Student Testimonials

Studying with UCD Landscape Architecture - James Whelan

My name is James Whelan. I was never dead set on a career path leaving school. I knew I had a natural ability for design and creativity but when I came across this course, I have to admit I knew very little about it. What I found out seemed to tick a lot of boxes and two years on, I can safely say it was an excellent choice. There are a lot of misconceptions about the profession in Ireland. It is an up and coming profession that isn’t practiced here to the extent of other European countries despite the fact we’re in desperate need. A type of glorified gardening were many people's interpretation, but this could not be further from the truth, my favourite aspect of the course is actually computer aided design and finding creative and practical solutions for site specific projects. The course covers modules from a range of disciplines such as Architecture, Biology, Horticulture and Planning. In general, Landscape Architecture was way more multidisciplinary than even I had thought upon starting the course and it has opened my eyes to the area of environmental conservation and working with nature to create and enhance human habitats in cities and rural areas.

We have a small year size and this makes it easier to arrange more site visits which naturally are incredibly valuable. Last October we were brought to Bordeaux to experience sites and schemes that would otherwise only be available through pictures in books and online. Our two years together so far have made us a very tight group although I’ll have to wave goodbye when I head to Virginia Tech next semester  to continue my studies, an opportunity I know I’m very lucky to have in UCD. Upon completing my degree I hope to gain experience straight away with one of many Landscape Architecture firms that have great ongoing projects throughout the country. The idea of working abroad and learning the craft in another environment especially across Europe really appeals to me also, so decisions will have to be made down the line!

If you choose to study this bachelors a lot of your time will be spent working in studio on various design and research projects amongst your classmates and tutors. As a result, it has a strong social aspect and encourages working as part of a team. I also have to praise how the course develops your ability to speak and present to large groups of people. I’ve been given such a bedrock of confidence in this area which I believe is a priceless skill for anyone in any profession.

UCD as a University is always buzzing with energy and although our landscape home in Newstead is on the outskirts, we make regular trips to the main campus for various modules where we can mingle with other students. I love the atmosphere the college creates. There’s so much opportunity for students to get involved in anything and everything and meet new people. I have made friends through the (opens in a new window)L&H Society as well as through various sports such as tag rugby and table tennis. I would recommend every new student to try something new. See where it takes you and what friends you meet along the way. I can’t flaw the social aspect of the college, nor the Landscape Architecture course itself which I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an exciting and rewarding college experience.

Janneke Storm, Landscape Architecture Major, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Autumn 2022

My semester abroad at UCD was a great opportunity for me to meet new people, new ideas of landscape architecture and new approaches. I was particularly impressed by the strong cohesion of the Irish people which I could feel during a module while visiting the village of Clara in Country Clara. It was a small town characterized by an extraordinarily active population. Accordingly, my Tutor wanted to support these residents by our own developing site-specific designs to their village, which we build in the university workshop.

Besides the village of Clara, I visited many places in Ireland, for example: the Cliffs of Moher, Cork, Galway, Belfast, Giants Causeway. For this, the UCD societies were helpful, because they offer day trips and weekend trips in the whole Trimester. In total I joined the International Students Society, Erasmus society and Horticulture Society. In each of these societies I met not only nice people but also friends. Another place where I was able to interact with many UCD students was the sports teams. There I joined the women's soccer team that had weekly practices. Everyone there was also very nice, and it was a lot of fun. My time at UCD brought me even closer to my study and inspired me in a new way. I am very grateful for these experiences, which is why I will still think fondly of them in the future.

Hannah Welsh, Landscape Architecture major, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Spring 2020

Studying at UCD was an amazing experience. As part of the Landscape Architecture department, I was able to experience the Irish countryside through a class field trip to County Mayo for our studio project. We had several members of the Co. Mayo council came in for our studio presentations that gave insightful and helpful critiques for the site we were working on. The tutors were all very supportive and knowledgeable especially with helping me understand the metric system. UCD has a great community and it was easy to make friends from all different countries and across different courses. The Campus itself has many different societies and events where you can meet people and by living so close to the city centre it was easy to find exciting things to do when we were not in class. Throughout the semester I was also encouraged to explore the country – some of my favourite places were Galway, Ardmore, and County Wicklow. While my experience was cut short due to the Coronavirus I am so grateful for the incredible opportunity I had to study at UCD!

Ron Cubbage, Landscape Architecture Major, North Carolina A&T State University, Autumn 2019

Studying Landscape Architecture at University College Dublin was an amazing opportunity to learn from a group of outstanding peers and professionals while expanding my world view. Through the 4th year studio, I was introduced to the aspects of European planning and design through a trip to Vienna, Austria. While completing an undergraduate thesis, I had the pleasure of working with and being critiqued by professors who were passionate about the way my work progressed.

I joined the Landscape Architecture Society and they hosted a few holiday events that were a great way to relax between studying and traveling. As I look back, it's clear that this semester has had a large impact on my work as a designer and student, all while having fun with a tight group of students in the program.