Changing to Queen’s University for my master's degree was a difficult decision but one I have no regrets about. It has given me so many opportunities and I am so grateful to have had a year to attend Queen’s and experience life in one of the most renowned universities. Throughout this blog, I’ll share my favourite things about my university experience at Queen’s and what has shaped my uni life.

Securing an internship

Queen’s site MyFuture is an amazing way to find graduate jobs, summer jobs or internships. Through the site I have secured a five-week internship with a marketing company in Bangor, allowing me to gain valuable experience in the field I wish to seek full-time employment in soon. Securing the real-world project was definitely a highlight of the academic year for me, it was a really proud moment and something I secured through my own hard work, dedication and countless study hours during the year. If you are a current or upcoming Queen’s student, keep an eye out next year on MyFuture to find an opportunity that suits you!

^{I have been working at an amazing marketing company in Bangor, called Ivyhill Digital!}

Working with QWork

Another job finder site used by the university is QWork. The site allows students to find temporary part-time or full-time work within the university campus. Throughout the year I have worked at each careers fair hosted by the university, aimed at final-year or master’s students securing graduate jobs. This was a great experience to meet new people and learn new skills through temporary jobs. It also gave me the chance to speak to employers myself as I begin my job search! I would recommend QWork to anyone and will look back at some of my temporary jobs throughout the year with fond memories.

Discovering my favourite coffee shop

At the beginning of the year, I decided to try coffee shops near campus that I hadn’t tried before. It was the perfect way to find a new go-to spot for the year while also supporting small local businesses. The minute I found my favourite spot I knew I would be hooked for the rest of the year. For me, Kaffe O in Botanic Avenue has definitely been my go-to coffee shop throughout the duration of the year, and one I will continue to support when I finish my master's degree.

^{Winding down in Kaffe O}

Freshers fair

This may be a clichéd answer, but the freshers fair is the perfect opportunity to check out clubs and societies available to join as part of the university. For me, it took place the week after joining and was a great chance to meet up with new friends and get a feel for what Queen’s is all about. It's also a great chance to get some freebies! Freshers week usually takes place in the last week of September, so keep an eye out as this year is sure to be bigger and better than ever!

^{Grab lots of freebies at the Freshers Fair!}

Getting my first 1st of the year

Doing a master's means a lot of hard work and several steps up from a bachelor's. For me, it has undoubtedly been worth it but this does not mean I haven’t found it incredibly difficult at times. That’s why one of my favourite moments is getting my first ‘First’ in an assignment this year. I had been worrying about assignments and exam results and felt so relieved when I opened Canvas and saw that something I had put my all into had gone so well. It felt like I was doing the right thing and I had made the best decision by continuing my studies.

So, those are some of my fondest memories of university this year, and I hope to make more during the next few months as my year of postgraduate study draws to a close! As I mentioned previously, university is very difficult but times like these can be all you need for a boost of confidence to give you security in your studies - don’t give up!

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Postgraduate study at Queen's

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Rosa Hasson  MSc Marketing student | Postgraduate Student | Northern Ireland My name is Rosa Hasson, I’m currently a MSC Marketing student at QUB. I graduated with a BA Hons in Journalism in 2022, and since then I have definitely kept my love of writing and content creation alive through my internships, university work and freelance writing. When I’m not working or studying I love listening to new music, trying new coffee places or getting inspiration for any upcoming city breaks!