Queen’s is at the centre of social and cultural life in Belfast. The University is home to the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, an international arts festival held each autumn. Covering all art forms including theatre, dance, classical music, comedy, and visual arts, the Festival attracts over 80,000 visitors.

In addition, the University has its own cinema, the Queen’s Film Theatre, and art gallery, The Naughton Gallery at Queen’s.

There are currently around 200 students from China studying at Queen’s (2009/10). With the recent development of additional collaborations between Queen’s and institutions in China, it is expected that this number will increase steadily over the next few years.

The Chinese community in Northern Ireland is the province’s largest non-EU minority ethnic group.

The majority of Chinese people in Northern Ireland originate from the New Territories, the rural area of Hong Kong where Hakka and Cantonese are spoken. Many came during the 1950s because the New Territories offered few economic opportunities. Once in Northern Ireland, many set up trade in the catering industry. Their businesses were able to provide jobs for family and friends who wanted to follow in their footsteps.

For almost 20 years, from 1962, immigration into the UK was restricted. But, from 1980, professional people, students, university lecturers and doctors have been coming to the UK from the Chinese mainland.

In Northern Ireland, more and more people are coming from mainland China to study and work in our Universities and colleges.

You will find plenty of support and assistance from a number of organisations, aimed at supporting members of the local Chinese Community in Northern Ireland and promoting Chinese culture and tradition.