Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Slainte! Past Review

By (International Relations And Global Studies, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 09/10/2012 to 12/21/2012 with

University College Dublin: Dublin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how similar students really are despite being from different parts of the world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes were more laid back during the semester than at UT, however this leads to more stress during exams because they count for 50% to 100% of the grade.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The rooms were clean and everything worked properly, however meeting roommates in my apartment was difficult due to the layout of the apartment putting the living room and kitchen away form all the rooms.

* Food:

Dublin has so many different nationalities and culture that it was easy to find any type of food that I craved.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made more friends in one semester in Ireland than I would have in a year in Texas because the international student programs are excellent. I met people from all over the world and learned many new customs. The only down side is that with the international student program introducing me to so many exchange students like myself, I felt that I did not get to know the Irish students as well as I could have.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I walked around Dublin and UCD multiple times late at night or early in the morning and never felt threatened.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I did find Dublin to be more expensive than Texas but this is also due to the expense of immersing oneself in a culture that loves pubs so much.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? around $100-150 a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Tesco is very cheap.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people that I traveled with
  • The amount of time i was allocated to travel around the country
  • The after school programs such as drama.
* What could be improved?
  • Grading was confusing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have saved more money before going over.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.