Queen's University Belfast - In Depth

Founded: 1845 as Queen's College; full university status in 1908.

Site: Main site about 1 mile from city centre; medical site about 1 mile from main site.

Special features: University has own international arts festival.

Awarding body: Queen's University Belfast.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BD. BDS, BEng, BMus, BSc, BTh, LLB, MB BCh, BAO, MEng, MPharm, MSci.

Length of courses: 3 or 4 years; 5 years for BDS, MB BCh, BAO.

Library & information services: Main library (central site), and libraries for science, medicine, agriculture and food science. Around 1.1 million books in libraries plus extensive electronic resources. Annual expenditure on information provision, £131 per (FTE) student.

Other learning facilities: Marine biology station, astronomical observatory, conservation laboratory, phytotron, palaeoecology centre, field centre, electron microscope unit, microprocessor laboratory, NI technology centre, computer centres (open access), non-specialist language teaching.

Study abroad: Range of courses include compulsory period of study at a partner university; European mobility programmes enable selected students to spend 3-9 months overseas. Some students may interrupt their course to work in Europe and USA.

Amenities: SU building with supermarket, secondhand bookshop, bars, discos, laundrette, bank, insurance company, travel agency; cinema on campus, bookshop; Officers' Training Corps.

Careers: Information and advice service.

Student advice & services: Health service, counselling service, student support officer.

Sporting facilities: Excellent playing fields and physical education centre.

Accommodation: Nearly 90% of first years who require it are in university accommodation, 16% of all students. 2000 places available (first years given priority): 320 catered places (12 meals per week), £56-£67 pw; 1700 self-catering places (640 en-suite), £45-£70 pw. Rents in privately owned accommodation, £150-£200 monthly per room plus utilities (most within 2km). 40% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £5500 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: University allows full-time students to work in term time. Some work on campus in administration, SU, gardening, portering, catering, library and PE centre; vacancy list for work off campus and SU liaison with employers.

Financial help: Special help to students in private accommodation with high rents, single parents, mature students with dependants and those with disabilities. Own funds usually for non-UK students, suffering unforeseen hardship. Apply for help to SU Student Advice Centre.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £7350 pa (classroom), £8990 (lab/studio), £10,500 (preclinical), £19,300 (clinical).