• Undergraduate

  Undergraduate Entry Requirements

  The application procedure varies for undergraduate and postgraduate students, so we publish separate information for each. You'll also need to be able to provide evidence of a specified level of ability in the English language.

  USA Admissions Guide

  Please note that there is no requirement to have completed the necessary testing requirements at the point of application to study at Queen’s. We operate a conditional offer system, meaning that you can apply before you have completed tests and exams. This means that your offer letter would be conditional upon completing your exams at a later point.
  
  When submitting your application it is essential that you provide details of predicted scores for tests/exams you are due to take in Senior Year, as well as achieved scores for all tests/qualifications you have already completed.  Failure to do so will delay the processing of your application.
  
  The grades required for admission to our undergraduate Bachelor degree programmes will vary according to your chosen course of study. Please check our Course Finder for detailed entry requirements which are normally expressed in terms of three A-level grades.  The comparable US qualifications and grade requirements are shown in the table below.  Subject-specific requirements must be met.
  
  We expect our applicants to have taken:

  • A rigorous curriculum at high school, which should include a college preparatory curriculum
  • Grades A or B in three Grade 12 honours or college level classes on your high school record (or equivalent), or three Advanced Placement (AP) classes/exams or International Baccalaureate Higher Level subject tests (or equivalent).

  Honours/College level classes may be accepted in lieu of AP exams for most programmes, excluding Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing & Midwifery, and Social Work.    We look for grades A or B in three Grade 12 honours or college level classes, or three AP exams with scores of 4+, within the context of your school’s curriculum; for example, applicants should have taken classes to the most advanced level offered at your school, if the AP curriculum is not available as a study option.

  In order for Queen’s to assess your application please provide an up-to-date scanned copy of your US High School transcript and evidence of any previous qualifications undertaken and/or courses currently being undertaken.  At the time of application, we can accept ‘unofficial’ and ‘online’ transcripts. These documents can be emailed to intl.admissions@qub.ac.uk in support of your application.  In all cases, your School Profile document (or a website link) should be submitted along with your application.

  Many of our courses require you to have a particular background in the subject(s).  This is known as ‘pre-requisite’ knowledge.  Pre-requisite qualifications, if required, will be listed on our Course Finder pages

  For admission to degree programmes which do not have subject requirements at A-Level, any combination of three of the following in academic subjects could be accepted in lieu of AP tests:

  • Grade 12 Honours Class
  • Dual Enrolment Class
  • College Level Class

  Either the SAT 1 or ACT may be accepted (with the appropriate scores) if presented along with two of any of the above (for example, an ACT and two Grade 12 honours classes).

  A-level Grade	A	B	C
  Advanced Placement (AP) Exam	5	4	3
  Grade 12 Honours/College Course	A	B	N/A*
  SAT 1	1350 (min 700 Maths, 650 ERW)	1290 (min 620 Maths, 650 ERW)	1250 (min 620 Maths, 620 ERW)
  ACT	28	27	26
  IB Higher Level Subject	6	5	5

  *we will only consider grades A or B in honours/college classes to meet our A-Level-equivalent requirements.

  For admission to degree programmes for which there are subject-specific (pre-requisite) requirements (eg. Mathematics, Engineering and Science), the Admissions Office will consider both the School Profile and the curriculum which has been studied, to ensure that the content and the performance achieved, would be suitable preparation for admission to the Queen’s degree programme. 

  Evidence of pre-requisite requirements are:

  • AP exam scores of at least 4 (depending on degree-specific requirements); eg. ‘AP Calculus BC’ (or equivalent) for entry to study Mathematics, Engineering or Computer Science programmes.
  • Evidence of top grades across appropriate Honours or college classes taken in the required subject, including the most challenging options available in the school curriculum.  Details of the curriculum will be required and considered on a case-by-case basis.

  Subjects cannot be counted twice, ie. if you are submitting an AP exam in US History, you cannot also submit an honours or college course in US History.

  SAT and ACT Tests

  We will not penalize students for the absence of an SAT or ACT test, however we expect applicants to have taken at least one type of standardized test (AP, SAT, or ACT).  Where at least one standardized test has not been taken, we may be in contact to clarify the reasons for this.

  SAT Subject Tests - We are aware that the College Board has discontinued SAT Subject Tests and that there will no longer be an option for students to register for these tests. If you took an SAT Subject Test before they were discontinued, we are still able to accept these. Acceptable grades would be:

  • 700 in a SAT Subject = AP exam with a score of 5
  • 650 in a SAT Subject = AP exam with a score of 4

  Please note that Queen’s University Belfast has institutional codes for the following College Board Exams. You can send score reports directly to Queen’s using the following codes:

  ACT: 7799
  SAT and AP:  7753

  • Applicants who have successfully completed an Associate Degree with an overall GPA of 3.0/4.0 awarded by a recognised US institution will be considered for admission to Stage 1 of an undergraduate degree programme.  Any subject requirements must be met.
  • Applications are welcomed from applicants completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD).  Scores of between 30 and 36 points overall are required depending on individual course requirements. Information on required grades.

