Northern Ireland isn't just a great place to study - it's a great place to live, now that the Peace Process is underway. A largely rural society with a rich historical heritage, it joins the United Kingdom with a population of over 1.5 million, and holds a culture rich in music, visual arts, theatre and sport.
Ulster folk are outdoor people, well known for their openness and hospitality, and the landscape of Northern Ireland is of commanding natural beauty: the Giant's Causeway, one of the wonders of the natural world, the Glens of Antrim and the Mountains of Mourne, celebrated in song. A land of blue mountains and forest park lakes and windswept moors, white Atlantic sands and inland seas, contrasting with progressive, bustling cities and towns which bridge the gap between tradition and modern technology. Excellent uncongested roads with miles of motorway means that you're never far from your destination, and sea and air services offer fast cost-effective links to Britain, the rest of Europe and overseas.
Northern Ireland's educational standards excel, with an educational system that produces employees who are highly skilled and adaptable to new technologies. Close co-operation between universities and industry ensures that education is designed to prepare students for the world of work, and provides a high quality problem-solving capability for industry.
The Queen's University of Belfast (QUB) and the University of Ulster (UU) are an integral part of the UK higher education system, with quality of provision, standards of programmes and awards being assured by the UK-wide Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. These are also an increasingly popular destination for overseas students, as numbers have increased four-fold over the past three years.
QUB, a red brick university founded in the mid 19th century, and the ninth-oldest university in the UK, is located a mile from the Centre of Belfast the largest city in Northern Ireland (population around 500,000), a major manufacturing centre. The university campus and its surroundings offer students a wide and various choice of cultural and sporting activities, as well as nearby bars, cafes, places of entertainment and opportunities for clubbing acting as magnets for young people from all other parts of the city.
By contrast UU, a large modern university formed from the merger of the New University of Ulster and Ulster Polytechnic in 1984, is spread over four campuses. The largest is on the outskirts of Belfast; the administrative centre on Coleraine campus is part of a medium-sized market town, just a few miles inland from the North coast with its holiday resorts; and the Magee College campus is in Londonderry, an important commercial and cultural centre, as well as being the gateway to County Donegal. UU is also spearheading the new and innovative Springvale Educational Village in Belfast, a unique further and higher education complex, for which President Clinton 'turned the first sod' in early 1998.
Both universities offer a wide range of courses at undergraduate, postgraduate and sub-degree level. Students benefit from innovative course provision, the latest technological equipment available and large libraries, which are fully computerised to allow access to an extensive range of material. Tuition is available through a wide range of open and distance learning (as well as traditional) methods, and the teaching record as measured against other UK universities is excellent.
A higher proportion of young people in Northern Ireland enter higher education than in the UK as a whole, and these two universities are a major resource for research and development. In 1996 UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise, they attained ratings that confirmed international excellence. Two areas that attained the best possible rating (5*) were Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering (Queen's) and Biomedical Science (Ulster). Both universities are active in promoting links with industry to develop a local scientific and research base, as well as collaborating with major international contacts. As demonstrated by graduate employment tables, Irish graduates are in high demand by employers, and their abilities have attracted a number of multi-national manufactures to Northern Ireland.
Northern Irelands has two distinct advantages compared to the rest of the UK: relatively low living costs (includes accommodation) and lower levels of fees. International students are greatly valued, end every effort is made to ensure that there stay will be both academically rewarding and socially enjoyable. Both universities have International Student Administrators to look after their needs, and University accommodation will be provided.
During the first week, orientation courses will introduce students to the university, the local environment and Northern Ireland in general. All students automatically become members of the Student Union, which promotes the interests of its members when dealing with the university authorities - and of course 'the Union' is the hub of student social life, with over 100 clubs and societies. International students embarking on a course of study of more than six months duration are also entitled to free treatment under the UK National Health Service. This enables them to use the university's comprehensive Health Services, including full-time nursing staff and Medical Offices on 24-hour call.
More information on both universities can be found on the World Wide Web: www.qub.ac.uk and www.ulst.ac.uk.
Author
Caroline
Loudon
Press Office
Department of Education, NI
