Queen’s University Belfast

History

With students from 85+ countries, 3,500 staff members, and over 100K graduated from around the world, Queen’s University Belfast has made its way to becoming one of the world’s leading educational institutions, especially in regards to research. Queen’s University Belfast, known among faculty, students, and alumni as Queen’s or QUB, has found its way to academic and research excellence over 175 years.

Steeped in heritage, the educational institution has a history embedded in the Belfast Academic Institution (founded in 1810). From there, the university found its roots as Queen’s College, Belfast, when it was it was chartered in 1845 and opened its doors to provide higher education four years later with 195 students attending and 23 professors.

Queen’s University Belfast, the ninth oldest university in the UK, became an independent university in 1908. With an unwavering focus on pursuing research across various subjects, Queen’s has become a member of the Russell Group with 24,000 UK, EU, and international students thriving in its academic, research, and social offerings. The educational institution is one of the prime hubs of research.

Ranked in the 8th position for research intensity in the UK by Times Higher Education, the university has contributed to research on every scale. Queen’s obtained over £101.6 million in research grants, contracts and awards in the 2016-2017 academic years. Leveraging the educational institution’s history of excellent disciplinary research, Queen’s University Belfast has developed four research institutes that engage in different research formats in healthcare, food safety, cybersecurity, and global peace, security and justice.

In Queen’s Quarters in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, Queen’s University Belfast offers students an opportunity to experience the capital’s city life and natural beauty. Apart from other campuses, parks, nightlife, and architecture within the city, there is much to explore outside its boundaries.

To match the natural and architectural beauty surrounding Belfast and to meet its goal of providing students access to state-of-the-art facilities, Queen’s University Belfast invested over £700 million to develop the McClay Library, the School of Law, and the Wellcome-Wolfson Institue for Experimental Medicine along with adding a new Computer Science Building and Student Centre

Ranking and Achievements

• 28th in the Times University Guide 2023
• 46th in the Guardian University Guide 2023
• 233rd in the QS World University Rankings 2023
• 198th in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023

When it comes to legal education, Queen’s University Belfast is among the best in the country; in fact, it is currently listed by both the UK’s leading law school ranking (Complete University Guide 2023) and the world’s top 150 law school rankings (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022).

Regarding agriculture, veterinary, and food science, Queen’s University Belfast’s research ranks first in the United Kingdom; for health and biomedical sciences, it ranks fourth; and for law, it ranks eighth. 96% of Queen’s research is classified as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent.”

Faculties

• School of Arts, English and Languages
• The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice
• Queen’s Management School
• Institute of Theology
• Centre for the Study of Risk and Inequality (PRP)
• Seamus Heaney Centre
• School of Law
• The William J Clinton Leadership Institute
• Institute of Irish Studies
• School of History & Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics
• School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work
• Institute of Professional Legal Studies
• Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation (PRP)

Courses

Student Statistics

• Undergraduate – 73%
• Postgraduate – 27%
• Full-time students –78%
• Part-time students –22%
• UK students–83 %
• EU students-4%
• International students –13%
• Female – 58%
• Male –42%

Scholarships

• International Office Undergraduate Scholarships
• Vice Chancellor’s International Attainment Scholarship
• Queen’s Loyalty Scholarship
• Queen’s Family Scholarship
• Queen’s Management School South Asia Scholarship
• LLB Law Senior Status International Scholarship
• GREAT scholarship

Student Support

The Learning and Development service at Queen’s University Belfast supports undergraduates and their academic skill development needs. Students can access e-books, online resources, workshops, and one-on-one support from relevant faculty. In addition, peer-assisted learning and personal tutoring are also available at the educational institution.

Queen’s University Belfast supports student well-being through well-being advisors, counselors, and workshops. There is also an independent health center near the campus. For students with disabilities, the university makes suitable adjustments and accommodates special equipment needs. This UK university also has a Student Union body that supports 200+ clubs and societies and works for the collective student body.

Student Life

Considering that Belfast is Northern Ireland’s capital city, it’s home to a lively and flourishing culture. With plenty of restaurants, pubs, live music venues, cinemas, galleries, parks, and shopping centres within walking distance. In addition to the Naughton Gallery, the Ulster Museum and the Titanic Museum offer great exhibitions. Other venues around the city also host contemporary, traditional and modern art collections throughout the year.

For cinema buffs and theatre fanatics, The Lyric Theatre, The Grand Opera House, Crescent Arts Centre, the Queen’s Film Theatre, and the rooftop cinema at Treehouse will become frequent hotspots. Venues such as the Black Box, Voodoo, Ulster Hall, and the Limelight will appease those who appreciate live music. While you can grab a pint at Crown Bar, Jeggy Nettle, or a variety of other pubs within Cathedral Quarter, underground clubs such as Maverick, Thompson’s Garage, Babel and the Perch offer thriving nightlife. And if you’re the one for shopping, the city centre is littered with boutiques, global brand outlets, and artisan markets to have your fill.

To see some of Northern Ireland’s best natural bounty, visit the Mourne Mountains to see some of the ethereal backdrops that inspired C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, Giant’s Causeway, or the various locations where many scenes of the Game of Thrones series were filmed.

Accommodations

While campus accommodations are at a short distance, Queen’s new city centre accommodation is right in the hub of Belfast’s active social life. Students don’t need to worry about safety as Belfast is considered one of the safest regions in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom by UK Crime Surveys in 2018/2019.

Queen’s University Belfast provides student accommodation at Elms BT1 and BT2 in the city center. Applauded for quality, these accommodations are at a 15-minute distance from Queen’s campus and 10 minutes from Victoria Square, Belfast’s retail hub. Students can choose an En-suite room or a self-contained studio at the cost of £124 and £149 per week, respectively.

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.

Transport

With the student accommodation located in the city centre, Belfast is most conveniently seen on foot or on a bike. Even if students don’t take residence in university accommodations, they can get to the campus on foot within 10 minutes. To travel beyond the campus, the Belfast Bikes scheme is convenient and easy to find around town. Public transport through buses and trains is also easy as they offer student discounts. From Queen’s University Belfast’s campus, students can walk to the Botanic train station. Also, Uber and local taxi services such as Value Cabs can also be used.

FAQs