My Experience in Dublin, Ireland - by Carlos

Why did you choose to go to Dublin, Ireland?

I have to admit that London was my first option, but I decided I would prefer somewhere a little less full of Spaniards, and so I settled on Dublin. It ended up being a good substitute for the British capital. Would definitely recommend!

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

I didn't go to Dublin through an Erasmus exchange - I did my Erasmus in Naples, Italy. I went to Dublin on my own account to learn English.

What´s the student life like in Dublin?

Excellent. If you're lucky enough to study at Trinity College, I'll envy you forever, since it's without a doubt the best university I've ever visited. It has an enormous campus, a world-famous library which also functions as a museum, and all students are free to organise all kinds of events on campus. On a huge lawn facing an incredible bar on campus, the students organise a 'small' party every Friday, where they are the DJs and hosts.

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

Of course - in fact, I'm hoping to go back in January when I've finished my PFC (Final Career Project), this time to look for a job.

What´s the food like in Dublin?

It's very expensive to eat healthily, so if you want to eat cheaply, you'd better get used to eating frozen food. Dubliners eat very, very badly, above all if we compare it to an old Spanish lady's food. I'd recommend doing your weekly shop at Tesco or Lidl, and going to Centra or Londis in emergencies.

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

I organised my accommodation before I left Spain. In general though, from Dublin 7 outwards (the city is divided into numbered zones, Dublin 1 being the most central one) it's easy and pretty cheap to find a room to rent. Your rent usually includes bills, too.

How expensive is everyday life in Dublin?

Your approximate monthly expenditure would be: 250-300€ for your room, 150€ on food if you eat mostly from frozen or 250€ if you eat healthily, 50€ for a monthly bus ticket (although I recommend using a bike) plus any personal costs.

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

Learning the language was the primary aim of my visit, and I did a course at the Irish Business School, a school of English. If you are on an Erasmus exchange, they pay for you to attend a language course at the university you are studying at, but if you go to Dublin without Erasmus support, I would recommend the Irish Business School. It's not expensive there and the teachers are good.

If you make the effort, you can lean quite a lot of English here, but as ever, the Spanish have a natural talent for finding each other wherever the party's at.

What´s the cheapest way of getting to Dublin from your home city?

Ryanair offers cheap flights.

What are the best places for partying in Dublin?

Tuesdays: Definitely Dcay's Club, it's crazy there. Pints of beer cost 2. 50€ and there's a great student atmosphere. It's my favourite pub in Dublin for sure.

Thursdays: Darkeys, where you can get a hamburger and pint for 3. 50€. It's a language exchange organised by various schools, so you meet lots of people there in the same situation as you.

Weekends: There's no set place to go, but don't worry, you'll definitely find something. I recommend going to Dublin 9 on Sundays in a group, there's a fantastic atmosphere.

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

I normally ate at home to save money. I can't remember anywhere really good off the top of my head. At one point I spent two hours looking for somewhere to eat which had a good location, looked attractive and was cheap. Unfortunately the only place which is worth eating out at is the food fair which is set up next to the cathedral, but that's only there for a few weekends a year.

What does Dublin have to offer in terms of culture?

The whole of Dublin is beautiful, from the city centre to the outskirts. The best places to visit are the Guinness factory (a must-see) and the prison where 'The Shawshank Redemption' was filmed.

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

Enjoy your visit to the full from the first day onwards, since before you know it, your Erasmus year will be over and done with.

In terms of Dublin itself, get yourself a bicycle on the day you arrive, or invest in the card which lets you rent the city bikes. It saves you a lot of money, and the city is practically entirely flat.