When planning where to go to university, you have a lot of choice as to where. The UK has no shortage of excellent institutions for higher learning so there is an embarrassment of riches in this regard.
One area that often flies under the radar for potential students is Northern Ireland. Whether you’re planning a career in the maritime industry or even in a STEM field, there is a program for you at one of the universities in Northern Ireland.
But, that isn’t all. There are several reasons for you to be thinking about making Northern Ireland your home for a few years while you study. And possibly even beyond!
In this article, I will give you some things to think about if you are planning where to study that make NI very attractive.
Table of Contents
1 R Cost of living
There are a lot of costs involved with your studies like your student finance NI, so you’ll want to save where you can. Which is why NI is so attractive as it has a low cost of living. If you live near a city center, you won’t even need a car as everything is in walking distance.
Rents are also much cheaper than in many parts of the UK so you can save money there. Eating out costs much less than the equivalent type of restaurant in other parts of the UK and even mainland Europe in general.
Plus groceries and activities are much more affordable.
2 R The nature
Even if you live in the city, you have spectacular nature right nearby. The coastline in Northern Ireland is beautiful and unspoiled and includes the amazing Giant’s Causeway. This is an area where basalt rocks have made formations that are unique and are ripe for exploring.
Hiking is also excellent here as there are meadows and forests where there are many marked trails to enjoy.
3 R Lots of art and culture
Belfast has blossomed into a cultural hotspot that rivals many other European cities lately. It is full of hip boutiques for shopping, plus many galleries featuring local artists.
There are plenty of world class museums here to get your art fix, as well. You have many options for contemporary art or from any period in the past.
This mix of old and new brings a lot of artistic energy to the entire area of Northern Ireland and lends a very cultured atmosphere.
There are many venues for live music from traditional folk music to plenty of rock music. And there are plenty of festivals during the summer months to keep busy.
4 R Easy traveling
The entire island is quite small so getting around to the Republic of Ireland is quite easy, fast and cheap. From Belfast, it is only a couple of hours by bus to get to Dublin, for instance.
When Belfast and other NI cities start to feel a bit provincial, you can head South for a bigger city break. Or take a quick flight to Scotland or mainland Europe for a change of scene.