A new bursary scheme to support students from lower income backgrounds has been announced by Queen’s University Belfast. The scheme, worth over half million pounds, will support students in Northern Ireland from low-income families to help with accommodation costs.  

Vice-President of Students and Corporate Services at Queen’s, Caroline Young says: “There are many reasons why students opt for Queen’s accommodation including affordability, quality, a safe and supported living environment, 24/7 support, a Residential Life programme of social events and facilities including free coffee bars, cinema rooms, BBQ areas and more on offer. And we want to ensure that all students have equal opportunity to access these amenities, irrespective of background. 

“As A-level students begin their exams, we hope that this news will go some way in reducing any anxieties or uncertainties around securing suitable accommodation for those planning to attend Queen’s in September.”   

The bursary scheme will support approximately 450 students in the next academic year, reducing their costs by up to 37%. Any student from a lower income family (under £25k per annum), who is eligible for Student Loans Company (SLC) funding will automatically receive the bursary support if allocated Queen’s accommodation.  

President of Queen's Students' Union, Emma Murphy says: “This is a welcome initiative for our student community, particularly during the cost-of-living crisis. This bursary scheme will help to ensure equal access to accommodation for all, especially given the challenges currently faced by students in accessing affordable accommodation.” 

The bursary is part of a wider University programme of assistance including the Student Support Fund and the University Financial Assistance Fund, which both offer support to students facing financial difficulties whilst studying.  

Caroline added: “We currently have over 3,500 places in our student accommodation as well as 700 with partner providers, offering affordable, purpose-built student accommodation in the city. Our accommodation provides excellent value for money and as a result, we’ve seen a significant increase in demand. We are continuing to invest in Queen’s accommodation in order to meet increasing demand and as part of our plan, we want to make sure that we are providing equal access for all students.” 

UK, EU and International students alike have found providing a qualifying UK guarantor a hurdle when renting in the private sector. Housing Hand has partnered with Queen's University Belfast to alleviate this issue for students.

Housing Hand stands as the guarantor for the students, who are unable to provide one. You can use Housing Hand to help you with both Queen's Accommodation and privately rented accommodation.

Find out more and sign up

* Only for returning students who have paid accommodation fees previously by direct debit can make payments by this method.

** Returning international students only

• Queen's Accommodation Allocation Policy
• Conditions of Occupancy 2023-24

Check out the table below to see how Queen's Accommodation compares to privately rented options in Belfast.

For accommodation bookings, International students include any students who reside outside the UK, including students in the Republic of Ireland.

For International Students accepting a contract for 40, 44, 48 or 51 weeks starting in September the following payment options are available:

a) Full payment: before or at check-in.

b) 2 instalments: 50% of your accommodation fee before or at check-in, the balance being payable by 1^st February.

c) 1 instalment payment and 3 direct debit instalments. 25% instalment must be paid before or at check-in and three equal direct debit payments are made on 1^st January, 1^st February and 1^st  March.

Direct debit requirements:

• This payment plan can only be set up once the initial 25% payment has been made.
• Direct debits can only be collected from a UK current bank account and a UK bank account can be set up on arrival, please see bank account section for more details.
• Valid UK bank details must be added online to your accommodation account to allow sufficient time for a direct debit mandate to be set up for the first direct debit. Please click here to log on to your Queens Online Accommodation Account to add these details.
• Once the bank details have been received and verified a direct debit payment schedule will be created which will detail your scheduled payments and be sent to the email address you provided with your bank details.
• An email reminder will be sent to you in advance of each due payment date, noting the due date and to advise you that an administration charge of £25.00 will be applied for failed direct debit payments. Any charges will be added to your accommodation account. Outstanding charges will be deducted from your deposit at the end of the relevant academic year.

d) Returning students who have paid accommodation fees previously by direct debit can make payments using Plan C (above), or one of the NI/GB direct debit payment plans. The Residential Fees team can help if you need to check or amend the bank details saved on your Accommodation Account.

Check how to make a payment other than direct debit at the Payment methods section.

These students include students from N.Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. For students accepting a contract for 40, 44, 48 or 51 weeks starting in September the following payment options are available:

a) Full payment: before or at check-in.

b) 3 Direct Debits instalments

Your accommodation fee will be collected from your nominated bank account in three direct debit payments on the 1^st November, 1^st February and 1^st May.

These dates are scheduled to coincide with student loan payment dates – if you are due to receive your loan payments after these dates please contact the Residential Fees team.

c) 7 Direct Debits instalments

Your accommodation fee will be collected from your nominated bank account in consecutive monthly direct debit instalments from 1st November to 1st May inclusive. The payments are worked out by dividing your accommodation cost by the number of instalments.

Direct debit requirements:

• Valid UK bank details must be added online to your accommodation account before check-in weekend in September each year to allow sufficient time for a direct debit mandate to be set up for the first direct debit.

