Best universities in Northern Ireland

Check upcoming open days and book your place

Northern Ireland only has two unis, so if you’ve got your heart set on studying here, you won’t have too many institutions to choose from. Courses, on the other hand, might give you more to think about. Even though there are only two unis, you’ll still need to think about which one might be the right fit for you. Using our sister site Complete University Guide’s 2023 league tables, we’ve put together a list of which uni comes out on top for a range of criteria important to you.

Universities in Northern Ireland

The two unis in Northern Ireland are:

Best uni in Northern Ireland for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2023)

Ulster University

Photo © Albert Bridge (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Ulster University’s Wellbeing service provides students with a range of support to cover a variety of issues that may arise during studies. From financial advice to careers advice to mental health support, the uni places its students’ wellbeing at the forefront of its mission, leading its students to rate it highly for student satisfaction. As well as this, the uni offers plenty of facilities to keep students engaged during their studies, from libraries to the dedicated Jordanstown Sports Village.

Read what students are saying about Ulster University.

Best uni in Northern Ireland for graduate outcomes (Complete University Guide 2023)

Queen’s University Belfast

Many of the uni’s courses offer the opportunity to undergo a work placement as a part of your course. Taking this opportunity allows you to learn on the job, network with professionals in your field, and develop your CV. As well as these opportunities, the uni has a range of careers support available. Students at Queen’s University Belfast are deliberately exposed to connections and expertise throughout their studies, with elements of employability built into the overall student experience.

Read what students are saying about Queen’s University Belfast.

Best uni in Northern Ireland for research quality (Complete University Guide 2023)

Queen’s University Belfast

Almost all of the uni’s research is rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, demonstrating the high quality of research emerging from the university. Queen’s University Belfast carries out research focused on making a difference to the lives of people in Northern Ireland, as well as across the world. The uni is proud to be fighting inequality and disadvantage on their doorstep as well as supporting people across the world.

Read what students are saying about Queen’s University Belfast.

Best uni in Northern Ireland overall (Complete University Guide 2023)

Queen’s University Belfast

Queen’s University Belfast offers over 200 undergraduate courses, and is a member of the prestigious Russell Group, demonstrating its commitment to producing excellent research. The uni is also renowned worldwide for its quality education, and students have access to a range of affordable accommodation, careers support and academic and personal advice during their time at the uni. The uni is also proud to offer the student support services and student union in one building, making it easy for students to seek support and social opportunities.

Read what students are saying about Queen’s University Belfast.