QUB and University of Ulster to axe 1,100 places for next September

Both QUB and University of Ulster will be significantly reducing the amount of students taking up places in the next academic year.

Budget cuts of 11% at Stormont means a reduction of around £82 million for both QUB and UU – that means around 550 places per uni will This amounts to a reduction of around £82 million, this will result in 550 place get the boot.

In a joint statement from the Universities, both agreed the reduction will have the effect of forcing talented students to take up courses in England, Scotland and Wales.

This in turn could have a significant financial effect on thousands of students who, instead of going to university in Northern Ireland where the annual tuition fees are capped at £3,685, could be required to pay nearly 3 times that amount to study elsewhere in the UK.

Stormy times ahead for Queens

Conor, a Marketing Masters student at QUB says: “If I had to go back and my only choice was to go to England and pay £9,000 and year I’m not sure I would have gone to University at all.”

Many students will miss out on the chance to participate in their ideal degree. Joe, a Structural Engineering student says: “I was a borderline candidate when applying to my course. I had just missed out on the results needed but I managed to get a place, students like me may miss out.”

Let us go to uni pls

Ciaran, a Property Management student at UUJ says: “Students have been targeted because they are the least likely to speak out. This news is extremely disheartening.”