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    Ireland's 2nd largest University.

    Affordable accommodation and cheaper cost of living are why many Leaving Cert students are choosing Northern Ireland for college.

    In this section:

    • Download UCAS webinar
    • Cost of living
    • Browse our Courses
    • Contact us
    Apply Now
    Guaranteed Accommodation

    Guaranteed Accommodation

    We guarantee affordable and comfortable campus accommodation to applicants who receive a course offer from Ulster University, and who apply for accommodation by 7 July 2023. Our accommodation is among the most affordable in the UK & Ireland.

    View our Accommodation
    Save €9,500 at Ulster University

    Save €9,500 at Ulster University

    Northern Ireland is the most affordable place to live, work and study* in the UK and Ireland. You could save up to €9,500 in accommodation fees alone**.

    *Which?, 2018
    **UU Duncreggan Student Village (Magee Campus) vs UCD Belgrove Residence cost difference (37 week contract)

    Study in Northern Ireland
    Forget about fees!

    Forget about fees!

    You don't have to pay tuition fees during your time at Ulster University.

    You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan which covers 100% of tuition fees.

    You only have to repay this when you graduate and earn over £20,195 per year.

    So, study now, pay later!

    Student Finance
    No points inflation

    No points inflation

    Stay away from the CAO points race.

    When you apply to Ulster you will be applying through UCAS, meaning you won’t be disappointed at having missed out on your first choice due to points for courses surging.

    Our points system is fixed and does not change.

    Qualifications Equivalencies

    We're only up the road

    Belfast Campus

    2-24 York Street, Belfast, BT15 1AP

    Coleraine Campus

    Cromore Rd, Coleraine BT52 1SA

    Derry ~ Londonderry Campus (Magee)

    Northland Rd, Londonderry BT48 7JL

    • Cavan
    • Donegal
    • Dublin
    • Letterkenny
    • Monaghan
    • Sligo

    Travel time from Cavan to Ulster University Campuses

    Travel time from Donegal to Ulster University Campuses

    Travel time from Dublin to Ulster University Campuses

    Travel time from Letterkenny to Ulster University Campuses

    Travel time from Monaghan to Ulster University Campuses

    Travel time from Sligo to Ulster University Campuses

    We're one university with three great campuses

    Come on in and take a tour around each campus and get to know the possibilities of where you could set up camp!

    Magee Campus: UU Student Insight

    Find out about life at our Magee campus from one of our current students.

    Magee campus: why student satisfaction is so high!

    As student satisfaction goes, Magee is the top of the league. Listen to what our students have to say about this campus.

    Coleraine campus: Living and studying on the North Coast

    Situated on the chilled out, North Coast, this campus has so much to offer, don’t let its laid-back nature fool you – it is bursting with activity, clubs and plenty to become a part of.

    UU student insight: Coleraine campus

    Find out about life at our Coleraine campus from one of our current students.

    UU student insight: Belfast campus

    Find out about life at our Belfast campus from one of our current students.

    Belfast campus: The all-new city campus – opening soon!

    This brand new, modern build has state of the art facilities, located right in the heart of the city.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • Applying to Ulster University

      How do I apply to Ulster University?

      Applications to full-time undergraduate courses are made via UCAS. The application deadline is 25 January 2023.
      Applications to part-time undergaduate as well as postgraduate courses are made directly via the ulster website.

      How many course choices do I get with UCAS?

      You can choose up to 5 courses from over 300+ higher education institutions across the UK. Later in the application cycle, you will then confirm two of your choices as your first and second preference study choices respectively.

      Can I make a late UCAS application?

      You can still apply to Ulster University courses after the 25 January and up until 30 June. Please note that some courses will not be available for application after the 25 January which have restricted application timelines.

      Can I apply to UU through CAO?

      No. Applications to Ulster University are not made through CAO, but instead are made through UCAS, the college admissions system for UK universities.

      Can I apply to both UCAS as well as CAO?

      Yes! As a university hopeful, there is a universe of college choices across the UK & Ireland for you to apply to. You can apply to both CAO and UCAS and then decide which college you want to study at later.

    • Fees & Finance

      How much are tuition fees for full-time courses?

      The fee for full-time undergraduate study is regulated by the Department for the Economy. The rate for 2023/24 will be published as soon as we receive formal notification from the Department. When it becomes available, the information will be published on our 2023/24 Fees page. The fee for academic year 2022/23 was £4,630.

      What financial help is available for Republic of Ireland students?

      As a Republic of Ireland applicant, you are eligible to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Student Loans Company which you only have to pay back once you've graduated and are earning over the salary threshold. This loan is non-means tested and covers 100% of tuition fees. The loan does not affect your credit score or financial lending status.

