Queen's University is to spend about £4.5m on an "exceptional payment" to staff for work during the pandemic.
About 4,300 staff will receive £1,000 and about 300 casual staff will get a £150 "recognition payment".
Ulster University previously decided to pay most of its staff an extra cost-of-living payment of up to £1,000.
The University and College Union (UCU) at Queen's said the payment recognised staff's "significant sacrifices during the pandemic".
Queen's said the additional money would be paid to staff in July.
