USA ADMISSIONS GUIDE qub.ac.uk WELCOME CONTENTS Thank you for considering applying to Our beautiful, vibrant campus is located 4 Higher Education in the UK study at Queen’s University Belfast. As in the heart of Belfast – one of the you read through this guide, I hope world’s favourite cities and a hub of 5 Why Queen’s? it will give you a real sense of life at culture, innovation, great food and 6 Northern Ireland Queen’s. I trust you will find all the lively social life. Safe, fun, friendly and information you need in the following compact, Belfast is also one of the most 8 Belfast pages to help you make your decision. affordable student cities in the UK. 10 A Global University At Queen’s, we are committed to Our hope is that every undergraduate 12 Our North America Team excellence and quality in the courses on and postgraduate is enriched by offer, our teaching and our research. their time at Queen’s University 14 US Students at Queen’s Belfast and we look forward to I know that your time at university 16 Fees, Funding and Admissions welcoming you to our University. is not simply about receiving an 20 Steps to University education, it’s also about enjoying a unique, life-defining experience. And 22 A-Z of Degrees we want your Queen’s experience 26 Accommodation to be wonderful and memorable. Professor Ian Greer 28 Students’ Union One of the longest established President and Vice-Chancellor universities in the UK and ranked 200 30 Sport at Queen’s in the world1, Queen’s has much to 34 Campus Map offer. Its rich heritage and history meet 1 cutting-edge facilities, it has a global Times Higher Education World 36 What Next? University Rankings 2021 reputation for teaching and research excellence, and its thriving Students’ 2 Queen’s was ranked 1st out of 199 universities Union with over 215 clubs and societies worldwide for satisfaction with library service has something for all tastes and interests. (International Student Barometer 2018) The University’s state-of-the-art 2 Queen’s was ranked 1st out of 9 Russell Group sporting facilities and library services universities/ 3rd out of 44 UK universities have been rated by students as for satisfaction with sporting facilities (International Student Barometer 2018) among the best in the world.2 2 Queen’s University Belfast Queen’s University Belfast 3 HIGHER WHY EDUCATION QUEEN’S? IN THE UNITED KINGDOM The first university in the UK KEY DIFFERENCES NINTH OLDEST A RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSITY dates back to the 11th century. UNIVERSITY IN THE UK This long and distinguished history There are some key differences The prestigious Russell Group of higher education is continued between higher education systems Founded in 1845, Queen’s is is comprised of 24 research to the present day with 29 UK in the UK and the USA. One one of the oldest and most intensive UK universities, including universities, including Queen’s – significant difference in Northern respected universities in the UK the universities of Oxford and the ninth oldest in the UK – ranked Ireland (also England and Wales) is Cambridge. It has been compared in the worldwide top 200. that we have three year degrees, to the US Ivy League as an indicator with applications and direct of academic quality and reputation. *Times Higher Education World entry to your subject of choice, University Rankings 2021 with no general education. Some quick comparisons: The UK The USA A CIVIC UNIVERSITY A PLACE TO BELONG University types Vast majority are public Mixture of public and private universities, with a small number We’ve been awarded the Queen’s Queen’s has over 3,000 of private specialist institutions Anniversary Prize on seven international students from Duration 3 years (NI, England, Wales), 4 years occasions – an award which over 100 different countries 4 years (Scotland) recognises excellence, innovation, impact and societal benefit General No – direct entry into Common Education your subject area Major Declared at point of application Declared during study Honors Track All students Restricted Application Through the Universities Direct to institution or method and Colleges Admissions Common Application Service (UCAS). Admissions Academic merit, fit to major Holistic, fit to institution STUDENT STAFF RATIO 15:1 YOU’LL BENEFIT FROM A philosophy £700M CAMPUS INVESTMENT Our teaching philosophy focuses Changing major/ Very rare – examined on Common on staff-student contact. Our Over the past decade, Queen’s transferring a case-by-case basis classes are taught directly by our has invested over £350m Fee structure Tied to overall program Tied to credits professors and lectures, giving in cutting-edge facilities, students the opportunity to with the same to be spent engage personally with world- over the coming decade. leading