[2][3] The college traces its origins back to the beginning of the twentieth century when the Belfast Municipal Technical Institute was established in 1906.

[4] College Square East survived the Belfast blitz with students often having to hide in its air-raid shelters during the Second World War.

It is often incorrectly perceived that the title ‘Black Man’ comes from the statue of Dr Henry Cooke which currently stands outside the building.

It is very common to acquire an affectionate name and in Belfast the 'Black Man' would have been perceived as a place, not a person, where people met and not after the ‘green statue’ of Dr Cooke.

College Square East was made into student accommodation in 2016 at a cost of £16 million, but it retains its exterior appearance due to being a listed building.

[17] In April 2020, Belfast Met received the Queen's Anniversary Prize – a UK-wide award recognising excellence, innovation and public benefit in work carried out by UK colleges and universities.