  Medicine and Dentistry

  For Medicine and Dentistry, a High School Graduation Diploma with minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0 will be required, plus four Advanced Placement tests with scores of 5,5 (Chemistry and Biology) 5,4.   Mathematics is also required to GCSE standard, normally Grade 12 in High School.  GCSE Physics or equivalent is also required for Medicine.  SAT Subject tests are not accepted in lieu of AP tests.

  A minimum of 36 points overall is required in the International Baccalaureate Diploma with grades 6,6,6 in Higher level subjects including Chemistry and Biology. Mathematics and English (and Physics for Medicine) is also required to Standard Level, or grade 11 (or GCSE equivalent) if not taken as part of the IB. Points obtained for the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge can count towards the total. 

  Graduates may be considered - a minimum of an Upper Second Class Honours degree or CGPA of 3.3 on scale of 4 (78%) in a four year honours degree would be required, and applicants must also have the appropriate background in the relevant science subjects to satisfy the course entry requirements.

  Applicants for Medicine must also undertake the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) www.ucat.ac.uk and the University will normally interview international applicants.  For Dentistry, shortlisted applicants will be interviewed via an online process.

  How to Apply

  Most students make their applications through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen’s. The UCAS application deadline for international students is 30 June 2025, except for those applying for Medicine and Dentistry who should apply by 15 October 2024.

• Postgraduate

  Postgraduate Entry Requirements

  The application procedure varies for undergraduate and postgraduate students, so we publish separate information for each. You'll also need to be able to provide evidence of a specified level of ability in the English language.

  Entry to graduate diploma or taught Masters programmes usually requires either a UK upper second-class (2:1) or a lower second-class (2:2) undergraduate degree. For most courses, your major subject or content of your Bachelor's degree may also be considered. Please visit our Course Finder for detailed entry requirements. 

  The comparable US qualifications are as follows:

  UK Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1)

  Bachelor degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2.

  UK Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2)

  Bachelor degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8. 

  Please note the following key differences between graduate studies in the US and a taught Masters degree at Queen's:

  • Master's degrees in the UK are normally one-year in duration.
  • There is no GRE or GMAT required for entry to Queen's.

  A taught Master's refers to a program that combines academic instruction as well as the completion of a written dissertation. PhD degrees are three years in length and typically require you to have a Masters degree prior to applying and to prepare a research proposal.

  Supporting Documentation 

  When submitting your application, please ensure that you upload copies of official transcripts for completed programmes as well as those currently in progress. Degree award certificates for programmes already complete should also be provided.

  Borderline Cases

  Sometimes, it may be possible to exercise flexibility in the case of applicants who have completed their degree with slightly lower grades than those outlined in their offer letter. In these cases, the decision will be at the discretion of the Academic Selector.

  On completion of your degree, you should forward a copy of your official transcript and award certificate to intl.admissions@qub.ac.uk to confirm the award of your qualification and the overall grade. Unfortunately we cannot advise you further until we receive this documentation .

  INTO Queen's Preparation Courses

  For those interested in Computing, Finance and Management courses, but who do not meet the entry requirements, you may wish to consider a a pre-masters.

  PhD Study

  Students interested in undertaking a PhD at Queen’s University need good grades in their Bachelor and Master's degree programmes (if applicable) awarded by a recognised university, in addition to a strong research proposal. Please consult the Coursefinder for details of the specific entry requirements for individual PhD programmes.

  How to Apply

  Applications for Postgraduate Taught Masters and PhD programmes must be made using the University's online application system. There is no application fee to apply for Postgraduate programmes.

  All Masters degree programmes at Queen’s begin in September each year.

  Postgraduate research programmes can begin at different times throughout the academic year. The start date has to be agreed with your PhD supervisor.

  Applications should be submitted online via the Queen's Portal for admission to the vast majority of postgraduate programmes.

  Find out more about applying for Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research programmes.

• INTO Foundation Courses

  How to Apply

  Prepare for your university degree with tailored, academic pathway programmes from INTO Queen’s. You’ll benefit from university-style teaching for subject-based modules and high academic standards.

  Then, when it comes to progressing to your chosen degree, INTO will support you with your university application.

  Courses include:

  • International Foundation courses in Architecture, Business and Engineering, providing a pathway to the first year of a wide range of undergraduate degrees.
  • International Year One courses in Management and Finance, Engineering disciplines, and Computer Science, allowing direct entry to year two of Undergraduate degrees.
  • Graduate Diplomas that prepare you for direct entry to selected Master's courses in Finance, Management and Social Sciences.

Fees shown are for Fee rate 1. Laboratory based courses and other courses have different fee rates. Check the relevant course page for Tuition fee costs. All tuition fees quoted are for the academic year 2023-24, and relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise. If you receive an offer of admission, you will be provided with details of the tuition fee payable in your offer letter.
All fees are payable in £ sterling. Approximate equivalencies were correct at August 2022 (xe.com).

• Fee Rate 1 - Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• Fee Rate 2 - Engineering and Physical Sciences (including laboratory courses)

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