Psychology

Queen's University Belfast

The McClay Library is a major strength as it holds over 1.2 million books/e-books, has more than 2,000 study spaces, and offers 33 bookable group-study rooms plus study pods. For arts, humanities or social sciences, QUB offers major resources including archives and “Special Collections,” which can be invaluable for deep research or dissertation work. Student accommodation is relatively accessible and connected to campus and city amenities. Because QUB offers both strong traditional academics and modern, research-led and applied facilities, whether you’re doing humanities, sciences, engineering or professional courses there’s a good chance the facilities match your needs. Overall, QUB strikes a very strong balance between academic excellence, modern resources, social cultural vibrancy, and support services. For someone living in Belfast it offers a lot of advantages you get solid infrastructure for serious study without missing out on city life, arts, cafés, and community. At the same time, there’s room for improvement particularly in managing demand for popular resources (library, group-rooms, labs) and providing more distributed study/spaces for quieter or off-campus-centric study.

Studying at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) is a very positive experience, with strong academics and an enjoyable student lifestyle. One of the main reasons QUB is considered a great place to study is its academic reputation as a Russell Group university, which means students benefit from research-led teaching, well-qualified lecturers, and courses that are informed by current knowledge and real-world practice. Many students value the balance between theory and application, particularly at the postgraduate level, where modules often encourage critical thinking, independent learning, and practical relevance. The campus itself is another major strength. It is compact, attractive, and well-resourced, with modern libraries, study spaces, labs, and strong digital learning platforms that support both on-campus and blended learning. Student support services are also a key positive, with access to academic skills support, wellbeing and mental health services, disability support, and careers guidance, helping students feel supported beyond just their academic work. Location plays an important role too, as Belfast is a relatively affordable capital city compared to many other parts of the UK and Ireland, making living costs more manageable for students. The city is friendly, culturally rich, and easy to navigate, with a strong social scene, green spaces, and good transport links, all of which contribute to a positive student experience. In addition, QUB has a diverse, international student community, which helps create an inclusive environment where students can learn from diverse perspectives and cultures. However, like any university, QUB is not without areas for improvement. Communication around assessments, deadlines, and expectations can be unclear or inconsistent across modules or schools, creating unnecessary stress. Workload management is another common concern, particularly when deadlines cluster during busy periods of the semester. Better coordination across modules could help students better balance their time. Housing is also an issue for some, as university accommodation can fill up quickly, leaving students to rely on private rentals that vary in quality and cost. While support services are generally strong, some students feel that waiting times for certain supports, such as counselling, could be reduced. Overall, QUB is widely seen as a high-quality place to study, offering strong academics, good facilities, and an enjoyable student lifestyle, while continued improvements in communication, workload planning, and student support capacity could further enhance the experience.

I study remotely as my course is 100% online. The online platform is quite confusing but I can contact lecturers/tutors and they reply very quickly.

I love the student union building. The pantry to help with cost of living is really helpful. There's always great events on which has helpede meet new people and have a break from my studies. The main library always have loads of seats and computers free and is a great space to do work.

I really love the student support I feel as though all faulty really care for the health and wellbeing of their students. I think more required involvement of students in courses would improve my personal experience.