Comparison
University College London vs RWTH Aachen University
MSc Data Science · London vs MSc Data Science · Aachen
Last reviewed: July 2026
Short answer: RWTH Aachen University (MSc Data Science) is the cheaper program overall, RWTH Aachen University (MSc Data Science) reports the higher starting salary, and RWTH Aachen University (MSc Data Science) pays back fastest against the standard ₹8L India baseline. RWTH Aachen University (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 | RWTH Aachen University | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | UK | Germany |
| City | London | Aachen |
| Duration | 12 months | 24 months |
| Total cost | ₹78.4L | ₹32.7L |
| Avg. starting salary | ₹48.3L/yr | ₹54.4L/yr |
| Payback period | 1.9 yrs | 0.7 yrs |
| Visa pathway | Moderate | Strong |
| Min. GPA (4.0 scale) | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Test requirement | IELTS 6.5 | GRE Quant 75th+ percentile required |
| 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.
RWTH Aachen University: the honest note
Genuinely near-zero tuition even for non-EU students - the best pure cost-to-ROI ratio in this set. GRE is mandatory, unusual for a German program.
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)
RWTH Aachen University: Tuition & GRE requirement: rwth-aachen.de · Salary band: Glassdoor / Indeed / PayScale / ZipRecruiter (Jul 2026) · Visa: Germany 18-month post-study job-search visa
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