Student Accommodation in Belfast

Student Accommodation in Belfast

Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, is home to around 40,000 students. UniAcco has about 16 verified student properties in Belfast. The average rent range starts from £136 to £243 per week for shared rooms, en-suites, and studios. These properties are fully furnished, with all-inclusive bills and no hidden charges.

Some of the most popular areas in Belfast include Stranmillis, Ormeau, Botanic Avenue, East Bridge Street and The Holylands. This is because the city's affordable student accommodation near these popular areas sells out sooner than one would expect. To avoid missing out on good student accommodation, it's best to book at least 2–3 months before the term starts. With UniAcco, check rooms by type, area and budget, compare prices and book anytime, and get queries answered by a 24/7 support team.

 

Belfast in 60 Seconds

 

Why Choose Student Accommodation in Belfast?

Affordability Students must know that rents in Northern Ireland are much cheaper when compared to the UK average. Not just student accommodation in Belfast, but even travelling is super cheap and convenient. Belfast is also among the seven best UK cities for food and drink that come under a student's budget.

Great Location Options Belfast has good neighbourhoods like Stranmillis, Botanic Avenue and The Holylands, to name a few, that are conveniently located minutes away from Queen's University Belfast. This helps students, especially in their first year, or international students, get familiar with the city without having to travel much in the early days.

Modern Facilities and Security Today, students value their safety and security more than anything. The student accommodation in Belfast listed on trusted websites like ours guarantees properties come fully furnished, with bills included and no hidden surprise costs. Apart from this, having modern amenities like courtyards, communal lounges, and game rooms make the student accommodation experience unforgettable.

Vibrant Community Living miles away from home may get lonely at times. Students need to be around communities and residential areas that don't make them miss home too much. Student flats in Belfast located in neighbourhoods like The Holylands or Ormeau do exactly that.

 

Accommodation Types Available in Belfast

Belfast has a wide range of student room types that cater to different student needs. Take a look at these room types and their budgets, from studios to one or two-bed apartments, to understand which suits your needs best.

Studio Rooms These are fully private spaces with a private kitchen and bathroom — no shared living areas at all. These start from £136–£243/week.

Ensuite Rooms A private bedroom and bathroom, with a shared kitchen and living room. These are generally student favourites and the most common option, with rents starting from £165–£243/week.

Two-Bed Apartments Students get two private bedrooms with a shared kitchen, bathroom, and living area. These are a good option to share between two friends. Rents start from £152/week.

 

Best Areas for Student Accommodation in Belfast

Stranmillis A riverside student accommodation area situated along the River Lagan. The average rent for ensuites starts from £136–£179/week. Queen's University Belfast is a 13-minute walk, which is the closest, and Ulster University is a 14-minute cycle ride away. This is a quiet neighbourhood; however, the demand for PBSAs is high, so accommodation is filled quickly. Some students' favourite properties on UniAcco here are Nelson Place, Alma Place and auLIV Belfast.

What makes Ormeau stand out is that it's considered one of Belfast's most family-friendly neighbourhoods. Students can find en-suites and studio options, with studios here starting from £165–£243/week. Ulster University is a 25-minute train ride away, and Queen's University Belfast is 22 minutes from this area on foot. Students can easily visit Ormeau Park after long lectures for short walks to stay physically active. Since it's slightly further from the main road, there is a little more walking or travelling involved. The Edge Belfast, Great Patrick Street and John Bell House are highly rated properties on UniAcco.

Botanic Avenue This student area is known for its bohemian street. The average weekly rents here begin at £136–£243/week. The best part of living at Botanic Avenue is that Queen's University Belfast is 7 minutes away, so students can easily walk to lectures and back. One of the most student-visited cafés here is Maggie Mays, which serves delicious breakfast. This location can sometimes be noisier and busier. Here are three well-furnished, all-inclusive and budget-friendly properties on UniAcco: Nelson Place, 123 York Street and Little Patrick Street.

East Bridge Street East Bridge Street's central location is why this neighbourhood is most loved by students. It's close to the waterfront and other entertainment venues. Two popular universities, Ulster University and Queen's University Belfast, are 22 minutes and 29 minutes away, respectively. Student rents here start from £136–£179/week. Students can find a lot of PBSAs around this location. Some students' favourite properties on UniAcco here are Vita Bruce Street, Botanic Studios Belfast and Swanston House.

