Rankings and Reputation

One of the top 10 most beautiful historic universities in the UK

(QS World University Rankings 2022)

Belfast has the lowest cost of living in the UK

(Mercer Cost of Living City Ranking 2023)

Over 99% of Queen’s research environment was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent

(REF 2021)

A member of the prestigious Russell Group of 24 UK research intensive universities.

AN INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED UNIVERSITY

Queen’s is ranked 85 in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023.

We have 15 subjects in the top 200 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023). Five of those subjects are in the World Top 100 (QS World Rankings by subject 2023), Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Archaeology, Nursing, Performing Arts and Social Policy and Administration.

In the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU, 2022), we have 10 subjects in the top 200 in the world.

We have over 3,900 international students from over 90 different countries. We’re 4th in the world for international outlook (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024).

WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH

As a member of the Russell Group, Queen’s is one of the UK’s 24 leading research-intensive universities.

We are ranked 13th in the UK for research intensity (Complete University Guide 2024).

Our researchers use world-class facilities to tackle Global Challenges such as health, food, conflict and technology.

In REF 2021, 99% of Queen’s research environment was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent, and we were ranked:

1st in the UK for Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences
4th in the UK for Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy
8th in the UK for Law (REF 2021/ Times Higher Education)

See the global impact of our research.

OUR REPUTATION FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE

Queen’s is 31st in the UK in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

We rank in the top 10 in the UK for several subjects:

1st in the UK for Dentistry (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024) Course information
1st in the UK for Agriculture and Forestry (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024) Course information
2nd in the UK for Pharmacology and Pharmacy (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024) Course information
2nd in the UK for Social Work (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024) Course information

94% of current international students were satisfied with the subject area expertise of their lecturers (International Student Barometer 2022).

The University is a seven-times winner of the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education. This prestigious award is the highest national honour available to universities and FE colleges across the UK, approved directly by The Queen and Parliament.

FUTURE FOCUSED

Queen’s is in the top 170 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022).

93% of Queen’s graduates were in employment and/or further study 15 months after completing their course (HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2020/21), and we are ranked 10th in the UK for graduate prospects (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024).

Queen's is ranked 13th in the UK for Graduate Prospects – Outcomes (Complete University Guide 2024); and ranked 1st in the UK for career prospects for Medicine, Midwifery, Mental Health Nursing; and Pharmacy and Pharmacology (Guardian University Guide 2024).

Belfast is ranked in the top 10 fastest growing tech cities in the UK (UK Digital Economy Council, 2021).

Find out how Queen’s can enhance your employability.

ADDRESSING SUSTAINABILITY

As a global institution, we have a major role to play in making a positive impact in our environment.

We are nurturing a culture of sustainability to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and are a signatory to the UN Accord.

In the Times Higher Education 2023 Impact Rankings, Queen’s was ranked 85 in the world, and ranked 23 out of 57 UK universities.

Individually, Queen's is ranked 7 out of 674 institutions for SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production (Times Higher Education 2023 Impact Rankings).

Through research, education, and leadership we are taking the lead in equality, diversity and inclusion, sustainable procurement, and a commitment to disinvestment from fossil fuels, incorporating the SDGs and driving real-world impact in climate change.

94% of current international students at Queen’s were satisfied with the eco-friendly attitude to the environment at Queen’s; and Queen’s was ranked 1st out of 7 Russell Group universities for eco-friendly attitude to the environment (International Student Barometer 2022).

A PRESTIGIOUS HISTORY

At almost 200 years old, Queen’s University Belfast is one of the oldest universities in the UK. (Complete University Guide 2024).

Founded in 1845, we are the ninth oldest University in the UK and have a rich history of leading change.

Some of our renowned graduates include Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney, ‘Northern Ireland’s Einstein’ John Stewart Bell, and the father of emergency medicine James Francis Pantridge.

Find out more about our greatest achievements.

A LEADER IN EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

We are committed to providing a positive culture throughout the University that celebrates diversity, is welcoming, and inclusive.

We offer a number of student development opportunities to help you enhance and develop your employability and personal skills and help you overcome any barriers that might restrict you reaching your full potential or accessing graduate roles.

Queen’s holds a prestigious Athena SWAN Silver Award, along with 15 Departmental Awards (3 Gold, 6 Silver and 6 Bronze).

We’re proud of the diversity of our staff, with over 80 countries represented in our multicultural, inclusive and vibrant campus community. We were awarded the Silver Diversity Mark by Diversity Mark in December 2021, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender diversity, and the progress made at Queen’s in advancing gender, race and disability equality, and our ambitious plans to do more in these spaces.

A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS WITH AWARD WINNING FACILITIES

Queen’s was ranked 1st out of 7 Russell Group universities for campus environment (International Student Barometer 2022).

In the last ten years we have invested £350m into award-winning facilities like the McClay Library, Graduate School, Law School and Computer Science building. We’re going to invest a further £350m in the next decade.

That’s why we were ranked 1st out of 108 universities worldwide for our Students’ Union and 98% of current international students were satisfied with our library services (International Student Barometer 2022).

Visit Queen’s and see it for yourself on one of our Campus Tours.

LEADING INNOVATION AND IMPACT

We are renowned for our strengths in enterprise and innovation.

We were ranked 2nd in the UK for entrepreneurial impact (Octopus Ventures, 2022).

We are one of the leading Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) providers in the UK and a recent report by London Economics found that Queen’s contributes £1.9billion to the UK economy.

Through QUBIS Ltd, our commercial arm, we have created over 100 spin-out companies, generating £323m in revenue.

We hold a Regius Professorship for Cyber Security expert Professor Máire O’Neill, a rare honour bestowed by The Queen to recognise exceptional teaching and research. We were one of the first Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research by GCHQ in 2011, and were named as one of the UK’s first Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE).

Queen’s holds a prestigious Athena SWAN Silver Award, along with 14 Departmental Awards (3 Gold, 6 Silver and 5 Bronze).

Belfast is a city with a passion for progress and global innovation – a passion shared by Queen’s University Belfast. The prevalence of venture capitalists, business angels and private investors mean that young, high potential companies are booming in the city and Belfast is ranked in the top 10 fastest growing tech cities in the UK (UK Digital Economy Council, 2021).

Queen's University Belfast