Skip to Content

GLOBAL EXCELLENCE
IN RESEARCH

Delivering Positive Change through Global Research

We’re proud of our reputation for research – and we’re even more ambitious for its future.

The ninth-oldest university in the UK, Queen’s has a proud history of conducting innovative, impactful, and world-leading research, changing people’s lives for the better.

Informed by UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), today our research culture is primed by investment in areas of research strength, particularly translational expertise, working across disciplines to address local and global challenges such as soil degradation, water scarcity, conflict resolution and climate change.

View Global Research Brochure

QUEEN’S: A WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT

We support the creation of international research partnerships and with access to international funding streams, cutting edge facilities, and professional support, we attract the most talented international research staff and students.

A MEMBER OF THE PRESTIGIOUS RUSSELL GROUP


(24 leading research-intensive UK universities)

99% OF OUR RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT IS WORLD-LEADING OR INTERNATIONALLY EXCELLENT


(REF 2021)

RANKED 13TH IN THE UK FOR RESEARCH INTENSITY


(Complete University Guide 2024)

£173M TO SUPPORT GLOBAL RESEARCH ENGAGEMENT

From regional, national and global sources.

OVER 1,000 AWARDS

Involving international collaboration/funding.

4000 RESEARCH COLLABORATORS WORLDWIDE

Researcher working at a machine
Queen’s Global Research Institutes (GRIs)

Our GRIs are flagships for interdisciplinary research in areas of major societal challenge.

They bring together a critical mass of excellent researchers from a wide range of disciplines in world-class facilities to tackle some of the greatest global issues of our age.

Global Food Security: Playing a major role in the future of delivering safe, sustainable, and authentic food to the world’s population, and globally recognised for its excellence in research.

Peace, Security and Justice: The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice examines how societies emerging from violence can establish lasting peace.

Technology Futures: Investigating how to secure, process and safely transmit information created by citizens, enterprise, and government.

Global Health: Addressing diseases that affect populations worldwide like Cancer, Respiratory Conditions, Eye Disease and Diabetic Vascular Complications.

Our Global Research in action

These features showcase a range of our global academic research, working across disciplines and sectors and making a real difference to economies, societies and cultures across the world.

Graphic of a red and black global map
GLOBAL RESEARCH FEATURED PROJECTS

Our research activity has global impact, and we continue to expand our reach through collaboration, building research partnerships locally, nationally and internationally.

View our research showcase for projects tackling global issues, working with diverse collaborators and partners.

Global Research Map

European Union flag
QUEEN'S RESEARCH IN EUROPE

Queen's continues to build on significant European research success.

We have engaged in 125 Horizon 2020 projects, across 70 countries and in more than 600 collaborations. We are on the way to achieve a similar success in Horizon Europe.

Queen's Research in Europe

Belfast City Hall in pink light

BELFAST: A GLOBAL INNOVATION CAPITAL

Belfast is a capital city with a passion for progress – a passion shared by Queen’s University Belfast, with our campus positioned in the beating heart of the city.

Belfast has a long and proud history of industry and innovation, from ship building to linen manufacturing.

Today, the city is an inward magnet for investment and its young, dynamic population and thriving business community drives technological advances, building competitiveness, innovation and prosperity on the global stage.

A thriving UK capital city

ONE OF THE BEST REGIONAL UK CITIES TO START A NEW BUSINESS

(Start-up Cities Index, 2017)

THE WORLD’S MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY SMALL-MEDIUM SIZED CITY

(Financial Times fDi Intelligence, 2018)

QUEEN’S RANKED NUMBER TWO IN THE UK FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL IMPACT

(Octopus Ventures, 2022)

computer chip 800x533
Belfast Region City Deal

The University’s central involvement in the £1 billion Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) further cements our role in supporting and accelerating economic growth in Northern Ireland.

Queen’s, together with Ulster University, is leading on the development of the Innovation strand: a suite of five projects with a common thread of digital innovation, which will receive over £200m capital funding via the Deal.

We are driving projects that will foster innovation and opportunities across key sectors including data science, creative industries, advanced manufacturing and health, and help ensure a talent pipeline of equipped, future ready graduates to meet demand.

Find out more about City Deal

Lanyon with cool sky

COLLABORATE WITH US

We hope that you will work together with us, in partnership, to make vast advances in global research tackling global issues.

Major partner countries include the USA and several EU nations. Four Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), China, Vietnam, India and South Africa also appear in the list of Queen’s top partner country collaborators.

Get in Touch   View Research directory to find collaborators

Global Partnerships

Female researcher at a computer

RESEARCH WITH US

Become part of the next generation of world-class researchers at Queen’s, and access the support and facilities you need to achieve your career ambitions.

Our researchers benefit from a range of development opportunities, enabling you to thrive in your research, advance your career and reach your potential as future leaders.

Access generous funding and awards, defined career pathways, relocation expenses, mentoring and coaching and a range of professional training options.

Our Postdoctoral Development Centre welcomes new research fellows, promotes a positive Postdoc experience and empowers researchers to progress their career.

Globe image superimposed over the Lanyon at night
FELLOWSHIPS AT QUEEN'S

Queen’s wants to recruit, develop, and nurture outstanding fellows who will deliver world-leading research and become our research leaders of the future.

Our Fellowship academy  provides early career researchers with developmental opportunities to support their growth as future research leaders and influencers.

Our Illuminate: The Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowships offer the support and facilities you need to achieve your career ambitions. Benefits include a pathway to a Senior Lecturer/Reader post at the end of the Fellowship, reduced teaching and admin, excellent relocation expenses, a generous ‘Fellowship Enhancement Award’ from £20,000-£50,000 and funding to recruit a full-time PhD student within the first two years of appointment.

As a Fellow at Queen’s, you will be part of a world- class international university built on teaching excellence, leading-edge research, innovation, collaboration, and engagement, and will play a key role in shaping our future priorities.

You will benefit from membership of the Queen’s Fellowship academy, a comprehensive and bespoke development service that will include access to a Fellows Network, Mentorship Programme and a range of professional training and development options delivered via workshop sessions, online learning, and peer coaching groups.

Read more Read less
Trung Duong
ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Queen’s academics work with more than 4,000 worldwide collaborators. We believe in nurturing and supporting our people to really make a difference in the world.

Colleagues join us from all over the world and experience a beautiful place to live, talented colleagues and full support in achieving career success.

Hear from our International colleagues

View Academic Positions

Student in the Graduate School packing a bag
PROMOTING PHD TALENT

Postgraduate Researchers at Queen’s undertake projects with real social impact while exploring their passions and progressing in their fields.

Our Graduate School provides a world class postgraduate experience, supporting research students, through a suite of training courses, events, networking, support and skills development. It provides a vibrant hub for intellectual exchange and collaboration.

View PhD opportunities

PHOTO: Professor Paulo Prodohl
Queen’s has a fantastic support network for academic researchers, and I’ve been fortunate to interact with outstanding PhD students and researchers from all over the world. On top of that Belfast is an incredible city - good food, friendly people, close to areas of natural beauty and affordable – the list goes on!” Professor Paulo Prodohl
Professor of Biological Sciences at Queen's, from Brazil

Academic Experiences

VIEW THE FULL BROCHURE