Studying in Northern Ireland

You are about to undertake study abroad, leaving your country and home institution and arriving in a new country with a new culture and new people! It can be a daunting

prospect, but don’t panic, past IAS participants and international students from Ireland have come up with a list of friendly advice and tips that will help you settle in. Not

everyone is the same, but you will soon find your own way to adapt, and hopefully some of this will help you along the way!

KEY FACTS

Northern Ireland has a population of only 1.8 million people (around the same as the city of Philadelphia, PA!)

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland- around 295,000 people live in the city of which 60,000 are students.

There are good transport links and it is easy to use buses and trains to get around the city. Taxis are modern and safe. Belfast has two airports which will connect you to many locations throughout Europe including London, Paris, Rome, and Krakow.

The currency in the North of Ireland is the British pound sterling (GBP), with one hundred pence (p) to each pound. Notes are issued in the value of GBP50, GBP20, GBP10 and GBP5, and coins to the value of GBP2, GBP1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, and 1p.

Euros are only used in the South of Ireland!

Northern Ireland has strong, diverse Culture and History. Remember to look at the IAS Blog, which features a summary of Northern Ireland’s history. There are many museums and heritage centers throughout the country and festivals celebrating a variety of cultures held throughout the year, giving you lots of opportunities to experience the culture of your new home!

However, it is really important to read about the complex political situation in Northern Ireland or you could very easily offend someone by mistake. Even things such as if the residents of Northern Ireland consider themselves to be British or Irish (citizens of Northern Ireland can hold both Irish and British passports) can be a very polarizing and sensitive issue.

Northern Ireland is also famous for its beautiful scenery; some famous areas include the Antrim Coastline; which features the Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the City of Derry and the Mourne Mountains.

Northern Ireland is famous for its artistic talents; there are many opportunities to get involved, from theatre to music festivals. Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney was born in Northern Ireland, as was C.S. Lewis (writer of The Chronicles of Narnia) and actor Liam Neeson to name a few. You can visit the Mac Gallery or the Ulster Museum’s Art Collection (right next door to Queen’s University), see a play in the Lyric Theatre or Grand Opera House or listen to some live traditional Irish music in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Investigate the area you will be living in before your arrival, being prepared will help you settle easier. When you do arrive take the opportunity to explore as soon as possible.

Make sure you have all the necessary travel documents and that you are familiar with Immigration, Visa and Employment Rules. It is important to note that as Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, when

planning your travel to Belfast, it is very important that you fly either directly to Belfast International Airport or via another UK airport (e.g. London Heathrow or Manchester).  You must NOT fly via the Republic of Ireland (e.g. Dublin or Shannon), as you will not clear UK immigration controls.

Packing- Don’t over pack; be aware of the weight restrictions for your airline. Pack light

and smart, and don’t worry, if you have forgotten anything you will be able to purchase it when you get to Northern Ireland.

You’ll find yourself regularly dressing in layers, since the weather can vary a lot throughout a day.

Do bring a semi-waterproof fall/winter coat, umbrella, & waterproof shoes/boots (fabrics like suede can be ruined quickly by the rain)… it definitely rains!!

Remember to bring electric socket adapters! Your heat up appliances like blow dryers or straighteners probably will not

work. The voltage is much higher there, making them dangerous to use! Bring a backpack for travel & a refillable water bottle… you’ll be very glad you

did!

ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION

Go to orientation events- even if you feel like you have heard it all before! It will help you settle in easier, familiarize yourself with the campus and give you a chance to start meeting new people.

As much as possible, interact with both Northern Irish and international students. Getting to know local students will help you gain the most out of your experience culturally. Other international student will be able to relate with your situation and shared challenges.

If you need help- ASK! It is useful to purchase a prepaid mobile phone, this is a relatively cheap

option and it will allow you to stay in touch with people you meet in Northern Ireland. Or if you can unlock your current mobile, you could get a pay as you

go sim card, which will allow you to pay for calls and texts only as you need to, this is usually a cheaper and contract-less solution.

COPING WITH CULTURE SHOCK

Culture shock is common and very normal.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs, lists 5 stages:

1. The “honeymoon” stage

When you first arrive in a new culture, differences are intriguing and you may feel excited, stimulated and curious. At this stage you are still protected by the close memory of your home culture.

