Queen’s University Belfast

Motto: For so much, what shall we give back?

Queen's University Belfast, officially The Queen's University of Belfast and also known as Queen's, Queen's University, and QUB, is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The university received its charter in 1845 as "Queen's College, Belfast" and opened four years later.

Queen's offers academic degrees at various levels, with approximately 300 degree programmes available.

Rankings and reputation

National rankings Global rankings
Complete (2023) 27 THE (2022) 200
Guardian (2022) 46 QS (2023) 209
Times / Sunday Times (2022) 38 ARWU (2021) 401-500

The Times Higher Education rankings 2018 placed Queen's 32nd out of 93 in the UK. In the 2019 QS World University Rankings, Queen's was ranked 173. It ranked 258th among the universities around the world by SCImago Institutions Rankings.

In the National Student Survey 2013, Queen's was ranked 12th in the UK for student satisfaction.

Queen's is ranked 202 in the world according to the 2018 QS World University Rankings. Research at the university includes investigations of cancer, sustainability, wireless technology, creative writing, pharmaceuticals, and sonic arts. In 2016, the university ranked 36th in the UK according to the Complete University Guide.

The university has been awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education on several occasions, including for work in comprehensive cancer services and improving survival rates for patients in Northern Ireland. In 2015, Queen's was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for work in the field of engineering and technology

The university also holds a University wide Athena SWAN Silver Award in recognition of work to support and transform gender equality in Higher Education and Research. They currently hold three Departmental Athena SWAN Gold Awards, one each for School of Psychology, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, and School of Biological Sciences

Campus

In addition to the main campus on the southern fringes of Belfast city centre, the university has two associated university colleges, St Mary's and Stranmillis located in the west and south-west of the city respectively. These colleges offer teacher training for those who wish to pursue teaching careers and a range of degree courses, all of which are centred around a liberal arts core.

While the university refers to its main site as a campus,the university's buildings are in fact spread over a number of public streets in South Belfast, primarily, University Road, University Square, University Street, Malone Road and Stranmillis Road, with other departments located further afield such as in Titanic Quarter and Portaferry.

Faculties and schools

Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
  • School of Arts, English and Languages
  • School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics
  • School of Law
  • Queen's Management 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

Notable Alumni

Mary McAleese

Irish President

Liam Neeson

Film Actor

Annie Mac

Musician

Nick Ross

Radio personality & Television presenter

Megan Fearon

Politician

Órlaithí Flynn

Politician