Queen's University Belfast
Ollscoil na Banríona
Northern Ireland's only Russell Group university, founded in 1845, with some of the lowest UK tuition for local students.
- Students
- 25,080
- 18,210 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 17:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £24,600
- From · 2027-28 (international); 2026-27 (NI, ROI and GB)
- Founded
- 1845
About Queen's
Queen's was founded by royal charter in 1845 as Queen's College Belfast, one of three Queen's Colleges set up as a non-denominational alternative to Trinity College Dublin, and became an independent university in 1908. It describes itself as the UK's ninth oldest university, and its Tudor Gothic Lanyon Building, designed by Sir Charles Lanyon in 1849, is one of Belfast's landmarks. It is the only Russell Group university in Northern Ireland.
Teaching is organised into three faculties (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Engineering and Physical Sciences; Medicine, Health and Life Sciences) and fifteen schools. Queen's is particularly strong in pharmacy, nursing, English, performing arts and social policy, all in the QS world top 100 by subject, and the Guardian University Guide 2026 ranks it 1st in the UK for career prospects in Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Biomedical Science, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Medicine and Midwifery.
More than 4,000 international students from over 90 countries study at Queen's. It suits students who want a traditional research university in a compact, affordable capital city: students from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland pay the lower NI fee, and typical offers range from ABB (e.g. English, Psychology) to AAA or A*AA (Law, Dentistry, Medicine).
Pro tanto quid retribuamus
“What shall we give in return for so much?” — university motto
Why students choose Queen's
Students from Northern Ireland and ROI nationals living in the Republic of Ireland pay £4,985 a year (2026-27), about half the fee in England.
Queen's ranks 2nd in the UK for entrepreneurial impact (i2i University Spinout Ranking 2024), and its commercial arm QUBIS has created over 100 spin-out companies.
Pharmacy, Nursing, English, Performing Arts and Social Policy are all in the QS world top 100 by subject (2026).
91% of graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after completing their course (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2023/24).
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
Queen's does not publish an overall offer rate. Typical offers for 2027 entry range from ABB (English, Psychology, Mechanical Engineering) to AAA (Law, Dentistry) and AAA plus a fourth AS, or A*AA, for Medicine.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific typical offers for 2027 entry: AAA plus A in a fourth AS, including Chemistry, or A*AA including Chemistry and Biology (Medicine); AAA including Biology and Chemistry (Dentistry); AAA (Law); AAB including Chemistry (Pharmacy); ABB including English (English); ABB including a science and GCSE Maths B/6 (Psychology); ABB including Mathematics and a science (Mechanical Engineering) |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | Course-specific: 36 points with 6,6,6 at HL (Law; Dentistry with HL Biology and Chemistry); 34 points with 6,6,5 at HL including Chemistry (Pharmacy); 33 points with 6,5,5 at HL (English with 6 in English; Psychology with a science) |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | Course-specific, e.g. H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 (Law); H3H3H3H3H3H3 or H2H3H3H3H3 (English, Psychology) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 Many undergraduate courses (e.g. Law) ask for IELTS 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component; the university's English language table also lists 6.0 with 5.5 in each element for some programmes. Queen's accepts IELTS Academic (including One Skill Retake) and TOEFL iBT for direct admission; check the course page. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Medicine and Dentistry at Queen's; UCAT required.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
All other courses.
Queen's lists these 2027-entry dates: UCAS submissions open 1 September 2026, 15 October 2026 for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary courses, 13 January 2027 for all others, UCAS Extra from 25 February 2027 and Clearing from 2 July 2027. Accommodation applications open in February 2027.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS (institution code QBELF, Q75) with up to five choices, a personal statement and an academic reference. International applicants who only want to apply to Queen's can apply directly through the Queen's Portal, except for Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing/Midwifery, Pharmacy and Social Work.
What admissions looks for
- Grades that meet the typical offer and subject requirements, such as Chemistry for Medicine and Pharmacy or English for English.
- For Medicine and Dentistry, strong GCSEs (scored across the best nine subjects) and the UCAT, which together decide who is interviewed.
- A personal statement and reference; Queen's says it considers everything, including relevant work or life experience, not just exam results.
- Interview performance for courses such as Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.
Tips for applying to Queen's
- 1 For Medicine and Dentistry, your GCSEs matter: the best nine are scored (4 points for an A*/9 down to 1 for a C/4) alongside the UCAT to rank applicants for interview.
- 2 If you are an international student applying only to Queen's, you can use the Queen's Portal instead of UCAS (not for Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy or Social Work).
- 3 With AAA or better at A-level, you can enter the A-level Entrance Scholarship Competition for awards of £600 to £2,400.
- 4 International students with an offer can apply for regional scholarships of up to £7,500 off tuition; check the scheme for your region each year.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 (international); 2026-27 (NI, ROI and GB) · figures in GBP
Northern Ireland and ROI students pay the lower NI fee and can take a tuition fee loan. Students with AAA or better can enter the A-level Entrance Scholarship Competition (£600 to £2,400), and there are sports bursaries, an Elite Athlete Programme and university bursaries. International students can apply for competitive regional scholarships worth up to £7,500 off tuition once they hold an offer.
