Aishlin (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at University College Dublin

Studying a Bachelor of Global Studies, along with a Bachelor of Commerce, doing an exchange through 360 International was something that was exposed to me very early on during my time studying at the University of Auckland. Studying overseas had always interested me and after Covid-19 had settled down and the world began to open again, I decided to look further into it. After visiting the 360 International Office and having a call with one of their team members, I decided that I wanted to take part in an exchange in my final year of University. After a lot of research and talking to alumni who had done exchanges in respective areas, I decided to apply to go on an exchange to University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland, which I later got accepted into.

When I first arrived at UCD, I was feeling extremely overwhelmed but excited about what was ahead. I was lucky to not experience any homesickness during my whole six months away as Ireland is very similar to New Zealand, and lots of the scenery reminded me of home. I was also very lucky to get offered a room on campus, something that is unfortunately not guaranteed for all international students at UCD. I was living in a shared kitchen and living room apartment with five other international students who were from France, Singapore, Ireland, and the United States. The week, before classes started, was Orientation Week, where there were several information sessions and events for not only first-year students but International students too. Given that UCD has a massive intake of international students each semester, a large aspect of the university is international students. This meant that as an international student, there was a lot of support available on campus, and many events throughout orientation week and the whole semester. During orientation week there were events including speed networking, trips to Ikea, and welcome breakfasts, just to name a few, which were great opportunities for international students to meet other international students.

At UCD the course structure is a little different compared to the University of Auckland (UOA). At UCD I took six modules (courses) which was equivalent to four courses at UOA. Students tend to take more modules, which usually only have one lecture a week. I found the teaching a lot more laid back than at UOA, and the lecturers were very engaging and friendly, with the majority of my lecturers getting to know my name personally, along with the rest of my class. This is something that I have not experienced much at UOA. Campus life was very fun, with many activities always being on, whether this being sports games, cultural events, or social events. The majority of my friends all lived on campus so we would all do something after class and study together.

Dublin was such a fun city to go and study in and the city has a welcoming atmosphere that makes visitors feel at home. There was always so much to do in Dublin, whether this was exploring the city, visiting museums, going for a drink at one of the 700 pubs the city has, or going for walks in national parks just outside of the city, we always had many options to choose from. Being a relatively small country, we were able to go for day trips to the likes of Galway and Cork, which were only a 2-3 hour train ride away from Dublin. The Irish are a lovely, funny, and kind group of people who always had a lot of time for Kiwis, and were always so interested to talk to us, even after we beat Ireland in the Rugby World Cup!

Dublin is a very expensive city, and like New Zealand is also facing a cost of living crisis. Accommodation both on campus and off campus was expensive, however, it worked out to be around the same price of living in Auckland for a semester. Eating out at restaurants was more expensive than in Auckland, however, groceries from the supermarket were a lot cheaper than in New Zealand. During my time in Dublin, my friends and I were able to do a lot of traveling. As most of us did not have class on a Thursday or Friday, this meant that we were able to travel for some of the weekends. We did trips around Ireland to Dingle, Cork, Belfast, and Galway, and always trips around Europe to Greece, Hungary, Spain, and Germany. Ireland has a great railway system that can take you across the country by train in 2-3 hours. We were also very lucky to have the likes of Ryanair provide us with very cheap flights around Europe.

Overall, my time in Dublin was the best four months of my entire life. During my first few days there, I was doubting my decisions, but after meeting people and making an incredible bunch of friends I was no longer doubting my decisions and have not looked back since! I cannot pinpoint the exact highlights from my exchange as quite simply it was all a massive highlight. I was lucky not to face any challenges, including culture shock or homesickness, but I think this was mainly because Ireland is so similar to New Zealand. My biggest piece of advice to students thinking about the exchange program is to just do it! Going on an exchange is one of the best experiences you can have and personal developments you can do for yourself. It is a decision that you will not regret!

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

There were many highlights of the academic experience at University College Dublin (UCD). Firstly, a major highlight was getting to study at a world-leading Business School. UCD’s Lochlann Quinn School of Business is a leading business school, which is known for its teaching and research not only around Ireland, being ranked number one, but also within the Erasmus program. 

A second highlight was being able to take a range of modules. Most students at UCD take six-seven modules (courses) a semester. I took six which meant that I was able to take a variety and expand my learning horizon. 

A final highlight from my academic experience was being emerged in a more interactive learning environment. The majority of the modules I took at UCD were very interactive, giving me the opportunity to work closely with my classmates and professors, compared to the experiences that I have had at UOA, where classes are a lot less interactive. This made meeting people more easy, and made learning more rewarding. 

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

Ireland is very big on sport, whether this being Gaelic football, Rugby, or Hurling. UCD had many sporting games that you could participate in but also watch. I would recommend going to watch some games whether this is at UCD, or around Dublin or Ireland. 

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. Get amongst the Irish culture and try to learn some Irish. 
2. Make the most of traveling around Ireland as there is so much to see. 
3. Take part in UCD’s sports and cultural activities as the university has a great student culture which is incredible to be part of. 

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

Before I left I budgeted around $15,000. Around $7,000 went to living expenses (e.g. groceries, transport, and accommodation), $3,000 for flights, and $5,000 for my expenses including entertainment, travel, and food and drinks. I did not end up using the whole $5,000 but I am glad that I had budgeted this amount as I would not want to be short of money being a long way from home, and it is better to have some money left in the budget than not enough. 

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

The most significant takeaway from my experience abroad is to put yourself out there and push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Going on an exchange, you will meet people who are in the same position as you, and the only way you will make the most of this experience and make friends is by putting yourself out of your comfort zone. Doing this is one of the best things you can do and is so rewarding. So much personal development is also formed by doing this, which is so important. 

Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?

Going and studying in Europe was a very fortunate decision as it meant that not only could I travel around my host country Ireland, but I was also very close to the United Kingdom and Europe, which made travel very accessible. My friends and I were very lucky to get super cheap flights to Europe, such as $60 NZD return flights to Greece, and $25 NZD return flights to Scotland. If you are planning on going to study in Europe, I highly recommend budgeting to travel around as it is so easy and inexpensive.