UCC’s Health Disciplines Shine in Global Rankings: School of Nursing and Midwifery Secures Top 25 Spot

25 Mar 2026

UCC has cemented its status as a global leader in health and medical education, with the latest QS World University Subject Rankings delivering exceptional results

The College of Medicine and Health celebrates a stellar performance in the 2026 QS World University Subject Rankings, with Nursing and Midwifery entering the global elite and multiple other disciplines ranking among the world’s best.

Leading the charge is the School of Nursing and Midwifery, which has achieved a remarkable position of 25th in the world. This marks the sixth consecutive year of improvement for the discipline, reflecting a sustained commitment to excellence in research, education, and clinical practice.

Professor Patricia Leahy-Warren, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, expressed her pride in the achievement:

‘To be ranked among the top 25 schools of nursing and midwifery in the world is a powerful affirmation of the excellence, ambition, and collaboration that define our School. Our focus has always been on shaping the future of health and social care through research, education, and practice, and this recognition reflects the collective impact of our staff, students, graduates, and partners globally.

‘There is a real sense of pride across the School today. This recognition belongs to our whole community – our students, staff, graduates, and the healthcare partners we work with every day. It reflects years of dedication to supporting people, families, and communities through high-quality care and education.’

The success extends across the entire College of Medicine and Health, highlighting UCC’s breadth of expertise in training the next generation of healthcare professionals. Pharmacy and Pharmacology joined Nursing in the global top 100, securing an impressive 92nd place, while Dentistry (51-150) and Medicine (196) both moved up in the rankings compared to last year. Anatomy and Physiology also featured strongly, placing within the 101-200 bracket.

Welcoming the results, Professor Helen Whelton, Head of the College of Medicine and Health at UCC, highlighted the collective strength of the college’s disciplines:

‘To see such a wide range of our health disciplines performing at this elite level is a clear signal of the quality of education and research happening here at UCC. The ranking of Nursing in the top 25 is a watershed moment, but it is supported by the strength of Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Medicine all moving up the ladder. These results demonstrate that UCC  is a powerhouse of healthcare innovation and a vital partner to the health services across our region. I want to congratulate all our staff and students for their relentless hard work and dedication.’

This year’s rankings analysed 6,277 institutions, with 1,912 universities from 166 countries featured. UCC saw a total of 27 subjects recognized globally, with 11 subjects now sitting inside the top 200 – up from nine last year.

UCC President, Professor John O’Halloran, welcomed the broad success:

‘We are pleased to feature so prominently in this set of World University Subject rankings by QS. The breadth of subjects listed across University College Cork is so positive to see and reflects our core mission of top-quality teaching and research as well as our ambition to continually improve UCC’s global standing.’

These latest rankings reinforce UCC’s position as a premier destination for students seeking a career in healthcare, offering a collaborative environment where academic rigor meets compassionate, real-world impact.

More information on the latest cycle of the QS subject rankings can be found here: https://www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings