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Study Abroad: My Queen’s Experience
News article ID 4033667
Zoe Brankin (Staff Writer) | 21 July, 2025
Thinking of spending a semester or year studying abroad in Belfast? Hear from our Study Abroad students on their experience at Queen’s!

VIDEO: A Day in the Life of a Creative Writing Student at Queen’s
News article ID 4282585
Brittany Marasciulo-Rivera | 2 July, 2025
American student Brittany enjoys summer in Belfast while completing her MA in Creative Writing at Queen’s.

A Review of Popular Food Spots around Queen's
News article ID 3397812
TJ King | 31 March, 2025
Law student TJ reviews two popular and budget-friendly food spots in Belfast - Wing It and Bunsen.

A Day in the Life of a Graduate Student
News article ID 1543050
Sami Koitz | 5 March, 2025
American Postgrad Sami Koitz takes you through a day in her life as a Conflict Transformation and Social Justice student at Queen's.

My Journey to Choosing International Relations and Politics at Queen's
News article ID 2972338
Emily Scott | 12 August, 2024
While scrolling through the various Politics courses on UCAS in my last year of high school, the Queen's page stood out. From early on in school, I knew that I wanted to attend a university abroad that had a strong focus on international appeal.

Dog Days of Summer
News article ID 2660968
Marieke Rose Fastovsky | 12 July, 2024
US student Marieke recently moved to Belfast with her dog Mara - check out her top dog friendly recommendations below!

Addressing Parallels with Northern Ireland: Kosovo PM's Visit to Queen's
News article ID 2521986
Emily Scott | 22 March, 2024
International Relations and Politics student Emily recently attended a speech given by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti during a visit to Queen's. Read more about his visit below.

Why Queen’s for Postgraduate Study - Marieke Fastovsky, MSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare
News article ID 2500012
Marieke Rose Fastovsky | 29 February, 2024
“Ultimately, my decision to move to Belfast and study at Queen’s came down to affordability, language compatibility, opportunity, and proximity to both my home in the US as well as to other countries.”

A Snapshot of My Recent Travels from Belfast
News article ID 2307965
Maxwell Higginbotham | 23 February, 2024
A look into the opportunities for travelling from Queen’s as a first-year student.

American Student at Queen’s: How I Prepared for the Move to Belfast
News article ID 2362680
Marieke Rose Fastovsky | 6 February, 2024
Postgraduate student Marieke recently moved to Belfast from the US (with her dog Mara!) Find out how she prepared for the big move and settled in to private housing in the city.

My Favourite Must-Visit Spots in Northern Ireland
News article ID 1877577
Samantha Koitz | 16 January, 2024
Living in Belfast for the past year has given me a great deal of time to explore the city and Northern Ireland as a whole. Below, I have compiled a list of nine spots that I highly recommend visiting when you are in Belfast and Northern Ireland!

Queen’s from the Perspective of an American Student
News article ID 1961800
Samantha Koitz | 15 January, 2024
Conflict Transformation and Social Justice student Sami explains why she made the long journey to Queen's University Belfast from Maryland USA to pursue postgraduate study.

Studying at Queen’s - Reflections of an International Public History Graduate
News article ID 2112901
Molly Elspas | 10 January, 2024
Moving to a new place can be scary. When that new place is over 3000 miles away, it can be even more so. Hear from US student Molly on what convinced her to study at Queen's and how Belfast became her home away from home.

A Taste of Northern Ireland: Exploring Traditional Cuisine
News article ID 1875547
Samantha Koitz | 18 October, 2023
Sami has enjoyed experiencing unique NI cuisine since her move to Belfast for postgraduate study. Check out her top picks below.

Discovering the Magic of C.S. Lewis Square
News article ID 1870205
Samantha Koitz | 19 July, 2023
Take a trip to C.S. Lewis Square in east Belfast with Sami and enter the magical world of Narnia!

