Job Opportunities at Queen's

Property in and around Belfast has developed considerably in recent years, adding a variety of new-build flats and apartments to complement the quiet residential areas in and around the University and its botanic gardens. The sector is experiencing a slow rebound from the recent real estate crisis, and prices remain depressed throughout the city and its environs.

Many academics prefer to live close to the University. South and south-east Belfast, in and around Queen’s, comprises some of the nicest residential neighbourhoods in the city and many of the main cultural hotspots: the restaurants and bars in and around the University and the Ormeau Road; shopping down the Lisburn Road, Belfast’s analogue to Oxford Street; the wide, green parks south of the city centre; and easy access both to the city centre and to the walking paths leading along the river Lagan.

The residential neighbourhoods situated to the south and to the east of Queen’s contain traditional, three-bedroom detached and semi-detached homes, with surprising amounts of space for the cost. Homes in areas across the Rugby Road, Stranmillis and Ravenhill can range from below £200,000 to £600,000 and above for the largest properties.

Not far, there are numerous new developments along the Lagan, ranging from affordable flats to multi-storey glass-panelled townhouses. These homes are extremely affordable and offer easy access to the University campus as well as to the amenities and spaces enumerated above.

Easily Belfast’s nicest properties within reasonable distance of the city centre are those situated along the many streets leading off the Malone Road south of the University campus. These range from £400,000 into six figures and are well-known among locals as prime Belfast real estate. Given the cache involved, many of the homes, ranging from townhouses to semi-detached and fully detached houses, would be surprisingly affordable for individuals slightly further along in their careers.

Belfast is not a large cityheading out into the Antrim countryside is difficult. More distant commuter towns can occasionally provide extraordinary space at excellent cost; and then there are towns like Holywood, Cultra and Whiteabbey on either side of the Lough, which are beautiful neighbourhoods ten to fifteen minutes’ drive from the city, with beautiful views of the countryside and – whilst  multi-million pound properties can be found in these areas –2- to 3-bedroom family houses are available at prices consistent with those in the more urban residential areas closer to the University.