Careers, Employability and Skills
Opportunities for Study or Work Overseas
U.S. - NI Mentorship Program
The program provides an opportunity for around 25 students and recent graduates to spend 1 year working in a paid mentored work placement within a corporate/business environment in the USA. The host employers are leading US companies from a range of sectors and the program is open to students, graduates and young professionals who are at least 21 years of age, residents of Northern Ireland and UK or Irish passport holders. The mentorships are tailored to the individual’s background, skills and abilities as well as the company’s needs and opportunities. They are a great opportunity to:
- Build on existing work experience by undertaking work with an international dimension
- Gain experience within a unique mentored environment
- Add real value to your CV and skills profile
For further information and application details:
EuroGraduate
The EuroGraduate programme is an EU-funded programme which enables recent graduates from Northern Ireland to complete 20-week work placements in five European countries. Placements are available in Bordeaux (France), Seville (Spain), Berlin (Germany), Florence (Italy), and Lisbon (Portugal). In the past six months, 30 programme participants have done placements abroad in organisations ranging from law offices to schools and from racetracks to laboratories. Placements are unpaid, but participants have their travel and accommodation paid for, and receive a stipend to cover living costs. Participants also receive extensive pre-departure training in CV preparation, interview skills, and personal development planning.
Applications are accepted from any academic background. There is no minimum language requirement for participants. Rather, we evaluate each application on a case-by-case basis and allocate places to applicants who will benefit the most from participating in the programme.
Register your interest at the stand or via eurograduate@rsmtenon.com
Contact details:
Keelin McGartland, Centre Manager, International Services, OD Consultancy
RSM Tenon, 41 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GB
Telephone: 028 9044 6424
Email: keelin.mcgartland@rsmtenon.com
Study USA (formerly BEI)
The BEI Programme has undergone a change of name to the Study USA Programme but still involves 12 months studying business-related courses at a U.S. church-affiliated university or college. Places are available at one of over 100 institutions from Florida to Montana or California to North Carolina. You don't need to be from a business background to apply: Study USA is open to full-time pre-final year students of any discipline from Queen’s and other Northern Ireland higher education institutions. The Programme is intended to produce graduates with an international, business-orientated perspective capable of making a contribution in advancing the Northern Ireland economy. While on the programme, you will take 5 business related courses/modules along with another course of your choice. Study USA is accredited under the Degree Plus Award through the US Certificate in American Business Practice and well regarded by graduate employers.
Apply online now at the British Council Study USA pages – see link below. Information seminars are planned pre application. These will be on our Events Calendar when confirmed so check here and sign up.
The Programme provides:
- An opportunity to experience university life and study in the USA
- An outward looking, international experience in a new and diverse culture
- The chance to develop personal and career-related skills and abilities sought by graduate employers
- An opportunity to set yourself apart from other students by taking part in an exclusive programme
For full information on the Programme and how to apply go to:
IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience)
IAESTE is a student exchange organisation with over 80 member countries worldwide. It provides students from mainly science, engineering and technology disciplines with paid, course-related, technical training abroad and aims to promote international understanding and goodwill. Preference is given to full-time pre-final year undergraduate students from appropriate degree pathways. IAESTE are available in industrial and commercial organisations, research institutes, local government bodies, state enterprises, consultancies, laboratories and academic institutions, covering a wide range of disciplines. Normally the placements are for eight to 12 weeks in the summer months. Benefits include opportunity to:
- Gain work experience relevant to your degree
- Gain personal and employment experience abroad
- Enhance your personal confidence, independence and add real value to your CV and skills profile
- Learn/develop a foreign language and enhance your communication skills
- Meet new friends and have fun
For further information:
Study China
Study China is a UK-wide programme designed to provide students with a brief but significant introduction to Chinese language and culture. Programmes last for 3 weeks, include an exciting variety of activity options and are preceded by 40 hours of Chinese language classes. The Programme is open to any UK undergraduate student from any degree discipline (although not postgraduates) aged 18 or over. The Programme is funded by the UK government, except for flights, visas and travel insurance, and aims to encourage participating students to consider studying abroad as well as improving relationships and understanding between the UK and China. The benefits to you include:
- Opportunity to experience a new culture
- Develop Chinese language skills
- Chance to sample a short period of time abroad before considering other options
For further information:
- Visit the Study China website
Study India
Study India offers the same programme format as Study China with a 3 week ‘taste’ of India (based in Mumbai or Delhi) including a mix of language and culture classes, lectures on Indian history and commerce and visits to cultural and historic sites. Again, it is open to all undergraduate (but not postgraduate) students from any degree background and is UK government-funded, except for flights, visas and travel insurance.
