1. The prestige of its universities
Dublin is home to four world-ranking universities, which educate around 120,000 students. Its tradition as a student town goes back a long way. Trinity College, which is right in the heart of the city centre, was founded in the 16th century and is still internationally recognised for its academic excellency today.
Since then, younger universities, public colleges and private colleges have joined the city’s educational offering. Across these institutions, students and teachers have initiated advances in disciplines as diverse as medicine, atomic physics and literature. More recently, they have led the way in areas like business, technology and digital innovation.
2. Dublin is an English-speaking city
Post-Brexit, Ireland is the only English-speaking country in the Eurozone. This holds a lot of appeal for international students and is one of the reasons Dublin is emerging as an education hub.
If your English isn’t quite up to scratch, many Dublin universities offer foundation courses in English which will prepare you for a degree course. The city’s English language schools are also there to assist. These are recognised around the world for their world-class facilities and high standards of education.
3. Its welcoming atmosphere
One of the reasons why Dublin is such a great study-abroad destination is its people. Dubliners are famously welcoming and often happy to chat to people they don’t know. They have a pretty lively sense of humour too. That’s probably why Dublin consistently ranks among the friendliest cities in the world.
In fact, students frequently say the hospitality and warmth of Dublin’s people is one of the most enriching parts of their time here. On top of this, Dublin is increasingly multicultural and the data suggests that diversity in the city is generally welcomed with open arms. The city is also regarded as a safe place to live.
4. It’s rich in culture and history
The streets of Dublin are teeming with its rich historical heritage. Once a major Viking city, today you’ll find medieval fortifications, Gothic cathedrals and Georgian townhouses all within a stone’s throw of each other.
In terms of culture, there’s plenty to see and do. You can enjoy Dublin’s world-renowned museums, galleries and attractions. Check out works by Caravaggio, Velazquez and Vermeer in the National Gallery, discover one of the world’s greatest collections of eastern art at the Chester Beatty or browse the archives at the National Library.
Whatever you study in Dublin, you’re sure to find something in the city to enhance your enjoyment and understanding of the subject.
5. It’s a hotbed of innovation and creativity
Dublin is well-known for its contributions to the world of literature and music. But as well as producing Nobel prize-winning writers like Samuel Beckett and George Bernard Shaw, the city has helped forge Nobel laureates in the field of science too.
The physics award went to Ernest Walton in 1951 – almost 20 years after he artificially split the atom and ushered in the nuclear age. In 2015, the award for medicine went to William C. Campbell for his treatment of malaria. Both men were graduates of Trinity College Dublin.
As the digital era progresses, Dubliners are still behind groundbreaking research and innovation. Many breakthroughs are driven by the city’s startup ecosystem, as well as its innovative accelerators, incubators and research centres – many of which are supported by Dublin’s network of universities.
6. It’s basecamp for Europe
Dublin is the perfect base for exploring Europe. Its international airport is the headquarters of Ryanair – one of the world’s best-known budget airlines. And flights to the likes of Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Berlin all take two hours or less. UK locations like London, Liverpool and Edinburgh are even closer.
7. The employment opportunities
If you’re looking to gain experience at a company with global recognition, Dublin is the place to be. The city is home to world famous multinationals across key industries like tech, pharma, finance and professional services.
The likes of Facebook, Google, Airbnb, IBM, Microsoft, PayPal, Accenture, PwC, Deloitte, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Mastercard all have a presence in the city. What’s more is that even graduates from outside of the EU can take advantage of working here.
Through the Third Level Graduate programme, Irish-educated graduates from outside the European Economic Area can gain work experience in Ireland once their studies are complete. For non-EU citizens this is one of the biggest reasons to study in Ireland – particularly if you plan to pursue a career in tech, accounting, business or health innovation.
Find out more about student life in Dublin below.
