About the university
Ulster University is a public university in Northern Ireland with about 25,000 students and a history going back to 1849. Its main campus is in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, with further campuses in Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry. Times Higher Education named it University of the Year 2024.
It offers business, computing, engineering, health and creative courses. Many master's courses, including Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence and Management, start in January as well as September.
For Indian students the main attraction is cost. The standard international master's fee for 2027/28 is £18,880 a year at the Northern Ireland campuses, and the Global Excellence Scholarship of £5,000 is assessed automatically for eligible applicants. Ulster accepts a 55% bachelor's degree as a 2:2 equivalent.
Ulster says Northern Ireland has the lowest student cost of living in the UK (National Student Money Survey 2024), and its rooms in university accommodation start from about £103 to £144 a week.
- Roots
- Ulster's history dates back to 1849
- Type
- Public university in Northern Ireland
- Total students
- About 25,465 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- International students
- 31% of students (THE World University Rankings 2027 data); more than 70 nationalities
- Student–staff ratio
- 23.5 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Campuses
- Belfast, Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry in Northern Ireland, plus branch campuses in London, Birmingham and Manchester
- Intakes
- September; January for many master's courses
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=595 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
651–700 in the world
Complete University Guide (UK) 2027
47th of 130 UK universities
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £18,880
- Duration
- 3 semesters full time (Belfast)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £18,880
- Duration
- 3 semesters full time, 180 credits (Belfast)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
International Business with Data Analytics MSc
- Fee / year
- £18,880
- Duration
- 3 semesters full time, 180 credits (Derry~Londonderry)
- Intakes
- September 2027; January 2028
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £18,880
- Duration
- 1 year full time over 3 semesters (Belfast)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
Computing Science (Conversion) with Data Science MSc
- Fee / year
- £18,880
- Duration
- 1 year (12 months) full time (Derry~Londonderry)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £18,880
- Duration
- 1 year full time, September to August (Belfast)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
Global Investment Management MSc
- Fee / year
- £18,880
- Duration
- 1 calendar year full time over 3 semesters (Belfast)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
Management and Corporate Governance MSc
- Fee / year
- £21,130
- Duration
- 1 calendar year full time (Belfast)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.0)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (GBP) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyber Security MSc | 3 semesters full time (Belfast) | £18,880 | ≈ ₹23 lakh |
| Artificial Intelligence MSc | 3 semesters full time, 180 credits (Belfast) | £18,880 | ≈ ₹23 lakh |
| International Business with Data Analytics MSc | 3 semesters full time, 180 credits (Derry~Londonderry) | £18,880 | ≈ ₹23 lakh |
| Management MSc | 1 year full time over 3 semesters (Belfast) | £18,880 | ≈ ₹23 lakh |
| Computing Science (Conversion) with Data Science MSc | 1 year (12 months) full time (Derry~Londonderry) | £18,880 | ≈ ₹23 lakh |
| Accounting MSc | 1 year full time, September to August (Belfast) | £18,880 | ≈ ₹23 lakh |
| Global Investment Management MSc | 1 calendar year full time over 3 semesters (Belfast) | £18,880 | ≈ ₹23 lakh |
| Management and Corporate Governance MSc | 1 calendar year full time (Belfast) | £21,130 | ≈ ₹25.8 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Ulster University with similar universities in the UK.
Scholarships
- Undergraduate and taught postgraduate, January or September 2027
Global Excellence Scholarship
Value: Postgraduate £5,000; undergraduate £5,000 in Year 1 then £3,000 a year in Years 2–4
Eligibility: Passport from an eligible country, an offer for a full-time course at Belfast, Coleraine or Derry~Londonderry, and a 2:1 equivalent (PG) or BBB at A level equivalent (UG). Assessed automatically; scholarships cannot be combined.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Full-time undergraduate, September intake
International Undergraduate Scholarship
Value: £2,000 off the tuition fee each year (not the placement year)
Eligibility: Self-funded international students with an offer for a full-time course at a Northern Ireland campus. Awarded automatically.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Indian Standard XII (Central or State Boards) with an overall average of 60% and 50% or above in five subjects; 60% in any subject the course specifically requires.
