research activity was world-leading or internationally excellent. Additionally the REF evaluation identified the university as ranked:
==== Research Institutes ====
There are 15 Research Institutes at the university. These are:
Arts & Humanities Research Institute (AHRI)
Biomedical Sciences Research Institute
Built Environment Research Institute
Business and Management Research Institute
Centre for Media Research
Computer Science Research Institute
Engineering Research Institute (ERI)
Environmental Sciences Research Institute
Institute of Nursing and Health Research
Institute for Research in Social Sciences
Irish and Celtic Studies Research Institute
Psychology Research Institute
Research Institute for Art and Design (RIAD)
Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute
Transitional Justice Institute
== Student life ==
=== Sport ===
Ulster participates in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) competitions and events, as well as those of Student Sport Ireland.
== Notable alumni ==
Ulster has a large body of notable alumni, including MPs Kate Hoey, Gregory Campbell, Michelle Gildernew, Roberta Blackman-Woods and former deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Mark Durkan, MLAs Alban Maginness, Basil McCrea and Seán Neeson, writers and authors including Anne Devlin, Dinah Jefferies, Colin Duriez, Calum Neill and Aodán Mac Póilin, poets including Gerald Dawe, Brendan Hamill, and Vivimarie Vanderpoorten and artists including Jack Coulter, Colin Davidson, Oliver Jeffers, Freddie Freeburn, Victor Sloan, Andre Stitt, John Luke and John Kindness. Other alumni include composer Brian Irvine, musician David Lyttle, comedian Omid Djalili, former hostage and writer Brian Keenan, historian Simon Kitson, biomedical scientist and former Vice-Chancellor Gerry McKenna, visual artist Willie Doherty, photographer Mary Fitzpatrick, film producer Michael Riley, rugby player Brian Robinson, radio and television personality Gerry Anderson, nursing academic Alison Kitson, CEO of Cognizant Brian Humphries and senior police …
