Queen’s University Belfast
Founded in 1845 as Queen’s College Belfast, we became an independent university in 1908. Queen’s is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the European University Association, Universities UK and Universities Ireland. The university is associated with two Nobel laureates and one Turing Award laureate.
Research Focus & Expertise
Queen’s University Belfast has distinguished research strengths in sectors like healthcare, environmental science, and cybersecurity. The university is known for pioneering work in molecular biology, oncology, and pharmaceuticals, primarily through its Health Sciences division and the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology. Queen’s is also recognized for its research in green energy and environmental sustainability, focusing on technologies to reduce emissions and enhance resilience against climate change impacts. Its cybersecurity research, part of the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT), aims to address pressing global challenges in digital security, making Queen’s a leader in both technological innovation and societal impact.
Academic Profile
- Queen’s University Belfast was admitted as a member of the self-appointed Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities in November 2006
- In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), which assesses the quality of research in UK higher education institutions, the university is ranked 37th by GPA and 24th for research power (the grade point average score of a university, multiplied by the full-time equivalent number of researchers submitted)
- We are ranked 13th in the UK for research intensity (Complete University Guide 2025), with 99% of research submitted by Queen’s assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021).
- The university also holds a university-wide Athena SWAN Gold Award in recognition of work to support and transform gender equality in Higher Education and Research, thereby becoming the first university on the island of Ireland and only the second in the UK to achieve such an award
KEY LINKS
Website: https://www.qub.ac.uk/
