For the first time in the University’s history, Ulster has been recognised as the top higher education institution in the UK and Ireland, at the Times Higher Education awards.
Known as the Oscars of the UK university sector, the Times Higher Education annual awards celebrate the best of higher education in the UK and Ireland. The University of the Year accolade honours exceptional university performance, with this year’s award reflecting achievements during the 2022-23 academic year.
Back in September 2024, we were shortlisted alongside five other top-ranking institutions: London Metropolitan University, University of Stirling, University of Leicester, University of Sunderland, and University of Surrey.
The awards attract hundreds of entries each year from universities across all corners of the UK and Ireland, that exemplify the talent, innovation, and commitment of students, staff and entire university community.
What the Judges Said
Ulster University was hailed as a “force for good in fostering peace, prosperity and cohesion” and took the top spot in recognition of its role as an anchor institution in a region that has undergone rapid change in the quarter-century since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
The award honoured the completion of Ulster’s £364 million Belfast campus, creating a vital connection to a historically underserved community, backed up with a schools programme designed to boost higher education participation among the city’s young males.
The judges were also impressed by the securing of a €44.5 million (£37 million) investment from the Irish government for the development of Ulster’s Derry~Londonderry campus, making it a groundbreaking cross-jurisdictional project.
The significance of such efforts to ongoing peace and collaboration were underscored by Ulster’s role as host to the US president, Joe Biden, on his visit to mark the Good Friday Agreement’s 25th anniversary.
The judges said these achievements “demonstrated the university’s growing influence and status in the island of Ireland, and as a force for good in fostering peace, prosperity and cohesion”.
Ulster University Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew said:
“We are incredibly proud and delighted to be announced as University of the Year by Times Higher Education. These prestigious awards attract hundreds of entries from top institutions across the UK and Ireland, and this recognition reflects the hard work of our staff and the support of our student community across our campuses.
I truly believe that Ulster University is an extraordinary organisation in every sense of the word, and in recent years we really began to realise our full potential. Ulster University is a research-led, people centric, community-focused and values driven institution that believes in equality, celebrates diversity and fosters inclusion.
We demonstrate the belief that though we inherit our past, we chose our future, and it is our mission to ensure that all of our students have all the skills they need to make a difference in the world.
Let's Celebrate
Come and celebrate this win with us at the Christmas Tree light switch on events next week:
- Wednesday 4 December, Coleraine campus - 11am, main foyer
- Wednesday 4 December, Belfast campus - 2pm, outside BC building
- Thursday 5 December, Derry~Londonderry campus - 11:30am, outside MD building
Congratulations to everyone at Ulster!