“Hi, my name is Caitlin Kiddie and I’m from Edinburgh. I am studying Anthropology and Spanish at Queen’s University Belfast and as part of my course, I had the opportunity to live abroad in Spain for one year.”
Where did you go and why?
“My Erasmus took place in Alicante in Spain, where I studied at the University of Alicante (UA). This was my top choice as it was important to me to live in a coastal city to experience a different lifestyle; Alicante is also the sunniest city in Europe! I liked the prospect of a smaller city to allow me to engage with the local community and although I had concerns about its touristy reputation, I quickly realised this was not the case. In the local neighbourhoods Spanish was necessary in the supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and public transport.
Alicante is also very popular for Erasmus students, and this really made my experience. In first semester alone, there were 700 students all hoping to make friends and explore Spain.
Making international friends
“This international aspect became the theme of my year abroad. I arrived with a goal to expand my cultural awareness, not only of Spain, but globally. In September, I didn’t know anyone which challenged me to build new relationships.
I shared a typical Spanish apartment with girls from Australia, Mexico, France and Belgium. From there, this circle only expanded thanks to the incredible Erasmus Network (ESN) who organised activities and trips almost every day. It was on these trips to Spanish festivals, waterfall excursions and tapas tours where my flatmates and I met wonderful people from Germany, Canada, Italy and funnily enough, Scotland. These friendships were by far the best thing I gained from my year abroad.”
The most exciting part
“The most exciting part about studying abroad was the opportunity to travel. The study experience offers lots of free time to explore, so after spending a few months exploring Alicante and its neighbouring coasts my friends and I decided to make the most of this freedom. I travelled to different places in Spain including a trips to Bilbao, Mallorca, Barcelona and a road trip around Andalucía.”
“While I also explored different countries such as Portugal, Germany and Morocco. These travels stand out as some of the highlights of the year and allowed me to learn so much about other cultures and my own independence.”
Spanish culture and daily life
“Spanish culture is very different to the UK. Life is much more relaxed and slow-paced. In Alicante, this meant social gatherings on the beach, heading to the local market to buy fresh fruit and pastries, going to the gym with views of the marina, spending lots of time in creperías and watching every sunset and sunrise possible.
The day does not end after school or work at 5pm and in the evening the streets are still filled with kids playing and people enjoying tapas and drinks. Spain also has lots of cultural festivals such as Carnaval, las Fallas in Valencia and the Semana Santa processions over the Easter period. It was amazing to take part and observe these experiences of Spanish tradition.”
Mindset
“A crucial part of this experience was developing what I have termed the ‘Erasmus Mindset’. This encompasses the skills you learn along the way including confidence, communication and independence but also the ability to be spontaneous and make the most of every opportunity. This mindset extends beyond Erasmus and is something I am aware of now that I am back in Belfast.”
“The personal growth from my year abroad continues to push me to say yes to things I wouldn’t have considered before and enjoy every moment. These are skills important in academic and professional spheres but also on a personal level in the way you view life and those around you.”
Queen’s University Belfast student, Ben Magee, talks us through the process he went through to find accommodation in Stockholm for his study exchange.
“Planning for an exchange semester is exciting, but one of the biggest challenges is securing accommodation. When I made the decision to join the MPlan programme and that I’d be moving to Stockholm, I was actually in Chicago, which made the process even more difficult. Looking back, I wish I had started searching earlier – accommodation is a necessity when moving away, and it’s something that should be planned for months in advance. Even six months before departure, my now roommates and I were struggling to find places, and university accommodation was extremely limited, so Don’t Rely On It As Your First Choice!“
“I was lucky enough to be moving out with two fellow classmates, which made the search slightly easier as we could split costs and widen our options. Since getting a spot in student housing wasn’t guaranteed, we had to explore other alternatives. We started by checking Airbnb for short-term stays and joined as many Facebook housing groups as possible, messaging landlords and students enquiring about their accommodation plans.”