academics day-to-day. 4 Queen’s University Belfast Queen’s University Belfast 5 NORTHERN IRELAND: GETTING HERE Ards Peninsula Northern Ireland occupies a GETTING HERE unique place in the UK and OUTDOOR ADVENTURE Ireland. Geographically we are Belfast is served by two airports – Belfast International (BFS) and Whether you’re on a pilgrimage to the famous Game of on the island of Ireland, but politically and economically we Belfast City (BHD), both which Thrones filming locations or you fancy exploring caves, castles are part of the United Kingdom offer connecting routes to all and coastline, you’ll find it all within an hour’s drive of Belfast. – which we like to think gives major UK and European airports. us the best of both worlds! We also have Dublin airport just 90 minutes away, which offers direct routes to a wide range of North American destinations. Boston (7 hours) New York (7 hours) Philadelphia (7 hours) Washington DC (8 hours) Chicago (8 hours) Los Angeles (11 hours) Marble Arch The world is catching on to the of the hit HBO show, you can’t ADRENALINE JUNKIES! secret that locals have always afford to miss a trip to the Dark known: Northern Ireland is one Hedges. This twisted avenue of • Ireland’s longest zipline of the most beautiful places on light and shade is one of Northern in Ballygawley hangs 50 the planet. Just ask the experts at Ireland’s most photographed metres above the ground Lonely Planet who recently lauded natural phenomena, and doubles and is a staggering 500m Belfast and the Causeway Coast as as the King’s Road in the series. long. toddsleap.com the No.1 region in the world to visit Well worth the road trip for the • Try stand up paddle boarding at in 2018 (Lonely Planet 2017). From River Roe in Limavady with the golden beaches to lush forests, as spectacular Antrim Coast Road drive alone, the Giant’s Causeway, mighty Binevenagh mountain as a student in Belfast, the region’s a backdrop. most breath taking landscapes a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must. There are also plenty longlinesurfschool.co.uk will be right on your doorstep. Ballintoy Harbour of stunning beaches to enjoy • Wet bouldering in the Mourne Spend your downtime testing your a lazy Sunday walk – some just Mountains involves walking, nerve crossing the death-defying 25 minutes from Belfast. scrambling, jumping, swimming Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. If adrenaline thrills are your thing, and sometimes crawling along a Alternatively, scale the heights of river. onegreatadventure.com our tallest peak, Slieve Donard, set in the lakes, waterways and beaches the picturesque Mourne Mountains of the region offer outdoor fun to • From downhill zorbing inside – an Area of Outstanding Natural suit everyone – from Sea Safaris on a giant inflatable PVC ball Beauty and the inspiration for CS Strangford Lough, where you might to mountain biking and raft Lewis’ magical world of Narnia. spot seals, porpoises or a basking building challenges, expect shark, to the north Atlantic surf laughs and adrenaline thrills at You can also follow the 22-mile off the coast at Portrush, ranked Jungle NI in the rolling Sperrin Mourne Wall, featured in Game among the best in the world. Mountains. thejungleni.com Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge Mourne Mountains of Thrones. And if you’re a fan 6 Queen’s University Belfast Queen’s University Belfast 7 MUSIC MATTERS MORE MONEY FOR THE GATEWAY THINGS THAT COUNT From the punk scene in the 1970s to Belfast is the gateway to the You’re going to like it here. So the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2011 Belfast was found to have the lowest rest of Northern Ireland and beyond alongside traditional folk sessions, student rent in the UK in 2018 and has been lauded by Michael BELFAST: make yourself at home. Belfast is Belfast has passionately embraced (NatWest Student Living Index). The Palin for having the world’s most a modern capital city, welcoming, the uniting power of music. The Oh average student here also only spends beautiful railway. From coastline to easy to get around and an affordable Yeah Music Centre is a hub for bands £16 a week on food shopping, well mountain, adventure awaits you. FRIENDLY place in which to live and study. and creative types and a safe house below the national average of £24. for musos and rockers. At night, the GETTING AROUND As Belfast flourishes as a global cobblestoned streets and fascinating AFFORDABLE food, culture, arts and shopping architecture of the Cathedral Quarter Belfast is best explored on foot or play host to the city’s best bars by bike. Most students spend the destination, Queen’s is at the social and clubs and intimate live music majority of their time on foot and FUN and cultural heart of the city.