
Queen's University Belfast
Location
United Kingdom
QS Ranking 2025
206
-4Guardian University Ranking 2024
50
-4Student Satisfaction
96%
Graduate Employability
96%
Int. Student Percentage
16%
Int. Fee Range
£ 17,900 to £25,000/pa
Overview
Queen’s University Belfast is a well-known university in the UK, loved by students for its great teaching and friendly atmosphere. With 96% of students happy with their experience, it’s clear that Queen’s offers a supportive and exciting place to study.
The university also offers good scholarships and affordable fees, making it an excellent choice for international students looking for quality education.
Extended Overview
Queen’s University Belfast, founded in 1845, is one of the top universities in the UK and a proud member of the Russell Group. Located in the capital city of Northern Ireland, it’s a fantastic place to study.
Queen’s is all about making students happy, Students saying they’re pleased with their experience. This is thanks to the university’s focus on strong academic support, a fun campus life, and lots of chances for career growth. It’s also known for great teaching, cutting-edge research, and helping students get good jobs after graduation.
The university offers many scholarships and financial aid options for both undergraduates and postgraduates, making it affordable for international students. With reasonable tuition fees, Queen’s ensures students get great value for their education.
At Queen’s, students have access to top-notch resources like modern libraries, advanced research facilities, and expert staff. The university offers a wide range of courses, from engineering to business to the arts. It also works on important global research projects to solve real-world problems.
The friendly student community at Queen’s, combined with the exciting city life in Belfast, makes it a perfect place for international students to enjoy great studies and an amazing cultural experience.
Mission Statement
Queen’s University Belfast’s mission is to educate and explore for the benefit of business and society.
History
Queen's University Belfast was established in 1845 by Royal Charter, with Queen Victoria's support. It was created as a non-denominational alternative to Trinity College Dublin, which was under the control of the Anglican Church. Originally, the university consisted of three Queen's Colleges in Cork, Galway, and Belfast.
Although it was the first university in Northern Ireland, Queen's has roots that go back to 1810 with the founding of the Belfast Academical Institution. The first year saw just 90 students joining, and by 1909, the number had grown to about 600 students, mostly from the nine counties of Ulster.
Today, Queen’s University Belfast has around 23,000 students, with more than 80 countries represented.
Accreditation
- Privy Council
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Association of International Accountants (AIA)
- Bar Standards Board (BSB)
- BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT
- British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
- Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT)
- General Medical Council (GMC)
- General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFA)
- Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
- Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE)
- Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA)
- Institute of Physics (IOP)
- Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)
- Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
- Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
- Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES)
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
- Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)
- Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)
- Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
- Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)
- Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
- Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
Campus Facilities
It’s not just the education that makes Queen’s stand out; it’s also the campus facilities, which make student life more enjoyable and engaging with a wide range of activities.
Award - Winning Library
The McClay Library is an award-winning library that combines the charm of a traditional library with modern technology. It has space for 2,200 readers and holds over 1.2 million books.
ONE ELMWOOD
It is a modern student centre that combines student services with the Students' Union in one impressive building. It offers a range of facilities where students can access support, collaborate in shared spaces, and socialise in top-quality venues.
Advanced Sport & Fitness
Queen’s Belfast offers advanced sport and fitness facilities, including –
- The Physical Education Centre (PEC)
- Exercise Classes and Courses
- Student club
- Sporting Scholarships
Boutique Cinema on campus
Queen’s has its own full-time cinema, the Queen’s Film Theatre (QFT), showing the best of classic and new world cinema for students and visitors to enjoy.
Arts at Queen’s
In the Lanyon building, you'll find the award-winning Naughton Gallery, one of Belfast's best art spaces. There's also the Seamus Heaney Centre, known for its focus on literature, and the Brian Friel Centre for Theatre Research, a great place for performing arts students to learn and create.
Courses
Here are top internationally accredited courses that can make your career one step ahead.
