements: ucl.ac.uk · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: UK Graduate Route, gov.uk (2026 rules)
University of Melbourne: Tuition & India entry requirements: study.unimelb.edu.au · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: Australia Subclass 485, homeaffairs.gov.au (2026 rules)
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