For further information:
- Visit the Study India website
CRCC Asia - China Internship Program
This program offers 1 or 2 month internships for university students of any discipline, any level. Internships will be in a multinational or leading Chinese company in the student’s chosen field in Beijing, China. Popular work areas include Law, Finance, marketing and PR, Green technology and environmental services, Business, Travel and tourism, NGOs, but these are not the only options. Interns need to be able to speak fluent English, but Chinese language skills are not necessary. A full social programme with cultural outings, language study, and professional networking events is also available. Internships can be arranged throughout the year, but applicants need to apply at least a month or two in advance.
As there is a cost involved in participating in the program scholarships are available for the 1 month program for those who would not otherwise be able to take part. Programme benefits include:
- Experience of a new country and culture
- Opportunity to gain transferable skills and hands-on experience working in China
- Develop your employability skills and add an extra dimension to your CV
For further information:
- CRCC Asia website
European Voluntary Service
The European Voluntary Service (EVS) is an EU programme for young people between 18 and 30 years and offers the opportunity to do voluntary work in many different countries and in a wide range of areas such as culture, youth, sports, social care, cultural heritage, the arts, civil protection, the environment, development co-operation and more. All activities have in common an intercultural learning dimension and seek to promote solidarity, mutual understanding and tolerance among young people. Voluntary opportunities can last from 2 to 12 months and it’s possible to undertake EVS activities both individually or in a group. EVS works through a partnership between a host project/organisation, the volunteer and a sending organisation (eg the British Council in the UK) and volunteers choose from accredited EVS projects that interest them. EVS Sending and Hosting Organisations are normally non-governmental organisations/associations, local/regional authorities or other similar bodies. Benefits include:
- Opportunity to ‘make a difference’ and help promote young people’s active citizenship
- Develop new skills and benefit from specific training opportunities
- Experience new cultures and languages
For further information:
European Movement Ireland’s Grad Jobs in Europe campaign
Irish people are great at the business of Europe once they get involved. This is evidenced by the number of Irish people working in roles of high responsibility in the EU. People such as John Bell, John Bruton and Catherine Day spring to mind.
The number of Irish graduates looking to the EU for employment and career opportunities has reduced since the mid-90s. This is due to a number of factors, most importantly Ireland’s booming economy in the mid 1990s and plentiful career opportunities at home. There is a real worry that there are not enough Irish people rising through the ranks of the EU at the moment. Our focus is to ensure that Irish graduates include Brussels in their post college job search as much as our European counterparts might.
The goal of the Grad Jobs Campaign is to make Irish graduates more aware of the opportunities available for them in the EU system and for more Irish graduates to consider the EU as a place where they could fulfill their career ambitions. We also want Irish graduates, if successful in securing a place in Brussels, to integrate well into Brussels and Team Ireland.
For further information:
- European Movement website
- Interested in receiving recruitment emails-sign up by sending their contact details to info@europeanmovement.ie.
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INTO China INTO China's exciting programmes gives students the opportunity to study Chinese language for between 4 and 12 weeks over the summer months, as well as to learn more about Chinese culture, and to visit the main tourist attractions in China. Running between June and September these programmes are ideal for students looking for summer study opportunities or short gap year courses. The summer programme includes:
Visit the website or download the INTO China brochure |
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It is up to each student to ensure they check the detail of any programme requirements they are considering applying for.
Help in selecting or applying for international opportunities is available from Careers, Employability and Skills.
There is additional general information in the further study section.
A number of these organisations will be visiting the university to talk to students about these experiences. These shall be advertised on our Events Calendar database, Careers Weekly Newsletter, Twitter and Facebook.
For details of year out, vacation or other opportunities please see the Careers, Employability and Skills vacancies database.