Ulster University
Coleraine, United Kingdom • Founded 1968 • QS 2027 #595 =
Updated Sep 2026 · Source: ulster.ac.uk
Overview
Ulster University is a public university tracing its origins to 1865, with three campuses in Northern Ireland at Belfast, Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry, plus additional locations in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
It describes itself as Northern Ireland's civic university, teaching over 30,000 students including many from more than 70 countries. Academic provision is organised into four faculties, spanning arts, humanities and social sciences; computing, engineering and the built environment; life and health sciences; and business.
Ulster was named University of the Year at the 2024 Times Higher Education Awards, and it reports its research ranks in the top 10 percent of UK universities for impact under the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
Location & Contact
Find Ulster University on the map and its contact channels below.
Academic Details
The figures below cover Ulster University's scale, staffing levels, and academic standing.
Academic Structures
The academic units through which Ulster University delivers teaching are listed below.
Unit 6 items
- Faculty of Art, Design and the Built Environment
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Computing and Engineering
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Ulster Business School
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Privy Council.
Irish Cultural Heritages (Academy) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Cultural Studies
Health informatics (Centre) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Computer Science
- Medical Technology
Art, Design and the Built Environment (Faculty) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Architecture
- Building Technologies
- Civil Engineering
- Design
- Energy Engineering
- Fashion Design
- Fine Arts
- Graphic Design
- Photography
- Real Estate
- Textile Design
Arts (Faculty) 16 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Chinese
- Cinema and Television
- Dance
- Design
- English
- Fine Arts
- French
- German
- History
- Irish
- Journalism
- Media Studies
- Music
- Photography
- Spanish
- Textile Design
Computing and Engineering (Faculty) 3 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Mathematics
Life and Health Sciences (Faculty) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biomedicine
- Environmental Studies
- Health Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Sports
Social Sciences (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Criminology
- Education
- Law
- Political Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
Access Research Knowledge (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Social Policy
Art and Design (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Design
- Fine Arts
Biomedical Sciences (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biotechnology
Built Environment (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Town Planning
- Transport Engineering
Business and Management Studies (Research Division) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Administration
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Management
- Marketing
- Tourism
Celtic Studies (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Celtic Languages and Studies
Communication, Cultural and Media Studies (Research Division) 3 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Cultural Studies
- Mass Communication
- Media Studies
Community Conflict (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Social Sciences
Computer Science (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Computer Science
Developmental Disabilities and Child Health (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Child Care and Development
- Social Sciences
Diabetes (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Health Sciences
Education (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Education
Education for Pluralism, Human Rights and Democracy (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Human Rights
Education Management and Organizational Behaviour (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Educational Administration
Energy Research and Technology (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Energy Engineering
- Technology
Engineering Composites (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
English Language and Literature (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- English
- Literature
Environmental Research Unit (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Environmental Studies
Environmental Sciences (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Environmental Studies
Fire Safety Engineering Research and Technology (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Fire Science
- Technology
Food and Health (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Food Science
- Health Sciences
French (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- French
Geography (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Geography
German (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- German
Health Informatics (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Computer Science
- Health Sciences
Health Sciences and Natural Sciences (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Health Sciences
- Natural Sciences
History (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- History
Human Rights and Equality (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Human Rights
- Law
Inclusive Learning and Social Policy (Adult and Continuing Education) (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Adult Education
- Social Policy
International and Regional Policy and Strategy (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Regional Planning
International Conflict (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- International Relations and Diplomacy
Irish and Celtic Studies (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Celtic Languages and Studies
- Social Sciences
Knowledge Engineering Laboratory (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Northern Ireland
Law (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Law
Life Crisis and Long Term Care (Research Division) Faculty details available
Specialisations & Subjects
No specified subjects listed.
Linguistics (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Linguistics
Linguistics (Research Division) Faculty details available
Specialisations & Subjects
No specified subjects listed.
