Listen to our feature on Mates and Money!

Finding the flavour
Reading a university prospectus will give you an overview of the establishment and the city but will it really give you a true flavour of the place? We interviewed two students on the streets of Belfast who told us what Belfast living is really like.

Following your heart
Barry McGovern, 20, from Coleraine is studying at the University of Ulster, Belfast: ‘I initially chose to come to Belfast as my girlfriend lived close by. The alternative was going to Coventry. I am studying industrial design – interior and furniture. Hopefully I will get work with a local business when I have finished my studies. I would recommend people to come to Belfast. I live on Lisbon Road where most of the students live. It is really friendly and there is no trouble. The people are great and there is a good selection of pubs. People tend to go out on their own roads so it is not too far to stumble home! The house rent is quite reasonable so that makes Belfast affordable. I went straight into shared housing as there are no halls at my university.

‘I spend most of my money on going out. I have a part-time job, working twenty hours a week. I wouldn’t be able to survive without it, it keeps me going. Unfortunately all the people on my course are from Ireland so there are no international students but there are lots at Queen’s University.’

Local nightlife
David Laverty, 19, is an art student at the University of Ulster: ‘Again I tend to socialise on the street where I live. That’s just the way of things round here. There is no student union at our college but we can use the other establishments’ unions. I enjoy going to Limelight on Dublin Road. On a Tuesday night, it is £1 for a Tennents! [a popular lager] I spend lots on eating out, particularly at lunchtimes. There are big gaps between my classes so I tend to fill them refuelling myself. I can get a soup and roll at the canteen for £1.50.’

So if it’s cheap accommodation and good friendly get-togethers you’re after, Belfast’s the place to be!

Nelly
September 2006

The growing education market makes the student life being attended.——YR

Trend UK -> Life in the UK -> Current page