My Exchange at Trinity College Dublin
I found out about the 360 International Exchange Programme through a friend whose older brother went on exchange. After seeing his experience on exchange, I decided I really wanted to do one myself as a part of my university experience. It took me a while to decide where I wanted to go, but I ultimately ended up choosing Trinity College Dublin and I couldn’t be happier with my exchange experience.
When I first arrived in Dublin, I was so excited to see what the semester ahead would hold. I was also nervous as I was in a place that I hadn’t been to before where I also didn’t know anyone. Dublin was very cold on the day that I arrived which was a shock to the system coming from NZ summer.
I was lucky enough to have been offered a room in the on-campus student housing at Trinity. I had my own room and my own bathroom with a communal kitchen and living room that I shared with my four other flatmates. I was placed in a flat with three other exchange students and one local student which was nice as I could ask him for recommendations about things to do in Dublin.
Dublin was such an incredible place to go on exchange. It has a very big student community and there is always something fun happening. There is a big live music scene with gigs on almost every night of the week at various live music venues (my favourite being Workman’s Cellar) and there is always live music in pubs all over.
Another pro of doing exchange in Dublin is that Europe is very accessible to you. There are always cheap RyanAir flights that can take you all over. Pro tip is to use Google Flights to make sure you are finding the cheapest flights possible.
One thing I would recommend keeping in mind when deciding on Dublin as an exchange location is the cost of living. Apart from food, which is slightly cheaper than food in Auckland, everything else is more expensive. This is a key thing to keep in mind. In saying this, there are definitely ways and places to save. I ended up mostly cooking for myself and not eating out which definitely helped with my budget. Lidl will become your best friend!
Overall, Trinity College Dublin was an incredible place to study and learning about Irish Culture was definitely a highlight.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
One highlight of the academic experience was the wide variety of classes I could take. I ended up taking Irish for beginners during my exchange which was a lot of fun. It was a great way to learn the local language and also a great way to learn about Irish culture.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
One thing that I would recommend to anyone going to Dublin is to make the most of the live music scene. There is live music everywhere. There was also an incredible event every Monday night called the Circle Sessions where you could play music/read poetry/do stand up that you had written. There are also plenty of societies to join. I joined heaps of societies and it was a great way to make friends with both locals and other exchange students.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
- Learn some Irish. Some Irish names can be very confusing to read and pronounce if you don’t know the basics of the language.
- Get amongst the Irish culture – go to pubs, watch some trad music, and try to meet some locals.
- Try to see as much of Ireland as possible. It is SUCH a gorgeous country.
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?
I budgeted $20,000nzd for my exchange and ended up coming back with $3,000 to spare. A decent chunk of my budget was spent on accommodation – about $9,000. The other $8,000 was used for necessities, everyday spending, and it also included 2 months of travels around Europe after the semester ended.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
A significant takeaway from my experience is how much I learnt to trust myself. I spent a bit of time travelling, even doing some of it solo, and things didn’t always go smoothly. During these times, you learn that you are capable of more than you might think.