Travelling during your studies
You will have exciting opportunities to travel to other parts of the UK, Europe or further afield during your university vacations or after you finish your studies. Here is some advice to make the most of your trip.
Before making any travel plans we recommend you consider the advice being given by the UK Government and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about ongoing travel restrictions.
Ten amazing places to visit in Northern Ireland
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Travelling within Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is a fantastic country with a range of unique sites and opportunities to explore. Below is just a sample of what you can do.
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Travelling within the UK
Northern Ireland is a unique gateway to the UK and further afield and is a fantastic and cost effective starting point for your adventure while you are here at Ulster.
Below is an example of a few cities you can visit for a weekend break or just for the day and remember your adventure begins here!
Your UK visa/immigration permission allows you to travel freely within Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
You should carry your BRP and/or passport with you when you travel as evidence of your permission to be in the UK.
Bristol
Things to see
- Clifton suspension bridge
- Bristol Harbour
- SS Great Britain
- Bristol Cathedral
- Avon gorge
- Cabot Tower
Places to stay
There are a range of places to stay from £35 per night
How to get there
Easyjet fly from the international airport to Bristol
Things you should know
Once a busy dock where sailors and merchants would trade goods and set sail for
voyages of discovery, Bristol's Harbourside is now an attractive, modern development filled with restaurants, bars, shops and hotels.Interesting fact
Blackbeard the pirate was from Bristol
Manchester
Things to see
- Manchester United museum and stadium tour
- Museum of Science and Industry
- Etihad stadium
- Manchester cathedral
- Imperial War Museum North
- Manchester art gallery
- Manchester museum
Places to stay
There are a range of hotels for all budgets from around £60 per night
How to get there
Both Flybe and Easy-jet fly several times from both the George Best and international airports and the flight is approximately 50 minutes
Things you should know
There is a train halt in the airport and it will take you straight to Piccadilly in the centre of Manchester
Interesting fact
The atom was first split in Manchester
Liverpool
Things to see
- LFC stadium tour
- Mersey cruise
- Beatles tour
- Liver building
- Cavern Club
- Albert Dock
- Goodison Park
Places to stay
There are a range of hotels for all budgets from around £30 per night
How to get there
Easyjet have several daily flights from the international airport and the flight time is approximately 50 minutes.
If you’re in no rush you can get a boat from Belfast to Liverpool which takes around 8 hours across the Irish sea
Things you should know
Be careful to check football fixtures as hotel rooms book up and flights can be quite expensive if there is a game on at the weekend
Interesting fact
Liverpool's waterfront is designated a world heritage site
London
Things to see
- Big Ben
- London Eye
- Tower Bridge
- Tower of London
- Buckingham Palace
- Trafalgar Square
- British Museum
- Hyde Park
- Wembley stadium
Places to stay
Hotels range from around £100 but there are a range of cheaper hostels available
How to get there
There are a range of flights daily to all major London airports from the international airport and the flight takes just over an hour
Things you should know
The easiest way to get around London is with an Oyster card which gives access to the underground, buses, trams, tubes and some riverboat services
Interesting fact
London is the biggest city in Europe at 620 square miles and a population of over 7 million
Glasgow
Things to see
- Glasgow Cathedral
- Kelvin Grove Art Gallery and Museum
- Hampden Park
- George Square
- Glasgow Tower
- Glasgow Science Centre
- Riverside Museum
Places to stay
There are a range of hotels for all budgets from around £40 per night.
How to get there
Both Ryanair and Easyjet fly to Glasgow daily from the international airport and Flybe from the George Best airport and the flight takes around 45 minutes, you can also take the boat and Transport which will take around 6 hours
Things you should know
The train journey between Glasgow to Edinburgh takes only an hour so why not visit there for the day
Interesting fact
The bones of St Valentine are buried in Glasgow in the Church of Blessed St John Duns Scotus
Edinburgh
Things to see
- Edinburgh Castle
- Holyrood Palace
- Arthurs Seat
- National Museum of Scotland
- Princes Street
- Edinburgh Zoo
- HMY Britannia
- Scottish Parliament
Places to stay
There are a range of hotels starting around £70 per night
How to get there
EasyJet fly to Edinburgh daily from the international airport and the flight takes around 50 minutes, you can also take the boat and Transport which will take around 7 hours
Things you should know
Edinburgh airport is 8 miles outside the city centre and there is a regular bus service
Interesting fact
Edinburgh is the second most visited city in the UK
Cardiff
Things to see
- Cardiff Castle
- National Stadium
- Cardiff Bay
- Wales Millennium Centre
- National Museum of Cardiff
- Castell Coch
Places to stay
There is accommodation for all budgets from £30
How to get there
There are regular flights from George Best Airport to Cardiff
Things you should know
The city is a safe city for visitors but keep an eye on the rugby international fixtures as this might limit your hotel and flight availability
Interesting fact
Dr Who is filmed in Cardiff
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Travelling to the Republic of Ireland
Your UK visa/immigration permission does not give you immigration permission to enter the Republic of Ireland.
It is your responsibility to find out whether you need a visa in order to enter the Republic of Ireland.
If you do require a visa in order to enter the Republic of Ireland, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa before you cross the border between Northern Ireland (UK) and the Republic of Ireland.
Please note that there can be serious consequences if you are stopped by the Irish police (Gardaí) inside the Republic of Ireland without the correct Irish visa.
If you do not require a visa in order to enter the Republic of Ireland, there will be no opportunity for you to request immigration permission to enter the Republic of Ireland as a visitor when you cross the border between Northern Ireland (UK) and Republic of Ireland.
You should therefore carry with you evidence of your immigration permission to be in the UK, a letter confirming that you are studying at Ulster University, and evidence of your journey to/from Northern Ireland (e.g. a return train ticket to Belfast).
Galway
Things to see
- Aran Islands
- The Spanish Arch and Galway City Wall
- Buy a Claddagh ring
- Quay Street
- Galway Bay
Places to stay
Hotels range from around £31 to £250 so you can have any experience you want.
How to get there
Galway is just over 5 hours drive from Magee down the world renown west coast of Ireland.
Things you should Know
Remember to check your visa if you travel to Galway as it is not part of the UK
Interesting fact
Christopher Columbus visited Galway in 1477
Dublin
Things to see
- Dublin Castle
- Temple Bar
- Spire of Dublin
- Christ Church Cathedral
- St Stephens green
- Phoenix Park
- Aviva Stadium
- Guinness Factory
- Kilmainham Gaol
Places to stay
Hotels range from around £100 but there are a range of cheaper hostels available
How to get there
Dublin is just over 1 ¾ hours drive from Belfast and jut over 3 hours from Derry there are regular train and bus services between the cities.
Things you should know
Remember to check your visa if you travel to Dublin as it is not part of the UK
Interesting fact
There are over 1000 pubs in Dublin
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Travelling to other countries
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct immigration permission to visit any country outside the UK. Staff at Ulster University are not qualified to give immigration advice for countries outside the UK.
The UK If you plan to travel to one of the countries within the Schengen zone, you should use the following link for more information on how to apply for a Schengen visa
See more information at UKCISA Travel in Europe.
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Returning to the UK if your student visa has been curtailed
If your student visa has been curtailed and you have left the UK, you must not try to re-enter the UK using your curtailed visa, even if it looks as if your visa is still valid. If you do try to re-enter the UK, you will be refused entry.
You must get new immigration permission before you re-enter the UK.