Study in Northern Ireland

There’s always something going on in Northern Ireland and you’ll soon find that everyone wants to know what ‘the craic’ is (roughly translated, this means what’s the news, what’s the story, what’s happening?) The country is host to the UK’s second biggest arts festival – Belfast Festival at Queen’s - and there are more than 50 other festivals and major events all year-round.

Northern Ireland life and culture

There are five cities in Northern Ireland – Armagh, Belfast, Derry, Lisburn and Newry – and a huge number of attractive and historic towns and villages. The capital, Belfast, has a mix of stunning architecture, fabulous shops, restaurants, pubs and clubs, and a lively arts, entertainment and cultural scene. The landscape is green and unspoilt, with the northern coast as beautiful as any in Europe.

You can discover Northern Ireland’s most popular sites, places and ‘must sees’ by using the Education UK interactive map.

If you’re a sports fan, Northern Ireland is the ideal study abroad destination for you. Most sports are played or watched in Northern Ireland, including:

Outdoor enthusiasts are well catered for too – you can take part in just about every activity you can think of – from bungy jumping to white water rafting. If you prefer the quiet life, you can also enjoy a variety of museums, stately homes, castles and gardens.

Want to know all the latest events in Northern Ireland? Visit Education UK's interactive calendar and find out what Northern Ireland has on offer this month.

People in Northern Ireland

Though you may not be aware of it, you probably already know a lot of people from Northern Ireland. Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney and the Chronicles of Narnia author C.S. Lewis were both born here. Other famous Northern Irish stars include the actor Kenneth Branagh, indie rock band Snow Patrol and football legend George Best.

Choose to study in Northern Ireland and you’ll soon get to know more people still – and not only the many students from all over the UK, the USA and around the globe. People here are famously sociable and they say that wherever you go, you’ll always have someone to talk to.

Northern Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe, with an average age of only 27. This is reflected in a young, creative, fast-changing society with lots going on. The country has its own distinctive accent and culture, and a dynamic economy with many innovative commercial businesses and new industries.

Study abroad in Northern Ireland
 
The education system in Northern Ireland focuses on the individual. Become an international student here and you’ll benefit from choice and flexibility, innovative academic work and teaching methods, and links with commerce, industry and society. Northern Ireland has always been at the forefront of the intellectual, scientific and industrial revolutions. The first ever aircraft manufacturer, Short Brothers, was founded in Belfast in 1908 and is now part of Northern Ireland’s biggest manufacturing company. The ill-fated ocean liner, the Titanic, was built and launched here in 1912 by Harland and Wolff who continue to be major players in engineering and renewable energy.

Northern Ireland’s universities and colleges are centres of high quality and ground-breaking research programs in a variety of disciplines. For example, at the Sonic Arts Research Centre at Queen’s university, an international team equipped with the latest facilities offers postgraduate study at the frontiers of sound creativity and technology. The multi-million pound Centre for Molecular Biosciences at the University of Ulster also offers research activities in important areas such as cancer, diabetes and diet.

You can find out more and search for courses in Northern Ireland using the Education UK course finder, to the top-right of this screen.

Useful links

Discover Northern Ireland

You can use the Education UK Search tool - to the top-right of the Education UK website - to find a place to study in this region that interests you.