Queen's University (reviews)

I loved my first year at Queen’s University. It is a place where school spirit runs deep and there is always something new to learn about school events and traditions. First year orientation here is one of the best in Ontario. During that first week, everyone is able to meet someone that they really click with. Living in residence is one of the most important aspects of first year, however the meal plan is not the best. The campus itself is beautiful and everything is within a 10 minute walk. Downtown Kingston is only a 15 minute walk away so you really do not need to rely on taking the bus at all. As a science student, I found that most of my first year classes were very similar to Grade 12 classes. As much as I loved many of my professors, some of them were really not so great. The campus life at Queen’s is truly astonishing. At any given time you can find someone who wants to party but also someone to study with. I think this really shows how Queen’s students can balance their work and life. Overall, first year at Queen’s was amazing and I could not imagine being at a different school.

My experience in Sociology and Global Development at Queen’s University has been very positive overall. The program is strongest in its focus on social systems, inequality, and global issues, and it does a good job of encouraging students to think critically about how these issues show up in everyday life.

One thing that has stood out to me is how discussion-based many of the classes are. Instead of only focusing on lectures, a lot of courses create space for students to share perspectives and engage with the material in a more personal way. This makes the content feel more relevant and easier to connect to real-world issues.

I’ve also had several professors who are approachable and genuinely interested in student learning. They are open to questions and feedback, and this helps create a classroom environment that feels supportive rather than intimidating. Assignments often allow flexibility in choosing topics, which I’ve appreciated because it lets me connect course material to my own interests.

Campus life at Queen’s has also been welcoming, with many opportunities to get involved in student groups and events related to social justice and community engagement. These experiences have helped make my time outside of class feel just as meaningful as the coursework.

One area for improvement would be adding more applied or hands-on learning opportunities. While the program builds a strong theoretical understanding, more practical experiences like internships or project-based courses would help connect what we learn in class to potential career paths.

Overall, I’ve found the program to be intellectually rewarding and personally meaningful, and it has strengthened my interest in working in areas related to inequality, global development, and social change.

Queen’s University has one of the best exchange programs in Canada! They have so many exchange partners which made finding an exchange program in third year very easy. I also enjoyed the multitude of clubs and events that the student association held. Overall I loved my time at Queen’s and the students truly make it!

I’ve really been enjoying my History program at Queen’s University, and that is almost entirely thanks to the professors. My professors have encouraged me, taught me, and given me grace when needed. They are all extremely skilled and knowledgeable. The administration, on the other hand, are less than optimal. I am incredibly disappointed with the budget cuts being made, especially to humanities programs like my own, and I strongly believe the administration is near-totally to blame. I recommend this university strongly for the professors and community, but not at all for the higher administration.