Program Reviews

My experience at Maynooth University is one I'm extremely grateful for and will never forget! An amazing place to explore a new corner of the world while still feeling comfortable and welcomed. The staff was always super nice and helpful. The accommodations were really comfortable and clean upon arrival. There is a shuttle service that runs regularly at all times of day to the airport so it was easy and inexpensive to take trips. The amount of clubs and societies at the university made it really easy to get to know new people, everyone I met was so kind! Absolutely loved Maynooth University.

I had a blast studying abroad at Maynooth. Every professor I had was excellent and willing to work with abroad students to modify deadlines if the need arose. I learned so much about Irish culture and was able to visit many of the historical sites through the Irish Cultural Heritage Certificate Program (would strongly recommend for those studying abroad). Additionally, it was very easy to get involved on campus with various clubs and societies, which just enhanced the experience. If you are looking to study abroad in Ireland, I would strongly suggest this university!

My time in Maynooth was truly unforgettable. The town itself is gorgeous and the campus has a really cool blend of traditional and modern architecture. It was easy to get to Dublin and I was able to visit a few other countries on the weekends. The Irish people really do live up to their reputation of hospitality. The country lives up to its reputation of dreary weather, but I was having so much fun that I didn't mind. I made friends that I will have for the rest of my life and I would seriously give anything to go back!!

Studying abroad with Maynooth University was one of the best decisions I've made. The adjustment went smoothly for many reasons including the support from my homeschool staff, but also the support from on-site staff and the kindness of my Irish housemates, faculty, and Maynooth locals. My accommodation in River Apartments on campus was perfect. I had my own room and bathroom, but also a shared space with Irish students and International students. I had enough space to reflect quietly on my study abroad experiences, and also had the space to form lifelong friendships in my own apartment. While Maynooth is a small Irish town, Dublin is a train ride away. You have access to the big city and traveling abroad is easy enough! I would highly recommend studying abroad with Maynooth.

LOVED Maynooth. My favorite class - and the one I gained the most from academically and professionally - was with the Kennedy Institute. Look into a class with them!

The classes were very laid back as far as difficulty goes. I appreciated that because my home university is very intensive in academics. Maynooth had the perfect balance. I still gained a lot from many of my classes without massive loads of stress. That gave me the opportunity to get involved on campus and makes friends from different countries. I traveled to several other countries while studying abroad. As a student from the USA, it was very important for my experience studying abroad to see as many places and interact with as many cultures as possible.

Biggest tip: travel and make as many friendships as possible!

Studying abroad at Maynooth University was one of the best decisions I ever made. Although I originally wanted to study in Dublin City, the university was located in a town outside of Dublin, so I got to experience the best of both worlds. I absolutely loved taking the train into Dublin every weekend and exploring the surrounding area. When I was feeling stressed about my assignments, it was relaxing to take the short train journey to Dún Laoghaire and walk along the sea. At Maynooth, I made meaningful and lasting friendships with students from Ireland, France, Germany, and Austria, in which I still communicate with them regularly. My courses were extremely interesting and my professors were fascinating. In one of my history courses, the professor arranged for us to tour Castletown House, which was closed for the season and to meet the curators of the National Museum of Ireland. As a history and museum studies student, this was an incredible opportunity. Maynooth University will forever hold a special place in my heart and I cannot wait to return to Ireland one day :)

I fell in love with Maynooth the second I got on campus! Maynooth really gives you that "small town" feeling that you wouldn't get from being right inside Dublin, but it nevertheless is so close to Dublin that you have the amenities of the city in your backyard. The academic system was the hardest thing to adjust to, specifically having only one or two papers/tests constitute your entire grade for a class. Because of how classes are designed, it is also hard to meet Irish students. The best way to do that would be to get involved in clubs, which were very fun.

I loved how friendly all of the locals were. I never felt unwelcome for a second at Maynooth. I wouldn't trade going abroad to Ireland for the world!

Due to travel difficulties, I arrived in Maynooth very late at night. The airport hopper dropped my friend and me off on Main Street. It was dark. It was late. We did not even know where to go to receive the keys to our apartment. We followed the signs to the University and ended up on the South side of campus (no where near where our apartments were). We probably looked very lost carrying duffles and rolling two suitcases around while wandering about the campus. Needless to say, I was stressed. This Irish student approached us, called security for information about where the apartment reception was, and accompanied us to the apartment complex. She was so kind for giving up her time to help us get where we needed to go. That's the moment I knew that I had chosen to study abroad in the right place.

Before coming to Ireland I already heard many different stories and experiences about the Emerald Isle but all of them had one in common: the huge friendliness and hospitality of the Irish. Of course you always have to make your own experiences but I personally can just underline that! Before I even arrived in Maynooth I was overwhelmed by the great support I got from the lovely staff of the International Office of Maynooth University. They are always friendly and open and willing to help you with more than what you can expect. For example Alena who answered student queries via Facebook even on a Saturday night at 10 pm. Thank you for all that effort!! I also really enjoyed learning about the Irish culture and language from the great teachers of the Irish Cultural Heritage and the Irish language classes who made learning so enjoyable. To sum it up I can just say that my semester at Maynooth University and in Ireland have been one of the greatest experiences in my life so far and I can just highly recommend everybody to study at Maynooth University if you can get the chance! So for me the famous quote of James Joyce has to be revised slightly from "When I die Dublin will be written in my heart" to: "When I die Dublin, MAYNOOTH and IRELAND will be written in my heart"!

Maynooth is an amazing University. The campus itself is full of history. Being in a University town really helps Maynooth feel like home. Nothing beats being able to maneuver your way around and having a hard time getting lost. Everything become so familiar. Your favourite cafe ends up being the best place to get to know people. The town life affects the University as well since there is not a lot of students which makes for a more personalized feel to the campus. Less students means smaller classes! I never realized how important this was to me. It makes it so much easier to learn when the class sizes are not in the hundreds.