Frequently Asked Questions

Queen’s University Belfast will commence teaching as planned on 21 September 2020 – this applies to all undergraduate programmes.

Queen’s University Belfast will commence teaching as planned on 21 September 2020 for many programmes.  However, Queen’s has revised start dates for a number of Postgraduate Master’s programmes for the academic year 2020-21. To be clear:

(i) For some programmes, there will be an option of choosing either September 2020 or January 2021 start date. In this case, offer-holders may choose the option which best suits their circumstances.

(ii) For some programmes, September 2020 start date option will no longer be offered, and all students will be invited to start the course in January 2021 instead.           

(iv) For remaining programmes, September 2020 start date still applies.

For information on individual programme start dates where there is an alternative or revised start date, please refer to the table below:

Key:

Y= Yes, programme is offered
N = No, programme is not offered

Delivery Model

To support the additional January start date, applicants may be interested to know how the programme will be delivered.  Queen’s have decided to use the following delivery models which are indicated on the table below:

Delivery Model 1 – Students will undertake 3 taught modules from January 2021 – April 2021.   Students will then undertake their dissertation from May 2021 – August 2021 and will undertake the final 3 taught models from September 2021 – December 2021

Delivery Model 2 – Students will undertake 6 taught modules from January 2021 – August 2021.  Students will then undertake their dissertation from September 2021 – December 2021.

Key:

Y= Yes, programme is offered
N = No, programme is not offered

We will deliver a Connected Learning approach with face-to-face teaching, in accordance with social distancing, being complemented by online delivery as necessary.

We're doing everything we can to limit any impact the coronavirus may have on current applications to study at Queen's University Belfast.

Currently, our Admissions team and academic schools are working hard to process all applications as normal and provide decisions as quickly as possible. However, there may be a slight delay in processing decisions due to the present situation and Admissions teams working remotely.

We will be closely following the UK government’s advice with regard to any quarantine requirements for inbound travellers to the UK in order to understand any impact it may have upon our new and returning students by September 2020. We're working hard to ensure that any appropriate arrangements will be in place to support our students.

We understand that the current disruption to studies around the world will be a cause for concern for applicants and prospective students due to begin University studies in 2020.

We'll do our best to extend deadlines for the receipt of transcripts and other application documents wherever possible. As the extent of the disruption becomes clearer, we will be in a better position to update you on other related policies.

Please be assured that we're considering this as a matter of urgency and you'll be updated by email as soon as possible.

You should check the relevant website of the awarding body and take advice from your high school where possible.   The University recognises that some students may now not be able to complete the examination which is required to meet the conditions of their offer.  If this is the case for you, please contact us by emailing intl.student@qub.ac.uk so as our Admissions team can advise you what to do. 

We're aware that education systems in the UK and around the world have been disrupted and we're closely monitoring the situation. We will be as flexible as we can where applicants aren't able to meet the conditions of their offers in the way they expected, or at the time they expected.

At this stage, you don't need to let us know of any closures that affect you. We'll be in touch if this changes and will keep this page updated as well.

We are still accepting applications for September 2020 entry. Students who wish to apply should make an application in the normal way.

We are continuing to monitor this situation closely and will update our FAQs with any changes – please check back here to make sure that there haven’t been any updates to our position before you make your application.

Yes, all deposits paid are fully refundable if you are unable to take up your offer.  Deposits are also fully transferrable to your new preferred start date, if you wish to defer your offer to January or September 2021.

If you are currently holding a conditional offer, and wish to commence study with us in September, you should arrange to send us all final academic and English language documentation as soon as possible, and arrange to pay any deposits as required.  If you are having difficulty completing your current qualification or think that you will be unable to obtain official documentation to evidence completion of your degree, please contact us by email intl.student@qub.ac.uk. 

If you are holding a conditional offer and wish to defer your application to January or September 2021, please contact us so as we can advise of your options.

Supporting documents are not required when you first apply to the University. If you are successful with your application and offered a place, you will need to provide transcripts of your previous studies by a particular deadline – usually in July/August.

If you are not able to provide these by the specified date due to coronavirus, please contact the Admissions Team at intl.stud@qub.ac.uk for further advice.

For questions regarding an application, please contact Admissions: intl.student@qub.ac.uk. 

For questions relating to CAS statement, please contact our CAS team: cas.info@qub.ac.uk.

You can also contact your regional representative: https://www.qub.ac.uk/International/Contact-us/

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) has confirmed that May 2020 examinations for the IB Diploma Programme will not be held in any country.  IB students will be awarded grades by the IBO for each of their registered subjects on the basis of coursework marks and predicted grades.

It is expected that the IBO will publish the IB results on 5 July 2020.  Queen’s University Belfast will accept the grades awarded in the IB Diploma this year as normal.  We anticipate that we will be able to make decisions on receipt of these results – please note that it can take us a number of days to process decisions. 

Summer Schools across the three Faculties have been cancelled for 2020. Students registered to attend will be contacted directly by the School organisers.

Yes, accommodation will still be guaranteed.

If you accept an offer for accommodation but find you are unable to travel, or decide to defer your studies for 12 months, we will cancel your accommodation booking; the deposit, if already paid, is fully refundable.

If you arrive and start your course from September 2020 and then decide to withdraw or leave your accommodation contract for personal reasons, the normal terms for release from your contract will apply.

If you intend to arrive in September 2020 but your travel is delayed, as a result of COVID-19 restrictions or Visa issues, we will change the start date of your contract; you will only pay for accommodation from your arrival date.

