Associate Professor,
Department of Pure Mathematics,
University of Waterloo
I look back with great fondness at my time as a graduate student in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Queen's University.
On the academic side: I really think there is something very nice about doing a Ph.D. in a small to mid-sized department. At Queen's the result of this was a very closely knit community of graduate students and faculty members. For me, this resulted in beneficial interactions with department members from a variety of fields of mathematics (control, communications, algebra, geometry, analysis,...). Without a doubt, these interactions shaped who I am as a mathematician today.
"The math department at Queen's has many internationally well-regarded faculty members who are experienced in graduate supervision."
Michael Brannan - Ph.D. 2012
Another nice feature of the department's size was the weekly colloquium. This event was always well-attended, and provided a relaxed and informal atmosphere for grad students and faculty to learn about what is going on outside their own immediate mathematical world. Having worked in a few large math departments since being at Queen's, I have come to realize that these sorts of regular events don't exist everywhere. Sometimes, the larger the department, the less likely people are to interact!
My experiences being supervised by Queen's faculty was also very positive. The math department at Queen's has many internationally well-regarded faculty members who are experienced in graduate supervision. My situation was no exception: my supervisors gave me plenty of guidance and support, but also allowed me the freedom to develop my own mathematical taste and intuition.
In the last two years of my doctoral program, I was given the opportunity to serve as the instructor of record for two undergraduate courses. Having the freedom and responsibility associated with such a opportunity was an invaluable part of my training. The Department of Math & Stats also has an excellent teaching mentorship program for graduate students, which provides one on one guidance from a faculty member who helps them prepare for the time when they become instructors themselves. I found this to be very beneficial.
Living in Kingston: Kingston is truly a wonderful place to spend your years as a grad student. The Queen's campus is very picturesque, and the lively Kingston city center is within an easy walk. In fact, in Kingston, one can easily get along without a car at all (something that is not so common in North American college towns).