A postgraduate's journey from master's to PhD at Great Patrick Street

International student Cristina loved living at Great Patrick Street so much during her master’s that she decided to continue living with us during her PhD too!

We chatted to Cristina about her experience living in our Belfast student accommodation.

Cristina’s student story

Name: Cristina
University: Queen’s University
Studying: PhD in Education
Roost: Great Patrick Street

“I’m from Spain and did my undergrad there.”

On my third year of my undergrad, I had the opportunity of doing an Erasmus programme at the University of Ulster in Coleraine. So, I spent one year living in Portstewart here in Northern Ireland. After that, I had to go back to Spain to finish my last year of the undergrad. Because of my experience here [in Northern Ireland] in general, I decided I wanted to come back here to do my master’s. I just felt like I kind of found my place – so that’s how I ended up in Belfast.

When I came to do my master’s at Queen's University in 2019, I found Great Patrick Street at the last minute. I was lucky because I asked for accommodation at Queen’s, but I wasn't granted that. I called [Great Patrick Street] and someone had just cancelled a room. So I just said, ‘Okay, I'm gonna take it because I have nothing else’. If not, maybe I wouldn't be here now. I’m currently doing my third year of my PhD, so it's been a long journey.

“My favourite thing about Great Patrick Street is the team.”

When I applied again in 2021, for the PhD, I wanted to come here. During my master’s, I just found the team was attentive all the time. If you had a problem, they were there. And all the requests I've had or some doubts I've had or anything, they have always been there. You're living by yourself, but you're not alone – you have people around, you have the team. If you need something, just go to them and they are always very keen to help you and they fix things very quickly. I sometimes forget my key card too!

I thought, okay, if I need to find like a flat or a bedroom somewhere, I don't know who I'm going to be with. But I know at Student Roost, here in Great Patrick Street, I had a team that is 24 hours. So if something happens, I know I'm going to have someone; so it was not only because I felt better being here, it's also my parents were thinking you have someone you can go to when something happens. They've come to visit, so they know how it works.

“I've always been in a studio.”

My best experience, I think my best memory in general, is me living by myself and becoming independent. For the master’s, it was like my first time coming here, just me who I am by myself, just trying to sort out how to do things, and this was completely new. I think I’ve grown as a person, I’m living here by myself.

I'm happy, because I feel more relaxed. I know, for studying and all those things, I'm better by myself and I don't have to worry about anyone else. So, it’s just my little space. But I still know I have the social spaces. I've done yoga sessions here, I’ve met some friends that I’ve had here at social events, and I also use the gym.

“You don’t have to worry about anything.”

For the PhD, I actually looked for bedrooms and for flats. When I was looking at the prices for only one bedroom to share in in a house, it was more expensive with the bills. When you consider the price in general [at Student Roost], in comparison to what you may pay in other houses, it's quite good because you just pay that and you don't have to worry about the lights, about the water, about the heat, about anything. So that's something I'm happy with. I used to share a flat with my friend in Portstewart, and I remember working out the water bills and it was like ‘This is too much’, you know? My parents are happy in that sense, it's quite better to pay all included.

“This has been home for the last three years.”

My advice is to just enjoy it. Belfast is a very international city, so just go with the vibe of the place. It’s a good place to get the academic experience and the student experience.

I see [Great Patrick Street] as home. I always recommend Student Roost because you have all your bills, you have your space, you can choose if you want to share or if you want to live by yourself. Every time you come in or come out of the property, I always say hi to [the team] but they also reply ‘hi, how are you?’, they chat to you, they say hi. That’s a good thing because you feel like you are at home.

Are you a postgraduate student like Cristina who's looking for studio living in Belfast? Or perhaps an international student who's excited about the prospect of studying in Northern Ireland? Check out our Belfast properties, including Nelson Place, home to Ulster University's world-first sports centre.