Marketing (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Administration
- Marketing
Measurement, Evaluation and Modelling (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Psychology
Media Studies (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Media Studies
Medical Informatics (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Medical Technology
Metallurgy and Materials (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Materials Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
Microbial Biotechnology Research Group (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biotechnology
Music (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Music
Music (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Music
Nanotechnology Research Institute (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Nanotechnology
Natural Resources (Research Division) 3 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Chemistry
- Ecology
- Natural Resources
Nursing (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Nursing
Nursing Research (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Nursing
Operations Management (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Administration
- Management
Organization, Work and Behaviour (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Administration
- Management
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biotechnology
- Pharmacy
Politics and International Studies (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- International Studies
- Political Sciences
Primary Care and Public Health (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Public Health
Property and Planning (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Real Estate
Psychology (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Psychology
Radiation Science (Research Division) Faculty details available
Specialisations & Subjects
No specified subjects listed.
Social Behaviour (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Behavioural Sciences
- Social Sciences
Social Exclusion (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Social Studies
- Sociology
Social Policy and Administration (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Administration
- Social Policy
Social Work (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Social Work
Sociology (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Social Studies
- Sociology
Software Process Technology (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Computer Science
- Software Engineering
Sports Related Subjects (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Sports
Surface Science Laboratory (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Sustainable Technologies (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Environmental Studies
Teacher Professional Development and School Organisation (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Educational Administration
- Teacher Training
Transitional Justice Institute (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Law
Transport and Road Assessment (Research Division) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Civil Engineering
- Transport and Communications
Vision (Research Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Ophthalmology
Business (School) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Accountancy
- Business and Commerce
- International Business
- Management
- Marketing
- Retailing and Wholesaling
- Tourism
Programs Offered
Ulster University's programme list, with search and degree-level grouping.
224 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in United Kingdom
Honours Degree 162 programmes
Showing 10 of 162.
Master of Business Administration 2 programmes
Master's Degree 39 programmes
Showing 10 of 39.
Doctorate 2 programmes
Postgraduate Certificate 11 programmes
Showing 10 of 11.
Postgraduate Diploma 8 programmes
Scholarships in United Kingdom
Funding options available to students studying in the United Kingdom, alongside Ulster University's costs.
How to apply to Ulster University
How to apply to Ulster University — a five-step structure.
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1
Find a programme that fits your goals
Start by exploring the programmes section on this page. Ulster University runs 224 active programmes across multiple degree levels. Narrow by qualification tier and read each programme description before shortlisting.
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2
Confirm you meet the requirements
Before applying to Ulster University, confirm you meet the academic, language, and document requirements for your chosen programme. International applicants should also check visa eligibility for United Kingdom.
-
3
Assemble your application package
Standard documents: official transcripts, identity proof, language test results, personal statement, and references. Confirm exact requirements with Ulster University's admissions office before assembling, as expectations vary by programme.
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4
Submit your application
Route your application through UCAS (ucas.com) for undergraduate entry to Ulster University. For postgraduate entry, apply directly through Ulster University's own admissions portal at www.ulster.ac.uk.
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5
Contact admissions and follow up
Verify your application has been received by the admissions team. Reach the institution by phone at +44 (28) 7012 3456. Monitor the portal for status updates, interview invitations, or document requests, and respond within the stated deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ulster University
Common questions about Ulster University, answered from data on record.
In what year was Ulster University established?
Ulster University was founded in 1968 (approximately 58 years ago).
Where is Ulster University located?
Ulster University is located in Coleraine, United Kingdom.
What is Ulster University's control type?
It is a public higher-education institution.
What is the student enrolment at Ulster University?
Student enrolment at Ulster University is around 32,915.
What is Ulster University's ranking?
It ranks QS 2027 #595 =.
What qualification levels does Ulster University offer?
Programmes at Ulster University cover bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
How many faculties does Ulster University have?
Ulster University has 6 academic units.
Who recognises Ulster University?
The institution holds recognition from Privy Council.
What is Ulster University's official website?
The institution's website is www.ulster.ac.uk.
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Members of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
Ulster University and the universities below are both members of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).
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