Why I chose Queen's

Believe it or not, I initially wanted to do Medicine, inspired by my dad and my love for patient-oriented work. I wasn’t always 100% sure about it, but still went with the flow. But the moment I realised Dentistry is what I really wanted to do, the university hunt started. Queen’s University Belfast immediately stood out to me because it was rated best in the UK for Dentistry (Guardian University Guide 2026) and is also part of the prestigious Russell Group.

It also stood out as one of the few universities that offered early exposure to clinics and hands-on teaching, which made me really excited to start. And the moment I saw the university building and the city on YouTube, I was sold.

Find out more about the Dentistry course at Queen's

My welcome and orientation experience

As an international student, I arrived by a flight from London to Belfast City Airport, which is conveniently very close to Queen’s main accommodation buildings. There was a Queen’s welcome team on site at the airport upon my arrival, who welcomed me, gave me some freebies, and escorted me directly to the taxi service for my accommodation. Talk about princess treatment.

The taxi services here are very accessible, as there are some accommodations with phones that directly connect you to the cab service; and their prices are very affordable, especially for students.

Even though I arrived at uni after the official orientation week, I was still able to enjoy an evening of Freshers' Week, which was really fun and filled with useful freebies and information. I was able to have an overview of the club and societies here at Queen’s, which by the way, there are A LOT of.

On my first day on campus, I wasn’t sure where to go to collect my student ID, but I was immediately helped by a lovely member of staff from one of the uni buildings who guessed I was definitely lost by the look on my face. She directed me to the correct site, where I got assisted with my paperwork. 

There are over 240 clubs and societies at Queen's

My student life at Queen’s

As I mentioned earlier, Queen’s has a variety of societies, including sports clubs. I really try to stay active, so joining sports clubs have always been on my uni list. I joined the Muay Thai Club and went for multiple Brazilian Jujutsu classes given by the Jiu Jitsu Club. The people there are all so lovely, it’s hard to believe we are doing combat sport. But I have already learned so much, and I keep improving day after day. It's also an amazing opportunity to socialise and meet new people, and potentially make future friends for life, so I would definitely recommend joining a sports club or any other clubs or societies.

There are also multiple cultural societies here that really emphasise inclusivity and diversity, with multiple events being organised at different times of the year, celebrating different cultures. Those events are usually the highlights of my evenings, and discovering new ways and different foods always intrigues me.

As someone who enjoys learning languages, Queen’s Language Centre came to me as such a great opportunity to exercise that passion. They provide a wide range of languages at an insanely discounted price of only £20 for Queen’s students. So you can learn a language you really like with proper support and direction outside of your uni hours.

I also enjoy attending seasonal events such as the Christmas market, which is conveniently located near Queen’s accommodation. It's always a lot of fun with a wide variety of delicious foods and treats to enjoy. And I even saw real reindeer here for the first time, magical.

At the Belfast Christmas Market

Thinking of coming to Queen's?

For anyone coming to Belfast to study at Queen’s from Cameroon, I would advise bringing with you only some of the more niche items, like ‘baton de manioc’ and ‘Ndole leaves’, because most items will be available here in African and Caribbean shops.

Do not overpack like I did, because you can buy most things here, and only take things that really matter to you. Also, it is a lot colder here, so coats from Cameroon will not do much; make sure you only get like one or two and buy thicker ones here. Also make sure to get an adaptor before travelling to avoid the hustle of a first day with no battery and stress!

Find out more

Take a Virtual Tour of Queen's

Information for students from Cameroon

Belonging That Matters: The African Caribbean Society at Queen’s University Belfast

Diane Vanessa Meguem Taptue Dentistry | Undergraduate Student | Cameroon Hi! I am Vanessa, and I am a Cameroonian first-year Dentistry student at Queen’s University. I love my course, sports activities, learning new languages and binge-watching shows in one day. I am a night-owl, and unfortunately, life is not easy on this side of the force when you have a 9am lecture. Hope you find my POV on Queen’s and Belfast useful.