Historical Tour of Derry/Londonderry
News article ID 1870174
Samantha Koitz | 14 July, 2023
Located only two hours from Belfast, Derry is well-known for its unique history and iconic murals. Join Conflict Transformation & Social Justice student Sami on a recent trip to the city.

Exploring Northern Irish Culture: Insights from an American Student
News article ID 1879615
Samantha Koitz | 7 July, 2023
Moving to Belfast gives international students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a unique and vibrant culture. American PG student Sami looks back on what she has experienced during her time in Northern Ireland.

Exploring Ireland as an International Student
News article ID 1817728
Samantha Koitz | 21 June, 2023
Belfast's proximity to popular Irish cities allows students to plan day trips and weekends away, jam-packed with plenty of scenic hot spots and historical points of interest. Postgraduate student Sami Koitz details a recent trip to Galway and Dublin.

5 Things I Wish I Knew as an American Coming to NI for Graduate School
News article ID 1779694
Molly Elspas | 14 June, 2023
Moving abroad for university can often be a daunting time for students. Public History student Molly Elspas provides a few words of wisdom for those who are making the big move from the US to Belfast.

Travel around Europe while you study at Queen's
News article ID 1658054
Samantha Koitz | 5 April, 2023
Do you want to maximise your study abroad experience by using Belfast as your base for European travel? Check out Sami's travel blog for some tips!

Student Life - A Saturday in Belfast
News article ID 1659859
Molly Elspas | 17 March, 2023
As an international student, I had some worries about where I could spend my days off from school, but as I have found, there are a million things to do in Belfast on the weekends. Here's a typical Saturday for me...

What's the Craic? NI Vocab Guide
News article ID 1648284
Samantha Koitz | 13 March, 2023
Northern Ireland has some unique slang and vocab that I’ve learned over the past few months. I’ve put together a wee list of 10 words that I believe are essential to learn before flying over the pond for university.

Sightseeing Tour of Belfast
News article ID 1641538
Samantha Koitz | 1 March, 2023
American student Sami took a sightseeing tour around Belfast, here are some of her favorite sights and some interesting facts she discovered...

Day in the Life of a Public History Student at Queen’s
News article ID 1588651
Molly Elspas | 3 February, 2023
Join American Student Molly Elspas as she takes us through a day in her life as a Public History Masters student at Queen's

Holocaust Memorial in Belfast
News article ID 1637596
Samantha Koitz | 30 January, 2023
Holocaust Memorial events are a great opportunity to be part of the community commemoration, learning from genocide to create a better future. Hear what American Student Sami learned from the events in Belfast.

Come with me to Davagh Forest and Observatory
News article ID 1576930
Sami Koitz | 13 December, 2022
If you choose to live in Queen's Accommodation you're in for a real treat! As well as events in social spaces throughout the week they also organise trips away every weekend. Join Sami as she goes to Davagh Forest and Observatory!

10 Things I wish I'd Known Before Moving Halfway Across the World
News article ID 1565460
Sami Koitz | 5 December, 2022
Do I regret moving across the pond to go to graduate school? Absolutely not! Do I wish I had planned better to move halfway across the world to go to get a Master’s degree? Absolutely! See Sami's tips!!

Thanksgiving at the Catholic Chaplaincy
News article ID 1574657
Ciara Cunningham | 30 November, 2022
It’s a tradition every year to have Thanksgiving dinner at the Catholic Chaplaincy at Queen’s. It’s a great time to spend with friends, eat some good food and share what you’re thankful for from the past year. Check out Ciara's blog!

Being Jewish in Belfast: My Student Experience
News article ID 1560582
Sami Koitz | 18 November, 2022
Conflict Transformation and Social Justice Student Sami talks about her faith, the Jewish community in Belfast and the society at Queen's that facilitates community events.

A Weekend Trip to the Giant's Causeway
News article ID 1546397
Sami Koitz | 14 November, 2022
Nothing planned this weekend? There are so many wonderful spots around Northern Ireland that are accessible by public transport, why not take a trip to the epic Giant's Causeway? Sami's here to tell you all about it.

