Queen's University Belfast
Source: https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/belfast/student-living-costs/ Parent: https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/
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Student Living Costs
STUDENT LIVING COSTS
The cost of living in Belfast
The UK’s best value student city
Going to university is a major milestone, but the costs of studying and managing money effectively can be a concern for many students.
As a student, you will have different living costs depending on where you live, your lifestyle choices, and whether you have any financial commitments or dependents. This is why it's important to consider what your living costs are likely to be during your time at university so you can budget and manage your money effectively.
The costs highlighted on this page should be used as a guide only.
Best value city for student living
Northern Ireland has the lowest student living costs in the UK (Save the Student National Student Money Survey 2025)
Queen's is ranked 3rd in the UK for value for money (StudentCrowd University Awards 2025)
Save without compromise
£165 per month cheaper for student living costs in Northern Ireland compared to the UK average (Save the Student National Student Money Survey 2025)
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
Queen’s University has announced a multi-million support package of £7.69 million for students and staff facing the current cost of living crisis.
As students and staff face into a winter of financial uncertainty, it has been our priority to develop a series of measures to support the Queen’s community including;
- A total of 3600 students who come from families earning under £25,000 per year will receive a one-off payment of £400 each with all other students receiving £150.
- We will allocate £600,000 into a student support fund focused on international students.
Find out more on the Cost of Living site
Cost of living comparison
See how Queen's compares with other Universities in key costs, including accommodation, weekly household bills, travel expenses and tuition fees.
| University Comparison 2025/26 | Queen's University Belfast North East English University Scottish University London University | Queen's University Belfast North East English University Scottish University London University |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fees[1] | ||
| Students from NI | £4,855 | £9,535 |
| Students from GB | £9,535 | £9,535 |
| International Students | £22,400 | £25,750 |
| Scholarships | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accommodation & Utilities | ||
| Student Accommodation [2] | £157 | £171 |
| Private Accommodation [3] | £563 | £551 |
| Monthly Groceries | £101 | £130 |
| Travel | ||
| Bus (Day ticket) | £2.50 | £3.80 |
| Bike/Scooter Rental | £1 / 30min | £20 per day on weekday / £25 per day on weekend |
| Leisure | ||
| Gym Membership [4] | Off-peak: Free Peak: £25 p/m | Peak: £26 p/m |
| Student Union Pint | £3.00 | £3.86 |
| Cinema Ticket | QFT: £6.50 Cineworld: £6.99 | £8.49 |
| Domino's Pizza (Medium) | £17.50 | £18.99 |
Notes:
- Based on comparable Russell Group Universities (Newcastle, Glasgow and KCL).
- [1]Based on Undergraduate tuition fees for 2025/2026. International tuition fees are for BSc Business Management (included for illustrative purposes).
- [2]Based on Single Ensuite accommodation, similar distance to Elms BT9 to campus. Includes utilities. Prices are per week, subject to contract conditions.
- [3]SpareRoom’s Quarterly Rental Index compares data from Q1 2025 with Q1 2024.
- [4]Free off-peak membership of Queen's Sport is included for everyone living in Queen's Student Accommodation.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
As an international student, you will need a student visa to study in the UK.
The earliest you can apply for your visa is 6 months before you start your course. See information on student visas and additional costs.\ \ In some cases, you may need to show you have a certain amount of money to meet your living costs - so be sure you're aware of any documentation required before arriving in the UK.
MANAGING YOUR MONEY AS A STUDENT
- Student loans
- Student discounts
- Creating a budget
- Support available to students with money concerns
- Course costs
Hear from our Students
Student Perspective: Is Belfast Really Affordable?
What I Eat In A Week at Uni
My Weekly Budget as a Student in Belfast
Budgeting Tips for Students in Belfast
Affordable Social Life
"I was pleasantly surprised by the cost of living in Belfast. The student halls are very cheap in comparison to other UK universities accommodation. You can feed yourself for very little which means you’ve more money to do other things in Belfast."\ Jacob Robinson, Newcastle
Read more: Dealing with the Cost of Living: A GB Student’s Perspective
Read more: Budgeting and Money Saving Tips for Students
Read more: The Affordable Student Experience: Belfast vs London vs Manchester
Read more: Unlocking Belfast: Maximising your Student Discounts
Read more Cost of Living blogs
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