- 18 Feb, 2025: THE World Reputation Rankings updated with Queen's University of Belfast in position 201.
- 17 Jan, 2025: THE World University Rankings by Subject (Business and Economics) updated with Queen's University of Belfast ranked highest among 20 listed universities in Northern Ireland.
- 10 Dec, 2024: British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK published most recent results of QS World University Rankings: Sustainability. Includes 2 universities from Northern Ireland.
- 09 Dec, 2024: Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments - ShanghaiRanking (Sport Science) updated with Ulster University in position 151.
Rankings of universities in Northern Ireland 2025

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THE World University Rankings
[Published 09 October, 2024] |
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The Times Good University Guide
[Published 20 September, 2024] |
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The Guardian League Table
[Published 07 September, 2024] |
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Show 21 more rankings of Queen's University of Belfast and subject specific rankings for 13 subjects | |||
Student satisfaction, unemployment rate, salaries per course - 326 Bachelor and Master - Queen's University of Belfast |

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THE World University Rankings
[Published 09 October, 2024] |
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The Times Good University Guide
[Published 20 September, 2024] |
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The Guardian League Table
[Published 07 September, 2024] |
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Show 21 more rankings of Ulster University and subject specific rankings for 15 subjects | |||
Student satisfaction, unemployment rate, salaries per course - 235 Bachelor and Master - Ulster University |

Stranmillis University College

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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 12 July, 2024] |
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Student satisfaction, unemployment rate, salaries per course - 7 Bachelor and Master - Stranmillis University College |

College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise


St Mary's University College Belfast

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Highest subject rankings of universities in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Key Facts for International Students
3 out of 5 Universities in Northern Ireland Ranked in at least one ranking
25 Different Rankings list Universities in Northern Ireland (15 institution and 10 subject rankings)
9 Global Rankings rank Universities in Northern Ireland Among TOP 200
Map with location of universities in Northern Ireland