Undergraduate Courses
- Accounting (Major) with French
- Accounting (Major) with French (with Placement Year)
- Accounting (Major) with Spanish
- Actuarial Science and Risk Management
- Actuarial Science and Risk Management (with Placement Year)
- Advanced Accounting with Placement
- Aerospace Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering (with Placement Year)
- Aerospace Engineering (with Placement Year) (4 Years)
- Aerospace Engineering (4 Years)
- Agricultural Technology
- Agricultural Technology with Professional Studies
- Anthropology
- Anthropology and Archaeology
- Anthropology and English
- Anthropology and French
- Anthropology and History
- Anthropology and International Relations
- Anthropology and Irish
- Anthropology and Philosophy
- Anthropology and Politics
- Anthropology and Spanish
- Applied Mathematics and Physics
- Applied Mathematics and Physics (4 Years)
- Archaeology
- Archaeology and History
- Archaeology and Irish
- Archaeology with French
- Archaeology with Portuguese
- Archaeology with Spanish
- Archaeology-Palaeoecology
- Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography
- Architecture
- Audio Engineering
- Biochemistry
- Biochemistry (4 Years)
- Biochemistry with Professional Studies
- Biochemistry with Professional Studies (5 Years)
- Biological Sciences
- Biological Sciences (4 Years)
- Biological Sciences with Professional Studies
- Biomedical Science
- Broadcast Production
- Business Economics
- Business Management with Placement
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering (4 Years)
- Chemistry
- Chemistry (4 Years)
- Chemistry with Study Abroad
- Civil Engineering
- Civil Engineering (4 Years)
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Engineering (4 Year)
- Computer Science
- Computer Science Incl Professional Experience
- Computer Science Professional Experience
- Computing and Information Technology Incl Professional Experience
- Criminology
- Criminology and Social Policy
- Criminology and Sociology
- Data Science with Year of Professional Experience
- Dentistry
- Drama
- Drama and English
- Economics
- Economics (Major) with French (4 Years)
- Economics (Major) with French (with Placement Year)
- Economics (Major) with Spanish
- Economics and Accounting
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering (4 Years)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering (with Placement Year)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering (with Placement Year) (5 Years)
- English
- English and Film Studies
- English and French
- English and History
- English and Irish
- English and Linguistics
- English and Philosophy
- English and Politics
- English and Sociology
- English and Spanish
- English with Creative Writing
- Environmental and Civil Engineering
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Management with Professional Studies
- European Planning
- Film and Theatre Making
- Film Studies and Production
- Food Science and Nutrition
- Food Science and Nutrition (4 Years)
- Food Science and Nutrition with Professional Studies
- Food Science and Nutrition with Professional Studies (4 Years)
- French
- French and History
- French and International Relations
- French and Politics
- French and Portuguese
- French and Spanish
- Geography
- Geography (3 Years)
- History
- History and International Relations
- History and Philosophy
- History and Politics
- History and Sociology
- History and Spanish
- Human Biology
- International Business (Major) with French
- International Business (Major) with German
- International Business (Major) With Mandarin
- International Business (Major) with Portuguese
- International Business (Major) with Spanish
- International Relations and Conflict Studies
- International Relations and Irish
- International Relations and Politics
- International Relations and Spanish
- Irish
- Irish and History
- Irish and Politics
- Irish and Spanish
- Law
- Law (Major) with French
- Law (Major) with Politics
- Law (Major) with Spanish
- Law Senior Status
- Liberal Arts
- Marine Biology
- Marine Biology (4 Years)
- Marine Biology with Professional Studies
- Marine Biology with Professional Studies (5 Years)
- Mathematics
- Mathematics (4 Years)
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Mathematics and Computer Science (4 Years)
- Mathematics and Statistics & Op Research
- Mathematics and Statistics & Op Research (4 Years)
- Mathematics with Finance
- Mathematics with French
- Mathematics with Spanish
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering (4 Years)
- Mechanical Engineering (with Placement Year)
- Mechanical Engineering (with Placement Year) (5 Years)
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry (4 Years)
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Microbiology (4 Years)
- Microbiology with Professional Studies
- Microbiology with Professional Studies (5 Years)
- Midwifery
- Music
- Music and Audio Production
- Music and Sound Design
