“University has been a rollercoaster: from moving away from home; to discovering a new city; to learning to sort of live independently; to doing a course that has stimulated me every week…University has been a blast and I will take the skills I’ve learnt to whatever I do, but more importantly I’ll take the great memories the last three years have given me!” – Nathan Thiruvengadem, BA English, Queen’s University Belfast
As a prestigious member of the reputed Russell Group of universities, Queen’s University Belfast is a sterling representative of global higher education. Originally established in 1845, Queen’s is the ninth-oldest higher education provider within the UK sector, presenting 170 years of academic heritage that perfectly blends global recognition with an innovative culture, and a life-changing student experience.
Of the 24 world-leading institutions that form the Russell Group, Queen’s is the fastest-growing in terms of international student intake, serving as a home away from home for non-native scholars around the world. In fact, with more than £1.5 million available in their international scholarship kitty, it’s hardly a surprise that Queen’s is home to 1,800 overseas students from more than 100 countries.
So what exactly is it that draws international students from all continents, countries and cultures to Queen’s University Belfast?
According to the QS World University Rankings for 2015-16, Queen’s is among the top 1% of higher education providers worldwide…
The government website states, as noted by Reference.com, that there were 154 recognised universities in the UK as of 2014. When you consider the size of the UK relevant to this number, being among the top 1% in this nation alone is indeed an impressive feat. But Queen’s takes this achievement one colossal step further, upholding its status not only among the best in the nation, but also the best in the world…
Here are some more of the university’s notable rankings and achievements:
- Queen’s has been ranked 1st in the world for the quality of its Graduate School
- It’s achieved 2nd position in the UK higher education sector for its Research Intensity
- Queen’s is one of Northern Ireland’s leading employers, and is also the proud recipient of the Silver Athena SWAN Institutional Award, being one of only seven UK universities to hold this recognition, which celebrates excellence in employment practices for women in STEMM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine – subjects
- Queen’s is ranked among the UK’s top 10 for its quality of student accommodation
- And on top of these unparalleled achievements, 94% of the university’s annual 6,000 graduates are in meaningful work or further study six months after graduation
Queen’s has invested a whopping £700 million to develop cutting-edge facilities…
Whether your passion lies within business, engineering, computing or health science, Queen’s has exactly the facilities you’ll need to chart that pathway to success. From its Financial Trading Room complete with Bloomberg terminals right up to its interdisciplinary research facilities for the health and life sciences; its innovative engineering hubs and its £50 million, technology-rich McClay Library, you’d be hard-pushed to find facilities to rival those of Queen’s, anywhere in the education world!
Queen’s location at the heart of Belfast city, just an hour’s flight away from the bustling UK capital, makes it your perfect choice…
Recognised as one of the safest cities in the UK as well as one with the lowest cost of living, it’s pretty clear why the university’s unique location makes it a sound choice for students around the world.
Emily DeDakis completed a PhD in Creative Writing at Queen’s University Belfast, after which she was the proud recipient of BBC Performing Arts Fund Fellowship and is now a Producer and Dramaturg with Accidental Theatre. “If you haven’t been to Belfast, you’re hardly alone,” she says.
“I moved here from Los Angeles – not exactly the classic relocation decision, but a brilliant one nonetheless. Belfast is no London or New York, and thank God for that, says I. It’s perfectly sized, really affordable, close to the sea and some of the loveliest parts of Ireland, and always adding to its menu of things to do,” Emily adds. “I had an immediate sense of community when I arrived, particularly at the cafes and bookshops around the university area; everyone actually does know your name.”
Proud to be part of a busy, cosmopolitan city that boasts a dynamic social scene and a vivid cultural heritage, Queen’s really is the focal point of the vibrant city it calls home.
This, paired with its reputation for being a centre of teaching excellence and innovative research, is why students around the globe have chosen, and will continue to choose to study, at Queen’s University Belfast.
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