Hi, I am Priscilla Jeyaraj, a second year PhD student researching rare diseases. I have previously completed an undergraduate degree in Queen’s University Belfast, and this year, I am celebrating 5 years of being a Queen's Student Ambassador!

At the beginning of my Queen’s journey, I was not sure where or how my career would unfold. I had recently completed a foundation year and was not sure what the next steps would look like. However, from early days during my undergraduate degree (yes, even during Covid!), Queen's has provided me with global opportunities, experiences and a community that has shaped my early career journey.

Global Opportunities

There truly are endless opportunities available to Queen's students. During my undergraduate degree, initially I was hesitant to pursue these opportunities as I was not confident in being selected. I frequently consulted the careers team who advised me on writing an effective CV and cover letters which helped me gain confidence.

I had the opportunity to represent Queen's abroad while completing the Utrecht Summer School. This opportunity had enabled me to explore a new culture and different career field other than Biomedical Science.

Through a partnership with Queen's, I have also completed the International Undergraduate Research Placement (IURP) in the University of Nevada, Reno.  This partnership and competitive opportunity was the spark that ignited my career. In Reno, I was paired with a remarkable mentor and supervisor who nurtured and inspired me as a budding researcher to explore new ideas, transforming curiosity into confidence. 

During Covid, as a student ambassador I was paired with a fellow student ambassador to plan a virtual summer school for prospective students from all around the world! Even during the pandemic, I was honoured to be part of the Queen's team that were very thoughtful in finding ways to reach students who were nervous in pursuing a degree abroad. This was a new experience, and I had learned so much during this time and spoke to so many different students aspiring to join Queen’s.

Local Opportunities

There are many opportunities available to students who are looking for something a bit more local, for example, the summer studentships that are available to students in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences (MDBS). These 8-week studentships gave me insight into different research fields while I was discovering my research passion. There are other opportunities including volunteering or taking up different opportunities to find your passion!

Shaping Your Journey

During your course, Queen's provides so many opportunities for students to take up new positions and gain leadership skills. I personally have had the opportunity to be selected as the Queen's Postgraduate Research Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Student Representative, pioneering in the delivery of Active Bystander Training for incoming Master's and PhD students.

Find out more about being a student rep

One opportunity led to another, as I was then invited to contribute as a student member of the team writing re-application of the MDBS Athena SWAN Gold award. There are other opportunities as well such as the Queen's reverse mentoring programme which is a great opportunity for students to gain mentoring skills, as we are paired with a Queen's staff member, to share insights on the student experience.

As a fellow student, I would like to inspire and encourage other students to dream big, Queen's has so many opportunities and avenues for you to find your space to thrive. Each step can open doors you may have never imagined. As I reflect on my journey, I am most grateful to Queen's for the endless opportunities, and the opportunity to pursue my dreams, quite literally. 

Find out more

Take a Virtual Tour of Queen's

International students at Queen's

A Day in the Life of a Postgraduate Student at Queen’s

Priscilla Jeyaraj PhD Medicine | Postgraduate Student | Malaysia Hello! I am Priscilla, second-year PhD Medicine student here in Queen’s University Belfast. I graduated from Queen's in the summer of 2024, with a degree in Biomedical Science (but as you can probably tell, I love it here very much and decided to pursue a PhD here too!). Whenever I have free time, I enjoy going for walks, shopping and cooking! This would be my fifth year studying in Queen's and being a student ambassador, if anyone has any questions about the BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science course, doing a PhD or life as a Queen's student in general, please feel free to contact me!