Employability at INTO Queen's University Belfast
Your INTO pathway isn’t just a route to a Queen's University Belfast degree. Every program at INTO Queen's has been specially designed to enhance your employability too. You’ll develop your career skills, with unique opportunities and real-world experiences before you’ve even enrolled at university. So, when you progress to your degree, you’ll already be ahead of the game.
During your pathway program
INTO pathways are developed with your career in mind, helping you gain key skills for future success and the confidence to seize every opportunity. You'll benefit from:
Develop the skills for long-term career success with our employability program, delivered during your INTO studies. You’ll explore your own goals, gain transferable workplace skills and learn how to excel in your interviews.
Our module content and learning styles help you build key soft skills like communication, teamwork, presenting, time management, interview technique and problem solving. You’ll also learn how to use computer software and the internet to research, share ideas and collaborate.
As part of your assessments, you’ll complete tasks related to your degree subject and future career. Think short films for media students, business plans for business students and lab reports for future scientists.
Throughout the year, you’ll attend expert-led workshops covering a wide range of useful topics. Sessions could include: an introduction to the UK labor market, talks from employers and successful industry professionals, entrepreneurial challenges, and CV and application writing.
Develop your networking skills on international platforms such as LinkedIn. Join our online community to stay up to date with the latest INTO employability events, share your experiences and connect with other international students who are building similar careers.
What better way to gain hands-on experience than by volunteering or undertaking an internship? You can also work full time during the holiday periods (and limited hours during term time*).
* UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regulations strictly stipulate that students studying the International Foundation, International Year One or Academic English programs should work no more than 10 hours per week, and Master's Preparation students should work no more than 20 hours per week.
Develop key skills and get involved in life at the center by becoming an INTO Student Ambassador. You’ll gain a variety of experience, from assisting the marketing team to sharing your experience with prospective students and representing INTO in the community.
Between your pathway and degree
You’ll have access to even more opportunities after you complete your pathway, but before you start your degree:
Virtual Internships
If you want to secure your dream job after university, an internship will set you apart. That’s why we've partnered with Virtual Internships, an award-winning online work experience facilitator. With opportunities across 18 different career fields and 3,500 companies in 70 countries, they’ll help you gain valuable professional experience that your future employers will love.
You must be aged 18 or over by the time you start your Virtual Internship.
During your Queen's University Belfast degree
Queen's University Belfast is focused on your future, offering a wide range of career support services, funding, awards and employability activities while you study for your degree.
MyFuture
Set your career in motion with MyFuture – an online career management tool for all Queen's students. You can search for jobs, fill out applications, book a career enhancement session, register for events and access one-to-one support – all in one easy-to-access place.
DegreePlus Award
The DegreePlus/Future Ready Award recognizes the extracurricular experience you gain during your time at Queen's. Your certificate will help you stand out to employers, showing that you've worked hard to develop the skills needed to succeed in your career.
"I wanted to study engineering at Queen's because it's a Russell Group university and it would be really good on my CV. After researching, I found that Queen’s engineering alumni went on to work at big companies like Aston Martin and Rolls Royce, where I ended up getting a placement. It's the best decision I have made in my life."
Hassan, Pakistan
Clubs and societies
The university Students’ Union has a wide range of clubs and societies – including many that are dedicated to specific industries and career paths. Depending on your ambitions and interests, you could join:
View all courses at INTO Queen's University Belfast