Elsewhere on Ulster
Ulster scored highly in both the PRES and NSS 2025, with students rating their uni experience and research support better than ever.
The results of the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2025 results are in, and Ulster University has had an incredible year, landing near the very top of the UK rankings.
We’ve jumped from 4th to 2nd place in the UK for overall postgraduate research satisfaction, showing how much the University is focused on improving the experience of its researchers.
This annual survey gives postgraduate researchers the chance to share their experiences, enabling the University to respond to feedback and continue refining its offerings to support this academic community.
One of the biggest wins this year was in Support, where Ulster came 1st in the UK.
Postgraduate researchers rated highly the wide range of services on offer, including:
We also took 1st place for Online Learning Resources, showing how well Ulster supports students whether they’re on campus or studying remotely.
In the Responsibilities category, Ulster ranked 2nd, with researchers recognising clear guidance on expectations, supervisors’ roles, and where to find extra support. In addition, our researchers felt listened to and that their feedback was valued , which was the most highly rated question over the entire survey.
And in Professional Development, Ulster also came 2nd, with students highlighting progress in project management, communication skills, and building professional networks.
The University’s partnerships with industry, other universities, and Centres for Doctoral Training across the UK and Ireland are giving postgraduates more chances to connect and collaborate on exciting research themes.
We came 3rd in the UK for Community, with postgraduates saying they feel a strong sense of belonging.
With weekly Research Developer newsletters, Doctoral College social spaces, a Doctoral Society running events, and even an internal social channel, it’s easy for researchers to stay connected and supported.
Supervision saw one of the biggest improvements: Ulster leapt from 41st to 15th place in the UK.
This is thanks to the Supervisor Development Programme and a growing supervisor network that shares best practice across the University. Ulster is also part of a £4 million UKRI-funded project on research supervision across Ireland and Europe.
Inclusivity was another standout: postgraduate researchers with a declared disability reported satisfaction levels 10% higher than the national average.
These results show that Ulster is a place where postgraduate researchers are supported, connected, and prepared not just for academic success but also for future careers.
Whether it’s world-class supervision, career development, wellbeing support, or a thriving research community, Ulster is continuing to invest in making the postgraduate experience the best it can be.
Some of our current Doctoral College students have shared their experiences of the research culture at Ulster University.
"I am Rachael Wilson and I am currently on my second year of a PhD at Ulster University, Coleraine, with the School of Psychology. My PhD project is investigating consumer acceptance of sustainable foods, fish and vegetables, produced in an aquaponic system.
The School of Psychology at Ulster University has an incredibly supportive culture. Methodologies and methods for research studies are discussed, explored and designed with guidance from supervisors, postgraduate tutors and the Research Director who are experts in their disciplines. The Doctoral College provides PhD researchers with numerous and varying training and development programmes to increase their research skills. This also provides networking opportunities with other PhD researchers from different schools and faculties.
My experience of research at PhD level with Ulster University has been amazing and I am grateful for the opportunities, skills and experience that I am gaining to prepare me for future employment prospects."
"I am Akram Alshirah, a dentist and PhD researcher at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and College of Medicine and Dentistry. My project has flourished here thanks to the exceptional support from my supervisors and the entire university community. This support has enabled me to publish three papers in prestigious journals, present at numerous conferences, and showcase my work both nationally and internationally.
Ulster University has truly changed my perspective. The welcoming environment and the strong sense of community have made Northern Ireland feel like my second home. The university’s support extends beyond academics, positively impacting my family’s experience as well. I can confidently say that Ulster has given me not just a place to study, but a place to belong."
The 2025 National Student Survey (NSS) results for Ulster University are also in!
The NSS is one of the biggest surveys of its kind in the UK, giving mainly final year undergraduates the chance to share their views on their university experience. For universities, it's an important way to make sure quality standards are met and to find new ways of improving teaching and support.
This year, 3,294 Ulster University students took part in the survey, a strong 72% response rate. The results show big progress:
This means Ulster not only saw a major increase in overall satisfaction but is also above the Northern Ireland sector average.
