Life seems pretty great in Queen’s for all students as far as I’ve seen and experienced. And I’d dare to assume it’s no different for Romanian students. It just might depend on what you want to get out of your university experience.

The Romanian community in Belfast

If you aim to find fellow Romanian companionship you might be disappointed, as I’ve only seen a performer in one of our weekly concerts who has Romanian origins, but nobody else so far. It is not usually easy for Romanians to identify each other unless they hear Romanian language or meet in a Polita supermarket at the Romanian aisle accidentally grabbing the same bag of “pufuleti” (corn rods), because yes, we have some Romanian food in Belfast.

I also have a few Romanian friends I met in Belfast, just not through Queen’s yet. Belfast fosters a small Romanian community, you can find them on social media easily so you can ensure the continuation of your “mici” (translated as skinless sausages) diet. You can find picnic tables equipped with special slots for single use BBQs. That’s got to be a major attraction point for any Romanian I know.

^{Queen's welcomes over 25,000 students from over 90 countries}

Support offered by Queen’s

Food aside, and back to people. If you’re more open minded and willing to meet very diverse locals and internationals, then this is where Queen’s opens so many doors for you, it will take some time before you knock on them all.

Just know this, all the support and services are here, and they are functional, with the main hub in the One Elmwood building opposite the iconic Queen’s Lanyon. I have accessed services to help me meet new people and get involved in cool projects with the student societies and learned what I need to finally start building that business I keep saying I’ll start with the SU Enterprise.

^{Check out My Queen's for information on studying and life at Queen's}

I also accessed studies and career path advice in order to understand what options I have after graduation and what to do during my studies to stand out; as well as counselling services for extra support during my transition from work life back to study as I am a mature student, around 20% of Queen’s students are.

My course and navigating languages

I currently study Music and Sound Design and couldn’t be happier, it has been my dream since I was using pens as microphones in kindergarten. Now, at 33 years old, I spend most of my week manipulating sound, either at home or in the school’s studios, being fascinated by discoveries and connections I make. You see, I studied music by myself at home but never looked at sound with informed sources using physics and psychological perspectives. I get fascinated by basic physics concepts like how sound moves air particles.

I remember qualifying the high school team at the local table tennis competition and receiving a 10/10 grade at physics just because the ball moves and that’s physics. Funny really but it’s true, as a Romanian you might have some gaps from days when you’d rather skip class to play football in the school yard, but hey! If you get accepted to a university it means you are smart enough to educate yourself after and fill those gaps, you will just end up being more fascinated during lectures.

^{Recording the water sounds in a cave}

I also need to sometimes quickly launch a Google translate for some English words I don’t know or am unsure of. I do it shamelessly, because, although I try my best to integrate and contribute, I never hide away the fact that I am foreign. I ask people meanings and clarifications in the middle of conversations. I don’t remember a time where someone did not gladly rephrase or explained the meaning of a word. I think it makes them feel smart, and I get to learn, so it’s a win-win!

A typical Friday in class

Back to the lectures, I can say that Fridays are my favourite days; we have our lecture on Sound Recording and Production in the Sonic Lab (SARC) which is a big reason I wanted to study here. Our lecturer, Chris, usually plays music before people are seated and then launches us into an interactive Ted Talk-like presentation with a huge screen projection and complete spherical surround sound.

Then I get a pizza or sandwich break during a chat with my colleagues and head on for 2 more hours of Fundamentals of Sound where Trevor explains from many points of view how to look at sound when everything is relative. It a great way to tire your brain and be ready for Friday pints if that’s your thing, with cheap prices in the SU Bar. Me, I actually stopped going out to clubs and bars now that I don’t work anymore. Which brings me to another aspect: Money.

^{Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC)}

My journey to Queen’s

Everything is more expensive everywhere and Belfast is no different. Was it wise to pause my job and return to zero working contracts? Not financially for sure, but amazing for my wellbeing. My joke when people ask me how is it to live on a student budget? I say that I am not sure if I’m going through a midlife crisis, or if I took a very good decision.

You do need “serious” money to study in a university abroad if you’re an average Romanian citizen, serious from Romanian’s point of view due to the country’s economy and all that. I come from a working-class family from Bucharest, went to public school, travelled by bus. So, what I did, more or less pre-planned, is: I worked for about 12 years in IT, thought that would be my life, during all those years I continued to play guitar and had a few bands and then picked up electronic music producing, as a hobby.

^{Check out our student budgeting tips!}

Then I decided to move abroad after an Erasmus experience (7 years ago) and ended up in Belfast after being offered 3 months free accommodation by a friend, only to later discover that I can truly live my dream here, because in Belfast it’s achievable to study and survive. Armed with hope, I worked for 4.5 more years in a good position in Quality Assurance (my career path), saving as much money as I could and putting together a sound portfolio which I then sent to Queen’s.

Many times, I feel like I hacked some system and now by magic here I am, even getting good grades and keeping on top of things. I will be launching my own radio show on Queen’s Radio very soon, I’m super excited, so tune in!

Overall, life for the one Romanian in Queen’s I know is going really great, and I am looking forward to meeting more if you are here or coming soon.

I hope you enjoyed my quick tour!

Find out more

Romania: Admissions Guide

Student life in Belfast

George Manea   Music and Sound Design | Undergraduate Student | Romania I am currently in a career break after more than 10 years of software testing. I have taken a leap of faith and began studying my long-life passion for sound manipulation and music production. Wish me luck!