As a student studying abroad at Queen Mary, you are a valued member of the Queen Mary community. You will have the same access to our services as our full-degree students, with the additional support that your programme provides.
While our Welcome Programme (Orientation) will mean you’ll already have a busy social calendar by the time you arrive, there’s plenty more happening on campus to keep you busy.
Every couple of weeks our Global Opportunities team will send you our GO Semester Newsletter, packed with news of events on campus, suggestions for what to do in and around London, as well as some cultural recommendations.
Our campus is a lively, friendly place and the Queen Mary Students' Union (QMSU) plays a major part in campus life.
You automatically become a member of QMSU when you join Queen Mary. This means you can not only go to their student nights and events, but you can also explore the hundreds of clubs and societies they run: there are over 200 societies, ranging from the Harry Potter Appreciation Society to the Baking Society, and around 60 sports clubs. It’s a great way to meet people who share your interests – or try something new while you are in the UK.
You can also use the Union’s excellent range of facilities and services, such as QMSU’s gym, QMotion, which has first-class fitness facilities, a busy schedule of exercise classes and personal trainers who can make sure you exercise your body as well as your mind.
We are very lucky to have one of the largest self-contained campuses in London. It is convenient, safe and has a very friendly atmosphere. Not only will you have a bookshop, grocery shop and gym a five-minute walk from your studies, our many cafés, bars and canteens make it easy for you to make and meet friends on campus.
This also means that you don’t have to travel far for advice or information: our central services, such as our Careers Service and our Advice and Counselling Service are also on campus, so you will never be far from any help or guidance you need. We also have a 24-hour Security Team on campus.
Our campus is only a 15-minute tube ride from the West End, home to London’s entertainment district, so it’s easy for you to explore the rest of the capital from your Mile End base.
Queen Mary is an inclusive and diverse university. We welcome students from all over the world from different backgrounds. As well as a welcoming academic community, you will also find a host of student groups and representatives committed to making everyone feel welcome. You can find out more about our student groups on the QMSU website. We also have Welfare and Equal Opportunities Representatives who are dedicated to ensuring all students have the best experience and are represented. You may also want to visit our QMSU Support and Advice Services pages who have guidance and advice services to benefit all students.
The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) helps its members feel at home academically and socially in their host countries through a wide range of cultural and social events that help you make friends from all over the globe. The ESN provides a Student Guidebook to Erasmus+.
The Erasmus Student Network at Queen Mary is a QMSU society and open to all students interested in or participating in any type of study abroad programme. If you wish to join Queen Mary's ESN chapter, you can contact the team via Facebook at @esnqmul or by email: esnqmsu@gmail.com.
International Students’ House (ISH) is a social centre for international students in London. ISH is in central London, just around the corner from Great Portland Street tube station (a 20-minute tube ride from our Mile End campus). As a Queen Mary international student, you are an automatic member of ISH: you just need to show your Queen Mary student ID card when you arrive.
ISH runs a busy programme of free cinema evenings, quiz nights, club events and music nights. Find out more at ish.org.uk
The International Students House (ISH) Travel Club organises weekend trips in the UK and in Europe. For example, you could visit Poland for a weekend, go on a day trip to Cambridge or go skiing in France.
You pay just 60 per cent of the travel cost, which is much cheaper than travelling with other tour companies. This makes it a really great way to see the UK.
Trips are also arranged in small groups so you can make friends. Each trip is a mix of organised events and free time.
The cost of the trip covers your travel, accommodation, scheduled activities and support from a group leader. The only other thing you need to pay for is food and your own shopping.
You have to join the Travel Club before you go on a trip. For more information, please visit: ish.org.uk
If you want to find out more about what it’s like to live in Britain, why not contact HOST?
HOST is a voluntary network of UK residents who welcome adult international students to their homes for a weekend, day or for a Christmas visit. This will give you an experience of the British way of life (and also a chance for you to share your own culture with your hosts).
Queen Mary is a part of the HOST scheme and many of our study abroad students have enjoyed taking part.
Our Students’ Union, QMSU, runs a highly regarded volunteering scheme that you can join.
Volunteering may make you more attractive to potential employers and offers you great life skills – an important addition to your academic qualifications. It can also help you decide what kind of career you want when you graduate.