INTO Queen's University Belfast

• Queen’s University Belfast — one of the leading British universities, part of the elite Russell Group.
• Located in Belfast — the capital of Northern Ireland.
• The university's history dates back to 1845 — combining centuries-old traditions with a modern research base.
• Offers a wide range of programs for international students — undergraduate, master's, PhD.

INTO Queen's University Belfast was founded in 1845. Today, this British university is one of the leaders of the Russell Group. The university is known as an advanced research center. It is characterized by high standards of teaching. Within the precincts of this educational institution, highly skilled specialists are studied in various fields of activity. Graduates of the university start working on the profile without prior internships, since they possess the necessary knowledge and skills.

The University offers motivating programs in several areas. The most popular specialties in the field of social, humanities and art. Special attention of entrants is attracted to the recently opened department of cinematography and drama.

Students of each direction are fully provided with educational materials and teaching aids. Future engineers and specialists in the field of physical sciences work in advanced laboratories with modern technology. Students of the Faculties of Health and Medicine in research use the latest equipment. Also in the program of their studying there are specialized integrated innovative courses.

The university is proud of its graduates. Frank Pantridge, politician Nelson Mandela (ex-President of South Africa), Bill Clinton (former US President), Mary McAlyz (President of Ireland), got a brilliant education within its walls. The university also became an alma mater for several Nobel Prize winners.

Studying programs at INTO Queen's University Belfast

The University Educational Center offers 5 preparatory programs for university entrants. For most of them, admission requirements include age restrictions (17+) and the availability of an IELTS certificate from 4.0-5.0. Students are accepted for language courses from the age of 16. Language requirements are limited to IELTS 3.0.

Kevin McDonnell

Specialist in International Students of the University of Sussex

What challenges might international students face at UK universities?

The usual challenges of adapting to a new country, culture, and teaching style are common. Homesickness and language barriers can also be issues.

However, UK universities strive to support international students. 

The University places great emphasis on supporting students at all stages of their studies.  

• The International Welcome Week helps new international students settle in Belfast: the programme includes introductory meetings, visa consultations, and practical advice on safety and city life.
• A dedicated Progression team at the Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre (the university's foundation department) supports students on foundation programmes as they transition to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, assisting with course selection and documentation.
• Postgraduate students have access to the Graduate School, which hosts regular social and academic events, a dedicated Silent Room for studying, and supervisors who run seminars on academic writing and interview preparation.
• Students can become course representatives or global student ambassadors, and student achievements are recognised through the «future-ready award» scheme.

The academic structure of Queen's University Belfast includes several faculties and schools.

• The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) brings together four schools: School of Arts, English and Languages (arts, English language and literature, modern languages, film and drama), School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, School of Law, and School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work.
• Within the School of Arts, English and Languages, students can choose between Broadcast Production, Drama, English literature and English language, Film Studies, and modern European languages, including French.
• The university also includes Queen's Business School, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Psychology, and School of Natural and Built Environment, which encompasses engineering disciplines (civil, structural and environmental engineering).
• For international students who require additional preparation before entry, Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre operates programmes in International Foundation, International Year One, Pre-Master's and Academic English.

Scientists at Queen's University Belfast are engaged in active research and publishing activities.

• Professor John Turner and Dr. William Quinn from Queen's Business School published the book «Boom and Bust: A Global History of Financial Bubbles» about the history of financial bubbles, published by Cambridge University Press.
• The School of Psychology supports a research community of approximately 50 PhD postgraduate students and has invested in research infrastructure, including two computer labs and several specialized research laboratories.
• The University is part of the all-Irish research centre of excellence for Parkinson's disease PD-Life, within which interdisciplinary projects are conducted to study the effects of music and dance on the condition of patients with Parkinson's disease.

The INTO Education Center offers accommodation in comfortable conditions. The students are living in Elms Student Village. The residence has single comfortable rooms. In each there are conveniences, necessary furniture.

Meals are not provided. For self-catering, there are common kitchens in the residence.

