Queen's University Belfast

About

Queen's University Belfast is one of the leading universities in the UK and Ireland with a distinguished heritage and history.

Founded in 1845 as Queen's College Belfast, we became an independent university in 1908. Today, we are in the top 140 universities in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020), and a member of the Russell Group of UK research intensive universities, combining excellence in research and education with a student-centered ethos.

Contemporary university life

On 20 June 2006, the university announced a £259 million investment program focusing on facilities, recruitment and research. One of the outcomes of this investment has been a new university library; the McClay library was designed by Boston-based architects Sheply, Bulfinch, Richardson & Abbott, working in association with Belfast architects, Robinson Patterson Partnership, and opened in July 2009. The building has been named in honor of Sir Allen McClay, a major benefactor of Queen's University and of the Library.

In June 2010, the university announced the launch of a £7.5m Ansin international research hub with Seagate Technologies.

Queen's is one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland, with a total workforce of 3,903, of whom 2,414 were members of academic, academic-related and research staff and 1,489 were administrative employees.

Campus

In addition to the main campus on the southern fringes of Belfast city center, 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 centered on 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

• Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
• Arts, English and Languages
• History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics
• Law
• Queen's Management School
• Social Sciences, Education and Social Work
• Engineering & Physical Sciences
• Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
• Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Mathematics and Physics
• Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Natural and Built Environment
• Psychology
• Medicine, Health & Life Sciences
• School of Biological Sciences
• School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences
• Nursing and Midwifery
• Pharmacy

Entry Requirements

The following qualifications will be considered for direct entry to our undergraduate programmes:

• Successful completion of the Certificate of Completed Secondary Education (O'rta Ma 'Lumot To'g'risida Shahodatnoma) with 'Good', plus successful completion of a recognized Foundation Program.
• 3 UK A Levels.
• Between 30 and 36 points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB). Information on required grades.
• Applicants whose first language is not English will normally need to demonstrate a level of English equivalent to 6.5 IELTS or 90 TOEFL IBT (Internet based test)

Housing

Queen's provides housing for both undergraduates and postgraduates, although because of the compact size of Northern Ireland many students chose to live at home and commute. In 2005/06, 36% of Queen's students lived in private accommodation within Belfast, 29% lived with parents or guardians, 20% in private accommodation outside of Belfast, and 10% lived in university maintained accommodation. The university provides accommodation on a purpose-built "student village" called Elms Village, which has its own bar and shop, located on the Malone Road, south of the main campus, as well as in a number of houses in the South Belfast area, including at College Gardens and on Mount Charles.

Rankings and reputation

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.