8 Things You Didn’t Know About Studying in Belfast

Speaking of big names, the world-famous author, C.S. Lewis was born in Belfast and the surrounding countryside was considered to be a source of inspiration for his classic tales of The Chronicles of Narnia. 

So, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to learn that at Queen’s University Belfast, they have their very own C.S. Lewis Reading Room to commemorate the author and his renowned novels. The relaxing study space has glass-engraved inscriptions which line the walls to boost student motivation. 

Ok, so you may know this one already, but the incredibly fascinating history of the doomed ship is still prominent in Belfast, today.

An absolute must-see in between studying and lectures is Titanic Belfast, which tells the story of the Titanic, from its construction all the way through to its place in history. The museum was even awarded best visitor attraction in the world, in the World Travel Awards 2016.

Belfast is a dynamic and modern city with a rich heritage and even richer identity. Renowned for its eclectic artistic murals and lively music scene which excites the city’s cobbled streets, you’ll also experience a warm and welcoming atmosphere from the friendly locals. Get down to any pub or live music venue and you’ll experience good craic* in no time.

Belfast is also a stone’s throw away from miles of endless coastline. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that in 2018, Lonely Planet declared Belfast and the Causeway Coast the number one region in the world to visit.  

Studying in Belfast means you’ll have access to all of this, while still getting the city life experience. At weekends you should explore the great outdoors and get up to the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast – Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Nature Reserve.

Forget Hollywood, Northern Ireland is the hottest new filming-location. Thanks to its stunning coastlines, castles and countryside, Northern Ireland is the new go-to filming location for a whole host of big-budget productions.

If you’re considering pursuing your undergraduate or postgraduate degree in film studies here, there’s no better place for it. From Game of Thrones to Line of Duty, as far as filming locations go, it’s one of the most popular for national and international film companies. 

Belfast is a city of innovation, and is becoming a hotbed for innovative technological advances. In fact, it was ranked second in the world’s Top 10 Digital Economies of the Future, and was also named as one of the top 10 cities in the UK to develop a digital career.

So, it’s no wonder that Queen’s University students are making the most of the city’s resources and facilities in order to make their way on to the booming tech startup scene alongside their studies.

Having been voted the eighth most affordable university town in the UK, Belfast is a real crowd pleaser when it comes to student living.

It’s also small enough to get around, but still has everything you could possibly need in a university city. With efficient transport links, including two airports (one of which is named after the country’s famous football star, the late George Best), and 99 ferry sailings each week, getting to and from mainland Europe and the rest of the UK is both cheap and within easy reach.

*Craic: An enjoyable time spent with other people, especially when the conversation is entertaining and funny.