I interned at a private hospital in Ireland in their Patient Accounts Office. My six-week project involved data analysis as well as working with various staff members throughout the office and hospital in order to identify issues in their processes and come up with solutions. I could not have predicted that I would gain so much from my internship in such a short period of time. I improved my analytical and problem-solving skills, worked outside of my comfort zone and expanded my healthcare knowledge. The academic component of this programme is definitely an added bonus. For me, I was able to transfer back 6 credit hours which will help me complete my degree at my home university on time.

The Cultural Programme organized by the Quinn School of Business was extremely fun and well-organized. I got the opportunity to participate and see parts of Irish culture that I would have never done on my own, such as visiting Causey Farm. This trip included baking traditional Irish soda bread, jumping into a mud bog, learning about Irish cultural traditions and getting to milk a cow. Other trips included Cliffs of Moher, hiking in the nearby mountains and other cultural activities. Overall, I would absolutely recommend the Summer Internship Programme at UCD to others because it exceeded my expectations. While I was hesitant to push myself out of my comfort zone, it was one of the best decisions I have made because it allowed me to gain real-life work experience, expand my education and knowledge, travel throughout Europe, and meet people who will be my friends for years to come.

Although I am majoring in Chemistry, I picked the UCD Summer Internship Programme to supplement the Business certificate I’m adding to my degree plan. Chemistry and Business may sound like they don’t mix, but my internship allowed me to use my analytical and research-oriented background to help the company develop a brand new social enterprise. I enjoyed working for Quality Matters because of the value and trust they place in their interns. We had real, practical work and it was everything I wanted it to be! I had the opportunity to be an influential part of a huge project, and I also got to experience real Irish culture in the workplace. Conversations with my co-workers about their lives and hobbies helped me catch a glimpse of what it is really like to live and work in Dublin. I would recommend the UCD Summer Internship Programme to anybody with an interest in studying abroad, because this program lets you escape the realm of tourism and gives you the opportunity to see Dublin as the Dubs do!

I was able to intern with Nomos Productions, a small video production firm as a digital media and communications intern. Through my role I was able to see all parts of the video marketing production process, from idea concept to final video editing. I was also able to perform a digital audit on Nomos’s social media accounts and then create a 6-month plan to enhance their social media presence. Through this internship I was able to learn so much about digital marketing and social media. My favorite part of my internship was being able to learn the behind-the-scenes of video production.

I really enjoyed the academic portion of the summer program. It was truly a great addition to the internship component and I feel I was more successful in my internship because of the academic component. I enjoyed the cultural program that was organized by the Quinn School of Business. It had a variety of trips that appealed to many different students. I attended the Causey farm trip, the Cliffs of Moher trip and the Wicklow hike. I would recommend the Summer Internship Program because it has helped me become a more competitive and independent student. It also has helped me meet so many amazing individuals and expand my network across the globe.

I learned so much from the Summer Internship Programme! The faculty at the Quinn School were extremely helpful in matching me with an internship placement that was relevant to my interests and career goals. I worked as a Finance Intern at the Bank of Ireland head office. During my time working with the Capital Investment team, I learned valuable skills, formed connections, and experienced what it was like to work in a foreign environment. I felt highly involved in projects and developed a much better understanding of the concepts I’ve learned in the classroom through this real-world experience. Aside from my internship, I also loved exploring Dublin and traveling to other cities and countries, as well! Ireland is a beautiful place with some of the kindest people I have ever met. I highly recommend participating in this program – it is an amazing opportunity to learn more about yourself, build your professional and social network, and experience all Dublin has to offer!