Application
The application process was very simple and straightforward. The MicroEDU team helped me a lot in choosing the right university for my subject, meeting registration deadlines and arranging all formalities with the university abroad. In addition, the process was very quick, the support is very friendly and results-oriented and I always felt that I was in very good hands.
Studying at Dublin Business School lived up to my expectations and was well organized. A wide range of mainly business courses makes course selection easy. There is an introductory event for all international students to familiarize them with the university and its processes. You also get to know many foreign students here.
The teaching itself differs from Germany, as it is often rather small classes (I was in a course with only 6 people but also in one with around 80). This makes the lecture more interactive and helps you brush up on your English. The courses differ greatly in terms of level, but that depends on the professor. The assignments that you have to do are easy to manage and you can choose your own topics. The grades are also rather good.
The university is downtown and there is plenty of shopping (especially on Grafton Street) nearby. There is no actual campus. The buildings are a few minutes’ walk apart and are easy to reach.
On-site support
The on-site support from the university is very good. At first I had a few problems with choosing a course, but these were resolved quickly and unbureaucratically. You have a permanent contact person who stands up for the students and also plans and carries out many leisure activities. There were numerous parties, sports and excursions. They are also financially supported by the university. So we went to the west coast of Galway for a weekend (2 nights) and only had to pay 50 € for the entire trip including entrance fees, travel and accommodation. You definitely shouldn’t miss this trip.
Accommodation
I lived in the Blackhall Place dormitory. The accommodation is very expensive (135 € a week) and also a bit spartan. In addition, you have to pay for electricity. Internet is included, but the apartments are poorly insulated and the boiler for hot water took over an hour to warm up in the morning. In addition, pretty much everything is forbidden (parties, candles, visitors, etc. ) and there are surveillance cameras. However, these are switched off (most of them) and otherwise nobody cares about adhering to the many rules.
But there is one key advantage that would make me choose it again. You live there with the foreign students and friendships are made very quickly. Since Dublin is also a rather unsafe place, it is a great advantage that you never go to the city to celebrate alone and thus come home safely. But you should make sure that you don’t share a flat with other Germans (you can state that as a wish), then you will learn English faster and better.
Location
it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to walk to the university, which is located in the city center. Flat shares are not recommended. They are also expensive, sometimes full of mold and you always come to Blackhall Place because that’s where the parties take place. There are shops nearby (Centra and Spar) but they are relatively expensive. You can better go to Lidl or Aldi. A Lidl is on the way back from the DBS with a little detour and is therefore good for shopping.
Leisure time
And I come to these other things now. As already mentioned, my schedule didn’t take up too much time, which also gave me some free time. To all sports enthusiasts, there are a number of gyms in Dublin. I can especially recommend FlyeFit, which is also represented several times in Dublin. The registration is completely online and you only need your address and credit card, which is also used as an entrance ticket to the studios. The monthly cost is 30 euros and membership can be canceled on a monthly basis.
But of course you also want to see some of the city. First of all, Dublin is quite manageable and you can find your way around faster than you might think at first. There are of course plenty of sights to see. I can recommend Trinity College, Dublin Castle and its surroundings, Dublin Jail, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Jameson Distillery and the Guinness Brewery. You are also offered tours in general or even by the DBS which stands for Dublin Business School according abbreviationfinder. Of course, one or the other side trip to the famous Temple Bar district should not be missed. There is an enormous range of pubs there, all of which are special in their own way. Almost all of them have live music, mostly traditional, and the atmosphere is just overwhelming. The people there are friendly and you always get in touch with someone.
Since this area is so famous, there are logically many tourists, so you won’t find very many Irish. These are located in the more distant pubs, e. g. in the south of Dublin. So you should definitely have been to both areas. Regarding the prices, it can be said that these are also above the German average. In the evening you can easily pay 7 euros for a Guinness. But because of the atmosphere you are happy to accept this. But apart from that, there are a few other shops that are good to stay in.
For everyone who likes to watch sports, there are two large sports bars, which show a lot of different sports and even the Bundesliga. On the one hand this is the Living Room in the north of Dublin on a side street to O’Connel St and on the other hand this is the River Bar directly at the O’Connel Bridge on the River Liffey. Most of the Hoschschule’s parties take place in the Hole at the Moon, which I recommend to everyone. The prices there are usually 2. 50 euros per drink, so a good change from the expensive pubs. The last stop I want to mention is Dicey’s Garden. A bar for students and young workers that is also very low in price. The refreshments there cost from 2 to 3. 50 euros, there are several areas with televisions or dance floors. So there should be something for everyone.
For all those who are crazy about shopping, O’Connel St is particularly recommended. There and in the several side streets there are all kinds of shops that one could wish for. There are also several shopping centers and markets in this area. A theater at the end of the street and several cinemas are also represented. So you won’t get bored anytime soon.
So that’s how I spent my time in Dublin. In addition to the interesting studies, it was above all the city and its people that made my stay an unforgettable event. There is so much to discover and do that I’m sure I haven’t done it all. So just go into town and go on a discovery tour. I don’t think anyone will regret it.
Since Ireland does not only consist of Dublin, you should also take a look at the rest of the country, provided that your studies and budget allow. I was touring Ireland with two other fellow students in my last week. We rented a car at the airport and drove off from there to get to know the beautiful landscape of the green island. We visited Glendalough Lake, where several famous films were shot. We’ve been to Kilkenney, Cork, and Galway. The absolute highlight was the visit to the Cliffs of Moher. A lasting impression of these overwhelming cliffs is certain in any case. I don’t want to reveal too much here either, go ahead and see it for yourself, it’s definitely worth it.
In general about locomotion, it can be said that left-hand traffic is no longer a problem after a while. Once you have understood that nobody is sitting to your right and that you have to drive into a roundabout on the left, then the rest is no longer a problem. The only challenge, however, are the “country roads”. On these roads there is also oncoming traffic, although the width does not suggest this. So it can happen that you have to drive very far to the side of the road to let an oncoming car pass. Furthermore, these roads lead everywhere, through fields, past lakes and through the mountains. When things don’t go up and down, there is one sharp bend after the other. Funnily enough, the speed limit is 100 km / h. Believe me when I tell you that you are already well on these roads at 80. It will definitely not be boring. I’ve never turned left before and still mastered it, so don’t be discouraged and just give it a try. For car rental, I recommend the ADAC website. There you get a very good offer at very fair prices, even for non-members. Last but not least, if you have the opportunity, take an automatic car and a GPS. That makes a lot of things easier. For those who do not dare to have this fun, there are a lot of providers who offer one or two day trips to the most beautiful places in Ireland. Travel by coach costs between 40 and 50 euros.
