Routes to University - Stranmillis University College | A College of Queen's University Belfast

Routes to University

There’s more than one route to a university degree in Northern Ireland.

It’s time to start considering your options ahead of results day.

If you don’t get the grades to get straight into university, you don’t have to move away from Northern Ireland. There are plenty of options right here.

The six colleges in Northern Ireland offer a wide range of Higher Education (HE) courses that are closely aligned with industry demand and run in conjunction with other top UK education providers.

Course types include Degrees, Foundation Degrees, HNDs, HNCs and Higher Level Apprenticeships.
Areas of study include Business, Accounting, Travel and Tourism, Construction, Health and Social Care, Sport and many more.

Routes to University – Stranmillis University College

Study a foundation degree or other higher education qualification at one of Northern Ireland’s six further education colleges then progress to complete your degree at Stranmillis University College or other local institutions, or enter full time employment.

Stranmillis, in partnership with local Further Education Colleges, offers two year foundation degrees in Early Childhood Studies and Health, Physical Activity and Sport. We also offer a four year part-time BA degree in Early Childhood Studies. Foundation degrees may allow progression, for students who successfully complete the course, to Year 2 of the relevant degree programme at Stranmillis University College.

Course	Entry Requirements	Location	Duration	Course Information
Foundation Degree - Early Childhood Studies	CC	All six Regional Colleges	2 years F/T or 3 years P/T	Click here
Foundation Degree – Health, Physical Activity & Sport	CC	Belfast Met	2 years	Click here
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (Part-time)	BBB	SWC (Omagh) SRC (Newry) Stranmillis UC	4 years	Click here

How does it works?

Here is an example of a typical route. You start by studying a two-year foundation degree at a regional college.

If you meet the entry criteria, you can progress to study at a university in Northern Ireland for a further two years and complete a full degree.

Study a two-year foundation degree in Health, Physical Activity and Sport at Belfast Metropolitan College.

Meet the eligibility to enter Year 2 of the BSc (Hons) Health, Physical Activity and Sport degree at Stranmillis University College in or go straight into employment.

Graduate with an Honours degree after two years of study

What are the benefits?

Get a world class education, close to home, while enjoying a low cost of living and a vibrant social life.

Save: Northern Ireland Colleges and Universities have extremely competitive higher education fees in comparison to the rest of the UK.

Spend: Studying close to home will help you to save on living expenses; allowing you to fully enjoy your time in higher education.

Connections: By staying within NI you’ll remain close to your support network of family and friends.

Qualification: The academic qualifications awarded by NI Colleges and Universities are recognised worldwide.

Skills: NI Colleges and Universities develop course content in partnership with local employers, providing you with the skills local employers want.

Employment: High numbers of local graduates obtain employment or go onto further study.

Contribute: By staying local you will contribute to the NI economy, helping us grow and build for our future.

Routes to University – Other Institutions

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is a specialist college for land-based courses in the agri-food and rural sectors in Northern Ireland.

View Courses

Queen’s works in partnership with the Further Education colleges and offer a number of qualifications across a broad range subject areas which allow progression to Queens University undergraduate programmes.