Tag: Global Opportunities

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Top Tips for Studying Abroad

ALENA-ROMANOVSKAYA-

Queen’s student Alena Romanovskaya gives her top tips for students studying abroad.

ALENA-ROMANOVSKAYA-

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. 

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Global Opportunities Go Global ambassadors Study abroad

Adjusting to Life In Canada

adam cinnamond

Read about Queen’s student Adam Cinnamond’s experience on a study exchange to Canada.

adam cinnamond

“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.”

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Careers programmes Global Opportunities Go Global ambassadors Study abroad

Experience life studying abroad in Utrecht

utrecht
utrecht

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.”

Find out more about study abroad opportunities at Utrecht https://go.qub.ac.uk/utrechtsummerschool

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Europe Go Global Student experience student success Student success stories

Study Exchange at Utrecht University, Netherlands

Flag of the netherlands flying

Grace McSorley is a final year student who had the opportunity to attend a placement at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Here is what she had to say about her time there!

“Recently I had the opportunity to complete a study abroad placement in Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and it was an amazing experience. The course, ‘Exploring Data through Culture’, was a great learning opportunity and it provided me with the chance to learn several new softwares, whilst equipping me with a range of new data skills and techniques.

One of the highlights was the chance to work alongside a brilliant group of students and lecturers from across the world. The team collaboration was fantastic, and together we presented a research project investigating the rise of Chat GPT and natural language processing AI within education. The insights, skills and experiences I have gained from the Summer School will be invaluable as I commence my final year of university.

A massive thank you to the Careers Queen’s University Belfast Global Opportunities Team for funding and organising the programme, and also to the team at Utrecht Data School for making this experience possible. #UtrechtSummerSchool“

Fancy studying in the Netherlands? We are offering up to £1,400 in funding for approx. 40 full time Queen’s Undergraduate students to complete a Utrecht Summer School Course in the Netherlands – closing date for applications for 2024 is 04 March 2024 at 12 noon.
Find our more about Utrecht Summer School courses places on our Utrecht Summer School web page.

Find out about Study Exchanges in Europe and Search for all global opportunities on our Go Global Search Tool

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Careers programmes Global Opportunities student success Student success stories Think Pacific

My Think Pacific Internship Experience in Fiji

Image of the house built by the Think Pacific Project

Every year, Queen’s Global Opportunities offer students the chance to participate in The Think Pacific programme. They have a chance to tackle global issues and achieve real outcomes for our partners in Fiji. Chelsie Haddock was among the successful applicants to the programme. Chelsie took part in the Think Pacific Programme spending a month working on a community build in Namau, Fiji. Here is her experience:

Sota tale Fiji! (See you again, Fiji!)

Chelsie with other members of the Think Pacific Group

This was the most unforgettable experience with the most amazing people. Throughout the month of June, I was grateful enough to work alongside volunteers from the Think Pacific Programme as well as the Fijian youth of Namau to build and produce a health dispensary within the village of Namau.

Workers on site of the health dispensary in Namau
Construction of the health dispensary in Namau

During this time, I was also welcomed into a wonderful family who I am now blessed to call my own. This experience was truly a once in a lifetime blessing. I fully embraced the Fijian culture and loved every second of the culture classes that we also took part in. This included, trying new foods and learning how to cook some of the traditional meals. I built rafts, attended church services and learned Fijian songs. I learned about the history of Fiji and the village of Namau. I also performed traditional dances, ‘mekes’ which was my favourite part as we performed them as a family.

This adventure has been so surreal, all thanks to the village of Namau, who warmly welcomed us into their village and treated us as their own from the very start. Your culture and stories will never be forgotten, and I cannot wait to go back in the future!

Vinaka vaka levu Fiji.(Thank you very much Fiji)

Find out more about Think Pacific.

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Global Opportunities international students student success Working Globally in NI

Working Globally from NI: My Intern Experience at Mourne Dew Distillery

Engineer working at a distillery

Electrical and Electronic Engineering student Vihan Fonseka spent four weeks at Mourne Dew Distillery as part of our Working Globally from NI programme. Read his experience below.

Going outside my comfort zone

I started my International Marketing Assistant with Mourne Dew Distillery just a week after my final year exams ended. I was very excited from the start as this experience would be outside my comfort zone and a whole new domain for me coming from an engineering background. This opportunity would be put in a place where I can expand and learn new skills and broaden my perspective.

Learning about the company

My interest for Mourne Dew began when I came across the internship posting where I was impressed to learn about their story from starting very small to now producing award winning Whiskies, Gins, Vodkas and Poitins. The craftmanship involved in producing these spirits further attracted me to apply as I learned about how Mourne Dew infuses the essence of the famous Mourne Mountains into their products as well as various botanicals. From a perspective of an international student and someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, I found the craftmanship, dedicate and innovation that goes into making these products very interesting and something I would like to be a part of.

Leading my own projects

My internship at Mourne Dew consisted of various projects that I led and delivered. From conducting research into revamping the current booking system through analysing suitable software to collecting and compiling business tenders to sell the byproduct of the production being hand sanitizers I was exposed to different functions of the business from Day 1. Mourne Dew is still a growing business, and I partook in their expansion efforts through conducing market research into the spirit markets of USA, Poland and Germany, I was able to learn about different spirit products, various pricing methods, ingredient mix and generally what whisky or gin or vodka is popular in different regions.

Hybrid working

In addition to working remotely, I was able to visit the distillery in Warrenpoint and meet the team behind it. Neil Flemming (Sales Manager) had kindly picked me up and brought me to the distillery plant. It was interesting to see the production process of creating high quality Whisky, Gin, Vodka and Poitin as Eimear and Donal (Operations Assistant) gave me a breakdown of the distillation process, packaging and was impressed that the entire batch is made by hand. I had also got a sniff of the different experimental botanical mixtures that Donal (owner) had been testing from seaweed to citrus and they all smelled incredible.

Overall, working at Mourne Dew for the past 4 weeks had been an incredible experience that helped me step into a totally different domain, learning about marketing, sales and generally how a distillery is run.

Find out more about Working Globally from NI here.