“One of the best decisions I made was reaching out to someone who had previously lived in Stockholm. They gave us great advice and even helped us connect with potential landlords. If your university can put you in contact with a former student, I’d highly recommend taking advantage of that.”
“Eventually, I secured a shared apartment through a private landlord. While it wasn’t in the city center, it was well-connected by public transport, and living with other students made settling in much easier.”
“My biggest recommendation? Start early, be persistent, and explore every option. Don’t rely solely on university accommodation – message as many people as possible, use multiple platforms, and connect with students who have been through the process before.”
“Exchange is an incredible experience, and finding a place to live is one of the most important steps to making it a smooth and enjoyable one.”
Queen’s student Andrew Atkinson talks to us through his top five tips for students going on a study exchange.
Look after yourself It is paramount that you brace yourself for the emotions you will feel once you’ve left your friends & family behind. It’s one thing to think about it, it’s another to experience. The world is smaller than you think, you’re one text away from those you love and they are not going to forget about you while you’re away.
Be open, experience as much as you can! There ought to be events that are hosted, sports teams you can join, and local events in your town! This is your opportunity to try new things, do not let it pass you by, your study abroad experience will pass in the blink of an eye.
You deserve to be here! It’s possible to get impostor syndrome as an exchange student, but understand your host institution invited you! Continue your established studying habits whilst engrossing yourself in the culture.
Travel! You’ll want to travel solo or with friends you’ve made, my personal highlight was travelling from North Carolina up to Niagara Falls and seeing the sights along the way.
You’ll miss it dearly. I miss my exchange friends, I miss the food. I met my girlfriend studying abroad and she came to Queen’s! We’re currently figuring out how we could all reunite in Europe once this semester is over.
Queen’s student, Emily Bond talks us through her experiences working abroad during her studies.
After completing a year in industry at RAL Space in Oxfordshire, I entered the final year of my MEng Aerospace Engineering degree at Queen’s with an ambition to try more and embrace the opportunities around me. Throughout my degree much of my work was based in modern, cosmopolitan-type environments with my degree based in Belfast, conferences in Europe, and completing a research internship in Canada. All these experiences focused on developing my technical knowledge in engineering, primarily composite materials. However undertaking other experiences such as InnovateHer, She Leads, and Sustainable Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, inspired me to explore the world of entrepreneurship and consultancy as a career.
The Think Pacific Global Team Internship (GTI) in Bali offered the opportunity to test my skills in consultancy, explore traditional Balinese culture, and work in an international environment. After an application and suitability/ motivations for applying call, I was accepted in November to join the first cohort arriving in June 2024. From acceptance in November to departure in June, preparation involved payment of project fees, visa application, vaccines, organising flights, and purchasing kit. To support my travel to Bali I also completed a fundraising 10km swim which helped fund my visa application.
Despite all preparations complete, I found myself in May doubting whether I wanted to attend or not, a question that lasted a few weeks. Taking some time to reflect, I realised that with my focus having been on exams until May it was natural that I would begin to question my direction with the future sometimes being intimidating with choice. With this feeling, I packed my bags and on the 2nd June began my next adventure.
Receiving the Sir Thomas Dixon travel scholarship allowed me to support the cost of my three flights from Belfast, with stops in Stansted and Dubai. The project started with a two-day briefing that included a brief history of Bali, details of the projects, and language lesson. Learning basic Balinese and Bahasa Indonesian phrases such as Suksma – Thank you, and Nama Saya Emily – My name is Emily, proved helpful when interacting with services and businesses.
Staying in the hotel also allowed time to meet the other 46 participants including those I would share a room and homestay with as well as members of the same project team. The first few days also allowed adjustment to a new time zone which can be challenging with additional fatigue.
Top tip: adjust your watch to the time zone you’re going to and try to sleep with their night even if it’s in short blocks.
