My Erasmus Experience in Dublin, Ireland - by Alberto

Why did you choose to go to Dublin, Ireland?

I wanted to study and improve my English at the same time, and doing this here was less expensive than it would have been in the United Kingdom.

Another thing which helped me to make my decision was that I'd visited Ireland once before and liked it, so I wanted to repeat this experience.

How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

The scholarship lasted for 9 months and I received a total of about 1, 800 euros altogether. I should mention that this isn't even nearly enough though: I shared a house with my girlfriend and this alone cost us about 900 euros a month.

What's the student life like in Dublin?

The truth is that all my university friends helped me with whatever problems I had, plus the teachers are very friendly and understand that visiting students don't have that high a level of English, and always make an effort to help you understand things.

The work is quite demanding, at least it is at the DIT (in certain respects) and it's quite hard adapting to hearing and speaking English all the time (with an Irish accent! ).

If you have any problems, just ask your Erasmus coordinator and they'll know how to help you.

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

The city of Dublin isn't a huge and exciting city, but instead is quite a 'small' one which you can easily find your way around after a few days of living there. It's a welcoming place and there's a party going on wherever you go: any excuse is enough to drink in Ireland. On the other hand, I definitely recommend doing your Erasmus there if you're studying Engineering like I was, since there are branches of companies like Google, Amazon and Microsoft there which you could end up working for, like I did. :D

What's the food like in Dublin?

I didn't go out to eat traditional Irish food very much, but the most Irish meal is probably Guinness and potatoes!

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Dublin?

It's more difficult to find somewhere to live than it is to find a job. You should try and arrive at least one month before you're due to start if you want to find a good flat or room. If you're going to a college, you won't have any problems with this.

How expensive is everyday life in Dublin?

Life is expensive in Dublin. Food costs the same as it does in Spain - perhaps a little more expensive, but if you do your food shopping at Lidl or Aldi, the prices are usually cheaper.

Rent is between 900-1, 000 euros per month for a house and perhaps between 350-600 euros per month for a room.

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language course at the university?

The language they speak here is English. If you're very good at it, you won't have any problems, but the Irish have quite a quiet and reserved accent, so sometimes it's hard to understand them. After a few months, you'll be fine, although I would still say that the accent is harder than the British accent. I didn't go to a language course at the university.

What's the cheapest way to get to Dublin from your home city?

The cheapest flights are with Ryanair or Aer Lingus, if you find a good deal. From the airport, bus no. 16 takes you to Dublin city centre for 2. 80 euros and takes about forty minutes.

What are the best places for partying in Dublin?

Temple Bar is the area where all the bars can be found - you'll find everything there.

What about eating out in Dublin? What are your favourite places?

In the Temple Bar area there are also lots of restaurants and cafes. Anywhere you try will be good.

What does Dublin have to offer in terms of culture?

To see everything Dublin has to offer, start on O'Connel Street, and then move on to Temple Bar, Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church, Stephen's Green and Phoenix Park. Walk along the Liffey River and cross over Ha'Penny Bridge. You could also visit the surrounding areas of Howth and Bray. There's much more to see, too.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Dublin?

If you're coming to Dublin with the intention of perhaps staying on to work there, I think this is the best decision you could ever make. All kinds of technology companies have branches here and there are so many opportunities: if you don't find one with one company, you'll definitely find one with another.

If you want to work here, you should apply for a PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number) when you arrive.