you cannot terminate your tenancy agreement early so the money you paid is definitely gone. The good thing about these residencies is that you will probably get into contact with other international and local students very quickly and that you live close to the university, the exception being the off-campus residence in Portstewart. Another advantage of the university residencies is that costs for internet, electricity and heating are included. Nonetheless, I would recommend a private accommodation. Most of them are located in the nearby seaside towns Portstewart and Portrush, and they are usually quite a bit cheaper. I, for example, paid only 35£ per week for my room in a 5-bedroom house in Portstewart. Including electricity and heating, I paid about 240€ rent per month. Other advantages of living in Portstewart or Portrush are, on the one hand, that you live next to the seaside and, on the other hand, that the night life almost exclusively takes place in those two towns. Should you decide to stay in a private accommodation, you could either try your luck and just go the town you wish to stay in and go to the local real-estate agencies to ask for a room to rent, or you could look for rooms on the internet in advance.
Now to the main part of the semester abroad, the university: All in all, I felt really comfortable at Coleraine campus of the University of Ulster. Before I went abroad, I had already decided which modules I wanted to take. Unfortunately, two of those modules were not offered. However, I quickly found suitable replacements. As a student of English and American studies, I could choose from all modules that were offered at the Faculty of Arts in Coleraine. Although you only take three modules, which is the normal rate for full time students, it does not mean that you have unlimited spare time because the amount of work should not to be underestimated, especially for final year modules. Seminars at the University of Ulster were quite different in comparison to those I was used to. At Coleraine campus, seminars usually take place in the Professors' offices, and (what many students will be glad to hear) students are usually not required to give presentations. During welcome week and during the whole time afterwards, all university staff was enormously friendly and helpful. Besides its academic side, the University of Ulster also offers plenty of leisure activities, from sports courses to a film society, there is something for everyone. I recommend to register for at least one of these clubs or societies since this is a great opportunity to meet other international and local students. Another thing that is offered via the university is the so-called “International Friends” program, which I also highly recommend to everybody. This is a program where international students get assigned to local families, who invite the students into their homes for tea, take them on trips or simply take them grocery shopping and the like. “International Friends” as an organization also hosts a few special events over the semester like, for instance, a big traditional Christmas dinner and a ceilidh, a traditional Irish event with dancing and folk music.
A semester abroad at the University of Ulster has, of course, a lot more to offer than university-related activities and special programs for international students. From traditional pubs with crackling fires and live music to the stunning north coast and the vibrant cities of Belfast and Derry/ Londonderry, Northern Ireland has something for everyone. Even a short walk through town can turn out to be the most pleasant experience because the people there don’t just walk past each other in silence minding their own business, but they greet and talk to each other. And also exchange students will have plenty of pleasant chats with the locals.
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