University rating
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.
Queen's University of Belfast offers a good deal in every aspect.
Located in Belfast, students are provided both a city outlook (considering Belfast being one of the UK's four capitals) accompanied by a rather tranquil vibe (due to its remote location in the north of Ireland. Typical Irish countrysides and their breathtaking nature can be reached within few minutes ride, making it a perfect place to live in for those interested in outdoor activities. Yet for city people, it can not be denied that Belfast also offers considerably great nightlife, with a range of nightclubs and bars for youngsters to socialize.
Being an international student, it was never hard for me to make friends with fellow international students. Personally I feel welcomed by the locals, both in Belfast in general and in campus. All the staffs and students are very respectful, and I am yet to feel offended by any hateful acts or remarks since I came here back in 2020. However, it is true that most of the international students mingle only with themselves, so do the locals. Indeed that cultural differences prevent the two groups from blending, yet, I believe campus should be able to come up with certain mechanisms that may unite the two in the future.
Faculty members and the various departments of Queen's are also very helpful, I applied for master's programs on my 5th semester, and they have all assisted in a very well manner. Anytime I send emails, they are able to reply rather quick.
In regards to academic reputation, Queen's constantly tops the world's best universities list, and especially in the UK. This only makes sense considering their membership in the prestigious Russell Group league. Still, I have noticed a drop in Queen's' rank in QS ranking list, between the year 2020 to 2023. By this year, our rank is on 233 worldwide, making it a top 300 university in the world. I hope that Queen's can address this matter and come up with new strategies to bounce back and re-gain a position in the top 200, perhaps even reach top 150 and top 100. Keep up with the work.
Nevertheless, with significantly lower cost for international students in comparison to other prestigious, Russell Group universities, I consider Queen's to be reasonable for its price. But with all the online classes on first year, us international students are still expecting a refund or cash back schemes. The pandemic has negatively impacted us all, including my family, and with tuition four folds that of the locals' tuition, my family struggled way harder than ever. Ultimately by the first month of 2023, I appreciate the initiative that Queen's offers to help students on their living cost. Hopefully Queen's can have even greater understanding on the financial problems faced by their students in the future.
Additional suggestions also include the advice to put some taps for students to refill their bottles to drink. I know the tap water from restrooms are supposedly safe to drink, but it is still not appropriate to.