Student Blog: Fees & Finance in Northern Ireland (Sarah Bohan)
Hi, I’m Sarah Bohan; a BSc (Hons) Language and Linguistics Student from Wexford studying in Ulster University’s Belfast campus. Money is on everyone’s mind when it comes to thinking about college, and student life can be expensive on a small budget, so I want to tell you how I’ve saved money during first year at university in Belfast.
Fees
Tuition fees in the north are currently £4,750 per year; roughly half of what you’ll expect to pay if you study in England, Scotland or Wales. Although it’s still quite a bit of money, you can avail of Student Finance to cover your tuition fees, and pay it back in small increments once you’ve graduated and are earning more than £22,000 (€26,000) a year. The best part is that the Tuition Fee Loan is not means tested – so everyone qualifies! The other great part about this loan is that it won’t affect your credit score. I’ve availed of student finance, which has meant I can focus my money, not on fees, but on accommodation. And if you are going to be receiving a SUSI grant, you can take it with you across the border. P.S. If you’re considering doing a Health Science or Nursing course in UU, the Department for Health will fund your degree, meaning there are zero fees!
Life in Belfast
Let’s talk about Belfast. It’s where I study, at Ulster University. With 15k people studying at Ulster University’s Belfast campus alone, the area surrounding the university has become very student friendly. Most places have student discounts and reasonable prices, and there are an abundance of bars, gyms, restaurants, and shops to choose from. It’s surprisingly affordable to live in Belfast city centre compared to the likes of Dublin.
Transport
Belfast is very walkable – flat, quiet, and compact. I walk everywhere: there is always something to see, and since most of the traffic is directed around the city I don’t feel unsafe or as if I’m constantly breathing in exhaust fumes. If you want to head out a bit further, there are a variety of different bus services that are half price with a YLink card (student travel pass), and a train system runs throughout the city, similar to the DART in Dublin. You can get a daily return ticket for as little as £2 and they go every 5-10 minutes. Using public transport is pretty affordable, and availing of the discount incentives like the Ylink card can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Finding Discounts
If you’re planning on studying in the UK generally, check out apps such as UniDays, Student Beans and TOTUM; theses are specifically designed to help students save money on loads of different brands and outlets. Search any brand and find every deal and discount they have going. You’d be amazed how much you can save on your favourite items.
Nightlife
As I mentioned, there are a variety of clubs, bars, nighttime cafés, art galleries and comedy clubs within walking a short distance of the Belfast campus, each with their own calendar of events. Most have a designated night each week where students get in free, or for a reduced price. You can also get early bird discounts if you show up before 11pm. I recommend checking out ‘What’s On Belfast?’ to get a sense as to what you can get up to during your time here.
Ulster University
The student bar, canteen and coffee shops on campus are cheaper than anywhere else. You can borrow laptops from the library free of charge, and the gym works out at about £20 a month to use the facilities on any campus. Student Wellbeing are available to give advice on government loans you may qualify for. Accommodation is also excellent in quality and value, which you can get for as little as £140 (€163) per week!
Final Tips
Meal planning has saved me a fortune in my time at university. When I’m planning my shopping for the week I make healthier choices, I cook meals with the same core ingredients to cut down on what I’m buying and my foot wastage, plus I’m less likely to spontaneously splurge on delivery. Getting a Tesco Clubcard and the Lidl Plus app also help save money.
More info: check out www.ulster.ac.uk/GoNorth
