Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland offers international students the experience of a lifetime. It is a region of many contrasts, stunning scenery and vibrant cities where you can enjoy plenty of local 'craic' (fun).

The international student will benefit greatly from a qualification from a higher or further education institution in Northern Ireland as it is recognised and respected throughout the world. There are a variety of routes through the education and training system which allow students to combine courses to suit their needs and abilities.

Graduate Studies in Northern Ireland

Study here:

The University of Ulster - School of the Built Environment

Universities, colleges and schools in Northern Ireland offer an exhilarating, creative and challenging environment in which students can develop their potential. They provide a solid foundation for building futures, boosting careers and enhancing salary prospects.

Quality standards for institutions in Northern Ireland are among the best in the world. Our Higher and Further Education institutions have to demonstrate that their courses meet strict criteria. Two such criteria are the Teaching Quality Assessments and Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) which are set by the UK Government.

Universities in Northern Ireland

An increasingly popular destination for overseas students, Northern Ireland has two universities: Queen's University Belfast (QUB), which is located in Belfast; the University of Ulster (UU), which operates at several campuses in County Londonderry, County Antrim and Belfast. There are also two university colleges in Belfast, St Mary's and Stranmillis. Both University Colleges have an academic relationship with Queen's University Belfast and provide taught courses leading to degrees and other awards of the University.

Research plays a central role in both universities' activities and both are strong performers in the UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise. Particular highlights include Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering at Queen's University, and Biomedical Sciences and Celtic Studies at the University of Ulster, all of which achieved the highest possible rating in the most recent RAE.

Both universities offer a wide and varied range of courses at undergraduate, graduate and sub-degree level. Students benefit from innovative program provision, the latest technological equipment available and the large libraries, which are fully computerised, allowing them access to an extensive range of reading material. Tuition is available through a wide range of open and distance learning as well as traditional methods, and the teaching record as measured against other UK universities, is excellent.
St Mary's and Stranmillis University Colleges focus primarily on the education of teachers and are committed to a rich international dimension in all their programs.

Queen's University

Queen's University Belfast is located a mile from the centre of Belfast, the largest city in Northern Ireland. Queen's combines the best of tradition with a progressive outlook. It is an institution with a world-class academic reputation as reflected in the national rankings, and the award of a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2006, the fourth time the University has been honoured in this way. The University campus and its surroundings offer the student a wide and varied choice of cultural and sporting activities and nearby bars, cafes, places of entertainment and opportunities for nightlife act as a magnet for young people from all other parts of the city.

University of Ulster

By contrast the University of Ulster is spread over four campuses – Jordanstown, Coleraine, Magee (Londonderry), and Belfast. Each of the campuses offers students a unique mix of facilities, sporting activities and social opportunities. Regardless of which campus a student may choose to study on they will find a vibrant, expanding university that provides every opportunity to integrate with British, Irish and other international students.

St Mary's University College

St. Mary's University College is proud of its reputation as a friendly, welcoming place where staff and students work together and know each other as individuals, in a community that is full of energy, fun and enthusiasm.

St Mary's University College was built in 1900 on a 2.4 hectare site in West Belfast. It was completely refurbished in 1996 to accommodate a state-of-the-art library, resources centre, technology and design suite, ICT suites and open-access centre. As a College of Queen's University, St Mary's has all of the benefits and responsibilities that membership of a major university entails.

Stranmillis University College

The Stranmillis campus, now part of a conservation area, is a beautiful one, extending over 18 hectares of wooded parkland. The University College lies in a tranquil and attractive part of South Belfast, in one of the most desirable leafy residential areas of the city. The accommodation facilities are located within the campus, offering quality living on the edge of the University district and the buzz of Belfast's city centre.