Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I LOVED Dublin (Not So Much TCD) August 02, 2023

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/05/2022 to 12/19/2022 with

IFSA: Dublin - Trinity College

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Going to Dublin was, without doubt, the best decision of my life. I learned so much about myself and was able to find an incredibly loving community of friends abroad.

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.

The visiting student program was not organized well and there was little support offered to international students.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program did nothing/offered nothing for me. That being said, it was not hard to navigate Ireland.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was good, although I got it very last minute which was very stressful.

* Food:

Groceries are cheap and I had a kitchen which was really nice.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was incredibly well integrated, a statement on Irish people and culture and not on Trinity's visiting student program.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had not issues with healthcare.

* Safety:

I lived in what Irish people called the "sketchy side of Dublin", which, compared to the average U.S. city, was extremely safe. I felt safe walking around at night as a girl, which I did not feel in other European cities I visited.

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

I was required pass/fail by my home college. So, it was very easy to look over the lackluster academic experiences as I had the privilege of not needing to do amazing in my classes. Had this not been the case, I would have been much more stressed and lost amongst TCD's confusing visiting student program. In short, TCD is a very hands-off study abroad program. That being said, what made my time incredible was Dublin and Irish culture.

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 was going to give this 5 stars, but your scale is making me bump it down to four. On average, groceries for five days costed $30, coffee averaged $3-5, a beer was $6 (cheaper outside of Dublin), and a mixed drink cost $12 (and you don't tip). Dublin is an incredibly cheap city compared to any major city, especially in the US and Western Europe. However, as someone who had an active social life abroad, I was spending $200+ a week between personal expenses, travel, and food. Granted, TCD has no provided food plan, so I was financing all of my meals by myself.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200+
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook your own food.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International 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?
  • My new friends (both American and Irish)
  • Integration with Irish culture
  • Learning about Irish culture
* What could be improved?
  • Registration for courses
  • TCD's support for students
  • More visitng student resources
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't stress about traveling to new countries. It is more meaningful to spend quality time in your host country than to travel to a million European cities.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'