Queen's University, Belfast

Students who choose a study programme at Queen’s will find it is heavily tailored towards employability. Not only will they learn the core academic material of their chosen course, but they will learn how to put it into practice through practical workshops and hands-on sessions, ensuring that upon graduation, they are ready to step up as the next generation of industry leaders.

Being a Russell Group university means that Queen’s guarantees a certain level of excellence in its students, which helps graduates to find more opportunities. To give them an extra helping hand, the university has its own career service which runs workshops on CV writing, interview techniques and more.

It’s also responsible for career fairs, where local and national businesses come to meet students and help them explore their future options.

Despite being one of the UK’s capitals, Belfast is one of the most affordable cities in the UK. Belfast has the lowest cost of living in the UK (Mercer Cost of Living City Ranking 2022) and the lowest student rent in the UK (NatWest Student Living Index 2020). Students in Belfast can expect to save over £300 per month living in Belfast compared to London (Which? Student Budget Calculator, 2022), helping them make the most of their finances and enjoy a great quality of life while they study.

Belfast is really easy to get around, and the university’s campus being at the heart of the city helps make everything accessible. As well as the regular bus and train services, there is a public bicycle rental scheme if you want to get out and explore. It’s a welcoming, friendly and safe city. Northern Ireland was voted the safest region in the UK in the UK British Crime Survey 2019/20.

Shoppers will find a mix of major brand names and charming independents, while culture lovers will find a treasure trove of theatres, museums and galleries to explore. There truly is something for everyone when it comes to nightlife – from small, homely pubs to larger live music venues playing every genre, comedy clubs, drama performances, and more.

Fees to study at Queen’s University Belfast vary depending on the residency of the student. For undergraduates, residents of Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland pay £4,530 per year (reduced to £870 if that year is a placement). Students from the rest of Great Britain will pay £9,250 per year.

International students pay more, with slightly different costs depending on the type of course. Most classroom-taught courses cost £17,900 per year but this rises to around £21,000-£32,800 per year for courses with substantial laboratory or workshop components, or pre-clinical elements of medical courses.

Students can seek financial support to help them pay their tuition fees. Students are considered either ‘externally funded’, where they have received a student loan from either the main Student Loans Company or another financial backer, or ‘self-funded’ if they are paying for their own tuition or relying on an external funder or friends and family.