Please click here to log on to your Queens Online Accommodation Account to add these details.

• Once the bank details have been received and verified a direct debit payment schedule will be created which will detail your scheduled payments and be sent to the email address you provided with your bank details.
• An email reminder will be sent to you in advance of each due payment date, noting the due date and to advise you that an administration charge of £25.00 will be applied for failed direct debit payments. Any charges will be added to your accommodation account. Outstanding charges will be deducted from your deposit at the end of the relevant academic year.

Check how to make a payment other than direct debit at the Payment methods section.

As well as choosing from the payment plans for International students or NI/GB students, postgraduate students receiving a stipend or salary from Queen's University can have their accommodation fee deducted from the stipend in consecutive instalments,

• 7 instalments from October each year to April inclusive for a 40 week contract.
• 8 instalments from October each year to May inclusive for a 44 week contract.
• 10 instalments from October each year to July inclusive for a 48 or 51 week contract.

Students will be sent a stipend deduction form before arrival or on request from the Residential Fees team.

This form must be returned to the Residential Fees team by email or to your Elms Reception before the 1^st October.

For more information contact the Residential Fees team on ++44 (0)28 9097 4407.

Students accepting a contract of 8 weeks or less are required to pay their accommodation fee in full prior to taking up residence.

Students accepting a contract for one semester are required to pay their accommodation fee within one full week of taking up residence.

Students must provide evidence of sponsorship or scholarship from a government or other official organisation and contact the Residential Fees team on +44 (0)28 9097 4524.  

The team will then contact you to arrange a payment plan based on the disbursement dates of your award.

Students being funded by an organisation who requires an invoice for payment, must ensure contact name, email address and postal address can be provided.

Paying by Bank Transfer

To pay by bank transfer directly to Queen's Elms Accommodation, the payment must quote the student’s number and name as reference, and be made payable to the Accommodation bank account below:

Bank Address:                  

Ulster Bank
91-93 University Road
Belfast
BT7 1NG

Sort Code: 98-01-55
Account No: 30090415
Account Name: The Queen’s University of Belfast Elms Halls

It is essential that the bank processing the transfer quotes the name of the student and student number on the transaction. If this information is not included, it may result in a delay in processing the payment to the student’s account.

For payments that originate outside the United Kingdom, the following IBAN/Sort Code should be quoted.

IBAN:                  GB71 ULSB 9801 5530 0904 15
Swift Code:         ULSB GB 2B

Bank account details need only be added to your Accommodation account if you plan to make accommodation payments via direct debit. A UK bank account is required to set up a direct debit mandate.

If you already have a UK bank account,

• Check with your bank that your account allows direct debits to be taken.
• Junior and savings accounts do not allow for direct debits to be taken therefore you will need to contact your bank to upgrade your account.

For students who do not have a UK bank account, an account can be opened after you arrive.

1. Choose your preferred bank
2. Proof of residency will be required - you can access a proof of residency application online via your accommodation account.  A letter will be available for collection within 24 hours of your submission date.

You can then make arrangements with the bank to set up your current account, ensuring it can be used for direct debits. Once this is complete then add these details to your accommodation account.

Help is also available on how to open a UK bank account at My Queen's 

UK bank details must be added to your accommodation account as soon as possible to allow time for the direct debit mandate to be set up.

Once the bank details have been received and verified a direct debit payment schedule will be created which will detail your scheduled payments and be emailed to the address you provided when adding your bank details.

Please click here to log on to your Queen's Online Accommodation Account to add these details.

Changes to bank account details

If there are any changes to your bank account details contact the Residential Fees team immediately as 28 days notice is required to make any amendments to the direct debit instructions.

Returning students

If you are a returning student the bank details you submitted for the previous year can be used to process your direct debits. If you need to check these details or make any changes contract the Residential Fees team.

Payment of the £300 accommodation deposit confirms acceptance of your accommodation offer. 

This amount converts to a damage deposit and is held on your accommodation account for the length of your contract.

The damage deposit is not a pre-payment and therefore is not included in the residential fees.

When you check out of your accommodation, your room will be inspected and if there are any damages, the charges will be deducted from this deposit.

Your deposit will be refunded when you leave your accommodation, the room check is complete and your account is paid in full.

Deposits paid online via Worldpay will be refunded to the account that originally made the payment.

A deposit paid by any other method will be refunded by bank transfer.

If you have any questions or financial difficulties please call the Residential Fees team on 028 9097 4407/5639 Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm or email residentialfees@qub.ac.uk to speak to our Residential Fees team.

If you have any questions or financial difficulties please call the Residential Fees team on 028 9097 4407/5639 Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm or email residentialfees@qub.ac.uk to speak to our Residential Fees team.