Magee students felt 'unwelcome' claims Taskforce chairperson

University students arriving in Derry in September past felt “unwelcome” according to Stephen Kelly, chairperson of the Ulster University Magee Taskforce.

Taskforce member Gavin Killeen also called for “a mature conversation around student fees”. He said the Stormont Executive did not have the fiscal headroom to cover the recurring cost of £38 million annually needed to sustain the target of 10,000 students at Magee.

The Taskforce was established by then Stormont Economy Minister Conor Murphy in March 2024 to “oversee an action plan to expand Ulster University’s Magee campus in Derry to 10,000 students”.

Mr Kelly made his remarks on Tuesday afternoon during his presentation of the ‘Magee Expansion Taskforce Update: One Year On, January 2026’ report to Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Governance and Strategic Planning Committee.

The report can be read HERE.

Referencing Council’s “practical role in terms of planning authority”, Mr Kelly said the Taskforce would “encourage you to continue to efficiently progress those [planning applications] so that the appropriate accommodation projects … are brought through”.

Mr Kelly explained that meant “accomodation in terms of teaching but also residential accomodation for students”.

“I have to say, in talking with the Students’ Union involved in our Taskforce, and there is no doubt about it, that particularly in and around Freshers Week and the couple of weeks after that, there was particular stress being applied as people began to orientate themselves arriving in the city and moving around the city, not just students but staff as well,” said Mr Kelly.

Western Trust promotes prevention as the key message for World Cancer Day in the North West

Under the "United by Unique" banner, the Western Trust highlights the diverse, individual stories of patients at the North West Cancer Centre

IN PICTURES: Mayor welcomes President Connolly to Derry’s Guildhall

President Connolly joins the Mayor and local dignitaries to experience the city's unique hospitality and heritage

“But students were feeling unwelcome during that period. And we know that’s not the Derry way, so we want to make sure that they actually feel welcomed when they are here,” he added.

“It certainly helps us with the marketing aim which we have seen has proven successful in terms of the number of applications that have been made to study in Derry.”

The Report highlighted 6,505 students had enrolled at Magee this academic year.

Mr Kelly described this figure as “record numbers”. He said it was “ahead of plan and three years ahead of ‘natural growth’”
“The marketing is working, applications are up 21%,” added Mr Kelly.

“New teaching facilities have opened at Timber Quay; sites have been secured for the next phase of growth; and the Shared Island and Dome await planning approval,” he said.

Gavin Killeen, who is also a Taskforce member, told councillors reaching the target 10,000 students at Magee would involve “ a recurring cost of £38 million per year”.

“We know the Executive does not have fiscal headroom to cover that. We have to have a mature conversation around student fees, which we have avoided up until now,” added Mr Killeen.

“If we don’t get those extra 3,000 places that we need for Magee over and above the MaSN (Maximum Student Number) those 3,000 places are being taken up by universities outside of the province, and where people are paying £9,200 for those fees.

“There needs to be a mature conversation between all the parties as to what we do to help to fund those student places going forward,” said Mr Killeen.

The MaSN cap in the North is a government-imposed limit on the number of local undergraduate students universities can enroll. Critics argue the policy restricts capacity; can force students to leave the North and the Republic of Ireland for higher education; and is an economic restriction.

Following the Taskforce presentation, the Committee unanimously backed a motion endorsing “the asks from the Magee Taskforce presented to committee and welcoming the progress to date on the university expansion”.

The Taskforce’s ‘Magee Expansion Taskforce Update: One Year On, January 2026’ report was heavily criticised by the the Concerned Residents Around Magee (CRAM) campaign group.

In a statement to The Derry News, a spokesperson for the group said the Taskforce member identified on February 6, 2025, as the person who would engage with communities around Magee, had failed to meet CRAM.

“We are still waiting for the promised ‘community engagement’ with the Taskforce,” said the spokesperson.

They added the Taskforce ‘community liaison’ had been “unable to clarify how and with which residents the alleged engagement has been taking place”.

“Who are the residents the Taskforce is proactively working with? How were they chosen and is there an expectation that views will be sought and feedback will be given to the local community?” they added.

“We ask, because to our knowledge as CRAM, but also as residents in the local area, there has been no organised community engagement despite our repeated calls for open and public dialogue to take place. There certainly has been no feedback.”