We often hear about the same universities over and over again. It often leaves students who want to go somewhere else a little clueless about their desired university. We take a look at whether Queens Belfast is a good university.
When looking at whether a university is good or not, academics always have an opinion. But it’s always a good idea to see what the students think — after all, they were the ones who went! Being good isn’t all about world ranking and employability, it’s about the student experience too.
Is Queens Belfast A Good University?
The university is ranked 198 in the world in the Times Higher Education Ranking. Though there are lots of UK universities that came higher, it’s still a good placement. They even have three subjects, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Nursing and Performing Arts, which rank in the top 100.
So, whilst professionals definitely think there are far worse universities to attend, what do the students think?
Well, looking at The Student Crowd, Queens Belfast University scores a respectable 4 out of 5 overall. However, when looking at specifics, it seems students aren’t satisfied with its internet/wifi, which only gets 3 out of 5. Though the internet is usually pretty important when completing a degree, so are its campus and facilities, which students give 5 out of 5.
One current student said the following about their experience so far:
“So far I have enjoyed my studies at QUB. I have really enjoyed having most of my classes in person this semester, it’s been great interacting with lecturers and other students to the best that we can due to covid. The facilities are great and there is great help when needed.”
It scores higher than the University of York, the University of Leicester and the University of Kent.
On The Student Room, students believe that the university is “a very good university” but often gets overlooked by its location:
“[QBU} is a very good university. The impression that home students have of Queens isn’t helped by its location (in Northern Ireland) meaning it often gets ignored.”
So, students definitely believe that Queens Belfast University is good.
Why Study At Queen’s University Belfast?
If you’re still on the fence about going, then here are a few reasons why people think you should study there.
Study in the UK lists it as one of the oldest universities in the UK and says it was voted in the top ten most beautifully historic cities by QS in 2019. It’s in one of the cheapest cities to live in. A student who went there said the following about what QBU offers:
“Queen’s had the respected academics that I wanted from a university. But more importantly than that, it gave me to the lifestyle I wanted due to its location, environment, and university community.”
The university is also regarded as a centre of excellence and has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize seven times. If it’s facilities you’re after, then QBU has had £350 million invested into its campus over the last 10 years. £50 million of that went to its state-of-the-art library.
Is Queen’s University Belfast A Russell Group?
Sometimes the most important thing to a student is whether their desired university is Russell Group. It’s completely understandable, Russell Group universities get a larger amount of funding and you’re more likely to have research opportunities given to you.
Students thinking of attending QBU will be pleased to know that it is in the Russell Group. It joined the prestigious group in 2006, 8 years after it was set up.
Here’s the list of all the other members:
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- Cardiff University
- Durham University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Exeter
- University of Glasgow
- Imperial College London
- King’s College London
- University of Leeds
- University of Liverpool
- London School of Economics & Political Science
- University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- University of Oxford
- Queen Mary, University of London
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University College London
- University of Warwick
- University of York
It seems like Queen’s Belfast is ticking lots of the ticking boxes for students. We hope this has helped your decision if you’re thinking of going!