Is it safe at Queens University?

investment

I might be studying in Queens next year. But in the last few weeks I'm beginning to change my mind. With all the trouble in the north of late.

Can anyone reassure me that it's safe for a Catholic from the south to attended Q.U and live and socialize in Belfast??

Ultramegabones

Don't let the recent drama put you off. I'm in Queens myself and that area of Belfast is very safe. I've been here more than 6 months and I've yet to experience any sectarian issues. The booze is cheap, the university is great and the people are so sound (and they love the southern accent!). I'd strongly recommend coming up. If you've any other questions, feel free to fire away.

pow wow

Catholics and people from ROI (not always the same thing!) are very well represented in both the staff and student body at QUB. The area around the university is very cosmopolitan in that sense, and there is no reason to think that you would be a target of anything more than cheeky banter (if even that much) because of where you hail from.

The media in ROI only ever report essentially bad stuff about the North so you need to be aware that what you're being shown on tv and the like at home is very biased and unrepresentative of day-to-day life in NI. Security alerts (suspicious packages etc.) happen occasionally, but none in the University area spring to mind. I would be pretty confident that college students would factor very little, if at all, on the dissident radar. I certainly wouldn't let the murder of Ronan Kerr put you off coming to Belfast. It's a great city and university, and there's a good mix of people from all corners of Ireland here.

investment

Ultramegabones wrote: »

Don't let the recent drama put you off. I'm in Queens myself and that area of Belfast is very safe. I've been here more than 6 months and I've yet to experience any sectarian issues. The booze is cheap, the university is great and the people are so sound (and they love the southern accent!). I'd strongly recommend coming up. If you've any other questions, feel free to fire away.

Thanks for the reply:)..Are you male of female?.. I'm glad to hear that, and I won't be influenced by the trouble of late . Are there many people from the South
(Leinster) studying up in Queens?..what is standard like in terms of college work??..Do you live on campus??..Is there a good atmosphere?

Ultramegabones

Male, 23. Doing a PhD in Engineering. There's a decent amount of Republic people up here. You'll meet them all when they give us a free dinner at the start of the year lol. I was away last summer so I couldn't house-hunt and decided to go with on campus accomodation. I'm over in Queens' International Postgrad houses, which I wasn't expecting to be much craic but there's 5 other Irish people in my house so the banter is great.
The general buzz around campus is great, tons of societies to get involved in and the social life is crackin. Are you just starting your first year or you coming up for a postgrad course?

investment

Ultramegabones wrote: »

Male, 23. Doing a PhD in Engineering. There's a decent amount of Republic people up here. You'll meet them all when they give us a free dinner at the start of the year lol. I was away last summer so I couldn't house-hunt and decided to go with on campus accomodation. I'm over in Queens' International Postgrad houses, which I wasn't expecting to be much craic but there's 5 other Irish people in my house so the banter is great.
The general buzz around campus is great, tons of societies to get involved in and the social life is crackin. Are you just starting your first year or you coming up for a postgrad course?

Thanks for all the replies.They were really helpful

munchkin_utd

that part of belfast even at the height of the troubles was safe.
I'm from the south, went to queens myself when there was no ceasefire or whatnot and have aunts there in stranmillis for the past 30 years and have never seen any of the troubles in that area.

The worst it ever got was the drumcree protests in the 90s (in july when youre on holiday anyhow) and that was only bad as there was no fresh milk and bread as the delivery vans couldnt get through

AND. be sure to apply for on campus accomodation now. Its the best way to meet people, and from the south you are guaranteed to get it so long as you apply on time , i.e. right away!!

El Siglo

I've been up here since last October, no trouble at all. Media hype things up really. Belfast is like any city, good parts and bad ones. I'd advise on-campus for first year but move out after that.

investment

What are the fees like too?? and how much is on campus accommodation?

AmyTB

I am very intrigued by this post as I have also been offered a place on a History Masters in Queens. Am apprehensive about knowing nobody, so would be delighted to get to know a few people here, find out what they are studying, where they plant to live, etc.

misslegal

Hi amy,
I am also going to queens next year doing an LLM, also a bit apprehensive about knowing no one but excited at the same time, is there any one else here going to be a newcomer? still unsure about accommodation and everything have a lot to sort!!

LilMissCiara

As long as you don't go wearing Celtic jerseys and driving the Popemobile you will be ok.

The everyday normal people (ie. not thugs, terrorists from both 'sides' etc.) are just everyday normal people! :P You get rough people everywhere you go (in the world!) and once you avoid them you're ok.

Glico Man

Like most people have said, if you go looking for trouble then you will most likely find it. I've been up here at Queen's since last September and I've not seen anything besides a few fights outside pubs when everyone was a bit drunk. The current troubles here are over in East Belfast, a fair distance from Queen's which is located in South Belfast.

There are quite a number of people from the ROI doing my course, I'd actually say we outnumber the nordies which provides good banter and a great atmosphere.

Belfast really is a lovely city, so so so much history up here. So much so that I want to stay on for at least another year after my course has finished this September.