Field of study in Wageningen: Economics and Policy
Study period exchange: 11/01/2023 – 12/05/2023
Country (exchange): Ireland
City (exchange): Cork
University (exchange): University College Cork
2. Motivation for exchange
Why did you choose to go on study exchange?
I wanted to explore new cultures and become more independent by living on my own in a completely new environment for quite some time. I also love adventure and meeting new people from all over the world.
What is the reason you chose for this country/university?
Going through the list of universities which had a social/economic faculty, this one appealed to me the most. I looked firstly at which countries I would like to go to and from a list of around 20 universities, I looked at all the websites and possible courses. I liked this one because UCC focuses on sustainability a lot, which I admire, and it had interesting courses. I had also never been to Ireland yet, but was curious about their pub culture and beautiful countryside. I also liked the fact that it is an English-speaking country and therefore very accessible for internationals.
3. Accessibility to reach destination
Do you have any tips to reach your exchange destination?
I took the plane from Amsterdam straight to Cork, and from there getting into the city is very easy. You can take a bus or a 20 minutes taxi. Another option is going via Dublin, but then you would need a three hour bus after to get to Cork, so I would not recommend that if flying from Amsterdam is easy for you.
4. University and studying
Could you provide some general information about the followed courses?
How is the study formalized?
All my courses consisted of only projects, presentations and individual essays, which meant I had no exams. The deadlines of all the essays were very stressful, but individually I think the academic level of the assignments was not that hard but just right. That also varies much between the fourth year or second year courses of course. Before the assessment, workload is very low, because a lot of lectures have nothing to do with the topic of your essays. So if like me, you have no exams, the lectures feel a bit like a waste of time and are not necessary to attend.
What is the culture of the university?
All lecturers can be emailed and answer within a few days. Engagement with local students does not happen that much, because naturally all the internationals just bond and the local students already have their own friends. When we had to do little assignments together in class though, the Irish students I met were always very interested and kind.
What does the university offer the student additionally?
The university has a lot to offer. There are a lot of different catering spots all over the campus. Also, when you are a student at UCC you get free sport rights and can attend their gym and join any sport club or social society you want (they have a lot).
5. Housing-travelling-living
What are the possibilities for housing?
The housing availability is very low in Cork and so prices are very high. You have to be early to be sure to get a room. Most people I know are in student accommodations, like Nido Broga House, Lee point or Melbourn Point. I am in Melbourn Point, which is a little cheaper than the other two, because it is not in the city centre. It is quite far from supermarkets or the city centre and the buses are not always reliable, so I would not necessarily recommend it. I think the extra money for a better accommodation would be worth it as then you do not have to pay much for buses and everything is just easier accessible.
What is the culture of the country like?
The culture is very warm and open and focused on pubs and nightlife. Every night there are multiple places to go for live music of a pub quiz or just a pint. The Irish are also very kind and open in my experience, so easy to talk to.
Could you give a general price indication of the place of residence compared to living in Wageningen?
It is much more expensive to live in Cork than in Wageningen. I paid around €950 a month and still live quite far from the city centre. I know some people living in the centre, paying almost €1200 a month. The cheapest I heard is around €650 a month, but that is for sharing a room with someone else. So it is definitely very expensive here. A lot of sites will show numbers between €200 and 260, but that is per week, so pay attention!
Could you give some information about public transport infrastructure?
If you get a student leap card (10 euros I think) every bus ride within Cork costs only 65 cents (instead of €1,90 every time). This is nice to do as soon as you arrive here. Bus line 205 or 220 are nice from Melbourn Point to the UCC. However buses are not always on time and are sometimes stuck in traffic, so take them on time. The TFL live app gives information about when buses arrive.
6. Free time
What are must-sees in the area?
Things I really loved around Cork are the little cost towns Cobh and Crosshaven. Kinsale is also a very cute town and close to that is the Old Head cliff. Blarney castle and gardens is also a must-see and easily accessible with just one bus. A little further is the Baltimore coast, from which I did not expect much but which is very beautiful with nice weather. You can do a boat tour to Cape Clear Island from Baltimore, which is really nice, and in some months you can even see whales there! Even further away, from Galway, a boat trip to Inis More island is also very nice. You can bike around there and it has a beautiful fort with amazing view.
What does not appear in the travel guide, but is worth a visit?
Here I would say Baltimore, as I never saw it recommended anywhere but really liked it.
Do you have general tips and tricks about leisure time?
For cheap lunch I would recommend Umi Falafel. They have student discount if you show your UCC card and it’s so tasty! Tom Barry’s is quite close to UCC and has amazing pizza and good pub vibes. For going out I would recommend An Brog and Conways, those are the places I have been most often.
7. Challenges & best moment abroad
What was a challenge you have experienced?
At first I was really struggling with how far Melbourn Point was from everything and that biking here is much more dangerous than in the Netherlands. There are not as many bikes and not always rules for them so then you just bike in between fast-going cars. This in combination with the left-side driving was a challenge, but after a month I felt much more confident on my bike. After around two months all my deadlines came at the same time and I became very stressed and a little bit homesick, as not many things were organised in that time. I would advise to maybe take one or two courses with exams, as after my deadlines I was free, but everyone else has to study so I still couldn’t do much with everyone and felt a bit alone and bored.
What was your best memory abroad?
The best memories I take from this exchange are the friends I made. I enjoyed so many amazing nights with people from all over the world, which I really appreciate. Chilling on St. Patricks Hill with sunset is a core memory and all the trips around Ireland were also amazing (the islands I mentioned earlier, but also Kerry and a road trip I did to Donegal).
