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| Ireland Living |
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Ireland is a country
steeped in tradition and history with a long established reputation
for its education excellence. It has a unique and interesting
culture, which retains many features of its ancient Celtic
origins while also reflecting the influence of other traditions
and trends. |
Irish people have
a great love of conversation and have a genuine interest in
other people. This friendliness and hospitality for which
the Irish people are renowned contributes to the ease with
which overseas students adapt to the way of life and in particular,
student life in Ireland. |
Although they do
have their own distinctive Celtic language and culture, English
is the predominant language spoken in Ireland today. The Irish
use it so effectively that it has been said that better English
is spoken in Ireland than anywhere else in the world! Every
year almost 200,000 students of all ages and from all over
the world come to study in Ireland to benefit from the highest
quality English Language training in schools throughout the
country. |
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Climate |
Ireland enjoys
a temperate climate influenced by the relatively warm
waters of the Gulf Stream in whose path the island lies.
During the winter months temperatures rarely drop below
freezing and snow is uncommon. The coldest and wettest
months are December, January and February, which have
mean temperatures of between 4°C and 7°C. July
and August are the warmest months with mean temperatures
of between 14°C and 16°C, rarely rising above
20°C. |
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Food & Shopping |
There is a
wide choice of food shops and restaurants in Ireland
catering to all tastes and pockets. As the number and
variety of overseas nationals has grown in recent years,
so too has the diversity of foods and ingredients. Students
should therefore have no difficulty satisfying special
religious or dietary requirements, particularly in the
larger cities. Restaurants and cafes at the colleges
and universities sell nutritious, reasonably priced
meals. Snack food outlets are widely available and fast
food restaurants are generally open till midnight. |
Shopping hours
vary but generally big department stores are open from
9.00 am until 5.30 pm Monday to Saturday with late night
shopping on Thursday and Friday until 9.00pm. Increasing
numbers of supermarkets and smaller shops are open seven
days a week (often for 24 hours - particularly in the
larger cities) and the local "corner shop"
is always on hand for those essential items. |
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Money & Banking |
The Euro is
made up of 100 cents. coins come in denominations of
1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c and €1. Paper notes come
in denominations of €5, €10, €20,€50,€100,€200
and €500. Euro can be bought at all banks, major
bus and train stations, ferry ports and airports. In
addition, currency can also be exchanged in independent
Bureaux de Change in cities and major towns. |
Ireland was
one of the first countries to qualify to join the "Euro-Zone"
and on 1 January 2002, the EURO (£IR;1= 0.787564)
went into circulation. |
Ireland has
a thoroughly modern financial system and banking is
simple and convenient. ATM machines are located in the
towns and cities and international credit cards and
other financial instruments are widely accepted. Banking
costs vary. However, many banks offer special student
rates or even 'free banking' so it is well worth shopping
around before opening an account. |
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Security |
Whilst Ireland
is considered to be a relatively safe place to live,
students are advised to exercise caution when walking
home alone in the evenings, particularly in the more
urbanized areas. From November through to February it
can get dark as early as 4.30pm. The colleges themselves
will be able to brief students on the personal safety
issues relative to their particular area. |
Despite increasing
urbanization and the difficulties historically associated
with the conflict in Northern Ireland, personal safety
is generally very high and there is a low level of violent
crime. |
The Police
force is called the Garda Siochana (meaning Guardians
of the Peace), usually called the Gardai. The force
is a unarmed and is headed by a Government appointed
Commissioner. A Garda Siochana is operationally independent
but answerable to the people, Parliament and Government
through the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The Courts are completely independent. A Garda Siochana
exercises all police functions in the country. It is
responsible for all criminal investigations; the enforcement
of road traffic law, the maintenance of public order,
immigration control and it enforces drug laws and provides
the state security service. In so doing it seeks to
uphold and protect the human rights of all individuals
within the state. |
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| Travel |
For a small
country, Ireland offers an enormous diversity of landscapes:
from long sandy beaches to rugged coastline; from bogland
plains to the dramatic cliffs of the West coast, with
much more in between! The environment provides endless
opportunities for outdoor leisure pursuits including
water sports, hill walking and rock climbing. Many colleges
also have their own on-campus sports complex with facilities
such as swimming pools, running tracks, squash courts
and gyms. |
Cities, towns
and villages in Ireland also afford boundless opportunities
for relaxation and recreation including pubs, clubs,
restaurants, museums, art galleries, craft exhibitions,
indoors sports facilities and music and arts festivals.
Festivals are held throughout the year all over the
country - a wonderful opportunity to sample some Irish
culture whilst getting to know different parts of the
island. |
Because of
its size, travel within Ireland is relatively easy.
CIE (Coras Iompair Eireann) - the national transport
service- operates trains, buses and coaches throughout
the country. Irish Rail (Ianrod Eireann) operates the
nationwide rail services, the Dublin Area Rapid Transit
(DART) and other suburban rail services. Private coach
and bus services are also available. |
The United
Kingdom and other parts of Europe are also easily accessible
by both air and sea. The main airports in the country
are in Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Belfast, but there
are also a number of regional airports. All of these
offer regular services to and from London (one hour's-flying
time) and many offer direct flights to other main European
capitals and to the United States. Ferry services operate
from several ports on the East and South coasts to England,
Scotland, Wales and France. |
Students holding
an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) can generally
avail of discounts on public transport |
VSIT NOW
19-21 Aston Quay
Dublin 2
Tel: +353-1-6778117
Fax: +353-1-6778908 |
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| Living Expenses |
Living expenses
will differ depending upon the location of the institution,
the type of accommodation preferred and on the personal
expenditure of the student. To give some idea of the
total cost involved, the following approximate figures
- at 2005 rates - are given as a guide to overall expenses
for one month. On average we estimate that a student
will spend between €900 and €1,200 per month,
for an 8 to 9 month academic year. |
Expenses
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Euros |
Textbooks |
€500 |
Accommodation
(Including Heat and Light)
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Self Catering Accommodation
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€400- +++ |
On Campus Accommodation |
€350-€450 |
Family-based Accommodation |
€320-€600 |
Food and Household
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Approximately €200-€300
Euro per month |
Other
Living Expenses
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Travel, Health,Insurance,
Social life, Communications Miscellaneous
expenses |
€150- €450
per month (depending on location and lifestyle) |
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| Accommodation |
All third
level institutions will have an accommodation officer
or advisor who can provide information for you about
accommodation on, or close to your campus. The following
options are generally available: |
Self-catering
accommodation includes a large number of options
from a room in a shared house to a large private apartment.
While self catering accommodation can offer full independence,
the prospective student should be aware that there can
be significant set-up costs associated with self catering
accommodation such as: deposits, connection charges
for utilities, bedding and the purchase of household
items. |
Most universities
and a number of other colleges offer on-campus accommodation.
This can range from a single, or shared room in a large
apartment to a one-bed roomed apartment. Your institution
of choice will be able to provide you with full details
of the options on offer. |
Many international
students, particularly in the first year, opt to choose
family based accommodation. This means a private room
in a family home where two meals (generally breakfast
and evening meal), utility costs and laundry services
are provided. Again the institution you are applying
to will have lists of experienced families in the area
who provide approved accommodation for international
students. |
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| Other Costs |
There are
a number of other costs associated with studying in
any country and these include food, laundry, household
expenses, clothes, textbooks, transport & travel,
communication, health care, and of course socializing!
These costs vary form area to area and from person to
person. |
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