<p>Founded in 1845 as Queen's College Belfast, one of three Queen's Colleges in Ireland, Queen's University Belfast became an independent university in 1908 and is the ninth oldest university in the UK. Queen's University Belfast is a member of the Russell Group, combining excellence in research and education with a student-centred ethos. Based in the heart of Belfast -- named Number 1 region in the world to visit in 2018, Queen's is committed to enhancing its historic campus and the surrounding conservation area while providing 21st century facilities for education and research. Over the last 10 years, the University has invested £350 million in developing world-class facilities with ambitious plans to invest a further £250 million over the next decade.</p><p>Queen's is ranked 8th in the UK for Research Intensity (Times Higher Education) with over 75 percent of its research assessed as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' in REF 2014. Queen's is ranked 21st in the world for international outlook by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and ranked 9th in the world for research collaboration. It is globally connected and networked with strategic partnerships across the world.</p><p><strong>Why Queen's University Belfast:</strong></p><ul><li><u>World-Class Reputation</u>: Queen's University Belfast is part of an elite UK group of research-intensive universities known as the Russell Group.</li><li><u>Globally Impactful Research</u>: Ranked 8th in the UK for research intensity, Queen's University Belfast is a trailblazing institution in many areas of research and innovation. According to the Research Excellence Framework, 75 percent of research is rated 'world-class' or 'internationally leading.'</li><li><u>Career Development</u>: QUB is dedicated to student employability, and the strong industry links mean that 94 percent of Queen's graduates are in employment or further study six months after graduation.</li></ul><p><u>Student Life</u>: There are over 200 student-led clubs and societies on campus, while a £20 million sports investment has helped establish a reputation for Queen's as one of the premier sporting universities through Ireland and the UK. As well, over the past decade, Queen's has invested over £350 million in cutting-edge facilities, including the £50 million McClay Library, placing QUB joint second in the uK for university facilities by the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey.</p>