Subject list: Accounting, Architecture, business, chemical industry, economics, engineering, finance, geography, history, industrial engineering
Activity list: basketball, diving, football, golf, gym, horseback riding, mountaineering, rock climbing, rugby, sailing, swimming

Queen's University Belfast has a Students' Union that brings together sports, creative, and professional student clubs and societies.

• Sports sections include boxing (Boxing Society, training at a partner boxing gym on Donegall Road, up to three sessions per week, annual exhibition bout evening), football, and golf (own golf course at student-friendly prices).
• The university has a music society and student choir, with regular free lunchtime concerts of classical and experimental music held in dedicated campus venues — Harty Room and Sonic Arts Research Centre.
• The student entrepreneurship support programme Enterprise SU includes an annual ideas competition «Dragons' Den» with a prize fund of £20,000, a «Make It Happen Fund» grant of up to £1,000 for launching a business, and a free one-year office in the «The Hatch» business incubator.

• The University of Belfast is one of the top 1 of the world's best universities, it is in the TOP-30 of the most prestigious educational institutions by the Times.
• In Britain, this university is ranked 7th in technical equipment. The pride of the university is the McClay library, which has more than a million publications, can accept 2,200 visitors simultaneously.
• Here special attention is paid to the physical development of students. The modern sports infrastructure of the university practically does not limit the students in choosing the directions of active leisure.

The University of Belfast, one of the best in Northern Ireland, Britain and the world, many students choose for several reasons. The first is the prestige and high quality of education. The status of the city also plays an important role. Belfast is known as a fashionable regional center, which is also included in the TOP of the most hospitable cities in Britain and Europe. Belfast has the status of one of the best tourist settlements. There is everything for comfortable living, interesting rest.

The University of Belfast is conveniently located. From the campus it will take about 15 minutes walk to the historic, administrative and fashion center of the city. This allows students in their free time to visit local galleries, museums, exhibitions, and shop.

Belfast is also a city with a high standard of living and a low cost of living, food, entertainment. In addition, special programs (scholarships, incentives, etc.) help to save students of a local university.

INTO Center

The educational center for the preparation of foreign students for admission to university and undergraduate and graduate studies is located in the center of the Queen's University Belfast campus. Its students have access to all facilities of the university infrastructure. The center has everything necessary for high quality education and comfortable living. Its infrastructure is represented by a multifunctional lecture hall, 20 equipped with interactive technology, auditoriums, computer stations, resource center. The library fund is available to students in electronic form. The access to the network is via Wi-Fi available throughout the center. Also for international students profile support service is working.

The cost of living for a student in Northern Ireland is on average lower than in the UK as a whole: according to the Save the Student National Student Money Survey (2025), students in the region spend £165 per month less on accommodation than the average British student. Smapse specialists will help plan the budget for additional expenses in advance — from visa processing to opening a bank account in the UK — and will provide support at every stage of departure preparation.

• Graduates of Queen's University Belfast preparatory programs successfully continue their studies in the university's specialist programs and enter the international job market.
• One graduate of the international preparation program enrolled in a bachelor's degree in Actuarial Science and Risk Management (BSc Actuarial Science and Risk Management). She completed a year-long internship in Hong Kong and then began a career as an actuarial consultant at a company in London.
• Other students completed internships at major international companies during their studies, including in the banking sector — for example, at HSBC.

Queen's University Belfast offers international students several types of scholarship support.

• The preparatory center Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre awards scholarships for preparatory programs, as well as regional scholarships to students with good grades.
• When transitioning from a preparatory program to undergraduate or postgraduate study, students receive a guaranteed tuition fee scholarship and an additional award for early confirmation of a place upon timely payment.
• Queen's Business School provides regional scholarships for postgraduate applicants from Europe and Central Asia, and separately — for students from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
• For doctoral students, scholarships for PhD programs are available, covering the full cost of tuition: in particular, a joint program with China Scholarship Council provides up to 20 such scholarships annually, including coverage of flight and visa costs.
• Engineering students may apply for travel scholarships (for example, Arthur Naylor Travel Scholarships) for trips outside Britain and Ireland to expand professional knowledge.

Smapse specialists will help select the appropriate scholarship program and provide support at all stages of the application process.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision