Studying abroad for 5 months...where?

Youngbusiness

Ok, well i'm really not sure what i'm going to do. My head is in the air about so much and some help/advice/general comments would be great. Its hard to get unbiased info from ucd website.....we all know!! Ok, studyin commerce and got very good grades :rolleyes:

All comments welcome

Teferi

Well where out of that list would you like to go? Personally, I wouldn't go to Australia - too full of Irish for me. New Zealand is a place where I have always wanted to go. Canada is awesome, especially if it would be going to Vancouver (the most relaxed place on earth) and to a lesser extent Toronto. I don't really know much about Norway, except that it is really expensive.

wexican

NZ's a cracking place to study abroad. Spent 6 months there myself.

Good exchange rate with the euro, loads of things to see and do, a really magnificent countryside - mountains, geysers, fiords, sounds, skiing, surfing, rugby(!), cricket, great student friendly cities (esp Dunedin), really affable are the kiwis too.

PM me if you have any specific questions.

Pride Fighter

If I was in your boots, I'd head to Norway. It is pretty close, about 2 hours away, I think Ryanair go there so its cheap to fly there. Also the chance to pick up a new language. That would do it for me, you can already speak English, plus the ladies are hot. I think a guy from this board did an entire year in neighbouring Sweden, maybe he will give his 2 cents.

eily

I'm studying abroad in NZ for the year at the moment! I'm absolutely loving it and so glad I chose to study abroad. Do it!

Pros: Strong Euro. About 2.2 dollars to the Euro so we literally half the price. Very cheap. English speaking country. Cool Kiwi accent, much easier to make friends with the locals than would be the case if you have the language barrier. Amazing scenery. Snowcapped mountains, deserted coastline and lakes all really close. Skiing, snowboarding, bungee jumping, skydiving, just a fraction of whats on offer.

Cons: expensive to get here, Cadbury dairy milks taste different, constant assumption that I only eat potatoes.

samsamson

In the Scandinavian countries like Norway and Sweden, would the lectures be in their native language or in English?

hurluberlu

I am pretty sure that I read somewhere lectures are in English...

I was thinking of going to study abroad myself.....was thinking of Denmark, any thoughts?

Youngbusiness

Thanks for the input guys. ( Not taking academics into account because it is worth 0% of total degree;seems fair)
My own personal opinions
Australia - People don't seem as friendly as other nations but the country itself seems epic. Big Cities, nice weather, cool beeches and good night life. Lots of stuff to do too. But whats really putting me off here, from what it sounds, is the difficulty to make friends.

New Zealand - Topping the poll at the moment and people seem to be agreeing that the locals are much more approachable. Lots of stuff to do again and Dundedin, from reading up on it, seems very cool. Night life is good with a close knit feel. A good University town basically. Currency exchange is amazing too.

Canada - Kinda surprised this isn't doing better. Having trouble getting some feedback on this one to be honest and would be quite interested knowing more about it.....could take canadian studies semester 1(just read another thread)

Norway - Ok, i put Norway down because I can envisage myself in a ski lodge after a day of skiing drinking a nice whiskey. Naive perhaps. Someone else pointed that the girls are fairly awesome too. Big plus. Oh, and all lectures are in English. Doesn't matter what country. But my thinking at the moment is "if I go away for five months I may as well go for broke and go far away, once and a lifetime experience"

Other - Probably should of mentioned the options. London, Copenhagen, France, Holland, Singapore and Hong Kong. Leaning towards the others. Thats why I have given them an individual choice

Some people might feel that my points for each place are not "genuine" but you have to take into account that this is a once in a life opportunity and I would ideally want a well rounded, epic trip. And the fact that it is worth 0% of degree means that I am not really taking in the "quality" of the education at the host school.

Keep the comments coming!! Cheers

El Siglo

Other: The Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University, Russia! I don't know it's just got a funny name!

Youngbusiness

Thats not one of the options....but Patrice Lumumba sounds like a hero,

samsamson

Keep in mind that Norway is very, very strict about their drink.

It's only sold in select shops (you won't find a Centra equivalent on the corner selling cans) and they keep the prices high. Might be a deal-breaker for you depending on what you're after.

Obviously night clubs etc. all still sell alcohol though.

Very nice and clean, the average Norwegian doesn't seem to throw their litter everywhere.

And the stories about the women are true!