Following the briefing, I travelled to Bali Kuno Tangkup for a dedicated cultural immersion experience led by locals. The camp included sleeping in bamboo and straw buildings with 8 other participants, sharing outdoor rain-water showers, and cooking local Balinese food including Mi Goreng – noodles with vegetables. The time also included further team bonding and developing appreciation for the efforts of rice field workers by completing activities in the muddy rice field and helping to plant rice seeds afterwards. After evening food, we gathered around a fire to sing typical western pop culture songs, giving a sense of home and a feeling of connection. I found the experience at Bali Kuno an opportunity to breath and embrace a more traditional and natural way of living that is a contrast to city life. With stronger group familiarity and time to adjust to the new time zone, we travelled from Bali Kuno to Mas Village where we would spend the remaining project time.
As is traditional for Balinese culture we were greeted with a welcoming ceremony where we presented with a fresh young coconut and Kalung Bunga (Flower necklace). The welcoming ceremony was also an opportunity to meet the homestay family who we would be living with. After the welcoming ceremony we walked to the homestay navigating uneven pavements (common in Bali) and stray dogs, before dinner and an opportunity to rest before the weekend. For the final weekend before project work began, I was fortunate to visit the Tegallalang Rice Terrace where I was able to develop an further appreciation for the work and patience involved in growing rice.
After a week of cultural immersion and education as well as team bonding with fellow participants, I felt an eagerness and curiosity to start the project work. For the first week I was fortunate to work with Magi Farm who utilise the lifecycle of the Black Soldier Fly to tackle food waste and create byproducts including fertiliser, dog food supplement, and fish food to produce a fully circular sustainable waste management system.
During the first meeting I was able to see how Magi Farm operates and their facilities as well as discuss with the co-founder beneficial outcomes for the week ahead. Throughout the week we worked as a team of 8 to deliver a path forward for Magi Farm, where I focused on developing a strategic plan to foster engagement and partnerships from events and business to business. Presenting the project at the end of the week allowed me to practice my public speaking skills and developing confidence in my ability to.
Following a weekend of reflection and exploration time in Canggu for a free weekend, I returned to Mas Village intrigued by the next project partner. For the second project partner I was grateful to work with Made Tea who utilise organic, sustainable, and all natural herbs and plants to create teas designed to promote wellbeing. Similar to Magi Farm, I was able to gain an insight into how Made Tea is run and operates by a single founder, Roni. It was highlighted early that Roni had a passion for helping those in the community of all including the younger generation.
Throughout the week I used my experience of design and design software to curate a new package design aimed at promoting energy in the younger generation. To support an interest in international partnerships I created a template for a partnership proposal to facilitate discussion. Presentation of the weeks work allowed further development of my presenting and public speaking skills.
To conclude the final week of project work after a weekend of exploring the local Ubud area and seeing a traditional Balinese fire dance, I was honoured to work with HNS Studio Bali, a graphic design and illustration business. HNS Studio Bali was an inspiration business as the founder began his journey while in university and has become an award-winning entrepreneur. However this success posed a challenge for how best to add value during the week. With some brainstorming as a team we identified scope for further more niche partnerships to which I continued on to develop a mock-up visualisation of his artwork as a background for DJ sets or festivals to increase visibility. Creating this visualisation allowed me to use and practice some of my design skills, appreciating transferable skills and the dedication to passion that people have.
Partaking in the Think Pacific GTI in Bali supported by the Sir Thomas Dixon Travel Scholarship and working with local Balinese companies allowed me to realise my passion for problem-solving across specialties as well as appreciate the diversity of culture that exists within our world. I was able to refine skills such as public speaking, generating presentations, and thinking outside the box for unfamiliar challenges; all skills of which will help me foster a successful future as I start my PhD in October with the School or Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Queen’s student Alena Romanovskaya gives her top tips for students studying abroad.
Arrive Early (If You Can) and Build a Routine
If possible, get there a week or two before classes. It helps to sort out things like registration, housing, and setting up your student card without feeling rushed. But it’s okay if you arrive later. You can still build a routine once you’ve settled in.
