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Compare any two UK universities

Select any two universities below and we'll generate an instant, data-driven comparison — rankings, salaries, student satisfaction, international community, and more.

Q
Queen's University Belfast

Belfast · QS World #174

U
Ulster University

Belfast · QS World #595

Head-to-Head Summary

Based on 9 datapoints

We looked at 9 data points — world rankings, student satisfaction, graduate salaries, employment rates, and more — to see which university scores higher in each category.

8/9

Queen's University Belfast

scored higher in 8 categories

VS

1/9

Ulster

scored higher in 1 category

Quick Verdict

Queen's University Belfast leads in 8 of 9 categories where both have data (ranking, Russell Group, established, employment, courses, scholarship). Ulster University is ahead on international.

Queen's University Belfast vs Ulster University at a glance

Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University both teach 50 subject areas, the largest being Law, Civil Engineering and English Studies. Queen's University Belfast offers 494 courses across 93 subject areas; Ulster University offers 170 courses across 66 subject areas.

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,800 a year at Queen's University Belfast and £17,490 at Ulster University: Ulster University is about £3,310 a year cheaper.

Of the 27 subject areas both teach where each publishes a student satisfaction score, Queen's University Belfast is higher in 12 and Ulster University in 12, with 3 about level.

World & National Rankings

Compare world and national league table positions, TEF ratings, and Russell Group membership.

#174
QS World
#595
#198
THE World
#601
#36
Guardian UK
#60
1845
Established
1968
Yes
Russell Group
No
—
TEF Rating
—

Visual Breakdown

Key metrics at a glance

Longer bars indicate better performance. Metrics include student satisfaction, graduate salaries, and more.

Queen's University Belfast

Ulster University

86.4%
86.4%

Satisfaction

Student satisfaction with teaching (NSS Survey, out of 100%)

No data
No data

Graduate Salaries (5y)

Median graduate salary 5 years after graduation

84.9%
84.6%

Employment

Graduate employment rate

21.9%
32.5%

International

International student share

494
170

Course Counts

Number of courses offered

1
0

Scholarships

Number of scholarships

International Community

Where do international students come from?

Top source countries based on official HESA enrolment data. A higher diversity of nationalities often means a richer campus experience.

Queen's University Belfast

74 countries · 21.9% international

  • 🇮🇪Ireland30.3%
  • 🇮🇳India14.3%
  • 🇨🇳China11%
  • 🇺🇸United States7%
  • 🇲🇾Malaysia5%
VS

Ulster

45 countries · 32.5% international

  • 🇵🇰Pakistan27.8%
  • 🇮🇪Ireland21.4%
  • 🇳🇬Nigeria16.1%
  • 🇮🇳India12.6%
  • 🇧🇩Bangladesh8.6%

Subjects

50 subjects you can study at both

Courses listed at each university in the subject, and the typical (median) international fee a year. Select a count to see the courses.

Queen's University Belfast

Ulster University

Also taught at both: Software Engineering, Planning & Housing, Psychology (General), General Engineering, Music, Pharmacy, Architecture, Building & Construction, Business Studies, Design & Fashion, Finance & Actuarial Science, Physical Geography & Climate, Chemical Engineering, Social Policy & Public Policy, Biomedical Sciences, Geology & Earth Sciences, Health Sciences & Paramedic Science, Linguistics, Manufacturing & Production Engineering, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Computing & IT, Drama & Theatre, Environmental Sciences, Film Production & Cinematography, Games Design & Computer Animation, Health & Social Care, Public Health & Epidemiology, Anatomy & Pathology, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Information Systems & Data Science, Medicine, Human Resource Management, Learning Disabilities Nursing, Liberal Arts.

Only at Queen's University Belfast

Only at Ulster University

Fees

What it costs international students

The typical (median) international tuition fee a year across each university's published course fees. Individual courses vary; each course page shows its own fee.

Undergraduate

Queen's University Belfast
£20,800
Ulster University
£17,490

Ulster University is about £3,310 a year cheaper.

Outcomes

Graduate outcomes by subject

Median graduate salary three years after graduating, and student satisfaction with teaching, across each university's undergraduate courses in the subject. Source: Discover Uni.

Queen's University Belfast

Ulster University

  • Law

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    86%Satisfaction87%

  • Civil Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    89%Satisfaction100%

  • English Studies

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    91%Satisfaction88%

  • Politics & International Relations

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    84%Satisfaction84%

  • History

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    91%Satisfaction92%

  • Mechanical Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    82%Satisfaction77%

  • Management

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    78%Satisfaction73%

  • Social Work

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    89%Satisfaction96%

  • Sociology & Criminology

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    87%Satisfaction84%

  • Computer Science

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    72%Satisfaction79%

  • Accounting

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    81%Satisfaction95%

  • Electronic & Electrical Engineering

    No dataSalary (3 years)No data
    70%Satisfaction86%

Showing the 12 largest of 27 shared subjects with published outcomes.

Scholarships for International Students

Exclusive

Queen's University Belfast

Future-Ready Award

See details

Deadline: N/A

View all scholarships →

Ulster University

View all scholarships →

FAQ

Queen's University Belfast vs Ulster University: common questions

Is Queen's University Belfast or Ulster University cheaper for international students?

For undergraduate study, the typical published international fee is £20,800 a year at Queen's University Belfast and £17,490 at Ulster University: Ulster University is about £3,310 a year cheaper. These are medians of the international tuition fees each university publishes for its courses; the fee for a specific course is on its course page.

What subjects can you study at both Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University?

Both universities teach 50 subject areas: Law, Civil Engineering, English Studies, Politics & International Relations, History, Mechanical Engineering, Management, Social Work, Sociology & Criminology, Computer Science, Accounting, Electronic & Electrical Engineering and 38 more.

Does Queen's University Belfast or Ulster University offer more courses?

Queen's University Belfast lists 494 courses on CourseOptions and Ulster University lists 170 courses.

What can you study at Queen's University Belfast but not at Ulster University?

Queen's University Belfast teaches 43 subject areas that Ulster University does not, including Mathematics, Chemistry, Anthropology, Physics, French, Archaeology, Biological Sciences (General), Childhood & Youth Studies and 35 more.

What can you study at Ulster University but not at Queen's University Belfast?

Ulster University teaches 16 subject areas that Queen's University Belfast does not, including Sport & Exercise Sciences, Journalism, Hospitality, Events & Tourism, Nutrition & Dietetics, Biomedical Engineering, Medical Imaging, Biology, Complementary & Alternative Medicine and 8 more.

Ready to explore courses?

Browse available courses, check entry requirements, and find scholarships at each university.

Q
Queen's University Belfast494 courses · 1 scholarshipBrowse Courses
U
Ulster University170 courses · 0 scholarshipsBrowse Courses