The internship is designed to improve your employability in a competitive sector by combining research and study with practical experience. We work with a range of different organisations throughout Belfast to find a bespoke internship that matches your interests and skills to a project.

You’ll spend 3-4 days per week at your internship, allowing time for you to complete a weekly learning journal to show your progress. During the six weeks you will also be required to attend two workshops on campus with the Queen’s Development Officers. Once the internship has concluded you will need to complete a reflective report summarising the experience.

Successful completion of the internship, weekly learning journals and final report will award you with 20 CATS points, equivalent to 5-6 US credits. This is in addition to the 60 CATS points you will be awarded from the spring semester of study.

Organisations

Where your internship will take place is dependent on your interests and skills as we look to find the most suitable option for you. Below are some examples of organisations we have worked with in the past.

• Law Centre NI - Offers specialist legal advice in the areas of social security, employee rights, immigration and asylum.
• NI Human Rights Commission - Champions and guards the rights of all those who live in Northern Ireland.
• Women’s Aid – Impact of Covid19 and abuse on women.
• Housing Rights - Evaluate BME housing or housing for young people.
• Rainbow Project – Data anaylsis on support provided through outreach service.
• NI Council of Refugees and Asylum Seekers
• Centre for Democracy & Peacebuilding
• NICVA – Research on societal issues for community organisations and strategy for government.
• Féile An Phobail – Impact on communities moving from conflict to peace building.

If you have seen an organisation or opportunity that you are interested in and would like to discuss this further, please mention this in your application and get in touch with us ahead of time.

Project Examples

Some examples of projects Queen’s students have been involved with in the past are:

• Examining the health needs of undocumented migrants through the Health and Social Care Trust.
• Joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit to improve their social media presence and visibility for victims.
• Undertaking research to explore disability football and identifying the benefits to individuals who actively engage in team sports.
• Supporting the evaluation of activities conducted during Community Relations Week and assessing the long term return on investment and legacy impact of the activities.
• Carrying out research to access perspectives and needs of mental health service users from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic communities in Northern Ireland.
• Conducting research with young people and teachers who undertook diversity training in previous years to examine whether this programme has had a longer term impact.

Before you can begin your internship you will need to complete the spring semester of study.

We advise that students take Module ANT1006 – Understanding Northern Ireland: History, Politics and Anthropology. This module uses a variety of historical, political, sociological and anthropological perspectives to look at key issues relating to Northern Ireland, which will ensure a solid overview prior to the placement.

‘Explore anthropological understandings of ethnicity and nationalism to examine how Unionism and Irish Nationalism developed. The class will look in detail at the various political solutions which have been applied to ‘the Province’, with a particular focus on the Peace Process and examines the realities and legacies of the conflict since the signing of the 1998 Agreement.’

Students are able to study two other modules available from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, though it is encouraged to build upon your understanding of Northern Ireland’s historical, political and social context.

To apply for the internship pathway students must first submit the standard online Study Abroad Application Form by 1^st October.

Applicants will also need to submit the online Study Abroad Internship Form. In this form you will need to provide an explanation of your interests, motivations and experience within social justice and peacebuilding. You should aim to address the following:

• Why are you interested in social justice and peacebuilding, and why is this of value to you?
• What are your motivations for applying for this internship?
• Do you have any prior experience in relation to social justice or peacebuilding?
• What do you hope to achieve from the internship?

If you have any questions about the application form or statement please email ahssabroad@qub.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.

• Tuition fee for spring semester & internship: £10,133 (2021-22)
• Entry requirements: a GPA of 3.0
• Application deadline: 1^st October. The deadline to apply for the internship pathway is earlier than the standard semester to allow for a suitable placement to be found.

Internships typically begin mid to late May and will be completed by the end of June at the latest, though the exact dates will be on a case by case basis. Students will continue to be housed in university accommodation at the regular weekly rate until the end date of their internship.

While completing the internship, students will be eligible for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Work Placement Bursary. Details can be found here. 

Full information on visas and immigration is provided by our International Student Support team who can be contacted via immigration@qub.ac.uk. The visa requirements for the study abroad internship pathway are different than if you were only studying for the spring semester.