University College Dublin - Study Abroad

UCD was an amazing school to study abroad in for a semester! They provide free trips to go to different places in Ireland such as Galway, Kinsale, Glendalough, and more events where I was able to meet tons of friends. Also, UCD has a great community that makes it easy to join clubs/societies even if it is just for a semester which allowed me to make local Irish friends. It was easy to go into the city whenever I wanted and was a very safe location to walk around even at night so would highly recommend!

I'll start with the two (slightly) negative points:
-Academics can be a bit stressful sometimes, since much of the time, assignments are due all in one month + you have less assignments worth more percentage of your grade unlike the American system. However, I will offset this statement a little by saying that professors will make sure you don't fail!
-My residence wasn't the best— you pay for what you get, but even then, it is a little overpriced and when I came in, the previous owners left it in very dirty condition (however, this is not UCD's fault). But as someone in Glenomena, the single rooms and (in my case) the ensuite bathroom are hard to complain about, and there's nothing a little cleaning up yourself can't do.

But otherwise, I loved being at UCD! Being a UCD student for the semester has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. At first, it was hard to adjust due to the size of the campus, but there have been so many opportunities to find friends and traveling experiences through UCD-organized events (they run trips around Ireland for study abroad students!) and school societies. The campus is also very big, but that means there are many student life and academic resources— it almost seems like a small town sometimes. I have come out with increased independence, many lifelong friends, and new memories that I will always cherish because of my time at UCD. I highly recommend that if anyone goes to Ireland for study abroad that UCD should be considered!

I have loved my time at UCD. I feel safe on campus, enjoy the learning material, and have loved exploring Dublin. The facilities for students like my residence and the gym were excellent, and the bus into Dublin was easy and convenient. One thing I would change is that there could be more academic support for international students adjusting to a new style of teaching. I was able to utilize the maths tutoring centre, but I felt that overall there were not many resources made available to students who may have been struggling.

What an amazing University College Dublin has brought me. Along with an amazing academic structure, this experience brought me life long friends and memories. Everyday is something new and exciting. The city of Dublin is bursting with culture, history and uniqueness all around. My academic experience was one like any other coming with vigorous classes and professors who really know how to teach. Getting outside of your comfort zone was the best decision to make. I would 100% look into studying abroad at University College Dublin!

Though housing can be expensive, I have loved my time here at UCD. I have made so many friends from around the world. Outside of the university, the city is amazing and the whole country is full of fun experiences. It's easy to travel around in the city or in the country. There are many amazing coffee spots on campus as well as plenty of other amenities. No matter the time of year, it is beautiful outside, even in the rain. I would definitely recommend this program for anyone who is looking to study abroad in Europe.

I registered for 3 courses at UCD, all of which were related to architecture/ design. Supplementary courses were enjoyable and worthwhile, however, I was not a huge fan of the architecture studio setting. Studios are not cleaned between semesters, causing clutter and general confusion over which spaces are being used. Projects are highly focused on the production of physical models, but the school lacked resources that would make this process more enticing (3d printers, photo lab, CNC machines etc...). Tutors failed to create a competitive environment for students and the program itself felt very archaic.

The low rigor of classes did make it easier to enjoy my time in Ireland, however, so I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking to have ample time to explore Ireland/ Europe. My only complaint outside of academics is the extremely high cost of living in Dublin. Overall, Dublin is a fun city with plenty of amenities close by.

Spent a semester at UCD Engineering & Architecture. I took an intro Landscape Architecture lecture, a Masters level Nature-Based Solutions studio, a Masters level Urban Resilience lecture, as well as a literature elective (in the English dept). At my home university, I study sustainability and visual arts, so this program was a great chance to bring those disciplines together. Courses were rigorous, but professors supportive and helpful. I really liked the overall focus on sustainability and environmental issues. Good variety in the options available in course selection, including Masters-level modules.
On-campus housing is livable but not great. It's very expensive for what you get, but unfortunately not many alternatives are available due to the city's housing crisis.
Student life is welcoming and friendly, and plenty of nice things to do out in Dublin. UCD is definitely in the suburbs, but an easy 30 min bus ride from city center.

Major: Electrical Engineering, Home Institution: Yale University

I am so happy I decided to study abroad at UCD because I absolutely loved my experience and feel I grew tremendously while being there! Academically, I felt very challenged because I was able enroll in courses otherwise not offered by my university. I explored entirely new topics in power engineering and renewable energy that ultimately helped me broaden my passion for sustainability. I was also able to conduct research in UCD’s Energy Institute which was a very exciting process of learning and discovery. Outside of the classroom, it was always incredibly fun to attend the various social and club events hosted by the student organizations. There were karaoke nights, student performances, rock climbing nights, pub crawls, and so much more. All these events made it easy to make friends from all over the world and to create amazing new memories!

Beyond UCD’s campus I enjoyed going out to observe the natural and stunning beauty of Ireland! This was probably my favorite aspect of being abroad! I would often take small bus or train rides outside of the city to see some of the surrounding nature. I loved spending time on the coast and walking on the cliffs of Howth, the beaches of Balbriggan, and seeing the gardens of Wicklow. Although my experience was cut short as a result of COVID-19, I am still very grateful for the time I had in Ireland and for the people I met there.