Ulster University has hit the top spot in StudentCrowd’s Best UK Universities, as voted for by its own students.
In an incredible week for the University, its new, state-of-the-art Belfast campus has also won the 2024 RSUA Building of the Year.
StudentCrowd Best UK Universities
StudentCrowd share the only UK league tables that are based solely on verified student reviews from students who have studied, or are still studying at each institution. They have gathered and analysed over 25,000 authentic student reviews submitted between June 2022 and May 2024, to compile the real-time league table.
The rankings spotlight best-performing universities that have significantly impacted students, prompting them to share their reviews online giving a true reflection of their university experience.
One Ulster University student who shared their experience said:
“I have really had a very good experience studying at Ulster University, the lecturers are so friendly and very approachable, the standard of teaching is top-notch! We are challenged to be the best version of ourselves by the assessments we carry out. The building is so beautiful and big, very conducive for learning. I will definitely recommend Ulster to my friends, family members, and neighbours. Thankful for the experience.”
More celebrations: Belfast campus scoops 2024 RSUA Building of the Year Award
The new state-of-the-art Ulster University campus located in Belfast City Centre has been crowned 2024 RSUA Building of the Year by the RIBA Journal.
The campus is described as an impressive design generated from a complex, expansive brief that Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios with McAdam Design was able to accommodate on a challenging, irregular site using sheer intelligence and skill.
Architects have created a huge complex as a ‘small city within the city’ bringing people and its energy together, something the contemporary city centre craves.
The RIBA Judges citation explained why the new campus is so significant, they said:
“The project is highly significant on two counts. Firstly, in the university’s bold decision to relocate its Jordanstown campus from a 1970s complex on the city’s outskirts to a new scheme within Belfast’s core, bringing with it people and energy – something the contemporary city centre craves. The other is how the complex, expansive brief has been accommodated on a challenging, irregular site through the architects’ intelligence and skill.
“The mass of the overall building is carefully tailored to respond to its more domestic neighbours, while stepping up to create city scaled moments at key junctions. Inside, the necessary accommodation is grouped around a series of light-flooded atria.”
Welcoming the news on both counts, Ulster University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Bartholomew said:
“What a week for Ulster University. We are absolutely delighted to recognised by our students as the best UK University and by RIBA for our beautiful new campus.
“Momentum is really building across Ulster University this year with expansion plans and Shared Island Funding in place for Derry~Londonderry, plans for a new Optometry clinic in Coleraine to offer expert services, and our new state of the art campus in Belfast, recognised by RIBA, which continues to provide a progressive learning environment for our staff, students and community every day.
“To be top of the StudentCrowd list and number one UK University is incredibly meaningful to us because this accolade is solely based on the reviews of our own students.
“This ranking is direct reflection of the experiences shared by our own students in their reviews and it has been a pleasure reading some of their thoughts which is a real testament to the hard work our staff do in supporting students and making their experience studying here a positive unforgettable one.”
On winning the RUAS award with Ulster University, Keith Bradley, Founding Partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios said:
“The New Campus for Ulster University Belfast brings the University right into the centre of the Northern Quarter, inviting the city’s street life in and the life of the University back out to the city. This bold decision by the University has created a catalyst for urban neighbourhood renewal. Inside, it is home to six faculties within a cluster of interlocking buildings. Akin to a three-dimensional city in itself, providing a forum for learning, research, and socialising - a collaborative mixing of people and their ideas. It is fantastic to have this contribution to the City of Belfast and its Education and Research outreach, recognised by the RSUA and RIBA Awards Judges.”