AIFS Abroad: Study, Intern, or Study & Intern in Ireland

My summer in Dublin was exhilarating, terrifying, liberating, and eye-opening. This was my first trip overseas, as well as unaccompanied, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I was able to make some of the closest and dearest friends, as well as gain amazing experiences in my profession. The location of Lad Lane Apartments made my commute to work a gorgeous 20 minute walk that I cherished every single day. My weekends were free to travel to neighboring countries or spend time discovering the remarkable nightlife Dublin has to offer with the other interns. I'm still in contact with a handful of the interns from this program, all of which comment on how much we miss the camaraderie that Lad Lane had. It was very much a "dorm-room" feel which was so much fun. There are obviously pros and cons to a shared apartment, so keep that in mind. The planned day trips around Ireland were most enjoyable and I definitely recommend attending them. The country is so beautiful, and the scenery so dynamic, to get the most out of this program travelling is essential. The biggest issue or problem that occurred was the everlasting sun. It is so far north that the sun sets around 11 pm and rises around 4:30-5 am which is quite difficult to transition into after arriving. Other than that I had a fairly seamless trip. My internship with Fallon & Byrne was sensational, and the locals I met were some of the nicest people on the planet. I dream of the day I can return.

I went to Dublin for a marketing internship the summer of 2013 for three months. This experience is definitely the most notable life event for me so far where I just grew so much personally and professionally. My internship placement was exactly what I was looking for, it helped me develop a greater understanding of the marketing and advertising industries. I also had the chance to speak with people from all over the world and work with other interns from many different countries. The support from Global Experiences was on point from start to finish. Every question, concern or general confusion was alway answered and extremely helpful. My roommates were great, although we were there for the internship, we found time to travel around and explore. The friends I made then are still my closest friends today. An awesome experience all around.

This was a great overall program.

AIFS was useful for their payment and the weekend trips. While I paid AIFS they handled everything from my application to UL to my housing and airfare. They also offered a weekend stop in London before orientation at UL started, providing a tour guide and itinerary along with free time. Other trips included an overnight to the Aran Islands, a day trip to Cork, a day trip to Killarney, and a two night overnight to Dublin. The AIFS group of about 30 students bonded quickly and we made friends and had a lot of fun, while some students were into partying come weren't and everyone was friendly and we made great traveling companions for one another. The Facebook page was also super useful for communicating. AIFS staff support was great, although their knowledge seemed a bit touchy.

However, a downside was that I sent a lot of emails to check on available classes, however when I arrived there was no space in the equine science classes, special education classes weren't offered and the booklet I had been linked to was the wrong one and there were much fewer classes available than I had originally thought. Additionally, once classes had started every professor seemed to read directly off of a powerpoint. I didn't feel challenged academically, but the lack of homework was great and allowed me to travel.

I loved UL, however no credit cards are accepted in restaurants on campus, but there were many available ATMS. The International Student division was incredible at UL and they provided a great orientation and integration program. There was also an international society that provided day and weekend trips as well as parties for international students. There were many clubs and societies, including equestrian, swim, rowing, archery, tea and many others, which was a great way to integrate into student life and meet new friends.

AIFS provided 10 euros a day for food, which came in handy. They also provided a 40 euro flight voucher. I was able to travel quite a lot out of Dublin on budget airlines, which was great, and I was able to adventure to Rome, Vienna, Paris and have plans for Prague, Salzburg, Edinburgh and Belfast.

While I wasn't at home much, the housing wasn't stellar, but not completely unlivable either. Housing was co-ed in groups of eight.

Overall I loved my experience abroad and would highly recommend AIFS, they made everything easy and memorable.

This is my second time joining the Global Experiences team and completing another internship aboard. I must say this was the best decision. GE was great the second time around going over my growths since my first internship and finding the best match for me in Dublin. The support team here in Dublin is great, they are always there for you! i recommend the Global Experiences to everyone! believe the second time around was even better!

To say that I had a great time studying abroad through AIFS would be an understatement. I believe that every student should study abroad and that each student has different requirements for what they want to get out of their experience; however AIFS had everything that I think a student could want from a program. Not only did they provide incredible resident directors who were there to help with anything from illness to a recommendation for a fun night out, but they also provided the students with the most opportunities. AIFS took us on various excursions throughout Ireland from the bustling city of Dublin to the calm and serene beach town Lahinch. One of the most important aspects for me, was that they spent the time to take us around Ireland and since our RD was from Ireland, it was an excellent benefit to get inputs from a local. I would never have known about or visited some of the places, such as Lahinch, if it weren't for the excursions provided by AIFS. Of course I enjoyed traveling around Ireland with friends to the big cities and famous sites, but there is no doubt that without the planned trips I would have never been able to experience places such as Lahinch and the Aran Islands.

Dublin is a wonderful city to intern in. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. The city is fun to explore and before long, you know it like the back of your hand. My internship was similar to my background so it helped me to learn and grow professionally. It opened up many opportunities while I was in Ireland and also when I returned home. I talked about it in every interview my senior year, and it helped me land a job for after graduation.

Interning abroad in Dublin was a great experience for me. Coming back to school afterward, I definitely noticed a change in myself. I grew professionally as well as as a person in general. After visiting Paris for a weekend, I was very happy with my decision to intern in Dublin. Dublin is a big city, but with a small city feeling. I felt comfortable walking to and from work every day and in the apartment complex as well.

The Dublin internship was amazing! I had an incredible internship and, though it was full time, I still had time to travel pretty extensively. The support staff was great, and I made a lot of friends within the GE group!