OpenFieldBelfast Met Titanic Quarter International STEM Excellence Award
Tuition bursary awarding outstanding international candidates enrolling in higher education diplomas and degrees at Belfast Met's Titanic Quarter campus.
Belfast Metropolitan College: Cyber Security, Software Engineering & Cloud Technologies Guide
With origins dating to 1906, Belfast Metropolitan College (Belfast Met) is the largest further and higher education college in Northern Ireland, operating world-class facilities including its iconic Titanic Quarter campus. Renowned as a UK Cyber Security Centre of Excellence in technical education, Belfast Met partners with Queen's University Belfast and global tech employers (PwC, Deloitte, Microsoft) to deliver higher national diplomas, foundation degrees, and applied research apprenticeships.
Verified degree programs and opportunities
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
Foundation Degree in Cyber Security and Network Infrastructure (FdSc)
Two-year higher education qualification awarded in partnership with Queen's University Belfast covering ethical hacking, SOC monitoring, penetration testing, and virtualized routing.
Centre for Economic Development Applied Composite Engineering Doctoral Bursary
Collaborative PhD award with Queen's University Belfast and aerospace partners conducting experimental composite structural testing and robotic prepreg layup.
Belfast Met Centre of Excellence Cloud Computing Research Initiative
Applied technical research project benchmark-testing Kubernetes container performance, edge computing synchronization, and cloud zero-trust cybersecurity policies.
Belfast Tech Gateway Professional Software Development Internship
Full-time industrial work-placement integrated with top fintech and cybersecurity employers in Belfast (Allstate, Citi, Kainos) developing enterprise cloud software.
Belfast Met Senior Innovation and Applied Research Fellowship
Three-year research fellowship leading Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) linking college prototyping labs with Northern Ireland manufacturing firms.
Northern Ireland DfE Women in Technology and Engineering Bursary
Targeted educational grant promoting female participation and leadership in software engineering, renewable energy technology, and aerospace mechanics.
Admissions, language requirements & application process
- Master's admission eligibility
- Honours degree or equivalent level 6 qualification in computing, engineering, or physical sciences; or level 5 Higher National Diploma with merit/distinction profile for top-up bachelor's degrees.
- Doctoral admission eligibility
- Direct collaborative PhD pathways facilitated via university partnerships with Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University.
- Language proficiency
- Academic IELTS 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each individual skill component), Cambridge English C1 Advanced, or Pearson PTE 54.
- Research statement / Proposal
- Required for advanced technology research fellowships: 1,000-word proposal detailing technical approach to cyber threat hunting, cloud automation, or composite engineering.
- Application fee
- £0 application fee for direct online college higher education applications.
- Required documentation
- Certified GCSE and Level 3/A-Level/University certificates and transcripts, valid passport, English language qualification, and academic reference.
Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems
Higher education tuition at Belfast Metropolitan College is approximately £2,800 to £3,200 per academic year for Northern Ireland/UK resident students, and £7,500 to £9,200 per year for international candidates—representing outstanding value compared to traditional UK universities. Department for the Economy (DfE) Assured Skills academies also offer fully funded training.
Verified faculty profiles and research leaders
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at Belfast Metropolitan College:
Dr. Jonathan Heggarty
Director of Curriculum & Applied Technologies · Cybersecurity Pedagogy, Apprenticeship Models, Cloud Infrastructure, Skills Strategy
Dr. Damian Duffy
Director of Development and Innovation & Regional Economic Strategist · Regional Innovation Policy, Workforce Transition, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Industrial Dual Training
Dr. Sharon Rivers
Head of School of Applied Science and Health · Applied Health Sciences, Biomedical Clinical Training, Environmental Diagnostics, Public Health Education
Important verification note
Facts reflect official Belfast Metropolitan College documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue