About Queen's University Belfast

Established by a royal charter in 1845, the Queen’s University Belfast is the ninth-oldest university in the UK. It is the 25th most international university in the world and is home to over 23,000 students representing 80 different nations. The university’s distinguished faculty comprises many Nobel Prize winners. Ranked among the top 180 universities in the world (QS World Rankings 2019), Queen’s is a proud member of the Russell group of institutions.

As per the QS World Rankings 2017 by subject, the university’s 15 subjects have made it to the top 200 – archaeology, English language and literature, geography, history, law and legal studies, pharmacy and pharmacology, nursing, chemical engineering and so on.

The university has invested GBP 700 million in facilities that enhance student experience, such as the McClay Library and School of Law.

The support teams at Queen’s ensure that each student receives the basic care they need, and also provide assistance with the emotional and physical health of students. Scholarships worth GBP 1.5 million are available for international students. They can also find accommodation, both on and off campus, through the university’s support teams.

More than 94% of Queen’s students are employed or in further study six months post their graduation and leadership roles in Ireland’s top 80 companies are dominated by Queen’s graduates.

Belfast is a vibrant and safe city for international students. It is just an hour away from London and Edinburgh by plane and well connected to Europe. Belfast is 38% cheaper than London, according to Expatistan, and one of the more affordable cities to live in. This means students spend less on amenities and rent, and can spend more in experiencing Belfast.

Graduate outcomes

Queen’s develops graduates who stand out, with alumni playing leading roles in the senior management of 80 of Northern Ireland’s top companies.

The prestigious and well-regarded education it provides opens various doors and opportunities for students entering future employment and gives excellent graduate outcomes, with 94% of students in work within six months of leaving.

The university also works with a team of enterprise advisors in the Students’ Union who encourage and support students in starting businesses. They provide free advice on incubation space, enterprise programmes and competitions.

Queen’s also offers numerous teams and services to help students achieve their career goals.

Careers, employability and skills team

Helps students enhance their employability, with a team consisting of professionally qualified consultants, employer engagement staff and a dedicated global opportunities team. They support career decisions, developing skills and confidence, and encourage students to take advantage of opportunities such as studying abroad, work experience and graduate jobs.

Employer engagement team

The employer engagement team offers specialist communication of students’ skillsets to potential employers. It works across the global job market via its pioneering workplace study tours, where each tour group visits eight to ten graduate employers to familiarise students with recruitment selection practices.

Career development programmes

Queen’s career development programmes include:

• Insight into Management
• City Scholarship programme
• MEDIA Programme
• Development Weeks
• Get Employment Ready award

Internships and placements

Queen’s internship programmes place students with employers to gain a real-life insight into the world of work and business. The alumni mentoring scheme works to connect students with high-level former students across the world. Queen’s also encourages students to take advantage of study abroad or international placement opportunities. 

What's new

Economic contribution nearly GBP 2 billion

An independent analysis by London Economics showed the huge impact Queen’s University Belfast has on the British economy.

The study showed a GBP 1.9 billion contribution to the economy at a cost ratio of 6:1.

It also found it supported a further 2,570 jobs across the UK, in addition to the 3,700 staff directly employed, and it highlighted the public purse benefits by an average of GBP 101,000 per year for each full-time undergraduate.

New PhD and doctoral opportunities

A GBP 5 million investment in a partnership with the University of Aberdeen will create 100 new doctoral study opportunities. Students will be based both in the School of Natural and Built Environment and School of Biological Sciences as they take advantage of a unique opportunity. There will also be places created for 335 postgraduate students studying 28 different disciplines over the next five years.

Queen’s University Belfast is amongst those to benefit as part of the Northern Bridge Consortium along with Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Teesside and Ulster. It marks a new era of the collaboration between the alliance to provide world-class education across all arts and humanities disciplines.