Queen’s University Belfast Partnership

Search for classes available to study abroad students on the Queen’s University Belfast Study Abroad Module page. When determining which classes to take, please bear in mind that the academic system is an intensive, three-year program.

• Level 1 – modules normally taken in the first year at university.
• Level 2 – modules normally taken in the second year and often require knowledge of material covered in Level 1 modules.
• Level 3 – modules normally taken in the third year and generally require knowledge of material covered in Level 1 and Level 2 modules.
• Level 4 – modules are offered only in certain cases of degrees lasting four years. Study abroad students cannot generally take Level 4 (or higher) modules.

Some students also take Level 0 modules. Level 0 modules are for students who have no prior knowledge of a subject and provide the essential grounding needed for Level 1 modules.

Credit Conversions
A full class load at Queen’s University Belfast is 60 CATS credits for the semester (equivalent to 15 U.S. semester credit hours).

1 CATS credit = .25 U.S. semester credit hours

CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students

Special Option
Understanding Northern Ireland: History, Politics, and Anthropology
(Offered Spring Semester only)
This class will take anthropological, sociological, historical, and political perspectives to introduce students to key political issues relating to Northern Ireland and will provide a multi- and inter-disciplinary overview of the history and politics of Northern Ireland. It will use anthropological understandings of ethnicity and nationalism to examine how Unionism and Irish Nationalism developed. Students will look in detail at the various political solutions which have been applied to ‘the Province’, with a particular focus on the Peace Process and examine the realities and legacies of the conflict since the signing of the 1998 Agreement. This course also will explore the development of cultural and political ‘traditions,’ in particular examining change and continuity in Irish society, and will highlight how research is applied to Northern Ireland highlighting a range of current ongoing projects into rituals, symbols and public space.

Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.

Physics and Mathematics
The Physics and Math departments hold exams at the end of the spring term. If you would like to take physics or math classes in the fall, you must receive approval from your home university to take proctored exams at your home institution in May. It is not possible to arrange earlier exam dates.

New country, new way of learning!

Here’s what to expect at Queen’s University Belfast:

• More emphasis on independent learning. The university recommends completing ten hours of independent study for each academic credit you seek.
• Less personal access to professors. Instead, it’s common to connect with more junior faculty members. Other resources include course designers (who line up lectures) and module coordinators.
• Grades are determined by the UK scale, which is slightly different than the scale we use in the U.S. (We’ll review this and give you a chart to refer to during IFSA orientation.)
• Grades are often based only on a single final paper or on a midterm exam and final paper.
• Full access to the university’s robust academic support system and resources, including assignment to an advisor. IFSA local staff are also available for individual help.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
• You must have completed at least one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
• Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.

Recommendation Letter
Your application to this program will require one (1) academic letter of recommendation.

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.