Explore your options as a graduate
Expand your horizons
In order to make an informed choice about your future, it’s important to explore all the options and opportunities available to you.
Whether your dream is to work overseas, launch your own business or progress to postgraduate study, we’ll help you research your choices and give you the tools and resources you need to choose the right path for your next career step.
Interested in postgraduate study?
If you want to pursue your passion for a subject, boost your chances of breaking into a particular sector or pivot into a specialism, you might be considering postgraduate study. Investigate your course options, paying attention to course content, any work experience or practical elements and graduate destinations. Also consider how you can fund your studies and make a note of the application closing date as these can vary from course to course.
You can book a consultation with one or our Careers Team for impartial advice and guidance up to two year after you graduate from Queen's.
If you are considering staying at Queen’s for your postgraduate studies, take the opportunity to talk to relevant staff and attend information sessions and open day events.
Planning to study abroad?
You may want to continue your studies further afield in Europe, the USA, Canada or Australia. There is a wealth of exciting opportunities out there.
Before you go, it's helpful to plan well in advance. There are a limited number of funding opportunities available, you can check the Global Opportunities site for more details.
This blog on the best postgraduate search sites has useful resources on study abroad options in Canada, the USA and around the world.
Find jobs as an international student
Did you know that as a Queen’s student you can enjoy free access to Student Circus, a platform specifically for international students and graduates looking for work in the UK?
Student Circus can be found in the MyFuture Careers Management tool in the resources area.
Sign into MyFuture using your Queen's login details and go to the Tools & Resources tab.
Graduate Visa Information A Graduate visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing a course in the UK. You must be in the UK when you apply.
Have a big idea that you want to make happen?
We encourage and support innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise.
SU Enterprise offer a range of support for graduates of up to two years after graduating.
Blog: Six sites to check out if you want to launch your own business
We run a number of entrepreneurial programmes throughout the year.
Check our programmes page for details.
Queen's University Belfast is one of the leading Knowledge Base partners in the UK for KTP.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, (KTPs), are unique collaborative partnerships between businesses and universities, colleges, and research organisations.
KTP is one of the biggest career platforms for talented graduates and postgraduates in the UK.
As a KTP Associate, you’ll act as a project lead, applying academic knowledge and skills to deliver a strategic innovation project within a company.
This partnership offers you unparalleled access to both academia and industry as you provide the link between an expert academic team and a business organisation.
Find out more about a career in teaching
A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is postgraduate teaching training at either primary or secondary level. If you are interested in pursuing a career in teaching, it’s important to gain experience of working with young people through youth or voluntary work.
You can get an insight into what it takes to be a teacher by arranging some classroom observation experience, either through personal contacts or approaching a local school speculatively.
Considering a gap year?
Some students decide to take a year out or ‘gap year’ after graduation and before entering the workplace to travel, earn money, gain work experience, to take a break or to get some time and space to think about the next career step. Whether you choose independent travel, charity volunteering or working abroad, think about what you want to gain from the time out and how that fits with your long-term career goals. A gap year can demonstrate initiative and resourcefulness to future employers but you need to frame it as time well spent.
Blog: 5 Essential resources if you are considering a gap year