FIE Dublin: Semester Study Abroad Program

My semester in Dublin was everything I could have asked for and more. The people, the city, and the Guinness really made this experience for me. Everyone was so friendly- like your long lost cousin. If I could do it again, I would make a point to meet more people and hear their stories (the Irish are the best at telling stories). Dublin is a fairly expensive city, which can make going to pubs every night get pretty spendy, but there are plenty of things other than pubs to do in the city, so keep your options open.
My experience in Ireland really helped me put the world and it’s size into perspective. Ireland is so small especially compared to the United States. Coming back to the US, this was something that I’ve kept in my mind every time I meet someone new.
Some tips: get a leap card and use the buses- first they can be really confusing but they are super helpful. Also with a leap card, take the dart outside of the city. Some of my favorite days were spent in Howth and Dunlogaire. Get out of the city center and see what the greater Dublin area has to offer!

I truly cannot say enough positive things about this program. As cliche as it sounds, my semester in Dublin was easily the most life changing four months of my life. Nothing quite prepares you for how challenging it is to abandon everything familiar and immerse yourself in a new social and academic culture. But with this great challenge comes and immense payoff. I think I grew more as a person from this single semester than all of my semesters of college combined.

While the entire program was excellent, there were two things that, for me, really made it stand out. The first was the study tours and extracurricular activities. While classroom learning is great, the opportunity to immerse oneself in the culture and the country itself is invaluable and unforgettable. The study tours were a fantastic opportunity to see more of the country we called home for a short time and also brought to life many of the things we'd learned in the classroom. Ireland is also such a beautiful country that, aside from being academically valuable, the study tours were awe inspiring for their beauty as well.

The second thing that brought this program to the next level was the personal contact with the FIE staff. Dublin stole my heart from the very beginning, but it was this individual and hands on contact that really made it feel like home. FIE staff were always available via a variety of platforms if we had any questions, concerns, or just wanted someone to chat with. They were genuinely invested in our experience and that made all the difference.

This semester abroad was eye opening and life changing in more ways than one. I walked away with a better understanding of myself, a new career path (international education), useful and marketable skills, and a greater understanding of the world around me, and for this I am extremely grateful.

Going abroad was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I knew I always wanted to study abroad but never knew I could actually do it. Being immersed in the culture with other students from the states made the transition much easier and I made friendships that will last a lifetime. The experiences I made were ones I will never forget, not to mention the many lessons I was taught. I couldn't have asked for a better group or a better abroad experience, thanks to all the people who were apart of it.

Studying abroad in Dublin was the biggest challenge of my life. I learned more about myself than I ever thought I could, met other students from all over the USA and from Ireland, and saw parts of the world that took my breath away. Through every challenge and triumph, I had the support of a truly amazing FIE staff. The friends I made studying in Dublin are friends I will have for life, no matter the distance. It was really cool to be able to take classes with Irish students my age, and the classes I took at Dublin Business School were directly relevant to my major and career goals, fun and interactive. Being able to see the entire country of Ireland, coast to coast with FIE and my new friends was an experience unlike any other. It is a beautiful country with the friendliest and most fun people. Dublin is definitely a modernizing city, and coupled with the history of the area was such a cool place to live abroad. I was able to see eight countries in my time abroad, as well as get to know the city of Dublin really well since we lived in apartments instead of on a campus, which I found to be a unique and exciting part of the experience.

Spending the semester with FIE Dublin was easily the best decision I have ever made in my life. FIE was so helpful and made sure we felt right at home in our new city. The program directors created such an inviting atmosphere that I immediately made connections with every person in the Program. I can honestly say the other FIE students are now my best friends and we still keep in touch every day.
The most memorable experiences I had abroad were the trips FIE planned for us. It was amazing to experience parts of Ireland with everyone on our trip, whether it was a weekend trip, or an afternoon tour in Dublin, it was exciting and interesting.
I would recommend studying abroad with FIE Dublin to anyone. I definitely found my happy place in Ireland.

