Student life

Lifelong learning is crucial to the quality of an individual’s life. It boosts self-esteem, increases employability, helps individuals meet new people from a range of backgrounds and transcend social boundaries, all while enriching local communities. That’s why Dublin has joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) and formally became a Learning City in 2019. The initiative seeks to promote the various ways people can learn something new, both inside and outside the classroom, through traditional and non-traditional methods. It aims to ensure that educati

Doing a Masters in Dublin: An international student’s experience Romina Dashghachian is from Germany, while her parents are from Iran, and she came to Ireland to study in Dublin. In 2019, she began her Masters Degree in Public Relations at DCU. During her stay, Romina shared her experience as an international student with Dublin.ie. Why Romina did her Masters in Dublin Romina reckons that Dublin and her hometown of Munich have a lot in common. “Munich has a community feel, so you never feel like you’re in a giant anonymous city,” she says. “And that’s why I like Dublin as well. When you’re here, you don’

Ireland might be a small country, but our universities and colleges are incredibly diverse. Every year, tens of thousands of students from over 130 countries come here to study.

Dublin was never on Anna Grimard’s trajectory. Now, an MSc in Marketing, a red-haired fiancé and a managerial role with an award-winning Irish travel company later, she tells us all about what Liffeyside life has to offer. Originally from Florida, it took a while – and a hint from Hollywood – before Anna ended up crossing the Atlantic. “I did my undergrad in advertising in Georgia, in the States, so I was in Atlanta for three years. When I left, I kinda moved around a bit… I ended up in Tennessee, working at a children’s non-profit museum, which was super fun – but I was so obsessed then with getting something in advertising.” At the time, jobs in her fiel

A pathfinder for Brazilians coming to Dublin Ed Giansante – aka Edu or Eduardo Giansante – left Sao Paulo for Dublin in 2008 with the hope of learning English and making a new start in Ireland. Initially, he lived with a host family in a Dublin suburb and went to an English language school near Mountjoy Square. Since then, his English, his career and his following have all come a long way. From boom, to bust, to blogging Ed’s timing was both good and bad. Upon his arrival in 2008, Ireland’s economy had hit a massive recession and the country was facing into a period of austerity. It would be hard for a native to survive in

Anyone for capoeira? Fancy an evening of food and drink? Or how about spending time with some serious Harry Potter fans? Universities and colleges in Dublin have a strange and eclectic mix of student clubs and societies. Yes, there’s soccer and Gaelic games, but what about caving and potholing or sepak takraw – a type of kick volleyball? Yes, drama and debating are to be expected, but

Every year, tens of thousands of people from over 130 countries come to study in Ireland’s universities, institutes of technology and colleges. What’s bringing them here and why are they choosing Ireland? Sheila Power is director of the Irish Council for International Students. She points out that overall statistics for the number of international students are hard to pin down, but says that we need to broaden the conversation out. Ireland is an attractive destination for international students because it is perceived as friendly and safe “Ireland is an attractive des

LGBTQ life in Dublin Dublin is a friendly and welcoming place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. The city’s third-level institutions all have LGBTQ societies, while the city’s bars, restaurants and clubs are welcoming spaces. There’s no shortage of LGBT bars either. There’s The George, Pantibar and Street 66, for example. And the Dublin Pride Festival takes over the city every June. Support groups Growing up gay or bisexual can be tough. Being a young transgender person can be even harder. However, in recent years, Irela

What you can expect studying at NCAD Art College is a waste of time, right? Not so. The National College of Art and Design on Thomas Street is really punching above its weight and is intent on disproving the lazy stereotypes about art students. Its annual showcase has become an art and design highlight in the city – featuring painting, product design, sculpture, fashion and more. We have had lots of opportunities to showcase our work outside the college. Meanwhile, its fashion students have been awarded top prizes both here and abroad. The Dublin art college is cli

Grand Canal Dock is home to more than just the tech companies it’s famous for. That dark grey contemporary building with unusual green bubbles on the front is The Lir – Ireland’s National Academy of Dramatic Art. Its courses are developed in association with London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and its reputation is enviable. Acting is not for the faint hearted though; it takes a certain type of determination and passion. “It’s…satisfying to me, going through a script and having to do it night and night again. Every moment is live and there is no second take”, explains

One American’s experience of studying in Dublin Ben Campbell Rosbrook is originally from Syracuse in upstate New York. After completing his undergraduate at a college in Vermont, he came to Ireland to do his Masters degree at Trinity College Dublin. That was back in 2016, but today he still lives in Dublin where he works as a commercial analyst. After Ben had been living in Dublin for a few months, Dublin.ie spoke to him about his experience of studying in the city. So what brought him to Dublin? Student life from an American’s perspective “I’m spending like half or a

Medicine in Trinity College is known as one of the most difficult courses to get into in Ireland. These students will play a major role in the future of healthcare – here and worldwide. Someday your life might just depend on one of them. During hospital placements, some of these students will experience incidents that most of us never have to. They’ll witness life-changing moments and hear tragic backstories. “Sometimes I’ve taken a step back and thought: ‘Oh, I’m very lucky to never have had any of those issues’,” says Aisling Hickey, a Trinity