No CAO points race, guaranteed accommodation and affordable cost of living are why many students from the Republic of Ireland are choosing to go North for college!
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Career-centric Course Design
Expert course teams and employability consultants work with employers, industry partners and professional bodies to design Ulster’s course content and how you learn. Ulster’s teaching philosophy “Learning by Doing” means students build subject skills and knowledge whilst acquiring the professional competencies needed for the workplace. We also work with local, international and global employers to offer over 2,500 professional placement opportunities each year.
Ulster’s commitment to research-led teaching means you will directly benefit from the world-leading research informing careers and industries now and for the future. You will be taught by researchers and academics and have access the same cutting-edge facilities as our research teams.
A Leader in Learning Innovation
Ulster is repeatedly recognised for its teaching quality, including the independent National Student Survey .
Ulster’s teaching quality is a direct result of its people and investment in facilities and technologies. A leader in learning innovation Ulster’s teaching staff of world-leading experts and practitioners is regularly recognised nationally for their outstanding impact on student outcomes. Ulster has been at the forefront of digital learning delivering accessible learning and providing the latest learning and industry technologies to students both on and off-campus.
Student Centred Environment
Alongside Ulster’s reputation as a career-centric university, Ulster is recognised for its supportive student-centred environment. Shortlisted in 2022 for UK Times University of the Year, Ulster was applauded for both its teaching quality and student experience.
Student Wellbeing is here to support students prior and during their time at Ulster. Alongside the team at UUSU, the Student Wellbeing team helps students navigate student life including money matters, mental health, and well-being.
Guaranteed Accommodation
We guarantee affordable and comfortable campus accommodation to applicants who receive a course offer from Ulster University, and who apply for accommodation by 7 July 2025. Our accommodation is among the most affordable in the UK & Ireland.
Save €9,500 at Ulster University
Northern Ireland is the most affordable place to live, work and study* in the UK and Ireland. You could save up to €9,500 in accommodation fees alone**.
*Which?, 2018
**UU Duncreggan Student Village (Derry~Londonderry Campus) vs UCD Belgrove Residence cost difference (37 week contract)
Forget about fees!
You don't have to pay tuition fees yourself during your time at Ulster University.
You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan which covers 100% of tuition fees.
You only have to repay this when you graduate and earn over £24,990 per year.
So, study now, pay later!
No points inflation
Stay away from the CAO points race.
When you apply to Ulster you will be applying through UCAS, meaning you won’t be disappointed at having missed out on your first choice due to points for courses surging.
Our points system is fixed and does not change.
We're one university with three great campuses
Come on in and take a tour around each campus and get to know the possibilities of where you could set up camp!
Derry~Londonderry campus: why student satisfaction is so high!
As student satisfaction goes, Derry~Londonderry is the top of the league. Listen to what our students have to say about this campus.Coleraine campus: Living and studying on the North Coast
Situated on the chilled out, North Coast, this campus has so much to offer, don’t let its laid-back nature fool you – it is bursting with activity, clubs and plenty to become a part of.UU student insight: Coleraine campus
Find out about life at our Coleraine campus from one of our current students.UU student insight: Belfast campus
Find out about life at our Belfast campus from one of our current students.Belfast campus: The all-new city campus – opening soon!
This brand new, modern build has state of the art facilities, located right in the heart of the city.Frequently Asked Questions
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Applying to Ulster University
How do I apply to Ulster University?
Applications to full-time undergraduate courses are made via UCAS. The application deadline is 31 January 2024.Applications to part-time undergaduate as well as postgraduate courses are made directly via the ulster website.How many course choices do I get with UCAS?
You can choose up to 5 courses from over 300+ higher education institutions across the UK. Later in the application cycle, you will then confirm two of your choices as your first and second preference study choices respectively.
Can I make a late UCAS application?
You can still apply to Ulster University courses after the 31 January and up until 30 June. Please note that some courses will not be available for application after the 31 January which have restricted application timelines.
Can I apply to UU through CAO?
No. Applications to Ulster University are not made through CAO, but instead are made through UCAS, the college admissions system for UK universities.
Can I apply to both UCAS as well as CAO?
Yes! As a university hopeful, there is a universe of college choices across the UK & Ireland for you to apply to. You can apply to both CAO and UCAS and then decide which college you want to study at later.
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Fees & Finance
How much are tuition fees for full-time courses?
The fee for full-time undergraduate study is regulated by the Department for the Economy. The rate for 2024/25 will be published as soon as we receive formal notification from the Department. When it becomes available, the information will be published on our 2023/24 Fees page. The fee for academic year 2023/24 was £4,710.
What financial help is available for Republic of Ireland students?
As a Republic of Ireland applicant, you are eligible to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Student Loans Company which you only have to pay back once you've graduated and are earning over the salary threshold. This loan is non-means tested and covers 100% of tuition fees. The loan does not affect your credit score or financial lending status.
Students who are eligible for SUSI maintenance funding can use this while they study at Ulster University.
Additional financial support is available for students, including a Financial Hardship Fund.
How long do I have to repay my tuition fee loan?
