FAQs

We welcome applications from students who have completed at least one year in full-time higher education by the point of intended entry to Stranmillis University College and are of sound academic standing (see further information on this below).

You are required to be in good academic standing with your home institution, with an accumulative US GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) or equivalent. We will ask for a copy of your Transcript of Records.

International students wishing to apply to Stranmillis University College (and for whom English is not their first language), are required to meet a minimum of B2 Level in all four components (speaking, listening, reading and writing) in order to benefit fully from their course of study, and must be able to provide evidence of proficiency. A full list of accepted qualifications can be found here.

Stranmillis is affiliated with Queen’s University of Belfast who offers an in-sessional English Language Programme.  The in-sessional programme provides English language classes aimed at helping International and Erasmus+ students whose native language is not English.  These classes are offered to incoming QUB/Stranmillis International and Erasmus+ students at preferential rates.  For more information, please email international@stran.ac.uk.

First, your home university must nominate you to Stranmillis University College by contacting the International Office, providing the relevant information (name, contact details, length of stay, subject area). We will e-mail you directly with information about our online application process.  Applications are considered on a rolling basis until the application deadline. 

An application is only considered complete when we have received the following:

• a nomination from a partner institution
• completed Stranmillis University College application form
• CAS request form – for those students who will require a visa

and copies of:

• an up-to-date and official academic transcript (in English)
• personal details page of your passport, including photograph
• evidence of your English proficiency, where appropriate
• travel and health insurance cover
• police clearance certificate

If your university has an agreement with Stranmillis University College you are welcome to apply as an exchange student.  Please contact your University’s International office as students participating through both the Erasmus+ and International Student Exchange Programmes must be nominated by their home university.

Stranmillis University College’s International Office will then contact you with the application procedure.

Semester One (Fall) or full academic year

Nomination Deadline: 1st May
Application Deadline:  1st June 

Semester Two (Spring)

Nomination Deadline: 1st October
Application Deadline:  15th October 

Short Programmes

Short-term study abroad programme deadlines are as per prior agreement

Students should review the course information provided and discuss their choices with faculty at their home institution. Learning Agreements must be completed before arrival at Stranmillis and changes can only be made in exceptional circumstances. Please make sure to double check if a visa is required for any of your chosen modules and that you have the correct amount of credits required.

On completion of your study period, the Transcript of Records containing a full and accurate record of achievements will be forwarded to the International Offices of our University partners.

EU students (e.g. those on the Erasmus+ exchange programme) can stay in the UK as a student for up to 6 months without a visa, but you must meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements. Please note that you cannot do paid or unpaid work (this includes work experience or work placements). Further information can be found here and here. Should you wish to select a module that requires a work placement, you will then need to apply for a Student Route Visa.

All international students applying from outside the EU are required to apply for a Student Route Visa and all students applying to study for a full academic year are also required to apply for a Student Route Visa.

International Students on a Student Route Visa are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week. This is a maximum of 20 hours in total in any one week, including paid or unpaid work and for one or more organisation. The 20 hours cannot be averaged over a longer period.  A ‘week’ is defined by the Home Office as a period of 7 days beginning with a Monday.

However, students should note that they are studying a full-time course and therefore care should be taken to allow sufficient time to complete study preparation, assignments, etc in order to complete the course.

If you are studying under a Student Route Visa, you can complete a placement which may include school observations, teaching practice and voluntary work placements.

Students studying as a Standard Visitor cannot complete any type of placement.

Students from the European Union (EU) can arrive via any UK or Republic of Ireland airport or seaport and travel onward to Belfast and Stranmillis University College.

Students coming under a Student Visa should arrive into the UK with the exception of students coming from the USA, who can enter via Dublin, but all must retain their boarding pass as evidence of entry.

Further information regarding arriving via the Republic of Ireland is available on the UKCISA website.

Stranmillis University College does not have an airport collection scheme.  However. we do have a Student Executive who are Stranmillis students who volunteer to support incoming Erasmus+ and International students and will be in contact prior to your arrival in Northern Ireland to ensure your safe arrival at College.

Belfast is within an hour of all major UK cities by plane and Dublin Airport is just a couple of hours drive away. Belfast is served by two airports: George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport which are both linked to the city by regular bus services. Dublin International Airport is located approximately 100 miles to the south.

Bus: The Airport Express Bus Service (Service 300) operates a regular service on weekdays and weekends. The bus leaves from the bus stop located opposite the terminal exit.

Taxi: The International Airport Taxi Company, official taxi operator for the Belfast International Airport, are available for hire 24 hours a day 7 days a week outside the right hand door of the airport Exit Lobby.  Only taxis approved by Belfast International Airport are permitted to use the taxi rank.  A list of sample fares is displayed in the exit hall of the terminal building. A taxi share scheme to Belfast is available for those who wish to use it. For bookings, contact the Belfast International Airport Taxi Company on +44 (0)28 9448 4353.

Bus: The Airport Express Bus Service (Service 600) operates every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 40 minutes on Sunday from outside the airport to the Belfast Europa Bus Centre adjacent to the Europa Hotel, in the heart of the city. The service, Airport Express 600, operates between the hours of 0545-2125.

Train:  A shuttle bus service operates between the airport terminal and the rail halt at Sydenham. Please go to the information desk and ask for the service. You’ll be instructed to wait by the taxi rank where the shuttle bus will collect you. This service runs every 20 minutes Monday – Saturday between the hours of 0600-2300 and hourly on Sundays (0900-2200) to Victoria Street Station (beside the Europa Bus Centre).

Taxi: Approved taxis operate from the Airport taxi rank outside the terminal building. Wheel-chair accessible taxis are available. The approximate cost of a taxi to Belfast City Centre from Belfast City Airport with our approved taxi provider is £10.00 (including £2 surcharge). All fares are subject to a £2 surcharge).

