Housing & Meals

Study Abroad students are able to live in any of the on campus sites, though most Study Abroad students opt to stay in either Elms BT1 and BT2 or Elms BT9.

Elms BT1 & BT2 are located close to the city centre while Elms BT9, our purpose built student village, is found to the south of the city. Both sites are around a 15 minute walk to the campus, have laundry facilities, shared social spaces and 24 hour security.

Find out what students have to say about accommodation at Queen’s and if you would like to know more about a specific site you can take a video tour of BT1, BT2 and BT9.

There isn't a way to select roommate on the Queen's University housing portal at this time. Keep in mind, however, that the point of study abroad is to meet new people and experience a different culture! Keep an open mind- your new flatmates could become lifelong friends! 

Your dorm room will have a bed, a desk, and some storage, similar to an American-style dorm (and maybe even a little better! Your apartment includes the following:

• Free off-peak Queen’s Sport membership access for all Queen’s Accommodation students.

• Student common lounge with games tables and a free tea and coffee lounge. 

• Rooms available for private, group study or society meetings. 

•  Reception open seven days per week. 

• 24/7 Safety Team. 

• Residential Life team provide pastoral support, organise trips and social events.

•  Contents insurance included free of charge.

•  Full maintenance support seven days a week. 

• Complimentary cleaning of communal areas. 

• Parcel post system: you get an email notification when your parcel arrives. 

• Letter post is sorted to your apartment post box 

• Laundry (small charge) with useful app showing availability and time left in your wash/dry cycle.

• Super-fast wired internet and 250Mb Wi-Fi.

Your apartment will not be furnished with the following:

• Toilet Paper

• Cleaning Supplies

• Bed Linens 

• Soap

• Personal items 

• Washer/Dryer 

• Food

A laundry room is available for use in each dorm building. Laundry is pay-as-you-go. Make sure you have a credit or debit card that is chip enabled so that can 'tap' you card to pay for laundry! 

Queen's University Belfast does not offer an american-style meal plan. Instead, students pay as they go (with "real" money- not dining dollars!) to eat at on-campus cafés and restaurants or buy food from a grocery store and cook it in their students apartments. Most students end up doing a combination of on-campus food and home-cooked food! There are several shops that sell cheaper products & food: 

Poundland sells many household, food and grooming items for £1.

B&M Bargains is great for cheap household products. 

Compared to Tesco and Asda, Lidl is cheaper. Perfect if you want to save on your weekly grocery shop! 

Other specialty grocery stores include: 

• Asia Supermarket Korean, Chinese, South Asian: 40 Ormeau Embankment, Belfast BT6 8FZ St 

• George’s Market Organic:  Irish 12-20 East Bridge Street, Belfast BT1 3NQ (On the weekends) 

• Makkah Market Halal & Arabic:  41 Bradbury Place, Belfast BT7 1RR 

• Spice World South Asian, local produce:  35 Donegall Pass, Belfast BT7 1DQ 

• Istanbul Market Turkish and Halal: 1 Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1JG

You will not be charged the Holy Cross standard board fee (meal plan) when you study abroad at Queen's University Belfast. We recommend that you reserve the funds you would have normally used to cover the meal plan for sourcing your own meals in Belfast. 

Keep in mind that Belfast is the most affordable city in the UK! How much you spend on food will vary from person to person. Will you eat out a lot or cook in? We recommend doing some quick googling to get an idea of how much your favourite food costs so that you can budget accordingly. 

Yes, Queen's has a gym- with a rock climbing wall! Check it our here.