A Very Derry Halloween
News article ID 1555088
Sami Koitz | 10 November, 2022
Queen's Accommodation organises a trip to Derry for Halloween every year. If you missed out on Europe's biggest Halloween celebration then join Sami for her recap!

Join our Club: Spotlight on Mountaineering
News article ID 1543047
Sami Koitz | 9 November, 2022
There are over 200 clubs and societies that you can choose to join at Queen's. From academic, religious, political, sports related, and more there are really clubs for every type of student. Check out Sami's blog on the Mountaineering Club.

5 Things I Wish I'd Packed and 5 Things I Wish I'd left at Home
News article ID 1542801
Sami Koitz | 1 November, 2022
Everyone knows- packing is HARD! What do you really need and what is a waste of precious suitcase space? American student Sami is here with her top tips on what she wished she'd left at home and what was really worth hauling across the globe!

University Life in Belfast: Expectation Vs Reality
News article ID 1431147
Tessa Rendina | 2 September, 2022
Postgraduate student Tessa from America discusses how her expectations differed from the reality of student life in Belfast- spoiler alert- it was better than she thought!

Open up a world of adventure with Belfast as your base
News article ID 1431148
Tessa Rendina | 8 August, 2022
Looking for your next weekend adventure? Whether it's somewhere closer or a little further afield, Tessa's here to share some of the trips she's taken this year.

Belfast and Beyond: Travelling as a Student in Belfast
News article ID 1420480
Zachary Pfannes | 20 July, 2022
Coming to Belfast opens up a world of opportunities for travelling around the UK and Ireland. Here are three examples of weekend adventures easily accessible while studying at Queen’s.

Surprises since arriving in Northern Ireland
News article ID 1420467
Zachary Pfannes | 18 July, 2022
Moving to a new country or city for university can be challenging. American student Zach has four positive surprises about the city he discovered after coming to study at Queen’s.

Queen's Students at the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
News article ID 1420401
Jamie-Lukas Campbell | 15 July, 2022
International Public Policy student and class rep Jamie-Lukas Campbell was one of a group of Queen's students who attended the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in London.

VIDEO: Travel around Europe while you study at Queen’s
News article ID 1410761
Tessa Rendina | 6 July, 2022
Belfast is a great base for European travel. Take a look at American student Tessa's trips so far!

Volunteer Opportunity at Queen’s: Language and Solidarity Initiative (LASI)
News article ID 1410743
Tessa Rendina | 1 July, 2022
Give back and gain skills when you volunteer with the Language and Solidarity Initiative (LASI). Learn about the initiative from American student blogger Tessa.

3 Reasons to Check Out Queen's Surf Club
News article ID 1410726
Tessa Rendina | 29 June, 2022
Join Tessa to learn more about Queen's Surf and their trips to the beach and the clubs! Whether you’re a novice or an expert surfer, the Queen’s Surf Club is open to all skill levels.

Squad Goals: Gaelic Football at Queen's
News article ID 1378405
Tessa Rendina | 26 May, 2022
Joining a club is a great way to make new friends at uni. American blogger Tessa joined the Ladies Gaelic football team at Queen's and has been having a ball.

A Week in the Social Life of a Student in Belfast
News article ID 1364034
Allison Linzing | 10 May, 2022
There's never a dull night in Belfast. With so many places to choose from American blogger Allison has put together her top picks for the best craic every night of the week!

A Day in the Life of an Inclusion and Special Needs Education Student
News article ID 1362067
Allison Linzing | 4 May, 2022
Curious about studying Inclusion and Special Needs Education at Queen's? Hear all about a day in the life of a student on the course from our American blogger Allison.

Three Hidden Gem Study Spots
News article ID 1361148
Tessa Rendina | 28 April, 2022
See more than the library walls with Tessa's guide to hidden gem study spots around campus and beyond.

