WHAT makes people want to study in Belfast, Northern Ireland? We asked Natalie Cooke, a graduate of Ulster University, what appeals to her about living in Belfast.
STUDENT WORLD ONLINE: What do you love about Belfast?
NATALIE: The opportunity. It is a beautiful city, set on the edge of Belfast Lough and there are so many things to do as the city is very much focused on creating a good image for itself, so it puts a lot of funding into locally run initiatives.
The city has not lost its roots in hard work – the shipyard cranes of Harland and Wolff still tower over the docks – so there is very much a ‘work hard then go for a drink’ atmosphere.
Belfast is a great place to try something different, as there is so much to choose from, and chances are, it’s not going to be overly expensive.
SWO: Did you feel differently when you first arrived?
N: It took me a while to get used to the city as it was different from the country village where I grew up. So I suppose the size of the city was slightly intimidating, but within a month I’d got used to it.
SWO: Is there anything you don’t like about Belfast?
N: I feel I must adhere to the typical Northern Irish stereotype and complain about the weather. It is unpredictable, and it’ll either be pouring rain, or sun splitting the trees; there’s not an in-between.
There are still pockets of Belfast that live in the past, by which I mean ‘The Troubles.’ This means there are a few areas you wouldn’t really hang out in. However, they’re small and removed from city centre.
Northern Ireland is very conservative; conservative being the diplomatic word. We are the only part of the UK that doesn’t recognise same sex marriage and women’s reproductive rights are not the same as on mainland UK.
SWO: Is it easy to get around Belfast?
N: If you’re driving through Belfast, it will take a bit of time to get used to the lanes, and parking in city centre can be difficult.
However we have a great bus and train system and we’ve recently introduced ‘Belfast Bikes’ which mirror the ‘Boris / Barclays Bikes’ in London.
SWO: What is there to see and do in Belfast?
N: Belfast has hosted some major world events, and the entire city comes together for it. We’ve had the Tall Ships, the Giro d’Italia and the Titanic Centenary Commemorations recently. We also have the Continental Market every Christmas.
There is always something on at the Opera House or Lyric Theatre. The best part is that all the restaurants and hotels work with the theatres to give really great pre-theatre meal deals.
Belfast is also great for sports! We have the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey Team, and I would really recommend going to see an Ulster Rugby Match! There’s also a huge rise in Gaelic sports, such as camogie and hurling. If you haven’t given these a try, the local sports clubs are very welcoming.
SWO: Good shops?
N: We have two really great city centre shopping centres: Victoria Square and Castle Court. The have a range of stores from high street to designer. You’re never more than 15 minutes from a Tesco or Asda for food.
The Lisburn Road is known for its designer boutiques, but it’s also a hidden gem charity shops. It’s also another great place to get food.
SWO: Good places to eat?
N: Belfast is an amazing place for food, and it’s all reasonably priced.
There are a number of locally owned business that have joined together with local food producers in a ‘Taste of Ulster’ campaign. This means that the local ingredients are farmed fresh from local farms.
We have locally owned restaurants that cover just about every type of cuisine you could want: Villa Italia for Italian; James Street South for French cuisine, Slims Kitchen for healthier options and Boojum Burrito bar are only a handful of the options available.
SWO: Good places to drink?
N: There are so many pubs, clubs and bars. Personal favourites include Parlour, where my friends and I always end up, Alley Cat where they serve cocktails in teapots and Lavery’s.
You’ll probably find that one of the pubs will become your local. A special seasonal mention must go to the Beer Tent at the Christmas Market where there is an international range of beverages.
SWO: Good places to relax and hang out?
N: If the weather’s good, people congregate outside. City Hall and Botanic Gardens are great places for this. There are so many events happening, that it’s more likely you’ll be hanging out AT something.
The Crescent Arts Centre is a great place to hang out and it offers a great range of classes as well. Northern Ireland is also becoming a great place for spa weekends.
SWO: What’s the area like?
N: Whilst it is hard to leave Belfast because there’s so much going on, it is worth it to explore more of this beautiful country.
The North Coast is stunning, with trips to the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-A-Reed rope bridge well recommended. If you’re into walking or hiking, then the Antrim coastline will not disappoint.
SWO: What’s the university like?
N: Queen’s University in Belfast is a Russell Group, academic-based university. Ulster University, Belfast Campus is much more about employability.
As part of my degree, I got to work with lots of local businesses as part of my coursework. Both of the universities have numerous extra-curricular clubs.
The quality of teaching that I received at both was brilliant – few lecturers read off of PowerPoint slides.
SWO: Do you live on campus?
N: No, I live about a 10 minutes drive away from Queen's and 15 minutes from Ulster University’s Belfast campus. There’s a direct bus into town from the top of my cul-de-sac.
SWO: How much is monthly rent?
N: Renting a house in a good area is likely to be around £300 per month per person.
SWO: How much is a cinema ticket, a two-mile cab ride, and a 1 kg bag of rice?
N: A student cinema ticket is around the £5 mark.
A two mile cab ride is going to be around £10.
A bag of rice is probably going to be on offer for £1.
