Frequently Asked Questions - Applications

Are you still accepting applications for the 2023/24 academic year?

Applications for our full-time, part-time and work-based learning courses will open from 26th January 2023 for courses starting in September 2023.

What are course entry requirements?

Course entry requirements are set for each course before applications open. You should check course entry requirements carefully before you make an application.

Entry requirements are provided on the course details pages.

I want to check my application progress

Applicants can review the courses applied for in their application account by clicking here. If you have forgotten your password, click here to get an email containing a link to reset your password.  

I think I have an offer but can’t find the email.

If you think that you have an offer but cannot the email, contact studentportal[AT]belfastmet[DOT]ac[DOT]uk with your name, date of birth and course(s) applied for.

I am holding a conditional offer a Level 1 course but grades were lower than expected. What should I do?

You must accept your offer and record your grades achieved and upload evidence of your qualifications on your online application account before midnight (12.00am) on 24 August 2023 (Results Day 2023). Keep your appointment with the College and discuss your options with a member of the Curriculum team.

I am holding a conditional offer a Level 2 course but grades were lower than expected. What should I do?

You must accept your offer and record your grades achieved and upload evidence of your qualifications on your online application account before midnight (12.00am) on 24 August 2023 (Results Day 2023). Keep your appointment with the College and discuss your options with a member of the Curriculum team.

I am holding a conditional offer a Level 3 course but grades were lower than expected. What should I do?

You must accept your offer and record your grades achieved and upload evidence of your qualifications on your online application account before midnight (12.00am) on 24 August 2023 (Results Day 2023). Keep your appointment with the College and discuss your options with a member of the Curriculum team.

I am on a waiting list. What should I do?

Follow the instructions contained in your email. Record your qualifications achieved and upload evidence of your qualifications on your online application account. Make sure that you answer your phone and check your emails regularly particularly from results day onwards.

I have applied for a Level 1 course and have been asked to record my qualifications.

Log into your online application account by clicking here. Record each qualification you have already achieved and upload copies of evidence of your qualifications. If you have not yet received your grade, please enter Pending in the Grade box.

You must update Pending to your actual grades as soon as you receive them and upload copies of evidence to your online application account.

We cannot process offers until we have reviewed evidence of your qualifications. Qualifications must be record and evidence uploaded before midnight (12.00am) on 24th August 2023 (Results Day 2023).

I have applied for a Level 2 course and have been asked to record my qualifications.

Log into your online application account by clicking here. Record each qualification you have already achieved and upload copies of evidence of your qualifications. If you have not yet received your grade, please enter Pending in the Grade box.

You must update Pending to your actual grades as soon as you receive them and upload copies of evidence to your online application account.

We cannot process offers until we have reviewed evidence of your qualifications. Qualifications must be record and evidence uploaded before midnight (12.00am) on 24th August 2023 (Results Day 2023).

I have applied for a Level 3 course and have been asked to record my qualifications.

Log into your online application account by clicking here. Record each qualification you have already achieved and upload copies of evidence of your qualifications. If you have not yet received your grade, please enter Pending in the Grade box.

You must update Pending to your actual grades as soon as you receive them and upload copies of evidence to your online application account.

We cannot process offers until we have reviewed evidence of your qualifications. Qualifications must be record and evidence uploaded before midnight (12.00am) on 24th August 2023 (Results Day 2023).

How do I upload evidence of qualifications achieved (e.g. exam certificates)?

Log into your online application account by clicking here. Upload photographs of your evidence of qualifications achieved.

What should I do if I have lost my exam certificates?

If you have lost your exam certificates, you should contact the exams Awarding Organisation who awarded your qualification, e.g. CCEA, AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, City and Guilds. Most Awarding Organisations have a section on their website for ‘replacement certificates’. You will have to pay for a replacement. If you are not sure which Awarding Organisation awarded your qualification, contact the school or college where you completed this qualification and they will be able to tell you.