There are regular bus services (Airport Express Service X1) which run between Dublin airport and Belfast Europa Bus Station. The pick up point is outside the main terminal. Tickets can be purchased on the bus or alternatively online at Translink airport services

Students travelling on a visa must ensure they are eligible to travel via Dublin which is in the Republic of Ireland – See Visa and Immigration Section.

Stranmillis University College offers the only fully catered package for students in Belfast in our Halls of Residence. The College grounds provide a beautiful and peaceful rural setting in the heart of the university area of the City.  We encourage all our visiting international students stay in Halls and be part of our community. 

For further information on cost and application procedure, please email Stranmillis Halls Accommodation at: halls@stran.ac.uk

Keys are available from the Halls Office, Monday-Friday, 0900-1700. If arriving after 1700 or at the weekend, please inform the Halls staff prior to arrival to make alternative arrangements. 

Students can select modules from the following degree programmes:  BEd Primary, BEd Post Primary, BA Early Childhood Studies and BSc Physical Education and Sport. For the list of modules please see course information section.

Students should select from one pathway only.  A variety of options are provided which have been designed to make the selection process as simple as possible within each pathway.  The options are sent to students once nominations have been received.  

The module options provided are design to help students to select modules.    Students should select modules for a maximum of 60 CATS/30 ECTS/15 US per semester or as per home university requirements. Most modules carry 20 CATS/10 ECTS/5 US but some carry 10 CATS/15/ ECTS.2.5US.

Students should consider carefully their modules choices as these cannot be changed except by the International Office due to unforeseen circumstances such as timetable clashes .  The chosen modules must be submitted as early as possible and before arrival.

Stranmillis uses the CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points system, which is a UK recognised method of quantifying credit for a particular course within higher education. CATS equates to the European grading system (ECTS) and USA credit grading system as follows:

20 CATS – 10 ECTS – 5 USA credits

Full Year of Study: 120 CATS – 60 ECTS – 30 USA Credits

One Semester of study: 60 Cats – 30 ECTS – 15 USA Credits

A number of modules have integrated placement requirements and international students taking these modules must have a Student Route Visa.

There is plenty to do and see on-campus, Belfast and beyond.  Discover Northern Ireland website will provide you with many ideas as well as the College’s International Office and Students’ Union.

While staying in the Halls of Residence you will receive breakfast and dinner every day.  However there are numerous places to eat or have a coffee within walking distance of the College – on the vibrant Lisburn Road, Queen’s Quarter and the Ormeau Road. There are also a number of supermarkets close-by to purchase any essentials.

Belfast is a small city and it is possible to walk to the city centre from the campus. The Metro bus service covers greater Belfast.  Ulsterbus and trains will take you elsewhere in Northern Ireland. Check the Translink website for more information and student discounts.  The best route for Stranmillis students to the City Centre (and back!) is the Metro 8a.

There are also Belfast Bikes which you can hire to take you to different parts of the city.  Currently, the closed bike station is located at Queen’s University

Stranmillis University College Students Union has an on-site Scholars bar and social space, which is the place to meet and socialise and there are different events planned every week.  A twenty minute walk will take you to the Queen’s University Students Union as well as  many venues in the Queen’s Quarter, all within walking distance.

Further in the city centre, a short taxi or bus journey away, is the thriving Cathedral Quarter with lots of venues to choose from.

A good website to visit for lots of ideas and an insight into what Belfast can offer is www.visitbelfast.com.

The College has a small gym with a nominal charge – the Students’ Union can provide more details when you arrive.  Queen’s University has a much larger facility which you can have access to as a student of Stranmillis.  Further details:  www.queenssport.com

The Stranmillis Students’ Union run a variety of sport and non-sport clubs and societies such as football, rugby, GAA, Christian Union, drama, music and volleyball.  Students are also eligible to participate in Queen’s University clubs and societies as well.

Students will have many opportunities to travel within Northern Ireland and beyond (subject to any restrictions for those travelling on visas).  However, students must attend all timetabled classes and placement activities.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) is the UK’s national advisory body supporting international students and those who work with them. They provide advice, guidance and information about all aspects of the international student experience, from immigration and fees to mental health, culture shock and orientation.

Their website has a wealth of information to help students as they prepare to study and live in the UK.

https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information–Advice

This site will provide information about studying in Northern Ireland.

https://nireland.britishcouncil.org/study

This is the UK’s Home Office website which provides information and advice in relation to visas required and entering the UK as a student.

https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/student-visas

EXCHANGE/ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME

You will not need to pay tuition fees to your host university on your exchange. Your study abroad semester/year will be funded by your Student Maintenance Loan as normal. This may be adjusted depending on your circumstances and the country that you are studying in. Students are advised to speak to Student Finance for further guidance.

To study at Stranmillis University College, we may require evidence that you can support yourself financially while abroad. This can be in the form of a financial guarantor agreement, funds via a bank statement, or student loan letter. We will contact you directly should we need this information. You should always research these costs before you apply to study abroad and budget accordingly.

Please note too, that for those students who will need to apply for a student visa, please be aware that costs will vary from each country and often with an admin fee attached to the process.

As well as understanding the costs associated with a study abroad placement, it is important to think about budgeting. We strongly advise you do your research thoroughly for information on things to consider before you go abroad such as opening a bank account abroad, avoiding scams and living abroad on a budget.

Remember to inform your bank about your placement year in good time before leaving the UK. This is to avoid your bank account being suspended for suspicious activity. It is important that you write down any important contact numbers. This is so that you are able to get in touch with your bank in case of emergencies while you are abroad.