- A three-year engineering or technology diploma from a State Board of Technical Education with 60% overall (ACITE-accredited) is also considered.
- International foundation routes accept Standard XII with a 50% average.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree with 55% for a 2:2 equivalent or 60% for a 2:1 equivalent.
- Most master's courses on this page ask for a second class honours degree; Accounting MSc asks for a 2:1 in a business subject.
- If you do not yet meet the English requirement you may get a conditional offer.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- Degree transcripts and certificate (postgraduate)
- English test score
- Personal statement
- £4,000 tuition deposit after an unconditional offer (counts towards fees)
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for most courses; some courses ask for more (for example 7.0 for Management and Corporate Governance) |
| PTE Academic | 59 overall with at least 59 in each part (IELTS 6.0 equivalent). PTE Academic Online is not accepted. |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 total (L17, R18, S20, W17) for IELTS 6.0, for tests taken before 21 January 2026; MyBest scores not accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 with no subscore below 100 (IELTS 6.0 equivalent); tests taken after July 2024 only |
Accommodation and living costs
Ulster has about 2,200 places in and near its three Northern Ireland campuses. Utilities are included in university accommodation, and there is a one-off £100 booking fee. Dalriada, Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry residences take a £300 advance payment and offer full-year or single-semester contracts.
| Item | In GBP | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Belfast: single en suite roomStarting price | £144per week | ≈ ₹17,568 |
| Coleraine: single room with shared bathroomStarting price | £107per week | ≈ ₹13,054 |
| Derry~Londonderry: single room with shared bathroomStarting price | £103per week | ≈ ₹12,566 |
| Ulster's estimate of living costs for one academic yearExcluding tuition | £5,500–7,500per year | ≈ ₹6.7 lakh – ₹9.2 lakh |
| Money you must show for the Student visaOutside London, for up to 9 months (GOV.UK, October 2026) | £1,171per month | ≈ ₹1.4 lakh |
Campus and location
Ulster's Belfast campus is in the Cathedral Quarter of the city centre and houses the Business School and computing courses. Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry (Magee) campuses teach their own courses, and the Ulster University Sports Village supports sport.
- Belfast campus in the Cathedral Quarter.
- Derry~Londonderry campus teaches data science, computing conversion and some international business courses.
- Overall 5 Star rating in the QS Stars assessment.
- Branch campuses in London, Birmingham and Manchester have their own courses and fees and are not eligible for the scholarships above.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Some Ulster master's courses include an industrial placement, such as the two-year Computer Science with Industrial Placement MSc. After graduating you can apply for the UK Graduate visa: 18 months for bachelor's and master's graduates who apply from 1 January 2027.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate visa length for applications from 1 January 2027 | 18 months (bachelor's and master's) | GOV.UK |
| International students as a share of all students | 31% | THE World University Rankings 2027 |
Studying in the UK
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much is a master's at Ulster?
The standard 2027/28 international master's fee is £18,880 a year at Belfast, Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry. A few named courses, such as Management and Corporate Governance MSc, cost £21,130.
Can I start in January?
Yes, for many master's courses. Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Management and International Business with Data Analytics all list January starts.
What percentage do I need for a master's?
Ulster treats 55% as a 2:2 and 60% as a 2:1 from Indian universities. Most courses ask for a second class degree; some ask for a 2:1.
Is there a scholarship for Indian students?
The Global Excellence Scholarship (£5,000 for postgraduates) is assessed automatically for applicants with a passport from an eligible country and a 2:1 equivalent. Check the scholarship page for the country list.
How much deposit do I pay?
International students pay a £4,000 deposit after receiving an unconditional offer. It is taken off your tuition fee.
Sources
- Ulster: tuition fees 2027/28, international (opens in a new tab)
- Ulster: fees and finance for international students (opens in a new tab)
- Ulster: students from India (opens in a new tab)
- Ulster: English language requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Ulster: Global Excellence Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
- Ulster: Cyber Security MSc (opens in a new tab)
- Ulster: international student cost of living (opens in a new tab)
- Ulster: accommodation costs (opens in a new tab)
- Ulster: Global (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: Ulster University (opens in a new tab)
- Complete University Guide 2027 league table (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.ulster.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details