Exam certificates are the preferred evidence for applications to Belfast Met, particularly for HE courses. In some cases, the College will accept your Statement of Results. The statement must be on school/college letterheaded paper showing the school stamp, principal’s name (printed), principal’s signature and date.

However, exam certificates are required for progression to study at any other Higher Education Institution, e.g. Ulster University or Queen’s University Belfast. Any form of evidence that states ‘provisional’ will not be accepted.

How do I provide evidence of identity and right to study?

Belfast Met is required to check your identity and your right to study at Belfast Met. A list of acceptable identity and right to study evidence is available from the College website.

Log into your online application account by clicking here and upload copies of the evidence. We cannot process offers until we have confirmed your identity and your right to study.

I am transgender and need some advice on documentation.

We understand that it might be problematic for trans students to produce official documentation such as photographic identification and birth certificates at enrolment and exam time. We therefore have in place a separate, confidential notification process to support trans students.

For confidential notification, contact the Head of Student Support email: studentsupport[AT]belfastmet[DOT]ac[DOT]uk

My qualifications do not exist on the drop-down list

There is a free text ‘Other’ option available directly underneath the Qualifications line.

I haven’t sat my A-levels yet, what should I enter in Grade box?

Either leave the grade box blank or enter ‘Pending’. Update all of your grades achieved and upload evidence of your qualifications on your online application account before midnight (12.00am) on 18 August 2023 (Results Day 2023).

If you have applied for more than one course

If you have applied for more than one course, you may receive other offers. You can only hold one offer for the course you are most interested in and you must reject any other offers you receive.

If you reject your offer

If you reject your offer, we will keep you on the course waiting list. This means that if you change your mind, or if you do not meet the entry requirements of your first choice, you may be offered a place on your second choice (if places are available).

This usually happens in late August/September. If you are no longer interested in the course, you should withdraw your application as soon as possible.

You can do this by contacting studentportal[AT]belfastmet[DOT]ac[DOT]uk to ask for your application to be withdrawn.

I have some questions and need help. Who should I contact?

If you need more information and/or help, please email [email protected] or telephone 028 90265 265.

When should I hear if I have got onto my course?

Enrolment appointment emails will be sent to applicants with offers. Applicants on waiting lists will be contact by phone or email if a place becomes available.

If I don’t meet the entry requirements what should I do

It is essential that you keep your enrolment appointment and our Curriculum Teams will discuss options with you.

I want to do a course but don’t know where to start or what to apply for

Our staff can support you through the application process. To get started, email [email protected] or telephone 028 90265 265.

Can I hold more than one offer?

If you have applied for more than one course, you may receive other offers. You can only hold one offer for the course you are most interested in and you must reject any other offers you receive.

I want to cancel an application but the system won't let me. Can you help?

Email [email protected] or telephone 028 90265 265.

I have changed my contact telephone number since I first applied

Log into your account by clicking here. Check that your contact telephone number is correct, and update it if it has changed since you first applied. We cannot progress your application if we cannot get in contact with you by phone.

I have changed my email address since I first applied

Information and progress updates about your application will be sent to the email address you provided on your online application account.

Log into your online application account by clicking here. Check that your email address is correct, and update it if it has changed since you first applied. You will miss essential information if the wrong email address is listed.

I have changed my home address since I first applied

Log into your online application account to update your address. To log in, click here.

I can't remember my username

The username is made up of the first part of applicant email address up to @ symbol. Contact Campus Admin on 028 90265 265 between 9am and 5pm or email studentportal[AT]belfastmet[DOT]ac[DOT]uk

A message on my screen says that my email is invalid. What should I do?

Wait a few moments and try again. Sometimes the system needs time to recognise your account. If the message continues to be displayed, email studentportal[AT]belfast[DOT]ac[DOT]uk or telephone 028 90265 265 for help.

