Student Life
Belfast, Northern Ireland's capital city, is the political, commercial and educational hub of Northern Ireland, with a population of around 300,000 people. Employment opportunities are vast, particularly in new industries such as health and environmental technologies, information and communication technologies and the growing business, services, hospitality and tourism sectors.
The people of Northern Ireland are looking forward to a new future free from the troubles of the past. The country is now better known for its optimistic energy and mixture of modern life and well-loved traditions than its difficulties, and students in particular relish the good-humoured 'craic' and cosmopolitan lifestyle for which Belfast is renowned.
In the last few years Belfast has undergone dramatic transformation, as a range of attractions were added to the city. One great new attraction is the £100 million Odyssey complex which acts as a host to Belfast's ice hockey fans as well as for major entertainment acts.
In addition to the bustle of city life, Northern Ireland boasts some of the United Kingdom's most beautiful scenery, with its rocky coast, lakes, beaches and moors. Europe’s largest fresh water lake, Lough Neagh, is situated in Northern Ireland, and the Giants Causeway, a World Heritage Site and one of Ireland's most popular tourist attractions, is found here too.
The consistent increase in the number of overseas students coming to Northern Ireland in the last decade reflects the country's mix of high educational standards and exciting cultural experience.
Northern Ireland has lots more to offer its students, including:
Belfast is only a fifty minute flight from London and a short flight from most other major cities in Europe such as Paris and Amsterdam.
International students are permitted to work fifteen hours a week whilst studying on a full-time academic course, to help them subsidise their studies (visa regulations may apply).
- Full-time students are permitted to work twenty hours a week during term time to help cover the costs of student life.
Belfast was voted the 2nd favourite UK city/short break destination in the Guardian/Observer Travel Awards and was one of the top ten cities on the rise in Lonely Planet *
For further details see also:
* Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau website
