Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Inst) - a brief overview.

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The Royal Belfast Academical Institution (commonly known as INST) was founded by public subscription from the citizens of Belfast. The foundation stone was laid in 1810 with the school opening in 1814. One of the founders, Dr William Drennan, envisaged one of the purpose of the school to be “…to diffuse useful knowledge, particularly among the middling orders of society, as one of the necessities rather than of the luxuries of life….”  Between 1835 and 1849 The Royal Belfast Academical Institution (INST) also had a medical school attached to its “Collegiate Department” (the “Collegiate” department provided qualifications similar to a university). The school occupies a very imposing site in the centre of Belfast. Today the school has over 1000 pupils and is always heavily oversubscribed.

The Royal Belfast Academical Institution (INST) uses the new SEAG Single Entrance Transfer Test results as part of its intake criteria into year 8.