interstudy: Queen's University Belfast

  Northern Ireland

Belfast

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring 
Dates: Late September - Late January / Late January - Early June

Description: Queen's University is located on the south side of Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland. Founded in Ireland in 1845, the University was originally established by Queen Victoria as one of three Queen's Colleges. It gained full university status in 1908. From the very beginning, Queen's has upheld its principles of non-denominational teaching and equality of opportunity. Approximately 1300 academic staff teach and conduct research across five faculties. The University has earned an international reputation for academic excellence, as demonstrated by the results of recent assessment exercises held throughout the UK. The teaching record is excellent and an impressive program of research is carried out over a wide range of disciplines. In particular, Queen's is renowned as a leader in all branches of Engineering, Agriculture, Physics, Music, Archaeology and Irish Studies. Most North American students choosing Queen's for study abroad are eager to explore Ireland and Irish culture. They opt for subjects that can be studied from Irish and Northern Irish perspectives: for example, History, Literature, Politics, Economics, Law and Social Anthropology. The University's internationally renowned Institute of Irish Studies (the first of its kind in the world), is the hub of inter-disciplinary research and teaching, and many of its Fellows have been attracted from across the Atlantic. The University offers a comprehensive range of classes with an Irish perspective taught by scholars of international reputations.

Belfast and Northern Ireland are part of the United Kingdom. As a British region of Ireland, Belfast shares cultural ties to both Irish and British traditions. Belfast is situated where the mouth of the River Lagan empties into Belfast Lough, and its name in Irish means "the mouth of the sand bar." Belfast is the political center of Northern Ireland which is currently entering an exciting phase in its political history. Under the terms of the Belfast Agreement of April 1998 (also known as the Good Friday Agreement), a new Northern Ireland Assembly has been established. Power was devolved from Great Britain to the Assembly, which sits at Stormont Parliament buildings as of 2 December 1999. In today's much-changed atmosphere, Loyalist and Republican wall murals have become popular tourist attractions in West Belfast and these political paintings are among the few remaining symbols of "The Troubles". For the most part the civil unrest is, and has been, confined to very localized areas. The University campus and surrounding area is largely unaffected. Currently, nearly one-third of Northern Ireland's population lives in this lively metropolis and its commuter belt. The city is dotted with beautiful Victorian and Edwardian buildings and boasts a large pedestrian area in the city center. The University area and the nearby "Golden Mile" contain all the cultural amenities that attract Belfast's young people: theaters, pubs, clubs, bookstores, bistros and fashionable shops. Each November, the University hosts its own arts festival, second in size only to Edinburgh's held in August.

Highlights: There are several aspects of the interstudy Queen's University Belfast program that set it apart from other study abroad experiences. Among these are:
- Academic flexibility - interstudy's open academic policy allows students to take virtually any course in the undergraduate course catalog, without imposing interstudy course requirements.
- Beautiful and architecturally imposing campus conveniently located near the vibrant Belfast city center.
- Full academic integration - courses are taught by Irish professors, in classes filled with Irish students
- Convenient access to sites such as Belfast City Hall, Giant's Causeway, and Carrick-A-Rede
- Specific academic strengths in Byzantine Studies, Celtic Studies, Cultural & Media Studies, European Studies, and Philosophical Studies

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: See interstudy's website

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel to Northern Ireland Independently or in Groups

Scholarships are Available. interstudy awards scholarships each semester based on academic merit and/or financial need. Award amounts vary. Scholarship applications may be downloaded from the interstudy website, and must be submitted no later than May 1st for Fall Semester and November 1st for Spring Semester.

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Year Founded: 1980