Stay in Touch with Home
Being abroad is a chance to enjoy independence, but staying connected with people back home really helps. I liked when friends and family visited me, but even video calls or a message made a big difference, especially on quiet days. Having a few photos from home cheered me up when I felt homesick.
Keep Digital Copies of Important Documents
Scan or photocopy your passport, insurance, and university papers before you leave. The university printers came in handy for this. Having backups saved me stress when something came up unexpectedly.
Explore Local Transport and Free Days
Take some time to learn how public transport works. I studied in Hasselt and really liked how simple it was to get around. There are good discounts if you’re under 26, so it’s worth checking in advance. The bus app shows live locations, and the train app is great for platform info, carriage types, and delays. If you’re in Belgium, remember Heritage Day happens every year on the first Sunday after Easter. Also, many museums are free on the first Sunday of each month.
Be Open to Spontaneous Adventures
Keep an eye on emails and group chats. Some of my favourite experiences came up this way. I found out about volunteering with Re-Book at UHasselt selling second-hand textbooks. This lead to my very first go-karting team building. One of my best memories was visiting the maritime museum in Antwerp. I hadn’t planned it, but it turned out to be a really interesting detour.
Read about Queen’s student Adam Cinnamond’s experience on a study exchange to Canada.
“In September 2024 during my third year of studying at Queen’s University Belfast, I had the amazing opportunity to study for a semester at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.”
“This was a dream come true for me as I had always wanted to visit Canada, and here I was spending most of the summer preparing to live there for 4 months! Throughout my packing and preparation for the trip, I wondered how easy it would be for me to adjust to living in a different culture like Canada. Would I struggle in a new university environment, would my new modules be difficult and would I be comfortable living there for the next four months?”
“These worries quickly disappeared upon arriving in Canada, where I was greeted with smiling faces and a welcoming environment true to Canadian stereotypes. I quickly settled in, adapting to the slightly new language, and learning what ‘loonies’ and ‘toonies’ were before ordering my first “Double-double” coffee from one of the many Tim Hortons. Thankfully I didn’t have to adjust to a new language, despite using some rusty GCSE French in Quebec, which helped me quickly connect with students and other European exchange students on campus through events held to support international students.”
“The campus culture was extremely friendly and I made close friendships with other students, meeting in residence and enjoying the cafeteria together. The sports culture of the university was just as strong as it is here, and I quickly became involved with the men’s rugby team and regularly watched the university’s American football, basketball, and ice hockey teams, helping form new friendships and connect more closely to the campus environment.”
“Throughout my exchange, I took part in as many activities and events as I could to help adjust to the new culture and make new connections early in my exchange, ranging from pub quizzes to ice cream stands.”
“By being open to new experiences and diving head first into campus life in Canada I quickly adapted to the new culture, both in university and the country, and helped quickly make new friendships which I hope to continue to last long into the future.”
We held the Real-World Challenge, Climate Change event hosted by PwC in their Belfast office at Merchant Square on 20 February 2025.
It was an exciting opportunity for the students who took part to hear from industry experts and join a team to tackle the real-world problem of climate change and what is currently being done in Northern Ireland to reduce emissions and produce a greener place to live, all while developing key employability skills!
A presentation was given by Professor John Barry, and we also hosted some Café Conversations with external speakers, who were, Melanie Thrush, Senior Engineer, geotechnical team, ARUP, Claire Shortt, Belfast City Council, Amy Bell, Acting Climate NI Manager, Climate Northern Ireland, Jason Calvert, Director in Economics Consulting, PwC, and John McCann, Estates Manager – Environmental, Queen’s University Belfast.
It was a busy, and fulfilling programme for the students who took part, and it gave them a chance to use their critical thinking skills to come up with some positive solutions to an important topic and an opportunity to interact with a broad range of students from across Queen’s.
