Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been appointed Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast.

She takes up the largely ceremonial role in Northern Ireland where the peace process was one of the greatest successes of her husband's presidency.

The 2016 presidential candidate becomes the first female chancellor of the 175-year-old institution, one of the oldest in Britain.

'It is a great privilege to become the Chancellor of Queen's University, a place I have great fondness for and have grown a strong relationship with over the years,' Clinton said Thursday.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has been appointed the eleventh and the the first female Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast

Then-Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, with Northern Ireland First and Deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson (left) and Martin McGuinness, at Titanic Belfast, in Belfast in 2012

During her time as Secretary of State from 2009-2013, Clinton visited Belfast to support the 1998 Good Friday peace accord.

It largely ended 30 years of violence between Catholic nationalists seeking union with Ireland and Protestant unionists who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.

In her statement, Clinton added: 'The university is making waves internationally for its research and impact and I am proud to be an ambassador and help grow its reputation for excellence.'

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams at the State Department on March 17, 2009 in Washington, DC. Adams was visiting for St Patrick's Day

Clinton traveled to Northern Ireland several times in the mid-1990s with her husband during the Good Friday talks, with Bill Clinton's hands-on approach widely recognized as crucial at moments when the agreement looked like crumbling.

Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, who as US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland chaired the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement, served as chancellor of Queen's from 1999 to 2009.

Hillary was heavily criticized for exaggerating her role in the peace process when she claimed that she was 'instrumental' in bringing peace to Northern Ireland when battling Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008.

Clinton becomes the university's 11th chancellor.

US President Clinton (right) appears with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams (left) during a reception at Queen's University in Belfast in 1995

Queen's University can trace its roots back to 1845 when it was established as one of three Queen's Colleges in Ireland. It is the second oldest university in Ireland, and the ninth oldest in the United Kingdom

The role, which Clinton will hold for the next five years, involves presiding at degree congregations and acting as an ambassador and adviser for the university, according to Queen's.

Stephen Prenter, Queen's pro-chancellor, said he was delighted by the appointment.

He added: 'Secretary Clinton has made a considerable contribution to Northern Ireland and as an internationally recognised leader will be an incredible advocate for Queen's and an inspirational role model for the Queen's community.'