Published Sunday, 30 September 2012
Queen's University features in Sunday Times University Guide 2013 (© Getty)
Its medical science and pharmacy departments were also named best in the UK.
Queen's now ranks as the 26th top UK institution in the Sunday Times University Guide 2013 - its highest ever ranking.
Alastair McCall, Editor of The Sunday Times University Guide, praised the Belfast institution for the pivotal role it plays in the economy and life of Northern Ireland.
"It is about as far removed from ivory towered academia as it is possible to get," he said.
Queen's University says it boosts the local economy by approximately £500m a year as a result of its activities.
It is also estimated that, each year, 50 to 60 cancer patients in Northern Ireland, who would have previously died, now survive the disease as a result of research at Queen's Cancer Centre for Research and Cell Biology.
"No university in the UK generates more money from companies spun out of its research work and this year's Queen's Anniversary Prize for its pioneering cancer research work acknowledges Queen's' contribution in this field, which benefits the people of Northern Ireland on a daily basis and has implications for the wider world going forward," Mr Call said.
This is an exciting time to be studying and working at Queen's, but it is also an exciting time for everyone associated with Queen's, as the university continues on its upward trajectory.
Queen's Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Peter Gregson
Queen's Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Peter Gregson said: "It is encouraging that Medical Science and Pharmacy at Queen's are being nationally recognised as best in class.
"The University has recently invested over £90m on an ambitious plan to create an internationally recognised School and Institute of Health Sciences, with a further £85m expenditure anticipated over the next five years. This will ensure that laboratory discoveries translate into advances in patient diagnosis and treatment."
Minister for Employment and Learning Dr Stephen Farry congratulated Queen's for its latest achievements.
"The Higher Education Sector is pivotal to the development of a modern, sustainable and knowledge based economy and at a time of increased global competition it is heartening to see a Northern Ireland institution leading the way," he said.
The Sunday Times awards are the latest in a number of accolades Queen's University has received in recent months.