We were delighted that MSc Psychological Science student Carolyn McClements has been awarded the 2020 Queen’s Graduates’ Association (QGA) scholarship.

The QGA scholarship is designed to support students who have returned to Queen’s for postgraduate study.  Prior to beginning her MSc, Carolyn graduated in July 2019 with a BA (Hons) in English.

She said about the award:

 

“With the original intention of going into teaching, I spent significant time during my undergraduate degree obtaining work experience with young people. I achieved this through my work with Belfast School of Performing Arts and my own private tutoring work, often working with special needs children.

Through this I discovered how great the need for more support for young people in NI is.  Both youth mental health and educational support services in Northern Ireland are overstretched, which in turn results in children unduly struggling. I believed it would be more beneficial to follow a pathway into helping to combat this and therefore enrolled upon the MSc Psychological Science conversion course.  This Masters will allow me to follow further doctoral training into the role of Clinical or Educational Psychologist.

I was so pleased when I discovered I was successful for the scholarship. The interview process was excellent, I felt I was given an opportunity to really showcase how I have and intend to continue preparing myself for my future career path. I hope to use the award to fund either further qualifications in the field of psychology or possibly some overseas volunteering”.

For more on the activities of the QGA visit the Association website