ULSTER University (UU) is among the top 40 universities in the UK for the first time.
Just days after its new campus officially opened in Belfast, it has been revealed that UU has climbed six places in the Times and Sunday Times’ Good University Guide over the past year.
It has also risen four places to enter the top 25 for teaching quality and retaining a top 25 position for the wider student experience.
Professor Paul Bartholomew, vice-chancellor of Ulster University, said: "Climbing six places in just 12 months to be among the top 40 universities in the UK for the first time is not only great recognition for the university itself, but a credit to the individual and collective commitment of staff who rose to the challenges of adapting their teaching and research approaches during a global pandemic.
"And of course, it’s not the ranking itself that is cause for positive reflection but the underpinning work of people that has led to this outcome.
"We do not chase rankings, rather we support each other and our students to achieve the best environment we can for the benefit of students, staff and society; if higher rankings follow, then we’ll take the recognition – but that’s not the driver.
"Our current context is one of a transformative time for the university with 15,000 students and staff moving to our enhanced Belfast city campus and over 900 life and health science students moving to our vibrant Derry-Londonderry campus as the new academic year gets underway this month.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank our staff, and wider student body, for their continued support and hard work.
"As we prepare to welcome our students back for the start of a new teaching year, this is an exciting time to be part of the Ulster University community and we’re looking forward to building on our collective achievements."
It comes as thousands of students were welcomed to freshers events at UU yesterday with music, campus tours and taster sessions all on offer.
Stalls were set up throughout the Belfast campus at York Street for new students to get information on clubs and societies on offer, including, athletic, gaelic games and netball with free goodie bags also given out.
While some classes and seminars took place throughout the day, for some students it was an opportunity to attend some of the social events and enjoy the live musical performances.
An estimated 15,000 students and staff will use the new campus, which amounts to around a million square feet of building.
Despite being more than £100 million over budget and after a four-year delay, the opening marks the end of a mammoth construction project which first began in 2013 when a consultation was launched about the future of the university's Jordanstown site.
