Ulster University is Northern Ireland's largest university, with campuses in Belfast, Coleraine and Derry-Londonderry. It is best known for computing, engineering, business, nursing and art and design, with a new city-centre campus in Belfast opened in 2022. Choose it for an applied degree at some of the lowest fees and living costs in the UK.
Belfast, United Kingdom
Official website: ulster.ac.uk
#559
GBP 364 million city-centre campus opened in 2022
Over 80% world-leading or excellent (REF 2021)
Among the lowest of any UK university
£16,000 – £20,000
International students, undergraduate and taught Master's
£9,000 – £11,500
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on ulster.ac.uk before you apply.
MSc Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
MSc Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
MSc International Business
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
MSc Artificial Intelligence
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
MSc Civil Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
BSc Nursing (Adult)
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
New Belfast campus — one of the largest university buildings in the UK, opened in 2022.
Computing and AI — feeds Belfast's cyber security and software cluster.
Magee campus in Derry-Londonderry — home to the new graduate-entry medical school.
Northern Ireland's largest university, with around 27,000 students.
Computing graduates join Belfast's tech cluster, including Citi, Kainos, Allstate and Rapid7.
Engineering alumni work at Spirit AeroSystems, Thales and Northern Ireland's construction firms.
Nursing and health graduates enter Northern Ireland's health trusts.
Business graduates go into PwC, Deloitte and EY, all with large Belfast offices.
Undergrad
14 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Rolling
The Belfast campus is a single large building in the Cathedral Quarter, in the middle of the city's bars, galleries and tech offices, with student accommodation a few minutes' walk away.
Belfast is a compact, friendly city with a growing tech sector, the Titanic Quarter and the Antrim coast an hour away. Living costs are among the lowest in the UK.
CAS from Ulster University
Proof of funds for fees and living costs
English test at B2 level or above
TB test certificate, if required
Immigration Health Surcharge payment
Valid passport with blank pages
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS with an equal-consideration deadline of 14 January 2027 for September 2027 entry. Taught Master's courses accept applications on a rolling basis, with most closing in July for September and November for January.
September is the main intake for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Ulster also runs a January intake for many taught Master's programmes, including computer science, data science, international business and artificial intelligence. Check the course page for which intakes are open.
You need a Student route visa, the same as for the rest of the UK. Ulster issues your CAS once you accept an unconditional offer and pay the deposit. Apply online up to six months before your course starts and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge with the application.
Computer science, data science, international business, artificial intelligence and civil engineering are the most applied-for programmes. Most Master's courses ask for a 2:2 or above and IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5. Undergraduate offers typically range from BBB to CCC, with nursing requiring an interview.
Yes. Ulster offers international scholarships that reduce tuition for undergraduate and Master's applicants, including awards for students from India and South Asia, usually assessed automatically from your application. Check the university's scholarships page for the current amounts and any separate application steps.
