Students at Ulster University are 50% more likely to receive first-class degrees than their counterparts at Queen’s, new figures reveal.
Data released by the Department for the Economy shows that 33% of Ulster University graduates received first-class honours in 2023/24, compared to just 22% at Queen’s.
Ulster’s first-class awards have increased 83% – rising from 18% in 2014/15 to 35% in 2019/20, before settling at 33% in 2023/24.
Meanwhile, at Queen’s, first-class degrees rose from 21% in 2014/15 to 29% in 2019/20, then fell back to 22% by 2023/24.
The data also shows significant changes in lower second-class degrees at both universities.
At Queen’s, the proportion of students receiving 2:2 grades has risen from 11% in 2019/20 to 20% in 2023/24.
At Ulster, lower seconds fell from 28% in 2014/15 to 15% in 2019/20.
But they have since partially recovered to 17% in 2023/24.
When contacted by the Irish News, both Queen’s and Ulster University said that the two third-level institutions based in the same city could not be compared.
Queen’s University Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)
A Queen’s spokesperson told The Irish News: “Higher education results trends at Queen’s are similar to those across the rest of the UK, which have seen a small reduction in the proportion of first-class degrees awarded since a peak during COVID in 2020. Queen’s has a robust marking system in place, ensuring that all students are assessed consistently.
“We are proud to be ranked 9th in the UK for graduate outcomes and the top Russell Group university for employability and further study.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Ulster University said: ”Sustained improvements in student grade profiles at Ulster follow on from strategic investment in university educators’ teaching skills and pedagogic knowledge over recent years.
“Ulster University has a sector-leading 90% of staff with higher education teaching qualification/professional recognition vs a national sector average of just 50%, and we out-perform the sector in relation to our success in the National Teaching Fellowship awards and the Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence too.
“Like all UK universities, all Ulster programmes and awards are subject to rigorous external scrutiny and benchmarking against the rest of the sector. Additionally, at Ulster, our Continuous Assurance of Quality Enhancement process ensures that quality, standards and unpinning academic practice are in constant review so that best practice is supported and replicated.”