Postgraduate Accommodation Guide
News article ID 1345327
Tessa Rendina | 8 April, 2022
Wondering how to find the right accommodation for you? From settling in to making friends, Tessa shares her tips and her experience of living in Queen's postgraduate accommodation.

5 Easy Day Trips to do out of Belfast
News article ID 1341582
Tessa Rendina | 5 April, 2022
Take a trip with Tessa around some of the most beautiful spots in Northern Ireland that are easily reached by public transport.

Belfast’s inspiring literary history
News article ID 1321932
Raven Undersun | 15 March, 2022
Raven tells us about Belfast's rich literary past and present.

Moving from the USA to Belfast – a practical guide
News article ID 1315645
Allison Linzing | 7 March, 2022
Allison tells us what she wishes she’d known when she moved from Chicago to Belfast.

An American’s essential guide to Belfast
News article ID 1307213
Allison Linzing | 25 February, 2022
Allison gives us a rundown of her favourite things to do in Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Forget sleeping in – watch the sunrise from Cavehill instead
News article ID 1242038
Llarely Saldivar | 25 November, 2021
Llarely Saldivar tells us about her time on a recent student wellbeing trip to watch the sunrise from the top of Cavehill. She talks what you need to bring, the joy of early starts and the small differences between Belfast and Southern California...

Why I love studying abroad in Northern Ireland
News article ID 1232519
Madelyn Nowak-Roddy, PhD Parasitology | 12 November, 2021
Meet American PhD student Madelyn Marie Nowak-Roddy. She tells us about her passion for hiking, photography, all things Game of Thrones and…her personal 'Beans Challenge'.

Interested in Hiking? Join Madelyn as she takes on the Mountains
News article ID 1028557
Madelyn Nowak-Roddy, PhD Parasitology | 11 March, 2021
Meet American PhD student Madelyn Nowak-Roddy and read about her passion for hiking, photography and the 'Beans Challenge'. Intrigued? You should be!

Student cost comparison: NI versus USA
News article ID 997814
Clare Rhine, MBA | 20 October, 2020
Just how much cheaper is uni life in Northern Ireland compared to the USA? MBA student Clare Rhine crunched the numbers.

The transition to online learning: My experience.
News article ID 976420
Morgan Mattingly, MA Conflict Transformation | 29 June, 2020
From teaching to library resources and group meet-ups, everything's moved online. Master's student, Morgan Mattingly says Queen's students are getting the same education, as if they were on campus.

Student employability programmes: InnovateHer
News article ID 955262
Clare Rhine, MBA | 13 March, 2020
A Dragon’s Den-style competition for Queen’s budding female entrepreneurs, InnovateHer comes highly recommended by our blogger Clare Rhine.

Top Bookshops for Students in Belfast
News article ID 942511
Lily West, MA | 10 January, 2020
Queen’s MA student Lily West gives her top picks for the best bookshops in Belfast for students

A Day in the Life of a Creative Writing Student at Queen's
News article ID 941609
Daniel Gonzalez, MA Creative Writing | 3 January, 2020
International MA student Daniel Gonzalez gives us a sneak peek into his day.

How Design Thinking Can Improve Your Mental Health
News article ID 934226
Jessica Gambrill, MBA | 15 November, 2019
The human-centred approach to innovation is defining the business zeitgeist, but what is it and how can you use it as a roadmap to personal fulfilment? Queen’s MBA student Jessica Gambrill explains how she did it.

Why I chose Queen’s for my MBA over a US college
News article ID 932752
Clare Rhine, MBA | 6 November, 2019
MBA student Clare Rhine, from Oregon in the USA, lists cost of living and the beauty of Belfast city as top reasons to come to Queen’s for postgraduate study.

10 Ways to Deal With Culture Shock as an International Student in Belfast
News article ID 932445
Lily West, MA | 5 November, 2019
Queen’s MA student Lily West, from South Carolina in the USA, shares her experiences and tips for dealing with culture shock when living and studying in Belfast.

