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Local Coordinator Close to your School
Your local coordinator visits your child, attends parents' evenings on your behalf and stays in touch throughout your guardianship programme.
British Guardianship at St Mary's University College, Belfast
Nominated Guardian for St Mary's University College, Belfast. University guardianship programme for international students.
Are you looking for a Nominated Guardian for St Mary's University College, Belfast? International students under the age of 18 are required to have an Accredited UK Guardianship in place when enrolling at a UK university. Once your application is accepted and you are enrolled at St Mary's University College, Belfast, British Guardianship can provide a fully accredited university guardianship service, including a dedicated local coordinator who can visit your child, attend parents' evenings on your behalf, maintain regular contact throughout your guardianship programme, and assist with any additional requests you may have.
Guardianship Fees
Our UK university guardianship services for St Mary's University College, Belfast start from £250 per term.
Dedicated Guardianship Manager
As soon as your application is received, a dedicated member of our guardianship team becomes your main contact, managing every aspect of your nominated guardian arrangements.
Our Services
UK University Guardianship
An accredited nominated guardian for international students who start at St Mary's University College, Belfast before turning 18. Your child has a dedicated local coordinator and 24-hour emergency support, and you receive regular updates until your child turns 18. Prices from £250 per term.
Learn More →University Overview
St Mary's University College, a Catholic higher education institution in west Belfast, stands on the Falls Road and specialises in the liberal arts and teacher education. It dates from 1900, the year the Dominican Sisters founded St Mary's Training College, admitting a first cohort of 100 women. St Joseph's Training College followed in 1961, and in 1985 the two combined to form today's university college. Queen's University Belfast, of which St Mary's is a constituent college, has conferred degrees on its students since 1968, and the Board of Governors is chaired by the Bishop of Down and Connor.
With about 1,000 students, the college is small, and students and staff work closely together. Undergraduates study for either a BA in Liberal Arts or a BEd in Primary and Post-Primary teaching, offering a range of subject specialisms. Postgraduate study includes a Master of Education and an MSc in sport and physical education for young people, while the PGCE for Irish-medium education reflects the college's role in education delivered through Irish. Brian Friel, Seamus Mallon and Seamus Heaney studied at the college or at one of its predecessors.
Information for International Students
St Mary's treats its international dimension as central to its mission, and each year students arrive from partner institutions across Europe, North America and beyond. Exchange and study abroad account for much of this activity, with incoming students arriving via the Irish American Scholars programme, Erasmus+ and the Swiss-European Mobility Programme. The college's administrative support staff supply application forms and guidance to exchange applicants, whereas candidates for a complete BA, BEd, MSc or MEd apply through the usual admissions process for that programme. St Mary's holds a Student sponsor licence.
Housing is supplied by external organisations, and students receive help with their arrangements from both the college and its partner institutions. Student Roost is recommended for single-semester stays; alternatives on the college's list include halls at Stranmillis University College and purpose-built student residences in the Cathedral Quarter and Queen's Quarter. Because the college is small, international students can form close relationships with academic staff, and it also runs an international summer school. Anyone applying from overseas for a full degree is advised to confirm the English requirements with the admissions office.
Intake Information
Intake information is provided as a general guide. Start dates vary between universities and courses, and not every course is offered at every intake. Please follow the UCAS deadlines for undergraduate applications and check the latest dates on the official St Mary's University College, Belfast website.
Frequently Asked Questions
UK universities typically require international students who are under 18 when they enrol to have a UK-based nominated guardian in place. The guardian acts on behalf of the parents while the student is a minor, serving as the university's point of contact in an emergency, supporting the student's welfare and providing a trusted adult close by. British Guardianship provides this as a fully accredited university guardianship service.
We have guardians available and ready to be assigned. The overall timeframe depends on how quickly the required paperwork is completed and communication with St Mary's University College, Belfast is finalised. As every case is different, timelines can vary, but we aim to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Our UK university guardianship services for St Mary's University College, Belfast start from £250 per term. We also offer premium and bespoke packages, and with our flexible guardianship services you only pay for the services you need. Full details are on our guardianship fees page.
No. Once your child turns 18, the nominated guardian requirement no longer applies and guardianship services are no longer needed. This is why our university guardianship is priced per term, so you only pay until your child's 18th birthday.
A UK student guardian must be a responsible adult, usually aged 25 or over, who lives permanently in the UK, speaks fluent English and is close enough to respond quickly in an emergency. The guardian must be contactable 24 hours a day, act as the university's emergency contact until the student turns 18, and hold an Enhanced DBS check where they or their household host the student. St Mary's University College, Belfast may also ask for the guardian's details at enrolment and set additional requirements of its own. As an AEGIS-accredited guardianship provider, British Guardianship meets these requirements on your behalf, with vetted guardians, Enhanced DBS checked host families and 24-hour emergency support.
Disclaimer: Logo, images and videos are shown courtesy of St Mary's University College, Belfast and remain the property of their respective owners. British Guardianship is an independent AEGIS-accredited guardianship provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by St Mary's University College, Belfast. University information is provided as a general guide; please refer to the official St Mary's University College, Belfast website for the latest university information and details.
