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Marise
Marise
Moving away from home for the first time can be exciting and scary. Therefore, it is essential to have a go-to guide to get started. In this Belfast Student Guide, we have listed the critical information you need to know about being a student in Belfast.
Table of Contents
Introduction to our Belfast Student Guide
When arriving in Belfast, you will likely hear the usual debate within the first day: Jordanstown versus Queens. “Jordanstown students colour with crayons” and “Jordanstown students are Queen’s rejects” are popular arguments, all in jest.
On arrival, you will be bombarded with ‘Club Reps’ convincing you their nightclub is the best. They will offer free entry wristbands, a guestlist, and many freebies and lanyards. Take advantage. You will have free entry options even if you haven’t decided where to go. Every student in Belfast has a collection of club lanyards hanging in their room.
Belfast Student Guide: Areas of Interest
Belfast is a big city with many areas you will explore while studying. However, here are the most important places you will spend time as a student.
Holylands, aka Party Central
If you decide to live in the Holylands or have a friend who chooses to live there, you will 100 per cent see many crazy things, from people waking up in the morning in their gardens to the long ‘Rock the Boat’ line on St. Patrick’s Day. You will also become a regular at Hatfield and The Rose and Crown.
McClay Library
The McClay Library is the main library at Queen’s University Belfast. Of course, we all leave things until the week before their due date to complete. During exam season, the McClay becomes exceptionally crowded; unless you arrive at 9 a.m., you are unlikely to find a seat.
However, this time of year is also the best time to be in the McClay. Many students will spend hours and ‘all-nighters’ in the library, which becomes a community. At night, the canteen section becomes a fast-food haven, and everyone talks and stresses out together.
Halls/ student housing
In 2018, Queen’s University built two new student accommodation buildings in the city centre. However, I believe Elms Village, BT9, is the best option for the first year. Instead of an apartment block, it is much more of a community. One of the aspects that help this community is the grassy areas and the BBQ pits, making summer a fun time to chill out with your newly made friends.
Belfast Student Guide: Clubs
There are many nightclubs in Belfast for students to enjoy. Here are some clubs that are popular among Belfast students.
Limelight
Limelight is one of, if not the, most popular nightclubs for students. It is iconic, having been around for many years. It is open Monday through Saturday and has a different theme night each night. At the start of each semester, buy your Scratch Monday ticket in advance; otherwise, be prepared to arrive as soon as the doors open.
Every student has been at least once, enjoying cheesy music and ‘Africa’ by Toto, and has had one too many Chocolate Tequila shots. Every student has had a week where they have accidentally gone here three times in one week.
To save money on Tuesdays and Thursdays, befriend a club rep and ask to be on the guest list. They even offer a Techno night on Wednesdays, which includes drink promos and a guest list.
Filthy McNastys
Okay, this nightclub is not as gross as it sounds. It is one of the most popular nightclubs for Belfast students. Their main student nights are Tuesday (Craic’s 90) and Thursday (dsqo). Both nights offer drink promos and fantastic music to enjoy and dance to. As it was recently renovated in 2018, there is much more room to boogie.
To help those student pockets, we recommend finding a club rep and asking them to be put on the guestlist for cheaper entry.
Undeniably, the smoking area is one of the best aspects of this club. It is large and has two stories. A large tree is also in the centre, decorated with fairy lights.
Thompson’s Garage
Another oldie. Everyone has stepped into Thompson’s Garage at least once as a Belfast student. It is in the middle of Belfast city centre and offers a club night every night, Monday through Sunday.
Again, try to get on the guestlist for cheaper entry. We’re students and can’t afford to pay full price for entry into a nightclub!
Belfast Student Guide: Bars
Belfast offers a range of clubs for everyone. As much as everyone enjoys Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter- it doesn’t entirely suit the regular student’s price range. Therefore, we have listed a couple of the best Belfast student guides to bars in the city.
Cuckoo
This bar is the perfect mix of nerdy and funky. It is a gamer’s dream, offering many arcade games and themed Jamjars: next time you are there, try a Harley Quin.
They offer cheap drinks and great quizzes weekly. They also have some club nights in their upstairs area. As well as karaoke, beer pong tournaments and much more.
Parlour
This cheap and cheerful pub is located on Elmwood Avenue, next to Queen’s University. It offers excellent food, cheap drinks, and cocktail jugs—what more could a student ask for?
This bar also offers a large beer garden full of twinkly fairy lights and live music some nights.
Speakeasy
The Student Union Bar is the heart of Queen’s University. With a large outdoor area, a pool table, and cheap drinks, it is one of the best places for students to chill.
They also offer quizzes and show many sports games and special viewings of shows, such as the Love Island Finale. Their main target is Belfast students, so they keep their events and prices aimed at this audience.
The Points
This bar is definitely one that students should visit. It is an Irish bar offering live music and a great atmosphere. Ideally, It is opposite Filthy McNastys, allowing students to go between the two areas.
Belfast Student Guide: Food
There are many restaurants and cafes nearby for students to enjoy. Here, in this student guide, are two favourites of all students:
Maggie Mays
This cafe is a cure for all student hangovers. It offers Berocca on its drink menu and all-day breakfasts, catering to students and their hangovers.
Boojum
As a student in Belfast, you will make Boojum a regular place to eat. The closest to Queen’s University is the one on Botanic Avenue. However, there are many scattered across Belfast. Dara O’Briain has gone as far as calling Boojum the home of the best Boojum in the world.
This is a burrito bar that offers burritos, burrito bowls, and much more. Every student has a loyalty card and awaits the day they receive their well-deserved Boojum T-Shirt when they have 40 stamps. You will also see some proudly wearing their T-shirts around the campus.
Have you visited or been a student in Belfast? We hope you found this Belfast Student Guide helpful! Let us know in the comments section below!
If you enjoyed this Belfast student guide, be sure to check out more posts about life in Belfast:
24 Hours in Belfast: Experience the Best of Northern Ireland’s Capital City | The Wonders of Festival Fools in Belfast, Northern Ireland | Best Restaurants in Belfast, Northern Ireland | Culture Night in Belfast
