Founded in 1845 as Queen's College Belfast, one of three Queen's Colleges in Ireland, it became an independent university in 1908 and is the ninth oldest university in the UK. Today, Queen’s is a member of the Russell Group, combining excellence in research and education with a student-centred ethos. Queen’s is ranked 8th in the UK for Research Intensity with over 75% of its research assessed as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in REF 2014. Building on its disciplinary excellence, the University has created four new flagship Global Research Institutes which bring leading academics together to tackle some of the greatest global challenges of our time in the areas of: Global Peace, Security and Justice; Cyber Security; Health Sciences; and Food Safety. Named the 24th most international university in the world and ranked 9th in the world for research collaboration, Queen’s is globally connected and networked with strategic partnerships across the world. A partnership with China Medical University has led to the creation of the China Queen’s College (CQC) in Shenyang. Queen’s is one of the UK’s leading institutions for research commercialisation. It has created more than 70 spin-out companies and is in the top 5 in the UK for Intellectual property (IP) commercialisation. It is also ranked number one in the UK for its participation in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP). External recognition includes the award of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize on six occasions - the most recent being for world-class achievement in global cyber security. The University has also been honoured by Northern Ireland’s first Regius Professorship, awarded by Her Majesty The Queen for excellence in electronics and computer engineering. Based in the heart of Belfast, which was named the best UK city by the Guardian and Observer travel awards 2016, Queen’s is committed to enhancing its historic campus and the surrounding conservation area while providing 21st century facilities for education and research. Over the last 10 years the University has invested £350 million in developing world-class facilities with ambitious plans to invest a further £350 million over the next decade. Global Research Institutes The Institute for Health SciencesThe Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and JusticeThe Institute for Global Food SecurityThe Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology With some 24,000 students from over 75 countries, Queen’s University provides a world-class educational experience to students from all backgrounds. Students enjoy being educated by world-leading academics working at the forefront of their disciplines and a significant investment in the student experience has resulted in high levels of student satisfaction and employability rates. The University is situated in Belfast, a modern capital city, known for its welcome, accessibility and affordability. Described by Lonely Planet as a ‘must-see visitor destination’, Belfast is more affordable than every other major student city in the UK and Northern Ireland has been named the safest region in the UK. One of the UK's biggest campus universities, and the 9th oldest, Queen’s blends its proud heritage with cutting edge facilities for the best experience of University life. Over the past ten years, the University has invested significantly to provide world-class facilities for its students and staff. This has included the development of a state-of-the-art Graduate School, which is home to a thriving postgraduate community; the award-winning McClay Library; Computer Science Building; School of Law; and the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine. The University has also invested in sporting facilities, new purpose built student accommodation in Belfast City Centre and has just announced plans for the development of a world-class Student Centre. To see the full range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, take a look at the Course Finder or download the UG or PG Prospectus. Links Course FinderThe Graduate SchoolFaculty of Arts, Humanities and Social SciencesFaculty of Engineering and Physical SciencesFaculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences International Students Undergraduate StudyPostgraduate Study/MasterplanApplication International students Application UG Application PGAccommodationInternational Scholarships  Queen’s University is one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland with some 3,800 staff, including 600 international staff.   A university with a global reputation, Queen’s is attracting academics from across the world and currently has staff drawn from over 75 nationalities. They are joining a university that is committed to attracting, retaining and developing the best global talent with an environment that enables all staff to realise their full potential. As well as investing significantly in its campus to provide world-class facilities, the University continues to invest in its staff, providing an extensive range of training and development opportunities. Queen’s is a recipient of the European Commission’s Human Resources Excellence in Research Award, highlighting its commitment to support the career development of researchers. An innovative, welcoming and inclusive place to work, Queen’s is a leader in gender equality and diversity. It was one of the first universities in the UK to receive a Silver Institutional Athena SWAN Award in 2007, and is currently one of only nine institutions to hold this award.