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New independent research highlights the “hidden gem” university in Northern Ireland

The team behind the renowned Complete University 51Ƶ have crunched the data to shine a light on the university blazing a trail in Northern Ireland

As thousands of students and families prepare for UCAS application deadlines just after Christmas, new independent research released today (Wednesday, 14th December) reveals universities making up “areas of excellence” across Northern Ireland and across the UK. 

The team behind the renowned Complete University 51Ƶ have crunched the data to shine a light on the university blazing a trail in Northern Ireland, ranking amongst the best in the UK for some subjects. The message could not be clearer - “you don’t have to go far to go far!”.

With cost-of-living putting increasing pressure on students and families, the “areas of excellence” data highlights some excellent subjectsThat they might not have considered. 

The “areas of excellence” data for Northern Ireland reveals that Ulster University is the home of three highly rated "hidden gems" in the UK, with three subjects ranked in the top 10.

  • Ulster ranks 3rd out of 46 universities across the UK offering Pharmacology and Pharmacy.
  • Building at Ulster is also ranked amongst the UK’s best in 3rd place.
  • Information Technology & Systems sits just outside the top 10% in the UK.
  • Land & Property Management and Optometry, Ophthalmics & Orthoptics rank 2nd and 3rd respectively, but inside the top 20% across the UK

Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Chair of the Complete University 51Ƶ Advisory Board, said: 

“The Complete University 51Ƶ is the gold standard for university rankings in the UK, and has helped countless students choose the university and the course that is right for them. While invaluable, the league tables do not tell the whole story, with some tremendous success stories lost beneath the headlines.

“Today’s research shows applicants the excellence that exists on their doorstep or closer to home. I am confident that the new “areas of excellence” will work alongside the annual league tables, showcasing those universities offering first-rate subjects in Northern Ireland and across the UK.”

The research also reveals other “hidden gems” across the UK, with Universities providing sector-leading  subjects that many students may be unaware of. These include:

City, University of London Communication & Media Studies  1%
Edge Hill Tourism, Transport, Travel & Heritage Studies
 3%
Dundee Forensic Science
 3%
Staffordshire Childhood & Youth Studies
 8%
Hull  Paramedic Science 
3%
Lincoln Social Work 5 6%
Kent  Art & Design 
7%

Simon Emmett, Chief Executive Officer of IDP Connect, said:

“The Complete University 51Ƶ’s mission has always been about helping students make the right decisions about their future. Today’s publication of the “areas of excellence” builds on this work, and reflects the changing landscape that students are entering university in and equips universities with key student research to use alongside their own data insights.

“The current challenges facing students and families, from cost-of-living to accommodation, have informed this new CUG research, acknowledging that there are factors impacting university applications that simply did not feature a decade ago. The research shows that it can pay to stay local, or to consider some world-class options in less well-known universities.

“This independently collated data has also enabled us to build new tools to help students and families choose the university that is right for them. Our new Uniselect tool takes the complexity out of researching university options and puts the student in the driving seat, allowing them to shape their future based on what is important to them. They get results which are clear, unbiased and based on what they want to know.”

ENDS

Notes to editors: 

  • The UK-wide list of the Complete University 51Ƶ “areas of excellence” can be found here  
  • The team behind Complete University 51Ƶ has compiled university league tables for more than 25 years. Since 2007, these have been freely available online
  • “Areas of excellence” are defined universities ranked 40th or lower in the overall UK university league table but who are 10th or above and in the top quintile [or top 20%] for the subject.
  • The 51Ƶ is an autonomous division of IDP Education, global leader in education services and technology, from which, by mutual agreement, it retains its complete editorial independence. 
  • Criteria for inclusion in the main university league table or the subject tables can be seen on our website. 
  • Uniselect can be accessed at : Uniselect (thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk)

Press & media contacts

CUG and IDP experts are available for broadcast interviews pre-records and on the day of publication.

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