I have created an account but when I try to log on, it doesn’t recognise me

Check your emails from Belfast Met (emails may appear in your Junk Email inbox). If you have not received a confirmation email from the College, you may not have completed all of the steps to finish setting up an account. Repeat creating a new account.

If you continue to experience difficulties email [email protected] or telephone 028 90265 265 for help.

When I try to submit my application, it says it is a duplicate

Log out of your online application system. Remove courses from your basket. Search for your course again and add your course to the basket. Then log in again.

If you continue to experience differences email [email protected] or telephone 028 90265 265 for help.

I’m not sure my application has gone through. Can I track this?

You can track your application by logging back into your online application account and use the menu on the left hand side to your details. You can also check courses applied for by checking your emails. We will update you on the progress of your application.

There is a spelling mistake in my name and/or address. How do I edit this?

Log into your online application account to amend your name and address. To log in, click here.

How can I withdraw my application?

Please include your name and the full name of the course you would like to withdraw from. Email [email protected] or telephone 028 90265 265.

What is the minimum age to enrol at Belfast Met in September 2023?

You must be 16 years old by 1 July 2023 to apply to or enrol with us at Belfast Met. This is set out in the Further Education (NI) Order 1997. Exceptions to this are the arrangements under formal School-College Partnerships – please contact us or your own post-primary school to check if this arrangement might be available to you.

If you have completed Year 12/Form 5 in school but will not be 16 years old by 1 July 2023, you should contact the Education Authority NI for further advice at [email protected] or tel. 02890 564000.

Please email [email protected] or telephone 028 90265 265 if you require any further information from Belfast Met to help with your query.

Do I have to upload evidence of identity and Right to Study?

We have to check your identity and your right to study at Belfast Met. Log into your online application account by clicking here. Click here to check what evidence you will need. Upload copies of your evidence of your identity and your right to study.

IMPORTANT: If you are unable to upload proof of your identity and right to study immediately, you can still proceed with your application but we will ask you for this when you enrol. If you require help with this, email [email protected] or telephone 028 90265 265 for help.

I have applied for a course with entry requirements. How do I find out about funding opportunities and other financial help?

Visit our Student Funding page here to find out how to fund your studies.

I have obtained a place on a course and would like to pay by Direct Debit.

Students with a UK bank account that facilitates direct debit can arrange for fees to be paid in instalments if they are enrolling on a course(s) of 16 weeks duration or more and the total cost is greater than £200. Students will have to pay a minimum of 25% of the total fee at time of enrolment, followed by three consecutive monthly equal payments by direct debit. Fully completed Direct Debit Forms must be provided at time of enrolment.

My employer is paying for my course. What information do you need?

If your fees are to be paid by the Student Loan Company (SLC) or by a sponsor such as your employer, please ensure that all the information is available to enable us to raise the appropriate invoices and to allow your sponsor to make payment on your behalf.

You must present a letter from your SLC or your employer at time of enrolment where possible. It is your personal responsibility to ensure that your fees are paid.

Can I pay for my course in cash?

Tuition fees are payable in full at the time of enrolment. “Tuition fees” can comprise course fees, registration fees or any other charge relating to the course. Payment is accepted by cash, cheque, direct debit or credit card (Visa, Mastercard).

I have applied for a Higher Education course and will use a Student Loan to pay for my studies. What information do you need?

Before you can enrol, you must upload a photograph of your Student Loan letter OR confirmation of Student Loan application. Log into your online application account by clicking here.

Is car parking available at your campuses?

The latest update on access to buildings and car parks can be found here.

I have enrolled on my course. When will I get my student ID card?

You will get your student ID card during the first week of your course. You will be given an appointment to go to Campus Administration to get your photograph and ID card.

When will I get my course timetable?

Course timetables will be emailed to students after they enrol.

Do I need a uniform or kit for my course?

Information about uniform and kit requirements can be found on the course details pages.

What building will I be studying in?

Course timetables including the building you will be studying in will be emailed to students after they enrol.