When I finished my bachelor’s degree in Canada and started looking into getting my law degree, I was immediately discouraged. The expenses of applications and tuition, the LSAT, and the length of time that I would be away from my family and friends all felt like too much. It wasn’t until I started looking at studying in the UK that I felt like a career in law was really possible for me.

Why Queen’s?

What drew me to Queen’s University Belfast specifically was the Senior Status Law programme. It is a shorter programme than what is offered in Canada (2 years compared to 3 years). While it is true that most UK schools have very high tuition fees for international students, the fee is basically the same as what I’d pay at home, especially when you factor in the high cost of living in Canada. In comparison, Belfast has the lowest cost of living in all of the UK, with my monthly grocery shopping only costing around $40 CAD. But what ultimately set Queen’s apart from the other UK schools I applied to was the LLB Senior Status Scholarship of £4000 for the first year of study (approximately $6,750 CAD).

^{Find out more about student life at Queen's}

Canadian community at Queen’s

Even with a smaller financial burden, moving to another continent was still one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. Walking into my first day of classes and seeing a lecture hall of almost 300 students felt so overwhelming. Throughout that first week though, all of us senior status students began to find each other, and we found out that almost all of us are Canadian! Not only are we all in the same classes, we are also in the same tutorials and seminars - these smaller sessions 2-3 times a week where it's just the senior status group (about 30 students).

"It is a shorter programme than what is offered in Canada (2 years compared to 3 years)."

Throughout the semester we’ve all been going out together as a group, and we help each other when it comes to understanding course materials. Having this smaller, tight-knit group of students who are all in similar stages in our lives is one of the things that has allowed me to feel more at home here in Belfast.

^{Over 100 Canadian students are currently studying at Queen's}

Engaging tutorials and lectures

Being in a smaller group within the larger lectures also gives the senior status students a special relationship with the professors, as they now recognise us and interact with us on a more intimate level. Our group usually sits together in most lectures and are always engaged in class discussion, often continuing class discussions with our professor in the tutorials.

A professor in any class has between 250-300 students, so anything you can do to leave a lasting impression in your professor's mind will help you so much when it comes to gathering references for internship applications.

^{Tutorials allow you to forge strong connections with your classmates and tutor}

Get involved in societies at Queen’s!

Speaking of applications, one of the easiest ways to fill out your CV is with membership in clubs and societies at Queen’s and there is a Senior Status Law Society for students in the senior status programme. This society is not only great because it gives you the ability to communicate with current and former senior status students for help on applications and assignments, but the club also organises social events to show you around Belfast.

^{Make friends outside of the classroom!}

On top of all the other resources the school provides to students, the benefits that come with being a part of the Senior Status programme at Queen’s have made this city and this university really feel like home to me.

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Information for students from Canada

Study Law at Queen's

More blogs by students from Canada

Dallas Mustard Law | Undergraduate Student | Canada I moved to Belfast from Calgary, Canada to study law and now, because of how warm and vibrant the city is, I am planning to stay here to practice law after my degree. In my spare time I play guitar and write songs, and have started to do acoustic sessions at pubs around the city.