Study abroad in Northern Ireland with IFSA
Belfast
, Ireland

Queen’s University Belfast Partnership

Program Overview

As a member of the distinguished Russell group—the UK version of our Ivy League—Queen’s University Belfast offers challenging academics and exciting extracurricular opportunities. Get a unique perspective at a school that sees itself as equal parts British and Irish, and live in Queen’s Quarter a mile from the heart of affordable Belfast.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Fall: April 15
Academic Year: April 15
Spring: Oct. 15

Minimum GPA

2.80

Credit load

15

Housing

Residence Hall/Dormitory

Instruction language

English

Prerequisites

None

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Academics

Looking for specific classes? Explore CHART, our exclusive class database—if the Queen’s University Belfast Program is preapproved at your institution, you’ll find classes recently taken by other IFSA students.

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

Special Option
Understanding Northern Ireland: History, Politics, and Anthropology
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. (Offered Spring Semester Only)

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.

Engineering
Engineering programs at Queen's University Belfast only offer year-long modules. If you wish to study engineering, we recommend applying for the Academic Year.

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.

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) year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.

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

Visa Requirement

  • Fall or Spring Term: Not required for U.S. or Canadian citizens. A visa may be required if you are a citizen of another country.
  • Academic Year: A visa is required for all students.

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 courses 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.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t our control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.

Activities

  • Rugby matches
  • Theater performances
  • Comedy gigs
  • Castle tours
Excursions
  • Trip to rural Connemara in County Galway.
  • Trip to Dublin includes visits to Kilmainham Gaol and the Guinness Storehouse.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Residence Hall/Dormitory

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

Students will be responsible for making their own meals. However, there are several dining options in the Elms residence grounds and on campus where students can pick up a meal if they do not feel like cooking. Once students have arrived at Queen's, they can also set up an Easy Pay account. This account is linked to their Student ID card, and students or parents can load money onto the card that can be used to pay for food at campus and the Elms' eateries.

Dates and Fees

Term

Term begins

Term ends

Program costs

Application deadline

Fall 2023

September 8, 2023

December 18, 2023

$20,575

Passed

Academic Year 2023-2024

September 8, 2023

Early June 2024

Contact IFSA

Passed

Spring 2024

Early Jan. 2024

Early June 2024

$24,075 (estimated)

Oct. 15

Fall 2024

Early Sept. 2024

Mid-Dec. 2024

$20,575 (estimated)

April 15

Academic Year 2024-2025

Early Sept. 2024

Early June 2025

Contact IFSA

April 15

Term

Fall 2023

Term begins

September 8, 2023

Term ends

December 18, 2023

Program costs

$20,575

Application deadline

Passed

Term

Academic Year 2023-2024

Term begins

September 8, 2023

Term ends

Early June 2024

Program costs

Contact IFSA

Application deadline

Passed

Term

Spring 2024

Term begins

Early Jan. 2024

Term ends

Early June 2024

Program costs

$24,075 (estimated)

Application deadline

Oct. 15

Term

Fall 2024

Term begins

Early Sept. 2024

Term ends

Mid-Dec. 2024

Program costs

$20,575 (estimated)

Application deadline

April 15

Term

Academic Year 2024-2025

Term begins

Early Sept. 2024

Term ends

Early June 2025

Program costs

Contact IFSA

Application deadline

April 15

Get Started

Vineeta Chauhan

Vineeta Chauhan

Admissions Counselor

Zipporah Gaines

Zipporah Gaines

Prearrival Counselor

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