Ulster University’s graduate outcomes, research performance and international reach are among the areas recognised in a new independent QS Stars assessment which has also awarded the University an overall five-star rating, the highest level awarded by the global rating system.
The five-star assessment reflects performance across areas that shape the experience of students and Ulster University’s wider impact – from preparing graduates for their careers and delivering impactful research to excellence in teaching.
Among the results are a 95% graduate employment rate, a perfect 50 out of 50 score for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and a student community representing 106 nationalities. Ulster's research performance was also recognised, with research collaborations spanning 129 countries and territories.
Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University, said:
“This independent assessment provides external recognition of performance across a broad range of areas that matter to our students and partners.
“Behind these results is the day-to-day contribution of colleagues across Ulster – from those teaching and supporting our students to those delivering research, building international partnerships and helping our graduates prepare for their careers.
“The assessment also provides an important benchmark as we continue to focus on the quality of the student experience and the impact of our teaching, research and engagement locally and internationally.”
QS Stars is an international rating system which assesses universities against established standards across a range of performance indicators.
How does Ulster University support graduate employability?
Ulster’s five-star Employability assessment reflects both graduate outcomes and the support available to students as they prepare for life beyond university.Areas like the university’s reputation among employers, the graduate employment rate, employment outcomes and career service support contribute to this score.
For Law graduate Lara Robinson, who graduated from Ulster University this summer, opportunities to gain practical experience alongside her studies have helped prepare her for an exciting next step in her career.
After undertaking a legal placement during her degree, Lara successfully secured a place on the Mountbatten Programme and will move to New York in September to spend a year working as a Legal Assistant with Skarzynski, Marick and Black LLP.
Lara said:
“The opportunities I had at Ulster to build experience alongside my degree really helped me develop my skills and understand where I wanted to take my career.
“The support I received from Ulster’s Employability Team was also a massive help throughout my application for the Mountbatten Programme. The one-to-one meetings helped me continually strengthen my application with fresh ideas and advice, and the team even reached out directly to the Programme to make sure the guidance they gave me was tailored to what they were looking for. The interview advice and preparation I had received through the Careers team during my placement year also really helped when it came to the Mountbatten interviews.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity ahead and to take what I’ve learned at Ulster with me as I start my career and gain international experience.”
What else did Ulster University achieve five stars for?
Ulster’s five-star Research rating recognised the productivity and impact of its research and its academic reputation. QS recorded five research papers per faculty member and 12 citations per paper, alongside 235 nominations in the 2025 QS Global Academic Survey.
Its five-star Global Engagement rating reflects an international student community representing 106 nationalities. QS also recognised Ulster’s global research collaborations spanning 129 countries and territories.
Ulster also achieved the maximum available score for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, with QS recognising areas including disability support, scholarships and bursaries for underrepresented groups, the University’s EDI strategy and a 50:50 gender balance among professors.
Ulster achieved 97 out of 100 for Environmental Impact, with the assessment recognising climate action across education, research and operations and placing the University in the top 20% for QS Environmental Impact Research.
How did Ulster University perform overall in the QS Stars assessment?
Five-star ratings for Teaching, Facilities and Good Governance further recognised performance across the learning experience, research productivity and impact, and the facilities and technology supporting students.
Ulster achieved an overall score of five out of five stars in the QS Stars assessment.