You stop owing either when you've cleared the debt, or when 25 years (from the April after graduation) have passed, whichever comes first. Regardless of how little or much you have repaid on your loan, after 25 years your loan debt is cancelled.
I heard there are no tuition fees for Nursing and Allied Health Courses?
Yes, that's right. Nursing and Allied Health courses are fully commissioned by the Department for Health NI, meaning whether you study nursing as a first degree, or second, your fees will be covered, and you will have access to a Nursing Bursary.
Are there any scholarships for Republic of Ireland applicants?
A comprehensive range of financial scholarships, awards and prizes are available to undergraduate students. Individuals may be able to apply directly or may automatically be nominated for awards.
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Entry Requirements
What are the General Entry Requirements at Ulster University for the Leaving Certificate?
Irish Leaving Certificate applicants must be undertaking a minimum of 5 Leaving Certificate subjects, 4 of which must be at Higher Level. Applicants must then satisfy the course-specific entry requirements which may include specific subjects, grades or UCAS points tariff.
What are UCAS Points?
Most courses at UU ask applicants to meet a specific UCAS points tariff in order to have their place of the course confirmed.
How many subjects does UU count when "totting up" UCAS points tariff?
All subjects undertaken at Leaving Cert will be used in the calculation of UCAS Tariff points, with the exception of Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP). All other subjects are counted.
Do I get "Bonus" UCAS points for doing Higher Level Maths, like in CAO?
No additional points are awarded for doing Higher Level Maths.
Do UCAS Points change depending on how many people apply and what grades they achieve?
No, UCAS points do not fluctuate depending on how well applicants perform or how many applicants apply. Unlike the CAO system, UCAS points requirements do not change. If you see a course advertised at a certain UCAS points tariff, you will be placed on the course if you meet those requirements.
Is successful completion the of Irish in the Leaving Cert required for entry to UU?
No, Irish is not a required subject for general entry to UU programmes, with the exception of our BA Hons Irish Language & Literature course. In all other courses it is not required but can be offered as one of the 5 necessary Leaving Certificate subjects.
Is any second language Leaving Cert subject required for entry to Ulster University?
No, a second language at Leaving Cert is not required for entry to UU programmes.
Is HEAR/DARE recognised and accepted at UU?
Unfortunately, HEAR and DARE is only available for applicants to third-level institutions in the Republic of Ireland.
Does Ulster University accept Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) qualifications such as QQI Level 5 programmes?
Yes, we accept a range of PLC qualifications including QQI Level 5. For information on whether your particular qualification is accepted and entry reqruiements, please contact our Admissions Team.
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Accommodation
How much is accommodation at Ulster University?
Our accommodation options start from just £110 p/w for a single-bed dormitory (37 week contract). Our accommodation offering is high quality and one of the most affordable in the UK/Ireland.
The accommodation fees are available online.
You will need to make a payment to accept your room offer.
As part of the acceptance process you will need to choose one of the payment plan options.
Further information on payment terms can also be found online.
Does Ulster University guarantee accommodation for first year students?
Ulster can guarantee accommodation for single first-year students who make UU their "Conditional Firm" choice on UCAS and who apply for accommodation by by the 7th July 2024.
Will Ulster make me share a bedroom with another student?
No. We do not make students share bedrooms.
Can I live with my firends at UU accommodation?
YES!
We are happy to allocate groups of friends together provided we have all your applications in as early as possible.
It may not always be possible if there is limited accommodation available and to be fair to other applicants we unfortunately cannot hold rooms for late applications.
At the end of your online application you will be given the opportunity to join a ‘Group’ with your friends.
The first member of the group must create a unique Group Reference and then pass that Reference to all other members of the Group.
Subsequent members of the group should ensure that this Group Reference is entered correctly when they apply for accommodation.
If it is not a second group will be created and we may not be able to match these groups.
When the correct Group Reference is entered, students will see who else has joined the group and have the option of staying or leaving the Group at that stage.
What if my application has been submitted and I haven’t put my friends on it?
If you can provide us with the unique Group Reference we can manually add that to your application, however, this is only after confirmation has been given from the other group members that they wish to include you in their grou
How to apply
Applications to Ulster University are made through UCAS.
September 2025 Entry
The application deadline for full-time undergraduate courses is
29 January 2025.
September 2026 Entry
UCAS applications for 2026 entry will open in May 2025.
The deadline for applying to our Graduate Entry Medicine programme for September 2026 entry is 15 October 2025.
The deadline for all other undergraduate courses is to be determined.
Download Our Applying to UCAS Webinar!
Complete the form below and we'll send you a link to a recording of our Applying to UCAS Webinar.
3 Campuses. 1 University
Michael Murphy
“I’ve returned to education and am currently studying at the Jordanstown Campus. It’s a brilliant facility and very convenient for me to get home to Donegal quickly if I need to. I am able to use the Derry~Londonderry and Coleraine facilities too if needed. I’m loving my time here at Ulster University.”
Contact Us
If you need any help or advice with your UCAS application please contact a member of the team – see details below:
1Which?, 2018
2UU vs UCD Accommodation difference for 2 semesters.
*Across a 3-year degree.