FAQ
Ranking publishers
British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK
- Universities:
- 14087
- Published:
- 04 June, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:
Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%
- Universities:
- 1001
- Published:
- 23 September, 2021
- Criteria used in ranking -QS Employability Rankings:
Employer reputation 30% Alumni outcomes 25% Partnerships with Employers per Faculty 25% Employer/Student Connections 10% Graduate employment rate 10%
- Universities:
- 684
- Published:
- 10 July, 2024
- Universities:
- 3840
- Published:
- 10 December, 2024
CWUR Center for World University Rankings
- Universities:
- 8000
- Published:
- 13 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:
Research Performance: 40%
- Research Output: 10%
- High-Quality Publications: 10%
- Influence: 10%
- Citations: 10%
Quality of Education: 25%
Alumni Employment: 25%
Quality of Faculty: 10%
Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands
- Universities:
- 6635
- Published:
- 03 July, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:
Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity
NTU ranking
- Universities:
- 4217
- Published:
- 01 September, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:
Research Productivity: 25%
- # Articles last 11 years: 10%
- # Articles current year: 15%
Research Impact: 35%
- # Citations last 11 years: 15%
- # Citations last 2 years: 10%
- Average # citations last 11 years: 10%
Research Excellence: 40%
- H-index last 2 years: 10%
- # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
- # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%
Nature Index
- Universities:
- 14636
- Published:
- 15 June, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index: Research Leaders Academic Sector:
Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)
RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)
- Universities:
- 5104
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:
Teaching: 40%
- Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
- Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
- Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
- Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
- World Teaching Reputation: 8%
Research: 40%
- Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
- Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
- Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
- Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
- World Research Reputation: 8%
International Diversity: 10%
- International Faculty: 2%
- International Students: 2%
- International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
- Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
- International Level: 2%
Financial Sustainability: 10%
- Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
- Institutional Income per Student: 2%
- Papers per Research Income: 2%
- Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
- Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%
- Universities:
- 3212
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:
Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%
- Universities:
- 4083
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:
Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%
Scimago Institutions
- Universities:
- 21682
- Published:
- 06 March, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:
Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%
ShanghaiRanking Consultancy
- Universities:
- 14016
- Published:
- 15 August, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:
Quality of Education 10%
- Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%
Quality of Faculty 40%
- Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
- Highly Cited Researchers 20%
Research Output 40%
- Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
- Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%
Per Capita Performance 10%
StuDocu
- Universities:
- 1784
- Published:
- 30 January, 2023
THE Times Higher Education, UK
- Universities:
- 16324
- Published:
- 09 October, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:
30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)
- Reputation survey: 15%
- Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
- Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
- Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
- Institutional income: 2.25%
30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)
- Reputation survey: 18%
- Research income: 6%
- Research productivity: 6%
30% Citations (Research Influence)
7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)
- Proportion of international students: 2.5%
- Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
- International collaboration: 2.5%
2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"
- Universities:
- 1131
- Published:
- 18 February, 2025
- Criteria used in ranking -THE World Reputation Rankings:
Research Reputation 66,6% Teaching Reputation 33,3%
- Universities:
- 2706
- Published:
- 14 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -THE Young University Rankings:
Teaching 30% Research (volume, income and reputation) 30% Citations 30% International outlook (staff, students, research) 7.5% Industry income (knowledge transfer) 2.5%
- Universities:
- 4744
- Published:
- 27 March, 2024
- Universities:
- 6078
- Published:
- 12 June, 2024
The Guardian News and Media Limited
- Universities:
- 2032
- Published:
- 07 September, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -The Guardian League Table:
Student to Staff Ratio: 15% Entry Standards: 15% Expenditure per Student: 5% Continuation 15% (non-medical subjects) OR 5% (medical subjects) NSS - Teaching: 8% NSS - Assessment & Feedback: 8% NSS - Overall Satisfaction: 4% Career Prospects: 15% Value added: 15%
The Times and The Sunday Times
- Universities:
- 1362
- Published:
- 20 September, 2024
The University League Tables
- Universities:
- 2226
- Published:
- 14 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -CUG The Complete University Guide:
Entry Standards 12.5% Student Satisfaction 18.75% Student-Staff Ratio 12.5% Research Quality 12.5% Research Intensity 6.25% Academic Service Spending 6.25% Facilities Spending 6.25% Graduate Prospects 12.5% Degree Completion Rate 12.5%
Urap
- Universities:
- 12002
- Published:
- 19 December, 2023
Us News
- Universities:
- 7278
- Published:
- 24 June, 2024
Webometrics
- Universities:
- 72001
- Published:
- 12 July, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:
Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%
Ranking publishers
British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK
- Universities:
- 14087
- Published:
- 04 June, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:
Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%
- Universities:
- 1001
- Published:
- 23 September, 2021
- Criteria used in ranking -QS Employability Rankings:
Employer reputation 30% Alumni outcomes 25% Partnerships with Employers per Faculty 25% Employer/Student Connections 10% Graduate employment rate 10%
- Universities:
- 684
- Published:
- 10 July, 2024
- Universities:
- 3840
- Published:
- 10 December, 2024
CWUR Center for World University Rankings
- Universities:
- 8000
- Published:
- 13 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:
Research Performance: 40%
- Research Output: 10%
- High-Quality Publications: 10%
- Influence: 10%
- Citations: 10%
Quality of Education: 25%
Alumni Employment: 25%
Quality of Faculty: 10%
Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands
- Universities:
- 6635
- Published:
- 03 July, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:
Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity
NTU ranking
- Universities:
- 4217
- Published:
- 01 September, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:
Research Productivity: 25%
- # Articles last 11 years: 10%
- # Articles current year: 15%
Research Impact: 35%
- # Citations last 11 years: 15%
- # Citations last 2 years: 10%
- Average # citations last 11 years: 10%
Research Excellence: 40%
- H-index last 2 years: 10%
- # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
- # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%
Nature Index
- Universities:
- 14636
- Published:
- 15 June, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index: Research Leaders Academic Sector:
Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)
RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)
- Universities:
- 5104
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:
Teaching: 40%
- Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
- Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
- Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
- Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
- World Teaching Reputation: 8%
Research: 40%
- Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
- Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
- Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
- Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
- World Research Reputation: 8%
International Diversity: 10%
- International Faculty: 2%
- International Students: 2%
- International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
- Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
- International Level: 2%
Financial Sustainability: 10%
- Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
- Institutional Income per Student: 2%
- Papers per Research Income: 2%
- Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
- Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%
- Universities:
- 3212
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:
Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%
- Universities:
- 4083
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:
Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%
Scimago Institutions
- Universities:
- 21682
- Published:
- 06 March, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:
Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%
ShanghaiRanking Consultancy
- Universities:
- 14016
- Published:
- 15 August, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:
Quality of Education 10%
- Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%
Quality of Faculty 40%
- Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
- Highly Cited Researchers 20%
Research Output 40%
- Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
- Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%
Per Capita Performance 10%
StuDocu
- Universities:
- 1784
- Published:
- 30 January, 2023
THE Times Higher Education, UK
- Universities:
- 16324
- Published:
- 09 October, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:
30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)
- Reputation survey: 15%
- Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
- Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
- Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
- Institutional income: 2.25%
30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)
- Reputation survey: 18%
- Research income: 6%
- Research productivity: 6%
30% Citations (Research Influence)
7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)
- Proportion of international students: 2.5%
- Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
- International collaboration: 2.5%
2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"
- Universities:
- 1131
- Published:
- 18 February, 2025
- Criteria used in ranking -THE World Reputation Rankings:
Research Reputation 66,6% Teaching Reputation 33,3%
- Universities:
- 2706
- Published:
- 14 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -THE Young University Rankings:
Teaching 30% Research (volume, income and reputation) 30% Citations 30% International outlook (staff, students, research) 7.5% Industry income (knowledge transfer) 2.5%
- Universities:
- 4744
- Published:
- 27 March, 2024
- Universities:
- 6078
- Published:
- 12 June, 2024
The Guardian News and Media Limited
- Universities:
- 2032
- Published:
- 07 September, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -The Guardian League Table:
Student to Staff Ratio: 15% Entry Standards: 15% Expenditure per Student: 5% Continuation 15% (non-medical subjects) OR 5% (medical subjects) NSS - Teaching: 8% NSS - Assessment & Feedback: 8% NSS - Overall Satisfaction: 4% Career Prospects: 15% Value added: 15%
The Times and The Sunday Times
- Universities:
- 1362
- Published:
- 20 September, 2024
The University League Tables
- Universities:
- 2226
- Published:
- 14 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -CUG The Complete University Guide:
Entry Standards 12.5% Student Satisfaction 18.75% Student-Staff Ratio 12.5% Research Quality 12.5% Research Intensity 6.25% Academic Service Spending 6.25% Facilities Spending 6.25% Graduate Prospects 12.5% Degree Completion Rate 12.5%
Urap
- Universities:
- 12002
- Published:
- 19 December, 2023
Us News
- Universities:
- 7278
- Published:
- 24 June, 2024
Webometrics
- Universities:
- 72001
- Published:
- 12 July, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:
Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%