- Music Performance
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (with Placement Year)
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Pharmaceutical Sciences (with Placement Year)
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Philosophy (3 Years)
- Philosophy and Politics
- Physics
- Physics (4 Years)
- Physics with Astro-Physics
- Physics with Astro-Physics (4 Years)
- Physics with French
- Physics with French (5 Years)
- Physics with Medical Applications
- Physics with Medical Applications (5 Years)
- Physics with Spanish
- Physics with Spanish (5 Years)
- Planning, Environment and Development
- Politics
- Politics and Spanish
- Politics, Philosophy and Economics
- Professional Nursing (Adult)
- Professional Nursing (Adult) (3 Years)
- Professional Nursing (Children and Young People)
- Professional Nursing (Children and Young People) (3 Years)
- Professional Nursing (Learning Disabilities)
- Professional Nursing (Mental Health)
- Psychology
- Social Policy and Sociology
- Social Work
- Social Work Relevant Degree Entry
- Sociology
- Software Engineering
- Software Engineering With Placement (5 Years)
- Spanish
- Spanish (4 Years)
- Spanish and Portuguese
- Structural Engineering with Architecture
- Theoretical Physics
- Theoretical Physics (4 Years)
- Zoology
- Zoology (4 Years)
- Zoology with Professional Studies
- Zoology with Professional Studies (5 Years)
Postgraduate Courses
- Accounting, Finance and Analytics
- Actuarial Science
- Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Practice (2 Years)
- Advanced Food Safety
- Advanced Pharmacy Practice (with Independent Prescribing)
- Advanced Professional and Clinical Practice
- Advanced Professional Practice (1 Year)
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare
- Anthropology
- Applied Behaviour Analysis
- Applied Cyber Security
- Applied Cyber Security with Professional Internship
- Applied Developmental Psychology
- Architecture
- Artificial Intelligence
- Arts and Humanities
- Arts Management
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics
- Building Information Modelling Project Management
- Business Analytics
- Cancer Medicine
- Caring for Children and Young People with Complex Needs
- Children's Rights
- City Planning and Design
- Climate Change (1 Year)
- Clinical Anatomy
- Clinical Health Psychology
- Computer Science (Conversion)
- Conflict Transformation and Social Justice
- Construction and Project Management
- Construction and Project Management Higher Level Apprenticeship
- Construction and Project Management with Industrial Internship
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Data Analytics
- Ecological Management and Conservation Biology
- Economics
- Education (English)
- Education (Modern Languages)
- Education (Religious Education)
- Education (Science)
- Education (Social Science)
- Educational Leadership
- Educational Studies
- Electronics
- Electronics with Professional Internship
- English - Creative Writing
- English - Literary Studies
- English - Poetry
- English - Poetry (1 Year)
- Environmental Engineering (1 Year)
- Experimental Medicine
- Film
- Finance
- Financial Analytics
- Geopolitics (1 Year)
- Global Health
- Global Security and Borders
- History
- Human Resource Management
- Inclusion and Special Educational Needs
- Industrial Pharmaceutics
- Information Technology and Computing
- Intellectual Property Law
- International Business
- International Commercial and Business Law
- International Human Rights Law
- International Public Policy
- International Relations
- Interpreting
- Irish Studies
- Law
- Law and Technology
- Leadership for Sustainable Development
- Leadership for Sustainable Rural Development
- Linguistics (1 Year)
- Management
- Marketing
- MBA
- MBA (with Internship)
- Mechanical Engineering with Management
- Mechanical Engineering with Management and Industrial Internship
- Media and Broadcast Production
- Mental Health and Mental Capacity Law
- Mental Health and Mental Capacity Law (3 Years)
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
- Net Zero Engineering
- Pharmaceutical Analysis
- Pharmaceutical Analysis with Industrial Placement
- Pharmaceutical Analysis with International Industrial Placement
- Philosophy (1 Year)
- Planning and Development (1 Year)
- Politics (1 Year)
- Psychological Science
- Public Health
- Public History (1 Year)
- Social Science Research
- Sociology and Global Inequality
- Software Development
- Software Engineering with Placement Year (5 Years)
- Specialist Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Structural Engineering with Architecture
- Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders (3 Years)
- Systemic Psychotherapy
- Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages and Applied Linguistics
- Theoretical Physics (4 Years)
- Translation
- Violence, Terrorism and Security (1 Year)
- Youth Justice
- Zoology (4 Years)
- Zoology with Professional Studies (5 Years)
