Field of study in Wageningen: Food Technology
Study period exchange: 01/2023 – 6/2023
Country (exchange): Ireland
City (exchange): Dublin
University (exchange): Technological University Dublin
Faculty (exchange): Food Innovation
2. Motivation for exchange
Why did you choose to go on study exchange?
I wanted to experience what it was like to study abroad and to experience another culture.
What is the reason you chose for this country/university?
I wanted to go to a country where I spoke the language and what was not too far away. And I really love Ireland, the nature is beautiful!
3. Accessibility to reach destination
Do you have any tips to reach your exchange destination?
Since Ireland is an Island it takes a lot of time to go there by train and boat so I think the plane is the most feasible way to go there.
4. University and studying
Could you provide some general information about the followed courses? 
How is the study formalized?
You have two hours of lectures of each course, so this is 12 hours per week. This is not that much, outside of lectures there are some other kinds of examinations that take place but do not take a lot of time to perform. They also like to do a lot of presentations.
What is the culture of the university?
Lecturers are very approachable. You can talk with them on first name basis. They are very lenient. The classes are very small. Once class I took was with two other students. Also the lecturer just asked us what we wanted to learn in the beginning of the semester and did not have a real plan in the beginning.
What does the university offer the student additionally?
There are sport facilities, but you do have to pay a bit of money for it. Kind of the same as the Bongerd, but offers less variety of classes. There are also canteens where you can buy food and coffee.
5. Housing-travelling-living
What are the possibilities for housing?
There are student hubs, but you have to be very early to get one as they are full very soon. I got my house via a Facebook group. Housing is very expensive. Student hubs are most expensive, they cost around 1200 euro a month. My room cost 800 euro a month and was considered cheap.
What is the culture of the country like?
Not a lot of cultural differences. I really loved the pubs where you can just go like every day. A lot of live music every day and everywhere. Alcohol is expensive, because of a recent alcohol tax. A bottle of supermarket wine cost minimal 7EUR which is also what you pay for one pint in the pub. Also Irish people are very polite. They say sorry a LOT.
Could you give a general price indication of the place of residence compared to living in Wageningen?
You pay a lot more money for rent and for going out to pubs if you drink alcohol. Groceries a the Lidl are maybe cheaper right now then in NL, but only if you go to Lidl. All other supermarkets, the Spar is very popular, are expensive…
Could you give some information about public transport infrastructure?
Public transport is cheap. You can get either a student or a young adult leap card, with this you can travel for 90 minutes on the bus for 1 EUR or you can take the LUAS, which is the metro system in Dublin.
6. Free time
What are must-sees in the area?
Definitely take the DART a little outside of Dublin. In the north you have the cliffs in Howth and in the south you have Bray. Both very beautiful.
What does not appear in the travel guide, but is worth a visit?
There is this little town of Malahide, it is very beautiful.
Do you have general tips and tricks about leisure time?
Bad bobs is a pub which changes into a club on the weekends. Just basically anywhere in the temple bar area is nice, but this is also the most expensive and touristy part of Dublin. You can also go The Temple Bar, but this is the most expensive bar of Dublin. So don’t go too often 😊 If you want to a club, Coppers or Diceys is nice.
7. Challenges & best moment abroad
What was a challenge you have experienced?
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What was your best memory abroad?
I bought a ESN package of trips, so basically all of the trips that I took with the friends that I made. But I also really loved just drinking a pint in a pub somewhere.