A Day in the Life of a Postgraduate Student at Queen’s
PhD Medicine student Priscilla takes us through a typical day as a Postgraduate student at Queen's, from quiet studying in the Graduate School to catching the sunset with friends.
Morning Routine
I start my day at 7:00am, getting ready for the day ahead. I enjoy having a slow morning routine before I head out by 8:00am with all of my essentials including my laptop, water bottle and planner. I like carrying everything in a large tote bag because it allows me to stay mobile and get work done anytime, anywhere. Once on campus, I grab breakfast depending on my schedule - either catching up with friends or picking up a quick croissant from the Students' Union shop.
Academic Life
I usually like attending to any emails I may have missed from the weekend or the day before. Balancing deadlines and different tasks is essential, so I use different tools to stay organised including a Muji planner and Microsoft Teams Calendar and Planner. I find myself most productive when I have my favourite playlist on, in a quiet study area. I use Spotify and play my “On Repeat” playlist as it has curated my top played songs all in one playlist.
Campus Life
My go-to study area is the Silent Study area in the Thomas J Moran Graduate School, as it is equipped with everything perfect for a productive study session. For a change of scenery, I may study at cafes or the Students' Union (I keep up to date with the current events happening in the SU by following them on Instagram!).
The university’s facilities offer great spaces to study, from quiet libraries to lively student lounges. For a break from studying, I often like walking around campus, Botanic Gardens or grabbing a cookie from the Junction Café in the Peter Froggatt Centre.
Exploring Belfast
In the evenings, I make time for relaxation or attend university events. If I am in the mood to shop, whether online or in-store, I use Unidays or Student Beans to get a student discount on my cart! With the Queen's campus being only a 25-minute walk to the city centre, it is very convenient to walk into the city for dinner. There is a wide variety of restaurants types and atmosphere for different budgets, occasions and cravings!
Navigating the city is easy, with its mix of walkable streets and public transport. If I am walking, I always make sure to have a good hooded waterproof jacket just in case it rains! Most days, after a hectic schedule I enjoy trying to cook a new recipe and sharing it with friends!
Winding Down
By the end of the day, I settle in with my favourite songs or chatting with my friends and family, catching up on our days. In summer, the sun often doesn’t set until 9:30pm, so it’s a great time to grab the picnic mat and sit out on the grass and watch the sunset, or at least that’s how I like to end my day.
Find out more
VIDEO: Come with me to the Thomas J. Moran Graduate School
Priscilla JeyarajPhD Medicine | Postgraduate Student | MalaysiaHello! I am Priscilla, first-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 fourth year studying in Queen's and being a student ambassador, if anyone has any questions about the BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, or life as a Queen's student in general, feel free to contact me! |
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