Universities in Northern Ireland
- Rankings & Reviews -

Latest ranking updates related to universities in Northern Ireland
  • 27 Sep, 2023: THE Times Higher Education, UK published most recent results of THE World University Rankings. Includes 2 universities from Northern Ireland.
  • 09 Sep, 2023: The Guardian News and Media Limited published most recent results of The Guardian League Table. Includes 2 universities from Northern Ireland.
  • 09 Sep, 2023: Publication of The Guardian University League Tables by Subject (Business and Management). Ulster University with highest ranking among universities in Northern Ireland ranked #17.
  • 15 Aug, 2023: ShanghaiRanking Consultancy published most recent results of ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking. Queen's University of Belfast achieves position 301.

Rankings of universities in Northern Ireland 2024

  • #1 
  • #201 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #1 
  • #28 
The Times Good University Guide
[Published 16 September, 2022]
  • #2 
  • #50 
The Guardian League Table
[Published 09 September, 2023]
Show 19 more rankings of Queen's University of Belfast and subject specific rankings for 13 subjects

Student satisfaction: 4.6 / 5.0 (64 reviews)
Card image

  • #2 
  • #601 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #2 
  • #38 
The Times Good University Guide
[Published 16 September, 2022]
  • #1 
  • #28 
The Guardian League Table
[Published 09 September, 2023]
Show 19 more rankings of Ulster University and subject specific rankings for 13 subjects

#3
Northern Ireland

Stranmillis University College

  • #3 
  • #7201 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]


#4
Northern Ireland

College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise

Student satisfaction: 4.4 / 5.0 (401 reviews)

#5
Northern Ireland

St Mary's University College Belfast


Highest subject rankings of universities in Northern Ireland

Dentistry The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#2 
Queen's University of Belfast
Social Work CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#2 
Queen's University of Belfast
Architecture The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#5 
Ulster University
Chemical Engineering CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#10 
Queen's University of Belfast
Law CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#10 
Queen's University of Belfast
Journalism The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#15 
Ulster University
Graphic Design The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#18 
Ulster University
Mathematics CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#19 
Queen's University of Belfast
Music CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#19 
Queen's University of Belfast
Computer Science CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#21 
Queen's University of Belfast

Northern Ireland Key Facts for International Students

3 out of 5 Universities in Northern Ireland Ranked in at least one ranking

24 Different Rankings list Universities in Northern Ireland (17 institution and 7 subject rankings)

9 Global Rankings rank Universities in Northern Ireland Among TOP 200

Map with location of universities in Northern Ireland

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FAQ

Queen's University of Belfast ranks #1 in Northern Ireland in our meta ranking composed of 112 university rankings.

Among all universities in Northern Ireland Ulster University is listed in the largest number of rankings. See all 29 rankings where Ulster University is listed.

Queen's University of Belfast is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Medicine & Health (Dentistry). See all rankings for the Queen's University of Belfast.

Queen's University of Belfast is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Social Studies & Humanities (Social Work). See all rankings for the Queen's University of Belfast.

Ulster University is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Architecture, Building & Planning (Architecture). See all rankings for the Ulster University.

Queen's University of Belfast is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Engineering (Chemical Engineering). See all rankings for the Queen's University of Belfast.

Queen's University of Belfast is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Law (Law). See all rankings for the Queen's University of Belfast.

Ulster University is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Journalism & Media Studies (Journalism). See all rankings for the Ulster University.

Ulster University is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Design (Graphic Design). See all rankings for the Ulster University.

Queen's University of Belfast is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Mathematics (Mathematics). See all rankings for the Queen's University of Belfast.

Queen's University of Belfast is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Arts Visual & Performing (Music). See all rankings for the Queen's University of Belfast.

Queen's University of Belfast is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Computer Science (Computer Science). See all rankings for the Queen's University of Belfast.

Ulster University is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Languages & Literature (Linguistics). See all rankings for the Ulster University.

Ulster University is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Business (Marketing). See all rankings for the Ulster University.

Queen's University of Belfast is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Natural Sciences (Chemistry). See all rankings for the Queen's University of Belfast.

Ulster University is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Sports Science (Sports Science). See all rankings for the Ulster University.

Stranmillis University College is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Education (Education). See all rankings for the Stranmillis University College.

Queen's University of Belfast is ranked best in Northern Ireland for Agriculture (Agriculture). See all rankings for the Queen's University of Belfast.

Ranking publishers

British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK

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%

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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%

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Criteria used in ranking -QS 50 under 50:

Based on the QS World University rankings methodology, the top 50 universities that are under 50 years old.

Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%

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CWUR Center for World University Rankings

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%

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Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands

Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:

Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity

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NTU ranking

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%

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Nature Index

Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:

Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)

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RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)

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%

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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%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:

Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%

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Scimago Institutions

Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:

Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%

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ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

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%

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StuDocu

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THE Times Higher Education, UK

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)"

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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%

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The Guardian News and Media Limited

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%

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The Times and The Sunday Times

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The University League Tables

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%

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Urap

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Us News

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Webometrics

Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:

Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%

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