Living away from home and also in a foreign country is an unforgettable experience that most students want to live. If you have any doubts about which destination is the best for your next school year, here you will find pros and cons about Dublin based on my personal experience that may be of great help to you.
Nowadays, speaking English is essential when it comes to finding a good job, that is why many students take advantage of their year living abroad not only to get to explore new cultures and people from around the world but also to improve their language skills. Therefore, by the end of this academic year they will not only have added to their CV the fact that they have lived abroad, but also greatly improved their English skills.
The city of Dublin, like all other cities in Ireland, has a unique atmosphere and culture. In this city you can learn about the history of the country by visiting museums, free tours and the various cultural activities. In addition, just a few hours away from the capital there are other cities with completely different landscapes such as Galway and Cork. You can also do daytrips to towns near the city like Howth or Bray. Furthermore, flights to other places like Scontland or England are really cheap.
One of the most characteristic things is its great student atmosphere since the city has the highest percentage of people under 25 years old in Europe. Dublin has several universities which are characterized by welcoming hundreds of foreign students every year from all over the world.
In Ireland there is an opportunity to work while studying thanks to the popularity of part-time jobs. This extra income will help your monthly budget during your time abroad. Not only does it benefit your financial situation, but it is also a great opportunity to develop other skills that could be useful in your future career.
Despite being the capital of Ireland, Dublin is a city where the distances are not too long, so you can walk all over the city center without any problem and access the outskirts with public transport easily. I think that if it is your first time living away from home, this feature can be a great advantage as Dublin combines a friendly atmosphere with that of a cosmopolitan city.
As other cities in northern Europe, Dublin is characterized by cloudy weather almost every day of the year, constant rain and relatively low temperatures. Although you will get used to it, if you come from a country where the weather is predominantly good, perhaps this is a characteristic that you should take into account.
Dublin is a very expensive city if you are a student as the prices are quite high and proportional to the city's wages, which on average are higher than in other European cities. As I mentioned before it is not very difficult to find a part time job in Dublin, and it is probably very helpful to have that extra income every month.
Finding housing that would fit my budget and be located close to my university was certainly the most difficult task before coming to Dublin. The prices of the accommodation are exorbitant and for a "low" price you will only find shared rooms or far from the city centre and the main amenities such as public transport, supermarkets, etc..
If you are a student, you will always have the option of staying at a student residences, which, although they are usually quite expensive, adapt quite well to what a student normally looks for...but don't wait for the last minute because places are sold out very quickly.
Finally, taking into account all the pros and the cons of this city, I would definitely recommend Dublin as your exchange destination, without any doubt the positive things about this city far outweigh any disadvantages that may arise.