- £600 to £2,400 (open to entrants with AAA or better)
- A-level Entrance Scholarship Competition
- Up to £7,500 off tuition fees
- International scholarships
- £1,850 (2026-27)
- Placement year fee (NI/ROI, international)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Pharmacy (MPharm)
Pharmacy and Pharmacology is in the QS world top 100 (2026) and ranked 1st in the UK for career prospects by the Guardian (2026); AAB including Chemistry plus interview.
Medicine (MB BCh BAO)
Clinical teaching from the start, with almost all teaching in clinical settings by third year; UCAT and interview.
Law (LLB)
Taught in a £20m School of Law building with a moot court; AAA or 36 IB.
English (BA)
English Language and Literature is in the QS world top 100 (2026); Seamus Heaney is among Queen's graduates.
Mechanical Engineering (BEng)
The school plays a leading role in the international CDIO engineering education initiative; ABB including Mathematics.
Nursing and Midwifery
Nursing is in the QS world top 100 (2026) and Midwifery is 1st in the UK for career prospects (Guardian 2026).
Research
- In REF 2021, 99% of Queen's research environment was rated world-leading or internationally excellent, and the Complete University Guide 2027 ranks it 13th in the UK for research intensity.
- QUBIS Ltd, the university's commercial arm, has created over 100 spin-out companies generating £323m in revenue.
- Queen's is a seven-time winner of the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education.
- Queen's graduates include physicist John Stewart Bell, described by the university as 'Northern Ireland's Einstein', and Frank Pantridge, 'the father of emergency medicine'.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
- School of Law
- Queen's Business School
- School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Nursing and Midwifery
- School of Arts, English and Languages
- School of Psychology
91% of Queen's graduates were in employment and/or further study 15 months after completing their course (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2023/24). 9th in the UK for graduate prospects (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026).
Student life
Queen's is set around the Lanyon Building in south Belfast's university quarter. University accommodation ranges from the Elms BT9 student village, about 15 minutes' walk from campus, to city-centre residences such as Elms BT1 and BT2 and Weavers' Hall, with all-inclusive rent packages and 24/7 support. The university runs Queen's Film Theatre, the Brian Friel Theatre and the Naughton Gallery, and Queen's Sport runs sport scholarships and an Elite Athlete Programme. Queen's cites survey data showing student living costs in Northern Ireland are £165 a month below the UK average.
- Queen's Film Theatre, the Brian Friel Theatre and the Naughton Gallery are all run by the university.
- Queen's Sport offers sport scholarships and bursaries plus an Elite Athlete Programme.
- The Queen's University Mountaineering Club has produced three Everest summiteers, including Ireland's first, Dawson Stelfox.
- Queen's was the first university in Ireland to earn an Athena Swan Gold Award.
Housing. First-year students from outside Northern Ireland are guaranteed Queen's accommodation if they firmly accept their offer and apply by the published deadline (30 June in 2026); first-years from Northern Ireland are not guaranteed a room and are allocated by distance from campus. Applications for 2027-28 open in February 2027.
Location
Belfast is Northern Ireland's capital, and the university sits in the south of the city, with city-centre residences a 15 to 20 minute walk away. The university highlights Belfast as one of the UK's fastest growing tech cities and notes that student living costs in Northern Ireland are below the UK average.
Nearest airport: George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD)
Notable alumni
- SH Seamus HeaneyPoet and Nobel Prize in Literature laureate
- MM Mary McAleeseFormer President of Ireland
- DT David TrimbleFirst First Minister of Northern Ireland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
- JS John Stewart BellPhysicist described by Queen's as 'Northern Ireland's Einstein'
- FP Frank PantridgePhysician known as the father of emergency medicine
- LN Liam NeesonActor; studied physics and computer science at Queen's without graduating, later awarded an honorary doctorate
- PM Paul MuldoonPoet
- LM Lisa McGeePlaywright and screenwriter
Frequently asked questions
How much are tuition fees at Queen's University Belfast?
In 2026-27, Northern Ireland students and ROI nationals living in the Republic of Ireland pay £4,985 and students from England, Scotland and Wales pay £9,790; 2027-28 home fees are not yet set. International fees for 2027/28 start at £24,600 and reach £52,509 for Dentistry.
What grades do you need for Queen's University Belfast?
Typical 2027 offers range from ABB (e.g. English, Psychology) to AAA (Law, Dentistry), with Medicine asking AAA plus a fourth AS-level, or A*AA. IB offers run from 33 to 36 points.
Can international students apply directly to Queen's?
Yes. International applicants who only want to apply to Queen's can use the Queen's Portal instead of UCAS, except for Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing/Midwifery, Pharmacy and Social Work.
What is the application deadline for Queen's for 2027 entry?
15 October 2026 for Medicine and Dentistry, and 13 January 2027 for all other courses, via UCAS.
Does Queen's Medicine require the UCAT?
Yes. All Medicine applicants must sit the UCAT, which is scored together with GCSE performance to rank applicants for interview.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Queen's in the QS World University Rankings 2027.