      Students who are eligible for SUSI maintenance funding can use this while they study at Ulster University.

      Additional financial support is available for students, including a Financial Hardship Fund.

      How long do I have to repay my tuition fee loan?

      You stop owing either when you've cleared the debt, or when 25 years (from the April after graduation) have passed, whichever comes first. Regardless of how little or much you have repaid on your loan, after 25 years your loan debt is cancelled.

      I heard there are no tuition fees for Nursing and Allied Health Courses?

      Yes, that's right. Nursing and Allied Health courses are fully commissioned by the Department for Health NI, meaning whether you study nursing as a first degree, or second, your fees will be covered, and you will have access to a Nursing Bursary.

      Are there any scholarships for Republic of Ireland applicants?

      A comprehensive range of financial scholarships, awards and prizes are available to undergraduate students. Individuals may be able to apply directly or may automatically be nominated for awards.

    • Entry Requirements

      What are the General Entry Requirements at Ulster University for the Leaving Certificate?

      Irish Leaving Certificate applicants must be undertaking a minimum of 5 Leaving Certificate subjects, 4 of which must be at Higher Level. Applicants must then satisfy the course-specific entry requirements which may include specific subjects, grades or UCAS points tariff.

      What are UCAS Points?

      Most courses at UU ask applicants to meet a specific UCAS points tariff in order to have their place of the course confirmed.

      How many subjects does UU count when "totting up" UCAS points tariff?

      All subjects undertaken at Leaving Cert will be used in the calculation of UCAS Tariff points, with the exception of Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP). All other subjects are counted.

      Do I get "Bonus" UCAS points for doing Higher Level Maths, like in CAO?

      No additional points are awarded for doing Higher Level Maths.

      Do UCAS Points change depending on how many people apply and what grades they achieve?

      No, UCAS points do not fluctuate depending on how well applicants perform or how many applicants apply. Unlike the CAO system, UCAS points requirements do not change. If you see a course advertised at a certain UCAS points tariff, you will be placed on the course if you meet those requirements.

      Is successful completion the of Irish in the Leaving Cert required for entry to UU?

      No, Irish is not a required subject for general entry to UU programmes, with the exception of our BA Hons Irish Language & Literature course. In all other courses it is not required but can be offered as one of the 5 necessary Leaving Certificate subjects.

      Is any second language Leaving Cert subject required for entry to Ulster University?

      No, a second language at Leaving Cert is not required for entry to UU programmes.

      Is HEAR/DARE recognised and accepted at UU?

      Unfortunately, HEAR and DARE is only available for applicants to third-level institutions in the Republic of Ireland.

      Does Ulster University accept Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) qualifications such as QQI Level 5 programmes?

      Yes, we accept a range of PLC qualifications including QQI Level 5. For information on whether your particular qualification is accepted and entry reqruiements, please contact our Admissions Team.

    • Accommodation

      How much is accommodation at Ulster University?

      Our accommodation options start from just £102 p/w for a single-bed dormitory (38 week contract). Our accommodation offering is high quality and one of the most affordable in the UK/Ireland.

      The accommodation fees are available online.

      You will need to make a payment to accept your room offer.

      As part of the acceptance process you will need to choose one of the payment plan options.

      Further information on payment terms can also be found online.

      Does Ulster University guarantee accommodation for first year students?

      Ulster can guarantee accommodation for single first-year students who make UU their "Conditional Firm" choice on UCAS and who apply for accommodation by by the 7th July 2023.

      Will Ulster make me share a bedroom with another student?

      No. We do not make students share bedrooms.

      Can I live with my firends at UU accommodation?

      YES!

      We are happy to allocate groups of friends together provided we have all your applications in as early as possible.

      It may not always be possible if there is limited accommodation available and to be fair to other applicants we unfortunately cannot hold rooms for late applications.

      At the end of your online application you will be given the opportunity to join a ‘Group’ with your friends.

      The first member of the group must create a unique Group Reference and then pass that Reference to all other members of the Group.

      Subsequent members of the group should ensure that this Group Reference is entered correctly when they apply for accommodation.

      If it is not a second group will be created and we may not be able to match these groups.

      When the correct Group Reference is entered, students will see who else has joined the group and have the option of staying or leaving the Group at that stage.

      What if my application has been submitted and I haven’t put my friends on it?

      If you can provide us with the unique Group Reference we can manually add that to your application, however, this is only after confirmation has been given from the other group members that they wish to include you in their grou

    How to apply?

