Moving to Queen's, family and friends gave Ross McDonald advice on what to do and what not to do in Belfast. Here's how they matched up with reality.

Did you know it’s the safest place in the UK?

Worried Belfast is too far from your family? Don’t be. With cheap airfares and super speedy flight times, your nearest and dearest won’t be able to resist a visit (or three).

Sneha Parajuli from Nepal says NI’s beautiful landscapes are well worth tearing herself away from a Harry Potter binge on the sofa.

You don’t just get a quality room for a great price when you move into Queen’s Accommodation – you get to go on a range of fantastic trips, including to the Game of Thrones filming locations, says Clare Rhine, MBA.

When you arrive at Queen’s, prepare to get your GOT nerd on and express your inner Stark., says Master's student Marissa Piccolo, from Connecticut, USA.

Queen’s MBA student Clare Rhine and some of her new friends at Queen's bundled up for a day of exploring the North Antrim Coast. They saw it all, including the famous Giant's Causeway and The Dark Hedges!

Queen’s MA student Lily West gives her top picks for the best bookshops in Belfast for students

Summer is here (hurrah!) so there’s never been a better time to get out there and explore what’s on your doorstep. Here are a few places North and South of the border that I think are worth a visit this summer…

Belfast’s film industry is thriving with every major production crew from 'Line of Duty' to 'The Fall' coming to Northern Ireland, but which TV tribe do you belong to?

Hint: this can get confusing.

Did you know it’s the safest place in the UK?

Get your bearings with this local guide to the student hotspots.

Our guide to finding the right area to live in the city.

Your bite-sized guide to student life in the city.

From art and food to culture and comedy, Belfast has a packed schedule of international festivals, celebrations and events for you to enjoy. Here is just a snapshot.

If all you know about Belfast is what your parents have told you about a bygone era, think again. As these students found out, Belfast is safe, friendly and affordable modern city that’s buzzing with energy and culture.

Wondering what there is to do in your downtime while you're a student at Queen's? Take a leaf out of these students' books and take in the epic countryscapes, beaches and mountains right on the doorstep of Belfast.

All you need to know to sound like an expert in Northern Irish politics.

Explore caves, castles and coastline – and be back in time for tea!

School’s out for summer, so hit the road and visit the must-see sites of The Causeway Coast, the region dubbed the best in the world to visit this year!

If you’ve got an idea for an early stage start-up, there are plenty of investment opportunities right on your doorstep in Belfast – a city with innovation at its heart.

Belfast is a unique place, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Simple tips to smooth your transition to life at Queen’s.

Product Design Engineering student Andre McCarron knows that it's hard to make the student loan last. Here are his six simple tips to making your money go further.

Safe, friendly and affordable – what’s not to love?

Add this catch-all phrase for fun, entertainment, gossip, news and good banter to your vocab, stat.

Nervous about moving to Northern Ireland, a small country with people you’ve probably heard little about? Local student William Graham tells you everything you need to know about the NI locals.

Belfast is a thriving and fashion-forward city, bustling with high fashion boutiques and designer hot spots. Luckily, this blog post has already done the hard work and found all the best fashion spots in town.

Final year Film & Theatre Making student Christian Green loves going out and partying in Belfast so much he made this short video all about it.

Final year Film & Theatre Making student Christian Green breaks down some of the most common phrases you'll hear as a student in Northern Ireland.

Coming to Queen’s in September and keen to get your bearings? Film students Christian Green and Emily Wilson are here with your four-minute introductory guide.

Searching for a cultural reference point before you move to Belfast? Binge-watch these movies and TV shows to get up-to-speed on the local lingo and landscapes, says Ruchismita Bhattacharjee.

Living and studying at Queen’s University has been the best experience, but it’s not without a few surprises, says MBA student Shreya Mohal.

With this line-up, summer is well and truly heating up!

You’re going to university. The reality is you’re going to be doing a fair bit of reading. The perfect excuse to take a nosey round some of the cutest bookshops in and around Queen’s, says Peter Moor.

From cutting-edge comedy to big-band musicals, Belfast is home to some of the best theatre in the world.

On April 15th 1912, the famous Titanic ship sunk; 106 years on, Belfast pays homage to the passengers of the doomed liner.

Whether you're a movie buff or only in it for the blockbusters, there's a cinema to suit everyone in Belfast!

If you’re coming to the Open Day then let’s hope you’ve got an hour or two to spare before heading home as there’s a load to do in Belfast. Here’s 5 things to check out while you’re here.

We defy you not to get the warm and fuzzies when you hear the accent.

Worried Belfast is too far from your family? Don’t be. With cheap airfares and super speedy flight times, your nearest and dearest won’t be able to resist a visit (or three).

It’s the weekend! No more lectures or tutorials, so what to do? Here’s my pick of activities to keep entertained (rather than just lying in bed for the whole weekend!)

Game of Thrones – the world’s top TV show. You might not know – a load of it is filmed in and around Belfast. While you’re waiting for season 8 (I know it’s taking ages!) then check out these 4 ways to become a GoT tourist! POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!

You don't need to break the bank to have a good day out in Belfast! In fact, the city is packed with great places to visit and enjoy when you're on a budget.

From Brexit borders to NI politics, three students who came to Queen’s from England reveal the most bizarre – and untrue - things they’ve been asked about student life in Belfast.

When you're new to Belfast, the accent can sometimes be a little different. Tejinder is here to share some of the most common phrases you might hear when you move here as well as what they mean. You'll be speaking like a local in no time!

Tejinder is sharing some misconceptions she had about Belfast before moving here from Canada. *Spoiler alert* It doesn't always rain here!

From food so affordable she texted home to gloat to year-round live sports action, Canadian student Tamanna explains why she has fallen in love with Belfast.

Staying in Northern Ireland for the holidays? Our blogger Tamanna has this student-friendly guide to the perfect staycation in the North coast.

Belfast is filled with so many beautiful green spaces and waterways it can be hard to pick which one to visit. However, Liang has done just that! Check out his favourite Parks in Belfast and why they're the perfect escape in a busy city.

So you’ve got some free time during the night but you’re not quite sure where to hang out. Fear not, while our Malaysian Student Blogger Liang shows you how to spend your night – the Malaysian Way.

Our resident movie fan, Si Lee, a Biomedical Sciences student from Hong Kong on the top places to catch the latest blockbuster in Belfast.

Queen’s postgraduate student Nermin Al Sharman, the Jordanian blogger behind The White Rose Project shares Belfast through her lens.