- Zoology with Professional Studies (with Placement Year) (5 Years)
Divisions and Departments
Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- School of Arts, English and Languages
- School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics
- School of Law
- Queen's Business School
- School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work
Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- School of Mathematics and Physics
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- School of Natural and Built Environment
- School of Psychology
Faculty of Medicine, Health & Life Sciences
- School of Biological Sciences
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences
- School of Nursing and Midwifery
- School of Pharmacy
Faculty and Staff
- Mike Baillie – Professor Emeritus of Palaeoecology
- Sir George Bain – former President and Vice-Chancellor; Chair of the Independent Review of the Fire Service
- Paul Bew, Baron Bew – Professor of Irish Politics
- Ciarán Carson – poet, novelist; Professor of English and Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry
- Colin Cooper – Senior Lecturer in psychology; devises IQ tests for the BBC's Test the Nation programme
- Edith Newman Devlin (1926–2012) former English lecturer, academic and writer
- Richard English – Professor of Politics
- Mick Fealty – Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Governance
- Theodore Thomson Flynn, served as the Chair of Zoology
- Adrian Guelke – Professor of Comparative Politics
- John Hewitt – the university's first writer-in-residence
- James Mallory – Professor in Prehistoric Archaeology
- Michael Mann – Visiting Research Professor in Sociology
- Sir John McCanny – Regius Professor of Electronics and Computer Engineering and Director of ECIT
Student Life
Life at Queen’s University Belfast is exciting and full of opportunities. The campus is beautiful, with modern buildings and a friendly atmosphere. Students can join over 200 clubs and societies, making it easy to meet people and try new things.
The university has amazing facilities, like a big library and a gym. Belfast itself is a lively city with lots to explore, including history, music, and great food. Queen’s makes sure students feel welcome and supported while having the best university experience.
Student Statistics
- Undergraduate: 69%
- Postgraduate: 31%
- Full-time students: 85%
- Part-time students: 15%
- UK students: 80%
- EU students: 4%
- International students: 15%
- Female: 58%
- Male: 42%
Transportation
Belfast is a great city to explore on foot or by bike, especially with student accommodations located in the city centre. Even if you don't stay in university housing, you can still walk to campus in just 10 minutes.
For getting around the city, the Belfast Bikes scheme is easy to use and you'll find bike stations all over town. Public transport, like buses and trains, is also simple and offers student discounts. From Queen's University Belfast, you can walk to the Botanic train station. If you prefer, you can also use Uber or local taxis like Value Cabs.
Housing and Accommodation
Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) offers great student accommodation that’s comfortable, affordable, and close to campus. Whether you prefer a busy city vibe or a quieter area, there’s something for everyone.
Here are the queen’s accommodation properties:
- ELMS BT1
- Elms BT2
- Elms BT9
- Willow Walk
- College Gardens
- Grant House
- Guthrie House
- Mount Charles
- 76 Malone Road
- Swanston House
- John Bell House
- 105-107 University Street
Extracurricular Activities
With over 200 student-led societies and sports clubs, there’s something for everyone at Queen’s. Here are some of them. Find what excites you ang get engaged.
- Queen's Radio
- Basketball Club - Women's
- Internal Medicine Society
- Athletics Club
- Chess Club
- Camogie Club
- Poker Society
- Men's Boat Club
- Women's Boat Club
- Vietnamese Student Society
- Trócaire Society
- Basketball Club - Men's
- Esports Society
- Anthropology Society
- Gaelic Football Club - Men's
- Students Against Human Trafficking Society
- Wine and Cheese Society
- Surf Club
- Women's Volleyball Club
- Aerospace Society
- Amnesty QUB
- Cheerleading Club - Queen's Knights
- Korean Pop Society (KPop Society)
- Amnesty QUB
- Robotics Society
- BioSciences Society
- Social Science Society
- Trampoline Club
- Sub Aqua Club
- Gaelic Football Club - Women's
- Students Working Overseas Trust (SWOT)
- Caving Club
- Women's Soccer Club
- Men's Soccer Club
- Medical Students for Choice
- Dance Club
- Project Choice Society
- Jordanian Society
- Environmental Sustainability Society
- Engineering Society
- Aerospace Society
- Writers' Society
- Amnesty QUB
- Photography Society
- Amnesty QUB
- Chess Club
- Athletics Club
- Chess Club
- Amateur Radio and Electronics Society
Partnerships and Collaborations
Partners:
- Harbin Institute of technology and Cranfield University
- China Medical University – The Queen's University of Belfast Joint College