Big thanks to everyone who took part!
Hitesh Gidwani, MSc Finance Student Queen’s University Belfast.
Had an eye-opening experience at the Real-World Challenge hosted by PwC, where we tackled climate change solutions alongside industry experts and students from across Queen’s!
One of the most thought-provoking tasks? Creating “The Best & Worst Newspaper Headlines of 2050.”
“Are you breathing or gasping for air? It’s official—humanity is ending… (Pay $5000 to read full article)”
A dark yet satirical take on how human greed persists even when survival is at stake. Will we let our planet deteriorate to a point where clean air becomes a luxury? Or will we take action today?
Gained valuable insights from expert speakers.
Collaborated with an amazing team to brainstorm real-world solution.
Realized how even small daily actions can create a massive impact.
3 Simple Steps YOU Can Take Today to Fight Climate Change:
1️. Ditch plastic bottles – Carry a reusable one!
2. Rethink fast fashion. The fashion industry causes 10% of global carbon emissions. Buying 1 second-hand outfit instead of new reduces waste, pollution, and guilt. (Plus, vintage is cooler anyway.)
3. Sort your waste like your life depends on it. Because, well… it kinda does. Landfills release methane, which is 25x worse than CO₂. Proper recycling = less toxic air = fewer “gasping for air” headlines.
The future is still in our hands. Will we change the headline before it’s too late?
Big thanks to PwC UK, Careers Queen’s University Belfast, and all Lynsey Foster for this incredible opportunity! Looking forward to more impactful experiences ahead.
Lynsey Foster, Employer Engagement Team, Careers, Queen’s University Belfast
We hosted our Real-World Challenge, Climate Change event in PwC’s beautiful Merchant Square offices. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, the students considered what is currently being done in NI to reduce emissions and become a greener place to live.
We welcomed several external speakers who joined our discussions and shared what their organisations are currently doing to tackle the climate emergency.
It was a very inspiring day with a lot of great takeaways! Thanks to each of our speakers for joining us and having some great discussions with our students – John Barry, Amy Bell, Melanie Thrush, Jason Calvert, John McCann, and Claire Shortt.
A big thank you to Abigail Darwent and the PwC team for hosting us and to Climate Northern Ireland, Arup, Belfast City Council.
Hear from Queen’s student, Liana Mac Intyre about her study abroad opportunity in Utrecht. Take it away Liana…
‘Spending a summer studying in Utrecht was one of the best decisions I made during my time at Queen’s. If you’re thinking about a short-term study abroad programme, I can’t recommend it enough.’
“You get to experience life in a new city, meet people from all over the world, and develop a deeper understanding on your chosen course topic. Looking back, my time in Utrecht gave me a deeper appreciation of Europe and the EU, not just as a political project, but as a space shaped by shared history, culture, and ideas.”
“I took part in the European Politics and Economy summer school at Utrecht University. Given my interest in politics and history and my desire to pursue a career in diplomacy, I wanted to better understand how the EU functions, especially from the perspective of a country that has deep historical ties to it. The course was an intense but rewarding mix of lectures, debates, and excursions. We covered everything from the institutional structure of the EU to its economic policies, and we had the chance to apply our knowledge in discussions on real-world issues like Brexit, trade agreements, and the future of the European Union.”
“One of the highlights was visiting The Hague, where we discussed the role of institutions like the International Court of Justice. Furthermore, we had the chance to visit the Mauritshuis Museum where we saw the famous Girl with a Pearl Earring painting!”
Beyond the academic side of things, Utrecht itself was an incredible place to live for a few weeks. The city has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, and cycling everywhere quickly became second nature.
“Afternoons were spent by the canals, and evenings often ended in one of the city’s many bars, chatting with other students from across Europe. The international mix of people on the course made for some fascinating conversations- everyone brought their own perspective, and it was refreshing to step outside of the UK and see things through a different lens. Due to its close proximity, my new friends and I were able to take a trip to Amsterdam at the weekend which was a great bonus to this amazing trip!”
