Rebecca, who is currently completing a masters in geology at the University of Bergen, Norway, spent a semester as a visiting student from New Zealand in the UCD School of Earth Sciences in 2017
How was your time in UCD and in the School of Earth Sciences?
It was great. It was so nice to learn more about the geology of Ireland and all the professors there were so helpful. I'm so happy I did it. It was the best thing ever! I think my favourite module was a field course in Louisburgh, Co. Mayo. I think it's so important to try to go on a field class. It was such a nice way to travel and see more of the country, but also to get to know my classmates.
Did you get a chance to see much of Ireland while you were here?
Yes. My friend and I took tour buses to Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway, in Northern Ireland, and we went to the Cliffs of Moher in Clare. We took some guided tour buses around the country to try see more. It was so much fun. I wish we had done so much more of that, because Dublin is a nice city, but Ireland is so much more than Dublin.
Do you have any advice for someone visiting UCD from abroad?
Try to spend a few weeks exploring Dublin, but then explore Ireland, because you are only there for a short time. Consider going on guided tour buses, but also travelling on your own so you can stop if you see a nice, cosy pub in the middle of nowhere to relax and enjoy it!
And start searching for accommodation early on. My friend and I came to Ireland about a week before university started and spent about a week on a friend’s couch because we couldn’t find anything. In the end, we found a really good place, but we should have started looking earlier.