Employability and Alumni
Many PhD graduates go on to secure academic roles in the UK and around the globe. Some enter the legal profession or return to their prior career with enhanced prospects. Others work for governmental institutions and non-governmental organisations.

80.64% of Queen’s Postgraduates are in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (QUB Overall Destinations, 2018/19).

Whether you are looking to enhance your career prospects or develop your knowledge, a postgraduate degree from Queen’s University Belfast can help take you where you want to be.
The University's The Graduate School offers specialist support and guidance while you study. They will help you explore and plan your next career move, through regular events, employer-led skills sessions and postgraduate development programme.

"I chose to study a PhD at QUB because most of my family members had studied there and it enabled me to pursue my research question at home. I enjoyed the Law School and the trips that the School provided such as the Schumacher course and the Cumberland Lodge retreat. I am currently working as a paralegal in the Infected Blood Inquiry in London and I have just been awarded the Jules Thorn Scholarship in Middle Temple to study the Graduate Diploma of Law. A PhD was a crucible that stands you in good stead once you are through it."

“Choosing to undertake my PhD in Law at Queen’s is one of the best decisions I have made. I enjoyed my experience developing as an academic researcher at the School of Law with some of the experts in the field of international human rights law, and gender equality.
The training and support from staff at both the School of Law and the Graduate School were very helpful. My story as a PhD student at Queen’s would be incomplete if I did not mention the splendid role of the Queen’s Student’s Union in enhancing my student experience overall. The PhD study process was indeed a preparatory phase for my role as an academic. I immediately secured a job upon completion of my PhD.
I am currently working in the School of Law at QUB as a Early Career Academic where I am continuing to expand on my research area. I am also contributing to teaching and supervising undergraduate law students.”

"I chose to study a PhD after completing my LLM in Human Rights at Queen’s. My PhD focused on the role of international law in preventing and tackling human trafficking among refugees and asylum seekers in Africa and Europe, and was completed under the excellent supervision of Professor Colin Harvey and Professor Thérèse Murphy. I really loved the strong sense of community among the PhD cohort in the School of Law, particularly the SRN, a student led research network. The weekly coffee mornings, dedicated office spaces, and support from the wider school community was fantastic. I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to complete my doctoral studies at QUB".

“I am really grateful for the opportunity to have undertaken doctoral research at the School of Law and the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. My experience as a PhD researcher was greatly enhanced by the expertise and support of both of my supervisors who encouraged and challenged me throughout my doctoral journey. I have grown in confidence as a researcher and hope that the knowledge and experience gained throughout my studies into historical institutional abuse will make a difference to the people whose lives continue to be affected by past wrongdoings in various institutional contexts.
I am continuing to work in the area of my doctoral thesis as a research assistant on a project involving QUB, UCD and DCU on transforming justice responses to historical institutional abuse across the island of Ireland.”
We are proud of the achievements of our alumni and want to share their stories with you.