Our student accommodation at Queen's University is open and accepting applications for 2020-21. You can apply for University accommodation by submitting an online application on our website here: https://www.qub.ac.uk/accommodation/apply-for-accommodation/

There is no closing date for students to apply. Allocations are made based on date of application so the earlier you apply the more chance you have of securing one of your room or location preferences.

With our accommodation guarantee you can apply for a place in Queen’s Accommodation, knowing that your deposit is fully refundable should you be unable to take up your place to study at Queen’s. We do not ask for any deposit until you have been accepted onto a place and we have offered you a room.

If your course commencement date has changed to January 2021 and you intend to arrive then, you must contact us and we will make this change to the contract start and end dates. The deposit will be transferred to the new contract starting date, unless you request it to be refunded.

For any questions relating to accommodation, please email our accommodation office on accommodation@qub.ac.uk or telephone on 0044 2890 97 4403 and our team will be happy to help.  You can also keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter accounts for further information about availability.

Due to the changing circumstances we are constantly updating our FAQs, please check the website and if you have any questions at all, please contact us via email on accommodation@qub.ac.uk - Apply at, www.qub.ac.uk/accommodation

INTO Queen’s is offering 8 week and 12 week Pre-Sessional English programmes, both of which are delivered on-line this year. Pre-Sessional English programmes are accepted for programmes starting both in September 2020 and also January 2021. For further information, please refer to: https://www.intostudy.com/en-gb/universities/queens-university-belfast/courses/online-pre-sessional-english

We look forward to welcoming international students to the INTO Study Centre on campus in September. We are continuing to monitor the global situation and are currently developing plans, which may include additional online courses, should global travel restrictions prevent you from being able to arrive on campus.

For the latest information visit the INTO site.

Yes, you can apply to the University without an English language test. You may be considered for a conditional offer where you have English language (and/or academic qualification) conditions outstanding.

Universities have discretion to choose the methods by which they assess the English language competence of students.   Queen's University will accept the IELTS Academic (both SELT and non-SELT), and TOEFL internet-based tests for direct admission to undergraduate and Postgraduate degree programmes.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased to confirm that for admission in the 2020-21 academic year, the University will accept IELTS and TOEFL tests which have been taken up to three years prior to the start of the course.

Other tests which may be accepted by the University for direct admission to degree programmes are listed here: https://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/Applying/English-language-requirements/

Yes, the University accepts the Duolingo English language test for direct entry.  You can find what scores you need, along with details of all of our other accepted English language tests on our website here: https://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/Applying/English-language-requirements/

If you have any queries regarding your admission, please contact the International Admissions team at intl.student@qub.ac.uk

Students applying for English Language preparation courses or pathway programmes offered by INTO Queen's are advised to contact INTO Queen's directly for information about English language requirements at into@qub.ac.uk. Further information from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regarding acceptable English language tests for visa purposes (for admission to programmes below degree level) and a list of test centres can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visa-approved-english-language-tests

Please check for updates on when visa offices (services) in your country are expected to re-open. 

Our International Student Support team is available to provide you with assistance and advice with your visa application.   You can contact them by emailing immigration@qub.ac.uk.

You must check that you meet the UK immigration eligibility requirements to apply for your visa in the UK. 

Our International Student Support team is available to provide you with assistance and advice with your visa application.   You can contact them by emailing immigration@qub.ac.uk.

The University will be commencing to issue CAS statements in early June, for students starting their course in September.   Please note that you cannot ‘use’ your CAS more than 3 months before your course start date.

When you apply for a Tier 4 visa you must include a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number.  The University will assign your CAS number through the UKVI system. In advance of issuing your CAS, the Admissions and Access Service will send you a form for you to provide details of any previous study in the UK, including copies of previous visa stamps. This form must be returned to cas.info@qub.ac.uk before a CAS can be issued.

The CAS number will be included in a letter called a ‘CAS statement’ which will be sent to you by the Admissions and Access Service.  This will have important information that you need for your visa application.

Important note:  A CAS statement (including a CAS number) will only be sent to eligible applicants who have firmly accepted an unconditional offer of a place.  It is important therefore that you inform the Admissions and Access Service as soon as possible whether you wish to accept or decline your offer.

If you have been granted immigration permission but you have not been able to enter the UK to start your study, you will be able to study online without Tier 4 sponsorship being withdrawn.

You should be able to enter the UK with your existing immigration permission when travel is possible, but check this with us my emailing immigration@qub.ac.uk before travelling. If your entry clearance was granted for longer than six months and you were issued with a 30-day vignette (sticker) which has expired, Home Office advice for UK visa applicants and UK temporary UK residents states that you can request a replacement entry clearance with revised validity dates free of charge until the end of 2020. You need to send an email to the Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre providing specified information, and the visa application centre should then contact you when it re-opens.

The same principle applies to Tier 4 dependants and others. If you are a dependant, the Tier 4 student in your family must still have valid Tier 4 leave, whether they are inside or outside the UK.

This information is provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) - please check their website regularly for updates as the situation develops: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Studying--living-in-the-UK/Coronavirus-Covid-19-info-for-international-students#layer-6726

We have a dedicated International Student Support team who are ready and willing to support you with all of your queries and to provide advice regarding your visa application.  Please contact immigration@qub.ac.uk in the first instance and a Visa Adviser will respond as soon as possible.