“If you’re on the fence about doing a summer school, my advice is: go for it!“
“It’s a brilliant way to broaden your academic and personal horizons, all while having a great time in a new city. Utrecht, with its mix of history, culture, and student-friendly vibe, is the perfect place to do it.”
Our annual Stock Market Challenge Careers programme took place on 29 January 2025, offering students an opportunity to gain real-world experience of analysing markets and making investments.
Our students got to simulate the excitement of the stock market and compete for top prizes including industry insight opportunities.
Congratulations to our Stock Market Challenge 2025 winners Michael McCormick and William Parr! You played a great game! And congratulations also to the runners up and everyone who took part in the popular competition.
We want to give our thanks to the Employers that took part First Derivative, FinTrU, Fund Axis and Grant Thornton NI LLP and to our delivery partners at SolutionSim.
Here is what some of the people involved had to say about this year’s programme.
As a law student, this was my first time participating in the Stock Market Challenge, and thus it was an incredible experience with Rachel Lyle. We generated profit and secured a top 12 finish, making the experience even more rewarding. It was a competitive challenge but truly exciting, and I’m looking forward to the next one!
Additionally, the Employer Panel Q&A provided great insights into what employers are looking for. After the competition, we also had the opportunity to network with each other and connect with representatives from Deloitte, FinTru, First Derivative, Funds-Axis, and Grant Thornton NI LLP.
It was impressive to see so much talent on display at QUB’s Stock Market Challenge earlier this week. Congratulations to all the students who took part and gained the real-world experience of analysing markets and making investments.
We look forward to welcoming QUB students Richard and Jahed from the competition to our Summer Insights programme this June.
FinTrU
50+ students worked in teams to beat a stock market simulation, with 4 teams performing so well that they won a Work Shadowing / Careers Insight Day with one of our brilliant guest employers, or as part of our upcoming Work Shadowing Week 2025, plus a nice gift voucher to spend however they want!
We’re so grateful to our Guest Employers representatives who joined us, answered our questions in the Employer Panel, and even tried their hand at beating the stock market alongside our students: FinTrU, First Derivative, Funds-Axis Limited, Grant Thornton (NI) LLP.
A final, massive thank you from myself and my event co-coordinator Becky Law to our Delivery Partners at solutionsim.net for making this possible year after year, and in particular to Liam Barnes, for joining us as game host on the night (and for all the work that came before!).
Congratulations to our Future-Ready Award students receiving their awards at Winter graduation 2024!
Hear from Varshitha Manjunath, (pictured above), who is a Queen’s PGT student who graduated in December 2024 with a Master of Science in International Business, and an impressive NINE Future-Ready Award accreditations.Well done Varshitha!
“The Future-Ready Award enabled me to reflect on the diverse range of activities I participated in, including leadership roles, volunteer work, and practical experiences like the Think Pacific Remote Internship. By engaging in initiatives such as the Real-World Consultancy Programme and Prestige Volunteers, I was able to identify key skills I developed, such as teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving. For example, my involvement in Homework Clubs highlighted my ability to mentor and support others, while Handy Helpers (SU) refined my organizational and time-management skills. These activities provided a structured platform to assess and appreciate the breadth of my personal and professional growth.”
In semester one 2024, Careers, Employability & Skills celebrated 444 unique students gaining the Future- Ready Award, including single and combined routes as well as an increase in work experience accreditations.
The award enables you to articulate your learning and signals to employers that you have developed essential skills required to succeed in the workplace and is open to all Queen’s undergraduate and postgraduate students.
We have over 100 accredited activities available to search on our activity search tool and there are three different ways to achieve the award, single route activity, combined route activity, and the work experience route. Full details on this and the list of accredited activities can be found on the Future-Ready Award website.
Applications open for the Future-Ready Award summer applications open on 20 December 2024 and close at midnight on 01 March 2025.
