Accommodation FAQs

There’s quite a lot included: your room and room key (obviously), 24-7 security, Wi-Fi, hot water, kitchen/common area, heating, electricity, a TV in the communal area, any maintenance repairs, the Residential Life Team (or RLT), and free tea and coffee provided by the RLT (because we are awesome). An off-peak gym membership with Queen’s Sport is included too.

When you first move in, you get a “Dig-In” box which is a bit like a small care package with free samples of different products.

The Treehouse, the main social hub at Elms BT9, also provides extra services, for example they can provide you with an air bed if you have friends or family staying over.

Yes. There will be a TV in your kitchen/common area, and the TV licence is included – but if you want a TV in your room, you’ll have to pay for the licence yourself. As for the internet – it’s also included as part of your rent.

Getting around campus is pretty easy – and even if you get lost there are loads maps around campus to show you where everything is. Elms BT9 is on the Malone Road, about ten minutes’ walk from the main campus. Across from Malone Road is the Lisburn Road, where you will find a Tesco. On the other side of Malone Road you will arrive on Stranmillis Road. Both Stranmillis and Malone roads converge to give you University Road. The majority of Queen’s Buildings can be found on one of those four roads.

As for getting from the airport to halls, if you are an international student you can avail of our meet and greet service or get a taxi. Buses are available but with all your luggage, they probably won’t be ideal. Value Cabs (028 9080 9080) are the only taxi company that can come straight on to the accommodation’s premises, whereas other taxi services have to park at the security gates. Still want to get a bus? If so, get the bus from the airport to Europa Station. Once you arrive there walk through the bus centre to Great Victoria Street and get the 8B bus to Elms BT9 or Elms BT1 and 2 are a 3 minute walk away from the main transport hub of Belfast.

Yes! When you move in there will be members of the Residential Life Team to show you around. We’ll probably be wearing some sort of hoodie so we’re easy to spot.

Additionally, the Student Centre has a number of Welcome and Induction Guides each year who will be able to show you around the beautiful campus.

The Residential Life Team run trips and events at weekends and there is always something on, see our great programme of events.

On top of that, a number of clubs and societies meet or train at the weekend, and Belfast City itself has loads of activities to do. Need inspiration? See our blog on festivals and events in Belfast.

It really depends on how much you want to get involved.  If you do find yourself seeking out company the social space is always open.

Well unless you choose an apartment – you often be sharing a kitchen and social space with other people. It would be slightly difficult not to make friends. It’s surprisingly one of the most enjoyable parts of living in halls; meeting all the weird and wonderful people. If you struggle despite this, get in touch with your RA, and they can help you get involved with the events the Residential Life Team are running and you can make friends through that. There are lots of Student groups like the Chinese student society.

Very. We have 24-7 reception and security available. Only people that live on site or have guests signed in can get into Elms after 11pm and if there is an issue there is always someone at the end of phone.

In the recent Queen’s Accommodation survey 95% of students said they felt safe in their accommodation and 95.40% said they thought the Safety Team was effective in dealing with situations.

If your parents phone up with cause for concern, reception can send a member of staff down to ask you if everything is alright and then ask you to get in touch with your parents. 

Your RA. Your RA is there to help you with pretty much anything. Feeling isolated? Come have a chat and a cuppa. Don’t know how to report that the bulb in your bedroom light has gone out? Ask, we’ll show you how to use the Online Maintenance Request. Issues with noisy flatmates? Email us and we will work hard to sort any issues. If there is something we can’t help you with ourselves, we will know who can.

The RLT are the best part of living in Elms (I’m definitely biased though). When residents first move in, we have welcome and induction meetings that residents should attend – it’s basically a crash course on the little nuances that are different about living in university accommodation.

We also provide a free tea and coffee service every weekday night. It’s such a great way to meet people and make new friends. We’ve loads of board games, pool tables, and ping-pong tables too. We occasionally (at events) have free pizza available too.

Most importantly though, the RLT (your RA in particular) is a first port of call for any problem you have at all. We’re made up of a team of students (the RAs) and staff (the RLCs). We RAs come from a variety of backgrounds, countries, belief systems, but the thing we all have in common is that we are all students too. We understand what you are going through in university when you have a problem.

And if you like the RLT enough, you can apply in the next recruitment window to become an RA for a whole host of amazing benefits, including free accommodation.

We do all sorts of things. We organise loads of different events, everything from Milkshake and Colouring Events, to Halloween Parties and tours of the Game of Thrones sets. We even sit down and watch the Eurovision together!

We organise welcome meetings, help you settle in, and make sure everyone in your building is having the best experience we can give them.

Unfortunately, we are also the people who have to organise the fire drills at the start of the year, and you may hate us for that if you get caught in the shower – we can all hope that doesn’t happen!

Want to go to Dublin? Want to go trampolining? Want to visit the Giant's Causeway? We do lots of things! Even if you just want to chill out, our free tea and coffee bar is open at the weekend or you can play some pool in the Treehouse.

We have day trips to places like Derry and take residents on hikes up places like Cave Hill. We have events in the evenings like movie marathons and cooking demonstrations. We take residents to pantomimes, to the cinema (which is a lot cheaper in Belfast than in England), to the zoo, and out bowling.

And if you have any ideas for events you would like to do or see, then if you get in contact with your RA then they might be able to organise something for you. Find out more about all the great events and activities in Queen's Accommodation.

You will need to buy your own bedding (duvet cover etc), and kitchen utensils (pots, pans, plates, etc). Queen’s Accommodation offers kitchen and bedding packs – but they’ll cost extra when you arrive. Buying the packs though is quick and easy.

You’ll also have to buy your own dish soap and cloths/scourers. If you have an en-suite room, then you’ll have to buy your own toilet roll too.

I would recommend buying some sort of laundry basket, an extension lead, and an over the door hanger/hook.

That’ll depend on if you are living in en-suite, standard, or premium standard. All rooms will have a bed, bed frame, wardrobe, desk, shelving, mirror, sink, chair, and pin board. Premium rooms have more shelving, a larger mirror, are brightly painted, and have more sockets. En-suite rooms (which are all considered premium) all have a shower and toilet in them too.

Within reason. It’s in the terms and conditions that you can’t rearrange the furniture. You can pin photos and posters to the pin board in your room, you can buy a rug, or a throw for your bed. You can basically do what you want with your room providing you don’t damage anything.

You aren’t allowed candles or fairy lights though, as they are considered to be a fire hazard. 

Standard, Premium Standard, En-suite, and Studios. In standard, premium standard, and en-suite rooms; you’ll share a kitchen with somewhere between three and thirteen other people (depending on where you live). In studios, you’ll have a small kitchen to yourself. In standard and in premium standard you’ll also be sharing a shower and toilet.

Some people choose to live with a “lifestyle choice” as well. This can mean alcohol-free, single-sex, or quiet living. There are dedicated blocks for all of these preferences.

So, I hope that’s cleared up any questions you have about what it’s like being a student living in Queen’s Accommodation.

If you have any other questions; you can get in contact with Queen's Accommodation by e-mailing acccommodation@qub.ac.uk or phoning 028 9097 4525.

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