Graduate school may seem like part of a distant future, but it’s never too early to start planning. As you look forward to earning your undergraduate degree, think about your next step; a step that could include a master’s or doctoral degree.
You are on the brink of an exciting future. Queen’s School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs can help you get there.
The Faculty of Arts and Science has many events set up to help you make the right decision about whether grad school is the place for you. Check back regularly to get updates about where we will be!
October 19: Meet a Mentor
Come talk to a current master’s or PhD student about what a graduate degree at Queen’s is like! Meet us at the Grad Club and connect with student mentors in a wide range of programs. You can connect for a 1:1 chat following our event, or any time if you have questions.
November 1: Attend the Queen’s Education Fair
Not sure of all your options you have after your undergraduate degree? Come to the Queen’s Education Fair to learn about the benefits of grad school and all the options available to you.
November 4: Participate in Think Grad Studies Day
Learn all about the benefits of doing your grad school within Arts and Science! Hear from current studies and staff, as well as the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, mix and mingle at our catered lunch, and then take a tour of Queen’s and Kingston.
Space is limited, so what are you waiting for?
Think Grad Studies Day Schedule
| 10:30-11:00 | Registration and Refreshments |
| 11:00-11:15 | Welcoming Remarks James Fraser, Associate Dean Graduate Studies & Physics Professor |
| 11:15-12:00 | Think Queen’s Colette Steer, Manager Graduate Experience, School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs Find out why you should consider Queen’s for your grad studies – from our top researchers and competitive funding packages to our exceptional student community and experience here at Queen’s. |
| 12:00-1:30 | Meet and Greet and Lunch Meet some of our current graduate student mentors as well as our academic and non-academic staff, as well as each other, and enjoy a lunch sponsored by what we hope is your future Faculty. |
| 1:30-2:15 | Think Artsci Faith Lollar, Faculty of Arts and Science Communications Assistant & Current Student Learn about what makes Arts and Science stand out from a current student and employee in our Faculty Office. As the largest and most interdisciplinary faculty at Queen’s, we offer additional opportunities to our graduate students, that build community and will enhance your academic and student experience, such as our Dean’s awards and mentor program. |
| 2:15-2:30 | Break |
| 2:30-3:30 | Ask Your Questions Current Graduate Student Panel Have all your questions answered by our graduate student panel, which is composed of our current student mentors from departments across Arts and Science. Ask us anything – from what it is like to be a Queen’s graduate student and teaching or research assistant to what it is like to live in Kingston. |
| 3:30-3:45 | Closing Remarks James Fraser, Associate Dean Graduate Studies & Physics Professor |
| 4:00-5:30 | Tours of campus and Kingston Join us for a guided tour of campus that will highlight the spaces most relevant to graduate students, followed by a tour of downtown Kingston to show you a few of the most familiar sights and places of interest for you as a student and community member. |
Not in Kingston? We are coming to you! Come see us at McMaster University, York University, Trent University, University of Guelph, Laurier University, McGill University, and Bishop's University.
Do you have questions about grad school life at Queen's?
Get advice and guidance around applying to grad school, transitioning from your undergraduate degree, and insider knowledge of what your potential grad department and supervisor is like!
Do you know your professors? Do they know you? If not, get to know them. When it comes time to write a reference for you, it will help if they can write about you personally, instead of just listing your marks.
Volunteer to help with research projects or complete an independent project, directed reading or thesis course. It’s a great way to delve into a topic you might want to study at the graduate level and could lead you in directions you may never have dreamed possible.
Graduate recruitment fairs, information sessions and open houses at universities are a great way to learn about your program of interest, what it can offer, the funding opportunities, the research going on and whether or not you have the necessary courses to apply.
Contact the universities you are interested in and learn all you can about the campus, the city, the faculty and the staff. Talk to current graduate students and ask about their experiences. Find out if there are any special requirements before you start the applications process.
Don't wait until the last minute to get your final application in. Some scholarships and bursaries depend on you applying early. And make sure you keep on top of the deadlines. They have a way of sneaking up on you.
When you can concentrate on your studies without having to worry about where the next tuition payment is coming from, you will be able to appreciate and enjoy the experience that much more. This takes planning.
We recommend you get an early start. In the summer between your 3rd & 4th undergrad year, search the web and learn about scholarship opportunities including federal graduate awards (NSERC, SSHRC & CIHR) and provincial award (Ontario Graduate Scholarship). Often the application deadlines for these awards are early in the fall, even before the deadline for applying to graduate studies.
The School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs also has scholarships available.