What kind of competition will you be facing to go to New Zealand or somewhere popular like that? Not sure how many people they send over

El Siglo

Youngbusiness wrote: »

Thats not one of the options....but Patrice Lumumba sounds like a hero,

Actually, do onto SIS, then Information for Students, then Erasmus Exchange Form, Click on Russia in the list of countries, then look for said university in list of universities in Russia, and Bob's your uncle you can now do an exchange at The Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University!*;)

The Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University - FTW!

*Don't worry, I know this isn't possible but it's in the list!

insert-gear

Ive decided not to go. And Im totally depressed about it! Its just too expensive and there are too many variables, not getting on with people, getting homesick, actually having to be self sufficient.

Still sickened though, cos I put a good bit of effort in to get the grades.

El Siglo

insert-gear wrote: »

Ive decided not to go. And Im totally depressed about it! Its just too expensive and there are too many variables, not getting on with people, getting homesick, actually having to be self sufficient.

Still sickened though, cos I put a good bit of effort in to get the grades.

You put good effort into getting good grades and you're still sickened? You got good grades, be happy it'll improve your chances of getting a good degree, and if you did really well (i.e. top of your class) you'll get an award of €1000!

Its just too expensive and there are too many variables, not getting on with people, getting homesick, actually having to be self sufficient.

It is expensive, a friend of mine did it in UCLA, but it's really expensive i.e. more expensive than a postgrad expensive!

Youngbusiness

Ah no. Just found out if I study in Dunedin (New Zealand) i'm not allowed to finalize with Accounting in third year! Not even sure if I wanted to finalize in accounting but the fact it eliminates it as an option isn't good. :mad::mad:

wexican

Youngbusiness wrote: »

Ah no. Just found out if I study in Dunedin (New Zealand) i'm not allowed to finalize with Accounting in third year! Not even sure if I wanted to finalize in accounting but the fact it eliminates it as an option isn't good. :mad::mad:

Reason being, in the University of Otago the Management Accounting class you need to pass in order to ave the requisite "prior learning" to specialise in Accounting is only offered in the other semester.

Why not look into the possibility of taking it as an elective (not sure if this is possible) - but f you really want to keep your options open as regards final year, maybe this is an option?

insert-gear

It would be around 4,000+ for the 4 months in canada. And no I didnt get top of the class haha but I got high enough that I would have been confident enough of getting the place I wanted. Hence the being sickened (not complaining about the grades)

Yeah you cant specialise if you go to London either.

I was thinking though, if you go to Canada, they have a different method of accounting over there, so you would be losing out on a semester of Irish accounting (if you know what I mean). It might make 3rd year that bit harder (I do plan on specialising in it)

KINGVictor

Hi ,
I find this thread very informative and interesting.I want to find out if this exchange programmes are available to post-graduate students as well,I intend applying the MPhil programme at Smurfit next year and I think it would be very interesting if I can go for maybe a semester to Canada or Australia.
Thanks

Alyosha

Did Commerce. Went on exchange to Vancouver for a semester. Would go again.

Lovely city. Really laid back vibe. Plenty to see and do, and plenty of international and exchange students to hang out with. Food, Accom and Drink all cheaper than at home. At a guess a little more expensive than NZ, but waaaayy cheaper than Norway. Drinking age is 19. Weed age seems to be a lot younger, and less frowned upon, if that's what you're into...!

Study wise, easy to pass the required subjects in both UBC and SFU, difficult to get top marks though.

Both Uni's are a small bit from city centre, with UBC maybe a 25 minute bus and SFU 40 mins. Transport system is excellent though, you won't be waiting too long for a bus/tram.

Youngbusiness

Alyosha wrote: »

Did Commerce. Went on exchange to Vancouver for a semester. Would go again.

Lovely city. Really laid back vibe. Plenty to see and do, and plenty of international and exchange students to hang out with. Food, Accom and Drink all cheaper than at home. At a guess a little more expensive than NZ, but waaaayy cheaper than Norway. Drinking age is 19. Weed age seems to be a lot younger, and less frowned upon, if that's what you're into...!

Study wise, easy to pass the required subjects in both UBC and SFU, difficult to get top marks though.

Both Uni's are a small bit from city centre, with UBC maybe a 25 minute bus and SFU 40 mins. Transport system is excellent though, you won't be waiting too long for a bus/tram.

That sounds really good. What are the people like? Easy to get along with? What university did you attend and how does it compare to UCD? Sorry for all the questions, just really curious.
Cheers

ANTIFA!

nah language barrier doesnt exist in norway, tv shows are in english and in college they will be like any other english speaking place from my understanding.

i'd opt for norway but as you say once in a lifetime might as well go for something a bit more 'exotic'