A Weekend Adventure In Northern Ireland
News article ID 929635
Clare Rhine, MBA | 21 October, 2019
Queen’s MBA student Clare Rhine and some of her new friends at Queen's bundled up for a day of exploring the North Antrim Coast. They saw it all, including the famous Giant's Causeway and The Dark Hedges!

17 Things You Should Know About Living Abroad
News article ID 928494
Jessica Gambrill, MBA | 14 October, 2019
Queen’s MBA student Jessica Gambrill, from Minneapolis in the USA, has lived abroad in two separate continents for over six years so she knows a thing or two about living, working and studying away from home. Here are her top tips.

The Friendship Four Tournament
News article ID 847666
Ashlyn Brisley, Creative Writing | 23 November, 2018
It's time for something a little creative. Queen’s University Study Abroad Ambassador, Ashlyn Brisley who is studying abroad from Young Harris College in the USA has covered the Friendship Four Tournament in her own unique style.

5 Things To See on a Day Trip to Derry-Londonderry
News article ID 827137
Marissa Piccolo, MA Global Security | 6 July, 2018
Want to explore Northern Ireland? Derry-Londonderry makes a great day or overnight trip from Belfast.

Four Places that will inspire you to visit Donegal
News article ID 827155
Marissa Piccolo, MA Global Security | 6 July, 2018
Did you know the most northern point of Ireland is in the south? You read that right: it’s in Donegal, the county of the Republic of Ireland that borders Northern Ireland in the Northwest.

Postgraduate Student Housing Guide
News article ID 823906
Marissa Piccolo, MA Global Security | 11 June, 2018
Belfast has affordable student housing to suit all lifestyles and budgets.

4 Reasons to Discover Kinbane Castle
News article ID 823242
Marissa Piccolo, MA Global Security | 5 June, 2018
On your next Causeway roadtrip, don’t miss this hidden gem.

A week in the life of a Global Security and Borders postgraduate student
News article ID 815037
Marissa Piccolo, MA Global Security | 11 April, 2018
Borders are a hot topic these days (Brexit, anyone?) and as Master’s student Marissa Piccolo explains, it’s incredibly rewarding to study some of the greatest challenges facing us all.

Four Things to do in Downpatrick (just in time for St Patrick’s Day)
News article ID 810962
Marissa Piccolo, MA Global Security | 14 March, 2018
Master’s student Marissa Piccolo, from Connecticut, USA, on why a cultural trip to Downpatrick is a must while you’re studying in Belfast.

VIDEO: Why Belfast is the Perfect Study Abroad Destination
News article ID 795082
Anne Marie Hawley, Study Abroad student | 16 February, 2018
Thinking of spending a semester or year abroad at Queen’s? Student vlogger Anne Marie Hawley from the USA explains why Belfast is the perfect destination.

5 things to do on a Sunday Staycation in Portrush
News article ID 793672
Marissa Piccolo, MA Global Security | 9 February, 2018
Just over an hour and forty minutes by train at the reduced Sunday fare of £7.50, Portrush inspired a #StaycationSunday tradition for Master’s student Marissa Piccolo, from Connecticut, USA.

Why Whitehead is the unsung hero of the Causeway Coast (and it's only 40 mins from campus!)
News article ID 792199
Marissa Piccolo, MA Global Security | 1 February, 2018
Need a study break? Dramatic limestone cliffs and an old-world charm make this coastal resort a must-do day trip, says Master's student Marissa Piccolo, from Connecticut, USA.

5 Reasons Your Next Day Trip Should be to Murlough Nature Reserve
News article ID 790876
Marissa Piccolo, MA Global Security | 25 January, 2018
Combining sea and mountains and more fresh air than your lungs can handle, the stunning Mourne Mountains should be top of your Northern Ireland travel bucket list, says Master's student Marissa Piccolo, from Connecticut, USA.