Ulster University

Recognised as University of the Year 2024 by the Times Higher Education Awards, Ulster University is the largest university in Northern Ireland, with campuses in Belfast, Derry~Londonderry and Coleraine, plus branch locations in London, Birmingham and Manchester. Across these academic communities, students benefit from a wide range of programmes, pioneering research and a supportive learning environment. With a strong focus on industry needs, employability and innovation, Ulster empowers students to shape their future from day one.

Whether students are pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate study, Ulster University is an excellent choice for international students seeking a UK education.

Ulster is home to over 30,000 students from more than 70 different countries. Students can choose to study in the following locations:

Belfast, voted one of the top 50 best cities in the world to visit (Time Out, 2025), offers a lively university experience, located within the Cathedral Quarter, the cultural centre of the city. Belfast is renowned for the warmth of its welcome and offers a fantastic student lifestyle. This state-of-the –art campus spans an exciting range of subjects including art, computing, engineering, business, politics, policy, law, communication, sports, architecture, hospitality, event management, photography and animation. It's a creative, modern place to live and learn.

Derry~Londonderry, the cultural heart of the North West, combines creativity and community. The campus sits in the centre of the city, close to outstanding coastal scenery. It is one of the UK's most affordable student cities, with festivals, live music and well-known filming locations. Students can study law, medicine, music, drama, Irish, cinematic arts, computing, engineering and business.

Coleraine is ideal for students who enjoy the outdoors. Located along the River Bann and near the beaches of Portrush and Portstewart, it offers opportunities for surfing, sea swimming and scenic breaks. Students benefit from excellent sports facilities and industry-standard learning spaces such as a functioning newsroom, model pharmacy and optometry clinic. Degrees include journalism, digital media, psychology, optometry, geography, environmental science, pharmacy, English, history, tourism and teaching.

Ulster has developed an excellent reputation for teaching and research. The university is in the top 10 per cent of UK universities for world-leading research impact (REF, 2021)

Notable accomplishments:

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

• Law - 100 percent environment for world leading or internationally excellent research (REF, 2021)
• Art and Design Media Studies Modern Languages and Linguistics Education Social Work and Social Policy - 100 percent Outstanding or very considerable research impact.
• Music, Drama, Film and Screen – Joint 1^st in UK for research impact (REF, 2021)

Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment

• Architecture, Built Environment and Planning Computer Science and Informatics Engineering – 100 per cent Outstanding or very considerable research impact (REF, 2021)
• Land and Property Management – ranked 3^rd in UK (Complete University Guide, 2026)
• Civil Engineering – ranked 3^rd in UK (Daily Mail University Guide, 2026)
• Building – ranked 4^th in UK (Complete University Guide, 2026)
• Information Systems and Management– ranked 4^th in UK (Times Good University Guide, 2026)

Life and Health Sciences

• Optometry, Ophthalmic and Orthoptics – ranked 1^st in UK (Complete University Guide, 2026)
• Nutrition and Food Science – ranked 1^st in UK (Guardian University Guide, 2026)
• Pharmacology and Pharmacy – ranked 2^nd in UK (Complete University Guide, 2026)
• Sports, Leisure and Tourism Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience Geography and Environment – 100 per cent Outstanding or very considerable research impact (REF, 2021)
• Allied Health, Dentistry Nursing and Pharmacy - Joint 1^st in UK for research environment (REF, 2021)

Business School

• Marketing – ranked 1^st in UK (Daily Mail University Guide, 2026)
• Hospitality, Event Management and Tourism – ranked 3^rd in the UK (Guardian University Guide, 2026)
• Accounting – ranked 5^th in UK (Daily Mail University Guide, 2026)
• Business and Management – 100 per cent Outstanding or very considerable research impact (REF, 2021)

Ulster University offers a variety of programmes through its four faculties:

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

A research-intensive faculty, consisting of world leading researchers, delivers courses and research in a wide variety of arts and humanities disciplines. The faculty places strong emphasis on professional accreditation, work-based learning and employability.

Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment

Comprising of four schools, the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment offers industry-informed, professionally recognised programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. With strong industry partnerships in both research and teaching, this provides excellent employment opportunities for its graduates. Most courses have a placement year, and graduates gain an additional diploma that helps them find professional employment.

Life and Health Sciences

The faculty is a leading provider of health-related education, with almost 6,500 students. It offers an extensive portfolio of accredited degree and research programmes covering eight disciplines.

Business School

Ulster University Business School (UUBS) delivers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes to students across Northern Ireland. It is a member of The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a global association of leaders in education and business dedicated to supporting and advancing quality business education worldwide.

Ulster University accepts a wide range of international qualifications. These are assessed individually for their content and level, and against relevant guidelines such as the British Council and the National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (NARIC UK).

Please refer to the specific entry requirements for each programme of study as outlined in the online prospectus.

For applicants whose first language is not English, evidence must be provided that demonstrates that they meet a suitable standard of English Language competency for the programme they are applying to.

Most of the university's programmes require a minimum English level of IELTS 6.0 (Academic) or equivalent, with no band score under 5.5. It also accepts IELTS Academic Online.

If the English language proficiency of the applicant does not satisfy minimum requirements, the university offers a range of pre-sessional and in-sessional English language courses, all designed to equip international learners with the required language skills for academic study at Ulster.

The university also supports its own Password English language test which is available for applicants who need to demonstrate their English language abilities for an application.

Ulster University offers financial support to help students focus on their studies, develop their talents, and achieve their academic and professional goals. There is a wide range of scholarships and discounts opportunities available to international students.

University Funded Scholarships

• A scholarship of GBP 2,000 is awarded to all international undergraduate and postgraduate students. Students don't need to apply, as all eligible students are awarded it automatically.
• Ulster also provides an extensive range of accommodation and regional scholarships each year.

The International Postgraduate Scholarship is open to all new international entrants on a full-time postgraduate programme delivered on one of the university's Northern Ireland campuses, commencing January or September 2026. This scholarship of GBP 2,000 is applied as a discount to the student's tuition fee. Applicants do not need to apply for this award – all eligible students are awarded it automatically.

For international students, going to university in another country is a big step, with new studies, new surroundings and new experiences. It's exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Ulster's dedicated student wellbeing team supports students every step of the way, helping them make the most of their student experience. The team offers friendly, expert advice on everything from academic support, managing money and budgeting to disability services and wellbeing. All its services are free, confidential, and open to every student.

Students have access to 24/7 confidential counselling services and can attend sessions on or off campus. Expert counsellors work with students to help them deal with any problems.

Once students register to study with Ulster, they automatically become a member of the UUSU. UUSU is led by students, for students, and offers a great support network. Students can access the benefits of their membership at any of our 3 campus locations or online. There's lots happening with UUSU, from clubs and societies, to events, trips and volunteering, making it easy for students to meet new people and pursue their interests.

Ulster University is proud to announce its participation in the new Research Plus consortium, a national collaboration of ten research-focused universities driving innovation, skills and impact across the UK.

Through this engagement, Ulster University will contribute its expertise in interdisciplinary research to address key societal and economic challenges, while strengthening partnerships with leading institutions and industry partners. Participation in Research Plus highlights Ulster's continued commitment to delivering world-class research with meaningful regional and global impact.

Exceptional graduate outcomes

Graduates from Ulster enjoy one of the best employment rates in the United Kingdom, as 94 per cent of graduates find work or further study six months following their departure from the university. Most of the study programmes are professionally accredited and allow students to obtain practical experience through placements and internships.

Ulster's Employability and Graduate Futures team help students enhance their professional confidence and employability through expert career advice, networking events, and access to employment, internship and placement opportunities. The university has a range of digital tools including Student Circus, an online platform specifically for international students, helping them connect with employers who proactively recruit international graduates.