Details

• Ireland
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Before applying for an exchange semester, I would recommend first thinking carefully about which country you would like to study in. After that, it is important to compare all available partner universities in that country in detail. Students should not only look at the city and university reputation, but also check practical requirements such as the required grade average, language requirements, possible language certificates, available courses, semester dates and the number of places offered. For UCD specifically, I would recommend preparing early, especially regarding accommodation and finances, as Dublin is a very expensive city and housing can be difficult to find. It is also useful to check the course catalogue in advance and compare the courses with the requirements at WU. For travelling to Dublin, flying is the most practical option from Austria, but students should book early to avoid high prices.

2. Accommodation

I stayed in UCD Village 2, Block E, and overall I was very happy with my accommodation. It was a modern, clean and practical student residence directly on campus. I shared the apartment with three other female students, and we got along very well. I was lucky with my flatmates, and because everyone took care of the shared spaces, the kitchen and living room were always clean. The location was one of the biggest advantages. The UCD Village Foodhall and Centra supermarket were right next to the accommodation, which was very convenient, especially because Centra is open until late at night. The laundry room was also directly nearby. The entrance to the UCD Quinn School of Business was less than five minutes away, which was especially useful for morning lectures. I had my own bathroom and toilet in my room, and only shared the kitchen and living room. The only thing that could have been better, especially considering the price, was the bathroom. It was very small, and the shower only had a plastic curtain, so the bathroom floor and toilet often got wet after showering. Also, the shower was more like a fixed rain shower, which can be inconvenient, especially for people with long hair. I bought a shower cap because I did not want to wash my hair every day. In general, I felt very safe on campus. UCD campus is almost like a small city within the city, with shops, gyms, a pool, a cinema and many other facilities. I would definitely recommend staying on campus if possible. However, it is not cheap, and getting a room can be stressful. I only received my final room confirmation at the end of November, although I flew to Dublin at the beginning of January. There also does not seem to be a clear guarantee or transparent system for how rooms are allocated. Still, from my experience, everyone I knew from WU who applied for a room got one. Overall, I would recommend campus accommodation at UCD. It is expensive, but very convenient, safe and probably difficult to beat in terms of location and overall practicality.

3. Academic life at host university

From my experience, the lecturers at UCD were very friendly, helpful and understanding towards Erasmus students. The academic environment felt supportive, and it was usually possible to ask questions or clarify expectations. I took the modules Business Across Borders, International HRM, Marketing: An Introduction, Introduction to Negotiations, and Business & the European Union. I would not say that studying at UCD was clearly more difficult than at WU Vienna. I would describe the level as quite similar overall. One important difference, however, was the assessment style. In my case, the courses were very essay- and group-project-heavy. I know from other students that this is not always the case, but for my modules, written assignments and group work played a major role. This was not necessarily negative, but it required good time management during the semester. I would definitely recommend checking the available modules as early as possible. Students should pay attention to how the final grade is calculated, what is required in each module, and how the different components such as essays, group projects, presentations, exams or attendance are weighted.

5. Every day life in the host country

In general, I felt very safe in Dublin and never really felt uncomfortable. One of the things I noticed most was how friendly and welcoming people were. Taxi drivers, cashiers, bus drivers and people in general were extremely kind and helpful. I have rarely experienced a city where people were this friendly and warm. Dublin itself is a very cool and interesting city, but it feels very different from Vienna. Restaurants, pubs and leisure activities are quite expensive, so students should be aware of that when planning their budget. Public transport mainly works through buses. For students, I would definitely recommend getting a Student Leap Card, which can be topped up with money and used to pay for public transport. With the student card, one bus ride usually cost me around €1. The buses are generally good, and many of them have USB charging options, which is practical. However, they are not always perfectly punctual, so this is something you have to get used to. For leisure activities, I would recommend going to a GAA / Gaelic football match, as it is an important part of Irish culture and very interesting to experience. Dublin also has many pubs, parks, museums and events, so there are many things to do outside university. UCD itself also offers many sports options and societies, which are useful for meeting people and getting involved in campus life. Ireland is also a great country for travelling during the exchange. It is quite easy to visit different places either by train or through organised bus tours. During my stay, I visited places such as Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway,Wicklow Mountains (old military road, Sally Gap and Glendalough), Sligo and the surrounding area, as well as Bray, Howth and Waterford. I would really recommend using the opportunity to travel around Ireland, because the nature and landscapes are beautiful

6. Testimonial

My exchange was a unique experience because I was far away from home and had to build an everyday routine with people I did not know well at first, but who became a close part of my life. I improved my English and travelled to many new places. Living on campus made me feel safe, while still giving me the experience of living independently. Overall, it was a very valuable experience both personally and academically.