Queen’s University Belfast has been recognised among the world’s top 9% of universities in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, securing a place in the global top 200. 

This marks a significant achievement for Queen’s, which has advanced from the 201–250 band in recent years into one of the most competitive tiers of the rankings. The University also ranked 5th in the world for international outlook and 105th for research quality, reflecting its growing international reputation for research, education and impact. 

The THE World University Rankings are among the most prestigious and widely referenced global league tables, assessing more than 2,000 institutions from 115 countries and territories. These global performance tables judge research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. Queen’s new top 200 position highlights the University’s excellence across these core pillars. 

This success builds on a series of strong performances across international rankings, with Queen’s also breaking into the top 200 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026, released in June. 

Welcoming the rankings, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, Professor Sir Ian Greer, said: 

“Securing a place in the Times Higher Education World Rankings top 200 is a clear reflection of the dedication, talent and ambition of our staff and students. This recognition highlights the University’s growing international reputation for excellence in education and research, while reinforcing our role in tackling the biggest challenges of our time. 

“As we celebrate our 180th anniversary, these results underpin the momentum we are building as a university of global impact. They demonstrate how the collective efforts of the Queen’s community are strengthening our ability to attract the best talent, both deliver a first-class education and world-class research, while ultimately making a positive difference to society at home and across the world.” 

In the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, more than 20 subjects at Queen’s ranked in the world’s top 200, with four subjects placed in the global top 100.  

Queen’s has also demonstrated its commitment to real world impact through strong performances in sustainability-focused rankings. In the THE Impact Rankings 2025, which measure universities’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Queen’s placed 79th in the world and was ranked number one in the UK for its contribution to SDG 14: Life Below Water. The University additionally secured a top 100 global position in the QS University Sustainability Rankings 2025, reflecting its leadership in tackling pressing global challenges. 

The University continues to perform strongly in UK-focused rankings. Just last month, Queen’s climbed five places to 21st in the UK and retained its position as the top university in Northern Ireland in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026. Similarly, in the Complete University Guide 2026, released earlier this year, the University rose to 24th place and remained the number one university in Northern Ireland. 

Further information on the rankings, including the methodology used, can be found on the THE World Rankings website here. 

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