The experience FIE provided was unlike any other. The staff were extremely supportive, ensuring we had everything we needed to make our experience fantastic. I have never felt such a sense of home away from home, with the activities they organize, the way residence life is set up to maximize social interaction, and the sheer kindness of the people who lead the program. The staff at FIE make sure that your time in Dublin exceeds your expectations and if you want an outstanding study abroad experience I highly recommend choosing FIE Dublin.

My decision to become an international student was the best decision I have ever made in my life, and I give a lot of credit to Dublin and the entire FIE staff for making that happen. Many students say they will have a major culture shock and feel uncomfortable abroad, but I never felt that way with this program. Every staff member made me feel right at home in Dublin. Even on the first day, the staff members act as if they have known you your entire life and are so welcoming. They would go out of their way to make me feel comfortable during my time abroad. For example, I got sick for a few days during the semester and was a little unsure and nervous about how to go about seeing a doctor and about missing class. One of the program directors, Pauline, walked me to the doctors, helped me through the whole process, and made me feel so relaxed about the whole situation. She went beyond her job description to make sure that I was okay and that I would feel better. Acts like that make you feel like you are a part of a family in this program. Not a day goes by that I do not miss Dublin, and the wonderful people in FIE.

I came to Dublin without any experience being out of the United States. Like most other students, I had no idea what to expect as far as adjusting to a new culture or finding outlets to explore both Ireland and Europe as a whole; however, the FIE staff was beyond supportive, cared (and succeeded) at building a community within our program, and truly strived for us to make lasting memories.

Although there were plenty of stories I could tell, I'll never forget the night I celebrated my 20th birthday in Dublin. In early September, my best friend and I met an Irish student at the University College of Dublin, and we started to spend time with his friend group. By the time November rolled around, FIE had done such a good job at helping us build friendships with both the program students (the other American students) and Ireland natives, that it took no time to fill our apartment with 20 rowdy Irish students and probably another 20 students from our program. It created a rare sight of two radically different groups coming together and sharing things they had in common. Afterwards we all went out and created the most meaningful experience of culture and shared positive energy.

All in all, you will make plenty of stories like this while abroad-- and the FIE staff will make sure that happens. This is a priceless experience that you will remember for the rest of your life, so step outside the comfort zone and make it happen.

In Spring 2013, I studied at University College Dublin through the FIE program my university partnered with. Of the Dublin programs my university offered, UCD was the best fit for the academic and cultural experience I hoped to gain from the program. It was great to live in an on-campus apartment on an international campus and get to know other students from Ireland and several other countries. I did not have an internship while in Dublin, but I did go back with 24 course credits because of the minimum requirements at UCD, which was 8 more than I would have been able to take at my university. It seems like a lot, but many courses only met once a week, so it ended up being a smaller workload than I was used to! Because UCD is a traditional college campus, I was able to join student organizations for an easy way to meet new people and get involved with events happening on campus and in the city. I’d definitely recommend the UCD program for that reason, but do make sure you do some research on UCD’s location in Dublin and plan ahead. Because you will need to take the bus between campus and City Centre, make sure you plan to spend at least $200-300 in bus and taxi costs alone. UCD is a beautiful campus with a lot to do, and the FIE staff will support you fantastically while you are there!

I came to this program looking to gain knowledge and experience in the Irish life and culture. By the time I left, I was more than satisfied with what I had learned, who I had met, and what we had experienced together.
The FIE Dublin staff was incredibly helpful in getting us all adjusted to Irish life and were a great resource to go to throughout the semester. The planned trips with the program were not only fun, but also were great bonding and learning experiences. The program also did a great job of giving us the freedom to plan our schedules and semester as we wanted it.
In a typical week, I would attend classes at Trinity College Dublin and Dublin Business School, attend an extra-curricular activity such as going to the National Museum, go to a program sponsored activity such as "Trivia Night," and plan trips/excursions for the weekends.
Overall, I had an amazing experience living in the city of Dublin, traveling throughout the country of Ireland, and working with the FIE program.