Erasmus Experience in Cork, Ireland by Heidi

Why did you choose to go to Cork, Ireland?

I wanted to go to English speaking coutry

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I stayed in Ireland for 9 months and I got 2000€ for that period.

What is the student lifestyle like in Cork?

There're parties every day during the week. The most popular days to go out are Tuesday and Thursday, on weekends it's more quiet when local students go home; there are a lot foreign students and older people in town on weekends though.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Cork to other students?

There're 2 universities in Cork; UCC and CIT. I was studying in UCC and I can definitely recommend it to everyone! Also Cork city is really cozy and cute town, Ireland is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

What is the food like?

I didn't eat out often, but in supermarkets you can find basically everything you need.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Cork?

No, I was staying in UCC accommodation.

How much does it cost to live in Cork?

Rent is something between 300-500€/month, I was partying a lot so I spent a lot of money for alcohol, but I guess 500€+rent is more than enough for everyone. If you prefer to stay at home with your friends, obviously it's a lot cheaper. As a Finnish student, I found Ireland very cheap, but Spanish and Italian students weren't too happy with prices.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

Cork accent is horrible. It takes a while to get used to with it. Local students are younger than most erasmus, so we didn't spend too much time with them. ANyway, there're english courses in UCC and also, there is International Club Cork, which is providing language exchange.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Cork from your city?

I flew from Helsinki to Amsterdam and from Amsterdam to Cork, on Christamas I came back via London. In May I took a bus to Dublin from where I had direct flight to Helsinki.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Cork?

It really depends; The Bailey is a good place to dance, and so is Reardens. An Brog is playing awesome indie and alternative music. Drinks are cheap in Old Oak, but there're a lot of old people. The Roxy is one of the best clubs, but you never know if it's going to be empty or packed...

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Blarney castle and gardens, Kinsale, Cobh, whole Ireland :)

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Cork in the future?

Meet some Irish people! They are the most friendliest people I have ever met! It's so easy to meet other erasmus, but if you make friends with Irish people, they'll be there for rest of your life!