Program Reviews

It was perfect! Throughout the past month, I've had a chance to learn about a range of different topics related to education and Northern Ireland. Other than the fantastic classes, there were many field trips that provided some first-hand experience and opportunities to discuss with principals, students and politicians alike. Expect to learn about the history and conflicts of Northern Ireland, their educational system, current research and much more! Also, be ready to meet incredible classmates, teachers and staff. I'm really glad to have received Santander's scholarship, which made this whole experience possible. I can't wait to apply what I've learned and hope I can be back to Queen's soon.

The Education for Transformation Summer Course at Queen's University Belfast was an incredible experience. I learned about the history of the country, the troubles they had, the division between Catholics and Protestants, how the educational system is, and so many other things. I am really happy that I received a Santander scholarship and had the opportunity to study during 4 weeks about education in Northern Ireland. Now I understand a lot more about this divided society, and can compare it with my country. Thank you very much for this opportunity. I hope to have the chance to come back and keep my studies.

Belfast is a great city and Queen's University a site to behold. You are surrounded by sites long told in song, story, film, and history. Every day was inspiring. Have rainwear, and plan to spend some time after the program just exploring the city. I think one could live in Belfast a full year without getting to all there is to do & see in the city, never mind the outskirts! I hope to return very soon.

This course was a great experience and would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of going.
The lecturers were very knowledgeable and took us to cultural events that we might not have gone to otherwise like the bonfires and the marches on the Twelfth.
Staying in Belfast means that you can clearly see the impact of the Troubles and it was really interesting to meet people who were involved in the conflict. There’s a lot to do in the city and the trips to different parts of Northern Ireland are excellent.
The best part about this course was meeting so many amazing people. The social activities that were planned by the staff and PhD students were really fun and meant that it was easy to get to know people.
I loved my time in Belfast and am so glad that I did this course.

I really enjoyed the whole experience. The academics were interesting and worthwhile. They related well to the activities and outings we did as a group. I really had a chance to learn and meet wonderful new people! The outings we went on will remain some of my favorite memories and seeing Northern Ireland was amazing. I highly recommend this program for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of politics and learn about issues facing other countries. It was completely worth every second.

I am so glad to have chosen this program and the memories I got from it. the only thing I did not like is that it is to short (3 week) why not 5?. I've met some of the best people you could wish for I wouldn't change this experience for any other summer abroad. the people I met there where amazing and made the trip even better. lectures where fun as well as the trips to the different parts of Northern Ireland.

It was very good and interesting program. the studies were very useful, the people were great and full experience was amazing.

Dominic is one of a kind. and the lectures were very interesting.

The field trips were very good and the fun and cultural parts were great.

From a perspective of an Israeli, I think there is a place to go deeper with the Israeli - Palestinian conflict, and would love to help with it.

The school offers an excellent program. The lectures are informative and the lecturers know their subject matter. QUB is a beautiful campus with so much to do on and off campus.

The advisors and PHd students helping out are informed of the days activities and can be extremely helpful if you find yourself alone.
Accommodations are great for someone of average size but the ensuite shower is made for persons less than 5' tall and 120 lbs.

Overall, highly recommended!

I attended Queens University Belfast for their Summer Institute for Irish Studies and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I traveled to Belfast by myself, not knowing what would lay ahead on my journey, but soon realized it was going to be once in a lifetime experience. The Institute is arranged perfectly for the novice traveler or a experienced traveler who has seen the world. The summer school has a wonderful balance of classroom instruction, class trips and free-time. The program gave me a glimpse into all aspects of Northern Ireland, including history, literature and geological foundations. The class field trips looked at different parts of the city, museums and the natural landscape of the country.

I was able to have a great deal of independence and free time while in this new area, but the comfort of knowing Queen’s Belfast has an international staff on-hand incase I needed any assistance. Queens is centrally located in the city; it was just a short walk to the city centre where I could shop, get delicious food and enjoy local culture. One of my favorite things to do while in Belfast was to go St. George’s Market and get fresh baked-goods and locally made crafts. The center of the City also offers various forms of transportation to allow for easy access to other areas of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or even different countries. During the free weekends, I took trips to Dublin and Helens Bay. There are so many things to do and see in Belfast that you may not want to leave the city!

The living accommodations while at Queens allowed me to to live with and become wonderful friends with those in the school. Elms Village was just a short walk to the main campus and centre city. Elms Village is wonderful because it has a kitchen on every floor that allows for the opportunity to cook your own food or store snacks so I didn’t need to purchase food for every meal. There are numerous convenience stores and grocery stores within walking distance.

It is amazing to look back at the global connections and friendships I developed during the trip, many of whom I am still in contact with today. The Institute allowed me to grow, both intellectually and as an individual. I gained a new sense of wonder while at Queens and the desire to explore the world. I would highly recommend this program to any student looking to expand their horizon and for an unforgettable, life-changing experience. The hardest part of my entire journey abroad was having to go home.

Luckily, my journey has not ended here. After realizing I wanted to get an international masters degree, I looked at my experiences and decided my best option was to return to Queens University Belfast. I am excited to return to the place that I loved and begin a new chapter as a full-time graduate student at Queens University Belfast.

As cliche as this sounds, my semester in Belfast was everything I desired out of an abroad experience and more. The city is small and walk-able, each quarter has interesting nooks and crannies to explore. Queen's Quarter, where QUB is housed, is a fabulous part of Belfast; restaurants (Maggie May's milkshakes, Ryan's banoffee pie, French Village's everything), pubs (Woodworker's craft beer samplers, Filthy McNasty's cocktails), coffeehouses (the Pocket), grocery stores, bus stops, health centers and pharmacies are all just a short walk away which make this quarter easy to live in. The people in Belfast are friendly, funny, and outgoing making it easy to make friends and feel at ease in your new home. Moreover, Belfast is beautiful with greenery everywhere, Victorian architecture sprinkled throughout the city, the iconic Lanyon building at QUB, and a gorgeous nature, countryside-like escape along the Lagan River called the Tow Path.
In comparison to my small, liberal arts college in the States, QUB was much academically less rigorous making it a very easy semester. Despite that, I do feel as though I learned a lot while at Queen's--make sure you attend tutorial since that's where you'll get a lot of the valuable instruction.
What really made Belfast feel like a home away from home were the other international students I befriended. QUB did a wonderful job introducing us by housing us together and providing mixers at the beginning of the term. These people became family to me; we did everything together and a select group of us were actually inseparable. None of my close friends there studied the same subjects as me and most of them were not Americans either which made my friendships a cultural learning experience.
All in all, I cannot put in words how amazing my time in Belfast was. To all thinking about attending QUB, do it. You won't regret it.