Details

• Ireland
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

- Take part in online information sessions - Search for informations, needed documents to enter the country on the embassy's websites - I watched YouTube videos about the country, good to know infos, culture etc.: suggestion: https://youtu.be/C3sXkVg9bQo?si=tcUMaE_De7cwDLb3 ; https://youtu.be/q3DN9UpsTSg?si=AQwJwrnjCccs77Qj ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOCSeInfpf8 ; https://youtu.be/RmiQM5gchBM?si=nmFrr2mG2xxyuuEv ; - book your flight as soon as possible, this way you can save money - get an erasmus student travel card --> get discounts for flights, package (you might only be able to get this when you arrive at the university, so don't buy all your flights at once) - taxi are quite expensive --> use aircoach / city busses as well - get a student leap card early on, this way you can travel cheaper

2. Accommodation

student accomodation on campus: I applied right when application started -campus accomodations are based on room type NOT building -very safe, security on night watch; -several laundromats (wash: 3 EUR; dryer: 1.5 EUR) -free maintanance for campus accomodation -obviously close to university, city center ca. 30min; airport bus stop on campus; sea: 30min walk; -small grocery store on campus(very small, expensive) -food hall, (fast food) restaurants (with vegaterian options as well); chinese restaurant: quite good, good price;... -gyms and swimming pool on campus -there are other options, but I hear scams are quite common -there is a website, I think it is called accomodation pad, but it wasn't working when I tried to use it -offers online often for just 5 days a week

3. Academic life at host university

-gym, swimming pool -societies: https://ucdsocieties.ie/ -global office -get the ucd app --> events, etc -open, sweet, kind people -professors fair, kind -most used websites: brightspace (instead of canvas/mylearn); SISweb (organisatory); Gmail -social media: WhatsApp mostly, Instagram Course recommendations: - Consulting with NGOs: great, great professor (Evie Larkin); working with and supporting actual organisations: I worked with Shona - Tammy Darcy: great experience, Tammy was very kind and supportive as well - free language courses as electives: spanish, irish, swahili, french, italian and more -all/most courses: 5 ECTS; only allowed to take 30 ECTS/semester

5. Every day life in the host country

- very safe; kind people - sport: rugby, football, hurling, etc - public transport: - in city: with student leap card: app needed - trips / tours: get your guide: I did: Giants Causeway&Dunluce Castle&Belfast(1day) with Wild Rover Tours it was great -university offers one day trips 15EUR but if you attend you get the money back: booked out FAST -trips I did: Giants Causeway...(above); Waterford (UCD); Cliffs of Moher (UCD); Cork (with aircoach) -visit: Sugarloaf trail nearby Dublin: amazing; Trinity College library; Howth: lighthouse; Bray -national museums free -lot of parks -sea very near Disclaimer: there was a sexual abuse at the university a couple of years back, still some issues regarding this; under investigation; students stand together on this matter

6. Testimonial

People were so kind, they helped us without us having to ask. It rained quite a lot, but you get used to it and it makes you appriciate the sun :) Also after march-april, the weather is quite nice, it rains more rarely. I loved it there and had homesickness AFTER moving home.