    How to apply?

    Applications to Ulster University are done through UCAS.

    For the majority of courses the application deadline is
    25 January 2023.

    There will be a UCAS points tariff for the course you’re applying for or specific subject grades.

    Find out more about UCAS and deadline dates

    Download Our Applying to UCAS Webinar!

    Complete the form below and we'll send you a link to a recording of our Applying to UCAS Webinar.

    Cost of Living

    Did you know that the cost of living in NI* is roughly €250 cheaper than living in ROI? That’s approximately 35 Big Mac Meals.
    Plus, accommodation costs in Dublin are almost double!

    Compare the college and living costs in our handy tables below.

    * A single person estimated monthly costs without rent.

    ** Euro conversions are approximate and accurate at the time of publication.

    • City Living Costs
      City Living Costs

      City

      *Living Costs

      Belfast (UU CAMPUS CITY)

      £569.72 / €667.28

      Cork

      £734.22 / €858.50

      Derry~Londonderry (UU CAMPUS CITY)

      £524.50 / €613.52

      Dublin

      £772.75 / €903.55

      Edinburgh

      £687.29 / €803.94

      Galway

      £724.26 / €846.85

      Liverpool

      £645.87 / €756.47

      London

      £844.77 / €988.15

      Manchester

      £673.64 / €787.98

      Newcastle Upon Tyne

      £587.61 / €687.34

      • * A single person estimated monthly costs without rent.
      • ** Eur conversions are approximate and accurate at the time of publication.

    3 Campuses. 1 University

    Derry ~ Londonderry (Magee)

    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Allied Health Programmes
    • Cinematic Arts
    • Engineering
    • Irish Language
    • Law
    • Nursing
    • Personalised Medicine
    • Paramedic Science

    Coleraine

    • Biology
    • Biomedical Sciences
    • English
    • Environmental Science
    • Geography
    • History
    • Marine Sciences
    • Optometry
    • Pharmacy
    • Psychology

    Belfast

    • Architecture
    • Art/Design
    • Business/Management
    • Computing
    • Fashion and Textiles
    • Games Design
    • Hospitality and Events
    • Law
    • Marketing
    • Politics
    • Sport

    “I’ve returned to education and am currently studying at the Jordanstown Campus. It’s a brilliant facility and very convenient for me to get home to Donegal quickly if I need to. I am able to use the Magee and Coleraine facilities too if needed. I’m loving my time here at Ulster University.”

    MSc Sport & Exercise student from Glenswilly and Donegal Gaelic Football Captain Michael Murphy

    Learn about everything UU!

    New to Ulster?  Listen to our Student Outreach and Recruitment Officer Conan Meehan as he takes you through everything UU.

    Contact Us

    If you need any help or advice with your UCAS application please contact a member of the team – see details below:

    Conan Meehan

    Student Outreach and Recruitment Officer

    Market Engagement

    Belfast

    BD-05-017

    +44 28 9536 5806 c.meehan@ulster.ac.uk

    Jonathan Holland

    Student Outreach and Recruitment Officer

    Market Engagement

    Belfast

    BD-05-017C

    +44 28 9536 5637 jk.holland@ulster.ac.uk

    1Which?, 2018
    2UU vs UCD Accommodation difference for 2 semesters.
    *Across a 3-year degree.

    Elsewhere on Ulster

    Explore the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

    Explore the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment

    Explore the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences

    Explore the Ulster University Business School

    Courses and Research

    • Search for courses
    • Undergraduate courses at Ulster University
    • Postgraduate courses at Ulster University
    • Part-time courses at Ulster University
    • Short courses and CPD at Ulster University
    • Study online at Ulster University
    • Doctoral College - Research Degrees
    • PURE Research Portal

    Campus locations

    • Belfast campus
    • Coleraine campus
    • Derry ~ Londonderry campus
    • Jordanstown Sports Village
    • London and Birmingham
    • Qatar

    Campus facilities

    • Accommodation / Residential Services
    • Sports Services - Memberships and Facilities
    • Library Services and resources supporting learning, teaching and research at the University
    • Estates Services and building facilities

    About The University

    • About Ulster University
    • Contact Details
    • Job opportunities
    • Key calendar dates
    • Faculties at Ulster University
    • News - Ulster University
    • Events - Ulster University

    Other sites

    • Alumni and Supporters Department Website
    • Confucius Institute at Ulster
    • Employability and Careers Department Website
    • Finance Department
    • Flexible Education Department Website
    • Digital Services Department Website
    • People and Culture Department Website
    • Student Wellbeing Department Website
    • Sustainability Department Website

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