The Student Room Group

Stranmillis 2021 help (Northern Ireland)

Hi!

So I live in Northern Ireland and am hoping to study in Stranmillis University College to work towards becoming a Primary Teacher that specialises in Special Education Needs & Disabilities (SEN/D) but if I don't get into stranmillis i really don't know where else I'll study.

I have put University of Cumbria down just their Primary education QTS with SEN/D course looks fab and they have said that my career hope fits well with their course.

Main problem would be living alone in England with no one that I know and due to my disabilities, I have Cerebral Palsy (Mild), I'm deaf and have chronic pain daily. I feel I may struggle with that and being alone and maybe struggle to make friends.

Any advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated even if it is reassurance or truth that Stranmillis is hard to get into.
I'm open to being able to chat to people who are looking to also go into Stranmillis! :smile:

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Have you applied to St. Mary's Belfast?
Reply 2
Original post by markova21
Have you applied to St. Mary's Belfast?

Havent really thought i would click in there as I feel it might be super like one sided for religious purposes and I'm deadon but I just feel I might not be able to make friends easily there thus have a hard time.
Original post by ablack6199
Havent really thought i would click in there as I feel it might be super like one sided for religious purposes and I'm deadon but I just feel I might not be able to make friends easily there thus have a hard time.

OMG no. It's not one sided at all. They are really inclusive and go out of their way to make that point.
Reply 4
Original post by markova21
OMG no. It's not one sided at all. They are really inclusive and go out of their way to make that point.

Apologises I realised I sounded very obnoxious..my parents and I would celebrate parades but my dad would be particularly strong on religion despite "claiming" he's dead-on with catholic people but ehh Nah I disagree lmao ill definitely have a look at their course and ask them if they have relation to SEN also do you know if general university contact people are closed this week due to it being half term?
On the Open Day when I was being shown around ( my son couldn't make it so I went on his behalf), everyone was so nice and welcoming and friendly. The students who showed us around after the talk were just lovely too and nothing was too much trouble for them. I have an English accent and people didn't bat an eyelid.
Reply 6
Original post by markova21
On the Open Day when I was being shown around ( my son couldn't make it so I went on his behalf), everyone was so nice and welcoming and friendly. The students who showed us around after the talk were just lovely too and nothing was too much trouble for them. I have an English accent and people didn't bat an eyelid.

I'm glad you had a good experience :smile: got to admit its weird not being able to attend open days and i would much rather email a crap ton lol to ask questions
My advice if you are either phoning or emailing St. Mary's would be to have a bit of patience. St. Mary's doesn't get as much funding as Stran ( you can tell by the difference in the two buildings for a start) and I think their secretary only works PT. But someone will lift the phone/answer the email eventually !!
Reply 8
Original post by markova21
My advice if you are either phoning or emailing St. Mary's would be to have a bit of patience. St. Mary's doesn't get as much funding as Stran ( you can tell by the difference in the two buildings for a start) and I think their secretary only works PT. But someone will lift the phone/answer the email eventually !!

Ah okay. That's grand. Thank you :smile:
Oh and explain to your parents that the College often and regularly host evening talks /discussions open to the public to attend. In most instances one of the guest speakers is nearly always from the Protestant/Loyalist community, and people turn up to hear all the speakers speak. There is never any issue/animosity towards the Protestant speakers.
Original post by markova21
Oh and explain to your parents that the College often and regularly host evening talks /discussions open to the public to attend. In most instances one of the guest speakers is nearly always from the Protestant/Loyalist community, and people turn up to hear all the speakers speak. There is never any issue/animosity towards the Protestant speakers.

My first choice will a;ways be Stranmillis but if I don't get in that's ok i mean at least st mary's is a backup option that allows me to stay in the country lol
Well the very best of luck to you anyway !
Original post by markova21
Well the very best of luck to you anyway !


Thank you! <3
Original post by ablack6199
Thank you! <3

No worries. Can I just add that their online Prospectus goes on about "Catholic Education" a fair number of times. But on their website they also state they welcome students from all faiths and students who have no faith. My son is an Atheist and if he thought for one nano-second they would be shoving Catholicism or indeed any religion down his throat, he would never have considered it.
Original post by markova21
No worries. Can I just add that their online Prospectus goes on about "Catholic Education" a fair number of times. But on their website they also state they welcome students from all faiths and students who have no faith. My son is an Atheist and if he thought for one nano-second they would be shoving Catholicism or indeed any religion down his throat, he would never have considered it.

Yeah i was confused about that. Hence why I haven't considered them yet but most likely will add them to my choices as I know the Ulster uni, Open uni & Queen's don't have any teaching degrees or SEN ones so there is legit only 2 unis that I can apply ad hopefully have a chance.
Reply 15
Hi there! Im literally in exactly the same position! I have applied to Stranmillis and am interested in specialising is SEN/D as well!I am also applying to St Marys as a back up, despite not being from the typical background as I am very keen to stay in the country as I have many allergies which would make it difficult to live on my own abroad at the moment. Let me know what you end up deciding to do, who knows we might end up on the same course ahaha xx
Original post by Ajm333
Hi there! Im literally in exactly the same position! I have applied to Stranmillis and am interested in specialising is SEN/D as well!I am also applying to St Marys as a back up, despite not being from the typical background as I am very keen to stay in the country as I have many allergies which would make it difficult to live on my own abroad at the moment. Let me know what you end up deciding to do, who knows we might end up on the same course ahaha xx

Hi there! I unfortunately have decided to postpone university for a few years just to see if it is defo something I would be able to do if I was on better meds for pain etc also Stranmillis emailed me few weeks and said that they wouldn't have accepted me due to my course (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development). So my plan now is to hopefully progress in SEN trainings and see what comes up after a few years of being a regular classroom assistant x
Reply 17
Original post by ablack6199
Hi there! I unfortunately have decided to postpone university for a few years just to see if it is defo something I would be able to do if I was on better meds for pain etc also Stranmillis emailed me few weeks and said that they wouldn't have accepted me due to my course (Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development). So my plan now is to hopefully progress in SEN trainings and see what comes up after a few years of being a regular classroom assistant x

Oh that is unfortunate, good luck in future anyway I'm sure you will make a brilliant classroom assistant!
Hi,
Just thought I'd update you. I've got a response from Stanmillis who said that with my course I could be able to apply for Early Childhood studies which includes SEN Modules and SEN Placements which gives me hope of being able to study at home like in Northern Ireland rather than in England.
Reply 19
Original post by ablack6199
Hi,
Just thought I'd update you. I've got a response from Stanmillis who said that with my course I could be able to apply for Early Childhood studies which includes SEN Modules and SEN Placements which gives me hope of being able to study at home like in Northern Ireland rather than in England.

Wow! That’s great!