You did it!
You chose to come studying for a semester or a year at UCD, here in Dublin. Fantastic choice! I know that being a foreign exchange student can be very stressful for many reasons. Don't worry, I am here to bring you a sort of guide to survive on this big campus. Whether you are arriving soon on Campus or you are already here, sit in a comfortable chair and continue reading this blog post for some advice on your exchange journey...
1) Before you arrive... ☘️
If you are studying in Ireland for more than 3 months and you are traveling from outside the EU, you will need to apply for a visa. I advise you to apply early since the visa application take up to eight weeks! They are delivered by the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service and you need to apply online via their portal. There you will find additional information regarding the documentation you will need to provide and about the fees.
2) Getting there ☘️
Lucky you! In terms of public transport, UCD is one of the best-served area of the country. The buses that serve UCD are the 7B, 7D, 11, 17, 39A, 46A, 46E, 47, 116, 118, 142, 145, 155, 175, in addition to many private bus serving UCD. Plenty of choice !
You are sportier? Why don’t you opt for bikes! As Dublin Bikes don’t cover all the areas around UCD yet, you might want to get your own one. You can get second hand ones at the Belfield Bike Shop on Campus. And don’t worry, when you have to leave Ireland, just return it to the shop and it will be repurchased from you. Isn't it fabulous?
3) The student Leap Card ☘️
Get a student Leap card as soon as you arrive! If you use transports a lot, it is very worthy. The weekly price is capped at 20 euros for the students, which will save you a lot of money. Moreover, if paying with cash, Dublin bus drivers will expect you to pay the exact amount of money, so having the leap card is definitely much more convenient (and you can top it up on "Leap Top-Up" mobile phone app!) Just add 20 euros on Monday morning, and then you're good for the week.
Illimited transports in Dublin and even outside!
How to get your student Leap Card ?
A list of agents can be found here
But don't forget :
4) Living on Campus ☘️
Speaking from experience, finding an accommodation in Dublin can be kind of nightmarish. So you might want to consider living in one of UCD Campus residences. One of the main benefits of living on UCD residences is that, as an exchange student, you will get to meet other students easily and make friends quickly. It is also very convenient for classes and on-campus events. It is the best way to immerse yourself in the university culture!
Belgrove Residence, UCD Campus
To take a look at the different residences in UCD Campus, click here
5) Joining a society ☘️
Another excellent way to integrate and make friends on campus is joining a society. UCD is known to have more than 80 different societies (cultural, interests, sports), so it probably has something for you too! Moreover, joining a society in UCD is pretty easy : it is possible to join at any moment of the year, simply by joining their events and getting in touch with other members.
Feeling curious about the different societies?
Find out the perfect one for you here:
List of UCD students societies
6) International students Society ☘️
Cliffs Of Moher, Ireland
The International Students Society is UCD’s largest International interest society. They organize many activities throughout the year open to everyone. If you want to discover Ireland and meet new friends at the same time? Then you might want to participate to one of their trips! It includes destinations like : Galway and Cliffs of Moher, Northern Ireland, The Giants Causeways etc.
Do not hesitate to follow them on social media to keep up with their events and more info :
7) Exams, you said exams? ☘️
Exams are stressful enough, so don’t miss out on this info….
First thing you probably want to know is that UCD Students’ Union offers free buses during exams time. So make sure to look for the bus timetable to be posted on the Students’ Union social media around exams period.
On the day :
Of course don’t forget to celebrate with your friends when your exams are over !
And last but not least...
8) Enjoy yourself! ☘️
If this article’s aim is to provide you useful practical information, the most important thing about an exchange is to enjoy !
Studying abroad has many fantastic benefits. You should go out, step outside of your comfort zone, and experience it to the fullest. Take it as an opportunity to travel the world with no commitment but to study and learn about new cultures. Be open to meet new people, travel where you hearts tells you to go, and have fun !