Regions · checked 21 October 2026
Studying in Northern Ireland for Nepali Students: Queen’s, Ulster and the Irish Border
Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so you study on a UK Student visa and can use the UK Graduate visa afterwards. It shares an island with the Republic of Ireland, which is a separate country with its own visa.
Should Nepali Students Consider Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has two universities in HOA’s guides: Queen’s University Belfast, a Russell Group member placed 174th equal in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and Ulster University. You study on a UK Student visa and show £1,203 a month of living costs from 30 November 2026. Visiting the Republic of Ireland needs a separate Irish visa.
It suits students who want a Russell Group or modern university in a smaller city with lower rents in HOA’s estimates. The choice is limited to two universities, so check your course first.
Key facts
Checked against the sources cited on 21 October 2026.
- Living costs to show
- £1,203 a month (£10,827 for 9 months) from 30 November 2026; £1,171 (£10,539) beforeUKVI; HC 584
- Universities
- Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster UniversityHOA university profiles
- Russell Group
- Queen’s University Belfast, 174th equal in QS 2027The Tab, QS 2027
- Republic of Ireland
- A separate country: Nepali citizens need an Irish visa to visit, even with a UK Student visaIrish Immigration Service
- Graduate visa
- 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027, and 3 years after a PhDGOV.UK
Universities in Northern Ireland
| University | Location | Published international fee | Visa living-cost rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen's University Belfast | Belfast, Northern Ireland | from £22,400 | Outside London |
| Ulster University | Belfast / Coleraine / Derry | from £18,030 | Outside London |
Queen’s University Belfast is a Russell Group university in south Belfast. Ulster University has campuses in Belfast, Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry. Open each profile for fees and the source links.
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
There is no routine border check on the land border, but that does not change the visa rules. The Republic of Ireland is outside the UK, and a UK Student visa does not let a Nepali citizen enter it. You need an Irish visa to visit Dublin or anywhere else in the Republic, and you should carry your passport. The British-Irish Visa Scheme, which lets some visitors use one visa for both countries, covers Chinese and Indian nationals, not Nepali.
If you are deciding between the two countries for your degree, see UK vs Ireland.
How Much Money You Show for the Visa
You show the tuition you still owe for the first year plus living costs for up to nine months. For a university outside London: £1,203 a month (£10,827, about NPR 21.1 lakhs) for applications from 30 November 2026, or £1,171 a month (£10,539) before then. The money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
Worked example. A one-year master’s with £17,000 tuition and a £3,000 deposit paid: £14,000 still owed + £10,827 living costs = £24,827 (about NPR 48.4 lakhs) held for 28 days. Add the £558 visa fee and about £1,164 health surcharge, paid when you apply.
All 20 of Nepal’s Class A commercial banks meet UKVI’s rules for the account. See bank balance for the UK visa and banks in Nepal.
Living in Belfast
Belfast is a compact city where most students live near their campus. HOA’s estimates put rents below most large English cities. Most students fly into Belfast through London or another UK airport. Teaching, work rules and the Graduate visa are the same as elsewhere in the UK.
How to Apply to Universities in Northern Ireland
Check the course
Queen’s or Ulster must offer your subject.
Apply
Master’s: directly. Bachelor’s: through UCAS, by 18:00 UK time on 13 January 2027 for most courses.
Get your CAS
Meet the conditions and pay any deposit.
Prepare the visa file
NOC, TB test and 28-day funds, then apply online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You apply for a UK Student visa, and you can apply for the UK Graduate visa after your degree.
No. The Republic of Ireland is a separate country and Nepali citizens need an Irish visa to enter, even though there are no routine checks on the land border.
The outside-London figure: from 30 November 2026, £1,203 a month, up to £10,827 for nine months, plus any first-year tuition you still owe.
Yes. It is the Russell Group member in Northern Ireland, placed 174th equal in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
For some courses. Requirements are set course by course, so check the course page or ask HOA.
Yes. The Graduate visa lets you live and work anywhere in the UK.
University merit awards at Queen’s and Ulster, and Chevening for eligible master’s applicants. GREAT and Commonwealth scholarships are not open to Nepal in 2026/27.
Belfast is a busy student city. Take the same care as in any UK city, and use your university’s accommodation and welfare services.
No. HOA’s admissions guidance is free to students. Partner universities pay HOA when a student enrols; you pay only official costs such as the visa fee, health surcharge, TB test and NOC.
Key Terms
- 28-day rule
- Visa money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
- Common Travel Area
- An arrangement between the UK and Ireland; it does not give Nepali citizens a right to enter Ireland on a UK visa.
- Graduate visa
- Lets you stay and work after a UK degree without a sponsor: 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
Sources
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 21 October 2026. If an official page and this page disagree, the official page is right.
- Home Office, Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 584
- UK Visas and Immigration, Financial evidence for Student and Child Student route applicants
- The Tab, All 24 Russell Group universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027
- Russell Group, Our universities
- GOV.UK, Graduate visa
- British Council, GREAT Scholarships
About This Guide
Written by House of Admissions (HOA), a UK-only education consultancy founded in 2016 with offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. All 20+ HOA counsellors hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification. HOA’s guidance is free to students. Reviewed by Rahul Chhetri, Director. This is admissions guidance, not immigration advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Related Guides
Thinking About Belfast?
A counsellor can check whether Queen’s or Ulster offers your course. HOA’s guidance is free.