Queen’s University Belfast, UK

A member of the Russell group of 24 research-intensive universities of the UK, Queen’s University Belfast, UK is five-time winner of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education

The ninth oldest varsity in the UK, Queen’s University, Belfast (estb. 1845) is reputed nationally and internationally for high-quality academics and research across its 20 schools of study. Sited in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, Queen’s is ranked No. 26 in the UK by the Sunday Times University Guide 2013, and among the top 200 universities globally by the QS World University Rankings 2012.

Moreover the Research and Assessment Exercise 2008 ranked the university’s 11 subject areas among the top 10 in the UK, and 24 in the top 20. A member of the Russell Group of 24 research-intensive universities of the UK, Queen’s is a recipient of four prestigious Times Higher Education Awards, and is a five-time winner of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.

“Queen’s combines best traditions with a progressive outlook. It is an institution with a world-class academic reputation as reflected in the award of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2011, the fifth time the university has been honoured this way. As a member of the Russell Group of leading UK universities, Queen’s is building on its tradition of excellence to secure a future for its students — the leaders of tomorrow. They can look forward to being taught to the highest standards by academics who are world-class teachers and researchers,” says Prof. Sir Peter Gregson, president and vice chancellor of the university.

Founded in 1845 by Queen Victoria as an alternative to Trinity College Dublin and controlled by the Anglican Church, Queen’s was accorded university status in 1908. Currently it has 17,000 including 1,200 international students from over 80 countries and 3,500 staff on its muster rolls. Three faculties encompassing 20 schools offer over 300 study programmes with two associated colleges — St. Mary’s and Stranmillis — providing teacher education.

Belfast. The capital of Northern Ireland and among the 15 largest cities of the UK, Belfast (pop. 641,638) has emerged as a new hub of business and industry. Once the epicentre of the conflict between the region’s catholic and protestant populations, political stability in the new millennium has allowed Belfast’s economy to flourish. The city now attracts the largest number of IT software development projects in the UK outside of London.

Belfast also offers rich history, culture, and entertainment. Contiguous with the Queen’s University campus, sited in the city’s Botanic Gardens is the redesigned and award-winning Ulster Museum which houses a rich collection of art, history and natural sciences. An array of entertainment venues including the Odyssey Arena, the Waterfront Hall and the Grand Opera House host international music artists, stand-up comedy and theatrical performances. The city boasts over 2,000 acres of parkland and nature reserves which include two city, nine district, 36 local and five country parks, apart from 77 playgrounds and the Belfast Zoo. For students with more than academics on their minds, there are a plethora of pubs, clubs and restaurants. Moreover according to a 2011 survey of Mercer.com, Belfast offers the lowest cost of living in the UK.

The city offers a temperate climate, with cold winters and warm summers marked by windy conditions, and rainfall through the year. Winter temperatures range between 2o-9oC and summer 18o-26oC.

Campus facilities. Located in the heart of the city, the Queen’s campus offers a wide range of academic, sports and leisure facilities from seminar rooms, labs, to nightclubs, restaurants and an art house cinema. The campus comprises more than 250 buildings, 120 of them listed as heritage. The university’s McClay Library houses 1.2 million volumes, computers with wireless access, and offers 2,000 reader seats in a mixture of formal and informal spaces. In addition, there is a modern medical library at the Royal Victoria Hospital site with supplementary facilities in the biomedical library on Lisburn Road. The Naughton Gallery hosts the varsity’s own art collection, touring exhibitions and shows by local and international artists.

The university’s four sporting sites include the Physical Education Centre (PEC), outdoor sports facilities in Upper Malone, the Boat House and a cottage in the Mourne Mountains. Indoor facilities within PEC are just a five-minute walk from the main campus across the Botanic Gardens, and include a state-of-the-art, fully air-conditioned, 120-piece fitness suite, two free weights suites, four dance/exercise studios, a 25-metre swimming pool, diving pool, sauna, two sports halls, ten squash and two handball/racquetball courts, table tennis area, martial arts dojo, outdoor training area, high performance and lifestyle centre and the Clements café.

Queen’s outdoor facilities in Upper Malone are two miles from the main campus and include a range of synthetic and grass pitches, floodlit stadium pitch for rugby, soccer, Gaelic football, hockey, hurling and camogie. The Boat House on the River Lagan at Stranmillis is used by the university’s Rowing Club, while the cottage in the Mourne Mountains provides opportunities for hill walking and mountaineering.

The Students Union building is the hub of student life and includes a selection of entertainment venues, restaurants and shops. The union supports over 150 clubs and societies.

Admission. Applications for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen’s must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The application must be made online (www.ucas.com). The UCAS code for Queen’s is Q75. The application deadline for international students is June 30, 2013. A Direct Entry Application form can be used by international applicants who wish to apply directly to Queen’s, or who have been asked to provide information in advance of submitting a formal UCAS application. The minimum eligibility requirement for admission into the undergraduate programmes is completion of Plus Two with an average of 75 percent plus. Moreover, international students have to submit proof of proficiency in the English language — IELTS, TOEFL and Pearson Test of English (Academic) scores are acceptable. Students from India who have scored above 75 percent in English in the class XII exams conducted by the CBSE and CISCE boards are also accepted by the university.

For admission into postgraduate programmes, the minimum requirement is a first class bachelor’s degree and English language proficiency. All postgrad applications must be made online at www.qub.ac.uk.

For further information, contact Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland, UK. T: +44 (0)28 9097 5088, F: +44 (0)28 9097 5089, e-mail: [email protected] or international @qub.ac.uk, website: www.qub.ac.uk.

Accommodation. Queen’s University Belfast, UK guarantees university accommodation to all first-year foreign students. Housing options include Elms Village and Queen’s houses. Elms is a purpose-built accommodation village located near the campus with a total of 50 three-storey apartment blocks, each floor housing 10 or 11 bedrooms with shared kitchen and common rooms. Queen’s houses, located in the vicinity of the campus, are suitable for students who prefer independent residences.

Degree programmes. Queen’s 20 schools of study offer over 300 bachelors, Masters and doctoral programmes (see box).

Summiya Yasmeen