Dublin is the perfect study abroad destination – Find out why
Are you planning to study abroad? But you ask yourself which city is the best study abroad destination? We collected our top 10 reasons why you should study in Ireland, Dublin.
1. Great universities in Dublin for international students
We think that Dublin is worth a thought when deciding where to study abroad. But we are not the only ones. In the QS Best Student Cities 2022 rankings, Dublin has made 39th place due to multiple reasons. However, Ireland’s capital had the best performance in the factor “student mix” and was ranked 12th. If you seek an international atmosphere, you will love the city, with over 20% of all students being foreigners. The government and international schools in Dublin promote cultural exchange and provide support for incoming students where they can. So why not join over 32,000 international students and study in Dublin!
2. Study in Dublin and explore its rich history
Dublin is your place to be if you like places with a unique atmosphere full of history and aesthetic architecture. It is known as one of the world’s literary capitals. It is one of the few UNESCO cities (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in the world with the title City of Literature. Authors like James Joyce, WB Yeats, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, and Jonathan Swift were born in Dublin. Besides literature, musicals play a vital role in the history and culture of Dublin. But also, historical buildings like the Dublin Castle from the 13th century or the St Patrick’s Cathedral reflect Dublin’s historical heritage. Also, the universities have historical flair. For instance, the buildings of the American College of Dublin have been built in the Georgian era and one of the houses was even the childhood home of Oscar Wilde!
3. A city full of innovation and novelty
As a contrast to the conservation of Dublin’s historical heritage, the Irish Times wrote in 2016 that “Dublin has been ranked third on a list of most successful cities for innovation, liveability, and capacity to reinvent, behind London and Silicon Valley.” Moreover, Dublin’s writers are continuing the tradition. Literary stars of the modern era, such as Colm Tóibín, Sebastian Barry, Anne Enright, and Roddy Doyle, receive worldwide recognition.
4. Improve your English skills
Dublin is the perfect study abroad destination if you want to improve your language skills while being abroad. You can, of course, work on your English skills in any country. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that an English-speaking country will be most beneficial. Immerse yourself in the Irish culture and get comfortable speaking English in lectures and in your spare time. Get to know the local slang, pick up some new everyday English, or how to joke with friends. After all, Ireland has been the only English-speaking nation in the European Union since Brexit. As a student from the EU, it is very convenient to study in Dublin for EU students in general.
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5. Friendliness awaits you in Dublin
Another reason why you should consider Dublin as your study abroad destination is the friendliness of the people. The residents of Dublin will welcome you with open arms, and people are always happy to help. It is no surprise that the Gaelic welcome, “Céad Míle Fáilte,” means a hundred thousand welcomes. Indeed, Ireland is among the 10 friendliest countries globally, and its capital is the best example.
6. Find all you need within walking distance
Dublin is perfectly suitable for you if you cannot see yourself in a big metropolis but still want the city flair. With less than 1,5 million inhabitants the Dublin has all you need without being too overwhelming. From the city, it is only a short hop to the countryside. The town is very pedestrian-friendly, and you can take a DublinBike to get quickly from A to B. Most Universities are located centrally. For instance, if you study at the American College Dublin, you can easily walk from your student accommodation to all campuses or downtown Dublin. If you need a longer ride, take public transport, including trams, trains, and buses.
7. Wide range of cultural variety and entertainment
During your exchange semester in Dublin, you will be able to experience the fantastic offer of culture and entertainment. Besides excellent shopping opportunities, the social and cultural life is exciting. How about strolling through a modern art exhibition on a Sunday? As an international student in Dublin, you can visit most museums and galleries for free. A famous hotspot in Dublin is the lively and artistic area of Temple Bar. At night when the stores close, the party life awakens. The pub and drinking culture in Dublin is famous all around the globe for a good reason.
8. Study in Dublin and benfit from the best employment opportunities
Even though Dublin is not the biggest city, it is known as “The emerging internet capital of Europe” and “Dublin’s Silicon Dock’. The tech scene in Dublin is booming with companies like Twitter, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, HP, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Zynga settling in the docklands of Dublin. Consequently, young talented employees have the chance to gain work experience at one of the big players of the 21st century. Dublin is the perfect choice for your exchange semester if you are ready to grow your network and climb the career ladder. You might end up staying for an internship or even settling down! In case you want to pursue your business ideas, Ireland is supporting promising start-ups
9. Dublin is the doorway to Europe
Dublin is only one of many beautiful cities in Europe, and it will not be easy to decide where to study abroad. However, you can always hop on a plane or ferry for a weekend trip to explore Europe’s diverse countries. When you are taking a program at the American College Dublin, you will have enough time to explore Ireland and other countries of your interest due to the block system. The flights are very affordable, and they are also within short distances. So, better start planning your trips already.
10. Visit famous film locations
If you are a film fan, you should research before moving to Dublin for your study exchange in Ireland. You can visit famous film locations like County Clare or County Kerry from the Harry Potter films series. Especially Game of Thrones fans should plan a trip to Northern Ireland where the series was filmed.
Do you want to study abroad in Dublin? Find out more information here!
Asia Exchange is a Finnish company providing study abroad opportunities in Asia Pacific for students from all around the world. Want to get travel tips and new blog posts straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter! If you have any questions about studying abroad, feel free to contact us! We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
This blog post was written by our content specialist Nele