2. The “distress” stage

A little later, differences create an impact and you may feel confused, isolated or inadequate as cultural differences intrude and familiar supports (e.g., family or friends) are not immediately available.

3. “Re-integration” stage

Next you may reject the differences you encounter. You may feel angry or frustrated, or hostile to the new culture. At this stage you may be conscious mainly of how much you dislike it compared to home. Don’t worry, as this is quite a healthy reaction. You are reconnecting with what you value about yourself and your own culture.

4. “Autonomy” stage

Differences and similarities are accepted. You may feel relaxed, confident, more like an old hand as you become more familiar with situations and feel well able to cope with new situations based on your growing experience.

5. “Independence” stage

Differences and similarities are valued and important. You may feel full of potential and able to trust yourself in all kinds of situations. Most situations become enjoyable and you are able to make choices according to your preferences and values.

It is inevitable that you will feel some amount of Culture Shock and homesickness, but it is important to remember that it is completely normal, and that it will get better. Often the key to feeling better is keeping yourself busy and going out to explore or spending time with other people. Sitting home alone moping will not make you feel better!

CLASSES

Class structure is very different from the US system and it may take a while to get used to it. Classes are larger and more formal- there could be up to 300 people in a lecture. Therefore, at first it may seem that your professor is not easily accessible for help, but this is not the case! Lecturers will have office hours and you will have seminars based on your lectures, usually every week. The seminars are much smaller, usually with less than 25 students. This gives you plenty of opportunity to ask for help if you need it, just ask!!

Generally you will not be continuously assessed as you are in the US. A typical class may, for example, have a final worth 70% and a paper worth 30% of your grade.

You will take 3 modules instead of 5- however this does not mean there is less work, usually each class is worth 5 credits.

Some friendly advice to prepare yourself:

Don’t be shy- introduce yourself to as many people as you can and get involved with any and all activities that you come across. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Try something at least once and then you will know whether you want to continue. Be open to meeting new people who will be from many different backgrounds.

Meet up with other international students, they are going through the same emotions you are! But don’t forget it is important to make connections with local students, it will help you integrate into college life much faster.

Plan ahead- set yourself some goals that you would like to achieve by the end of your time in Northern Ireland. But also be open to new things, as you will be in a new place with many opportunities that you may never have had before.

Stay as organized as possible, it will help you stay calm- make sure your budget, insurance, and travel documents are all in order.

Stay connected to people back home- it is comforting to be able to hear a voice from home now and again. Skype and Facebook and WhatsApp and other social networking sites are great ways to communicate easily (and cheaply if you are using Wi-Fi!).

Take some time and learn about local culture and traditions, things will be different but people will always be willing to help you learn.

You are nearly ready to go, just some last bits of advice…

Almost all locals’ first language will be English, but this does mean you will always understand everything they say. Slang and accents can take a minute to get used to, but don’t worry before you know it you will forget that it was ever unfamiliar.

People in Northern Ireland can sometimes be very sarcastic, this might be a different sense of humor then what you are used to. Often friends insult each other as a form of endearment, which might seem odd at first. But wait until you know people/ gain a better understanding of local humor before you start trading insults. Just try to remember that your new friends probably aren’t trying to offend you!

When dining out, keep in mind that generally portion sizes are smaller in NI, most places don't offer boxes for leftover food, free refills on drinks are rare, and tipping in restaurants is not expected, (but is appreciated, so consider 10%). 

The university social scene in Northern Ireland is different from the USA, this is partly due to the fact that the drinking age is 18- know your limits and be aware that while it is legal, universities do have strict policies on conduct and disorderly behavior.

Try and have time for yourself each week- be it exercising, exploring or sitting in a coffee shop. You are going into a new experience and it is easy to let everything get on top of you, let yourself relax every now and then. If you can keep a journal/scrapbook/Instagram, it will help you relive all the wonderful adventures you are going to have!

It will be different, from simple things like the temperature- don’t shy away from it, embrace it.

Spend as little time in your room as possible; go out and do things and see the country you are in because you may never get the opportunity to experience it again. You will be returning home sooner than you think so try to enjoy it while you can.

Some useful links:

http://belfast.usconsulate.gov/

www.studyabroad.com

www.britishcouncil.org/northernireland

http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/culture_shock.php

http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/

www.visitnorthernireland.com

ENJOY YOUR TIME IN NORTHERN IRELAND!!!