The Holylands, famous for taking its name from biblical regions, is a lively and social student accommodation area in Belfast. Students are just an 8-minute walk from Queen's University Belfast and 39 minutes from Ulster University. Shared rooms here start from £90–£120/week. While the rents here are affordable, the lively nightlife and social scene can get noisy at times.

 

Student Accommodation Near Top Universities

Queen's University Belfast Queen's University Belfast is part of the Russell Group, one of the UK's 24 leading research-intensive universities, and is ranked in the top 200 in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2026. The main campus is in South Belfast, with Queen's Quarter as the primary student neighbourhood. Students can also consider Stranmillis and The Holylands as alternative options for student accommodation in Belfast. The average rent is about £141–£197/week. The commute time for students from Botanic Avenue is about 5–10 minutes on foot.

Ulster University Belfast This university is highly rated in the UK, placed in the top 50 by the Times Good University Guide 2026. The university has a compact campus in the City Centre in the Cathedral Quarter. Student flats in Belfast at Cathedral Quarter start from £141–£180/week. Most of these properties are literally across the street, so students can easily roll out of bed and head to university, which is 4 minutes away.

Stranmillis University College This is a higher education institution in Belfast that is part of Queen's University Belfast. Its main focus is teacher education, early childhood studies, and health disciplines. It has its own campus in South Belfast, located just south of Queen's main campus. Students looking to study here can live in Stranmillis, where the average rent for ensuites starts from £136–£179/week. The commute from this neighbourhood to the university is about 8 minutes.

 

Cost of Living in Belfast

Compared to cities such as London, Edinburgh, and Manchester, Belfast remains one of the more affordable student cities in the UK. Before moving to Belfast, students should estimate how much they are likely to spend each month on rent, food, and transport. The average total a student requires to live comfortably in Belfast is between £850 and £1,500 per month, depending on accommodation type and lifestyle choices.

 

Getting Around Belfast – Student Travel Guide

Belfast is a walkable city, so students sometimes don't even use transport day-to-day. Regardless, the city has a reliable and affordable transport network students can use to commute between accommodation, university campuses, and around the city.

 

Student Life in Belfast

Cafés and Study Spaces The best part about being a student in Belfast is being around cafés that offer WiFi and stay open for long hours, so students can actually study or complete assignments. Apart from cafés, the universities — especially the McClay Library at QUB — extend their hours to give students dedicated places to study. A student favourite is Maggie Mays Botanic, which serves delicious breakfast.

Societies and Student Life Students can also spend their time in Belfast being part of societies and clubs to learn new skills. Queen's Students' Union currently runs more than 200 clubs and societies, and Ulster University students have access to a broad range of societies and welfare support. These help students develop and build hobbies over the course of their university life.

Shopping Students can find various high-street clothing, thrift stores, and vibrant local markets without going over budget, located at Queen's Quarter and the City Centre. A budget-friendly spot for students near Royal Avenue is Castle Court Shopping Centre, which has stores like TK Maxx and Miniso.

Sports and Fitness Focusing on physical health is just as important as mental health, and students studying in Belfast have plenty of ways to stay active. They can use campus gyms and sports centres, including Ulster University's on-campus fitness facilities, or head to Belfast's parks for quick morning runs or evening walks at Ormeau Park and the Lagan Towpath.

Nightlife and Entertainment Belfast also understands students need time to enjoy themselves, socialise, and have cheap drinks, food, and good music. Lavery's, one of Belfast's oldest family-run bars, features a pool table and a buzzing beer garden, and is a student favourite. The Parlour Bar is another, known for wood-fired pizzas and weekly entertainment.

 

When Should You Book Student Accommodation in Belfast?

Finding your ideal room shouldn't come down to hitting "book" at the last minute — the best properties in areas like Botanic Avenue and Queen's Quarter do sell out early, especially for the September intake. Here's when to start looking, depending on your course start date.

 

Why Book Student Accommodation in Belfast with UniAcco?

UniAcco lists 16 verified student properties in Belfast, all fully furnished with all-inclusive bills and modern amenities. But UniAcco does more than just book-style accommodation, we're with students throughout their entire accommodation journey. Our support team is just a call away, 24/7. We help students not only compare options, but also handle documentation, discuss suitable tenancy lengths, and explain how much goes into deposits and other rental agreement details. We also offer flexible payment options, and seasonal cashback offers are available on selected properties, with No Visa No Pay and No University No Pay features so students can book with us with complete confidence.