- UK-China Science Bridge project
- UK China Engineering Consortium
- Harbin Institute of technology and Cranfield University
- Shanghai Jiao Tong
Collaborations and projects:
- Queen's Communities and Place
- Video-based interventions for children with ASD
- Covid-19 Research
- Excluded Lives Group: The political economies of school exclusion and their consequences, (ESRC)
- Psychological therapies for major depressive disorder and prolonged grief in bereaved adults (Cochrane Fellowship)
- Building Better Futures (Department of Health Early Intervention Transformation)
- Virtual reality and immersive technology to support health and social care professional training (MRC Proximity)
- Speak Out, Stay Safe Evaluation (NSPCC*)
- Getting our voices heard (DRILL)
- Police Stops (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)
- Shared Education Network (University of Zagreb*)
- Developing the Principles of Loyalist Transition (Mitchell Institute, Liverpool University)
- An efficacy RCT of Reciprocal Reading in secondary schools (Zhengzhou University, Fischer Family Literacy Trust)
Research Opportunities
At Queen’s University Belfast, research is all about making a difference in the real world. As part of the Russell Group, Queen’s is committed to tackling big global challenges with creative ideas and teamwork.
Notably, Queen’s stands out with its top rankings in the UK:
- 1st for Agriculture, Veterinary, and Food Sciences.
- 4th for Health and Biomedical Sciences.
- 8th for Law.
On top of that, 99% of Queen’s research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Queen’s research areas
Here are some of the fascinating topics Queen’s focuses on:
- Healthy Living for All: Helping people live healthier, happier lives.
- A Sustainable Economy: Creating smart solutions for a stronger, greener economy.
- AI and the Data Revolution: Leading research in artificial intelligence and data science.
- Human and Environment Connections: Understanding how we interact with our planet.
- Inclusive Communities: Finding ways to make societies fairer and more connected.
Fees and Scholarships
If you're a student from Northern Ireland, your tuition fee for full-time undergraduate courses is just £4,750 per year. For students from England, Scotland, or Wales, the fee is £9,250 per year.
For international students, Queen’s offers prestigious scholarships that can cover up to 50% of your tuition fees! To apply, you’ll need an offer to study a full-time course with us in 2025.
Plus, there are many course and country specific awards available too. Students can easily search for their expected funding and scholarship through Funding & Scholarship Finder.
Alumni Network
- Mary McAleese: Former President of Ireland
- Seamus Heaney: Nobel Prize-winning poet
- Lord Trimble: Nobel Prize-winning politician
- Lord Faulkner of Downpatrick: Former Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
- Lord Hutton: Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
- Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore: Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
- Lord Alderdice: Former Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Sir Reg Empey: Former Northern Ireland Minister
- Mark Durkan: Former Northern Ireland Minister
- Nigel Dodds: Former Northern Ireland Minister
- Conor Murphy: Current Northern Ireland Minister
- Eoin MacNeill: Former Irish Free State Minister and prominent Sinn Féin member
Career Services
Queen’s works to embed employability into your course, ensuring you start preparing for your future from day one. Their Careers, Employability, and Skills services are dedicated to developing future-ready graduates. With strong links to top companies, you’ll have excellent opportunities for internships, placements, and graduate jobs.
Awards and Recognitions
- Queen’S Anniversary Prize (The UK's highest academic honour)
- Athena Swan Gold Award
- QAA QUALITY ASSURANCE
- HR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH
- Diversity Mark Award 2021
- EXCELLENCE IN CYBER SECURITY EDUCATION
- GREEN FLAG AWARD
Rankings and Achievements
- 26th in the Times University Guide 2025
- 43rd in the Guardian University Guide 2025
- 206th in the QS World University Rankings 2025
- 201-250th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
Location
Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland (which is a part of the United Kingdom), is home to Queen's University. "Europe's friendliest — and trendiest — regional metropolis" and "one of today's most trendy destinations to visit or reside" are how the international press has defined Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Nearly a third of Northern Ireland's population resides in Belfast, and the city is conveniently accessible via air thanks to its proximity to two airports. There are up to 35 flights a day taking roughly an hour from London's five airports to Belfast, where most overseas students will arrive.