Ireland is a green, lustrous easy-to-access study abroad option for the Indian student. Rajitha S does the Dublin trip and tells us all about it
One cannot fail to notice the stark difference — the chatter of some excited students on Trinity Square, in Dublin, and then, kilometres away from this hustle bustle, in the University of Limerick campus is that one student meditating under the sun and soaking in the warmth that is generally missing in Ireland.
From the city centre to the picturesque countryside, everything seems like it is taken out of a child’s play book. Medieval architecture blends beautifully with modern state-of-the-art technology in the higher educational institutions in the country turning them into inspiring spaces for those willing to learn. Indian students who have just stepped there and those who have made the country their home, share their experiences on why Ireland is better than most other countries as a destination for prospective students from India.
Ireland, matey
Telugu girl Shilpika Kotina who has lived in Nabrangpur, Odisha for almost 20 years was passionate about getting a study-abroad experience. “I wasn’t as keen about landing a job, as I was to explore and understand more about myself. So, after I completed my engineering, I decided to go abroad and study,” recalls Shilpika.
She landed at the National College of Ireland after many twists and turns. She took two years to convince her parents about her decision. “I don’t have a lot of time because my parents want me to get married soon. In the United States, all Masters courses are for two years. UK was another option, but they did not have a one-year work permit option that Ireland gives you,” points the 26-year-old. Ireland being the only other English-speaking country in Europe, she decided on the country and then the process of choosing the course began. “MSc Management that I am pursuing here has a well-designed course and the modules are technically sound. There was financial support available too when I joined in January 2015,” shares Shilpika.
On the job
Staying true to her dream of exploring her strengths and weaknesses, Shilpika took every opportunity that came her way. Donning multiple hats, she cherishes her experiences as the international student ambassador, international peer mentor and also the founder of two new societies.
“I realised that you have to unlearn and relearn in order to survive. I can see the way I have transformed. I was reserved and hesitant to open up when I came here. But today, I confidently shared my life story with you,” she points.
Making the best use of her time in Ireland, Shilpika owes her transformation to the mentoring and the opportunities she got as a student in the university.
After a three-month internship, she is now employed at the same company. “It wasn’t a paid internship but I now have a year of Irish work experience, a great value addition to my portfolio,” she smiles.
The career and opportunities service at the college helps students get ready for the industry right from the time they land in the campus. “They may not be getting jobs in the first few months, but we conduct group and one-to-one sessions with the students that start with getting their resume ready. We go right up to facing the interviews,” informs Helen Conway, advisor for international students at National Institute of Ireland.
“Helen helped me with my CV and also in updating my LinkedIn profile which is quite crucial. As a student, I am allowed to work part time which is 20 hours per week and I get paid 10 euros per hour,” informs Shilpika.
The number of opportunities for the students are also high as over a 1000 companies have their European headquarters in Dublin including Google, HP, Apple, IBM, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Pfizer.
Divya Rose Monson, from Delhi, is pursuing her Masters in Electrical Engineering at the University College, Dublin. She worked with the PM Group in Dublin, that provides services in project management, process design, facility design and construction management and also on a on a project with Eirgrid, a power transmission company located in Dublin.
She feels that working on projects and taking up internships while on the course helps in the long run. “This experience can prove beneficial when you apply for a job, at the same or a different company, after the completion of your course. It also familiarises you with the working culture here in Ireland and gives your confidence a boost. There are more chances for students to land a job at the same firm they did their internship with. The competition, however, is fierce,” she says and adds that though the pay depends on the company, students earn up to 1500 to 2000 Euros every month.
The charm of Irish hospitality
Buzzing with activity, smiling students welcome you and serve freshly grown farm fruits and Irish coffee with cookies at the Inter-Faith Centre at Dublin City University (DCU).
“This is our anti-depressant,” says Sravanthi Kurri, a first year student who landed at DCU in September this year and hails from Bengaluru.
Sravanthi and her international ‘mates’ share that this is one space on the large university campus that serves as a stress buster. “You hear the music in the background. They are playing Indian music as a warm welcome, just like we had when we arrived,” she recalls.
This is one place Sravanthi vouches that there is no bar on colour, dressing style, nationality anything for that matter. “There are so many things happening in this space at all times, I wonder if get a taste of everything in one year. Students from various countries come and pray here, they celebrate their festivals. On some days, some of them are just hanging are just hanging around and playing music, you forget everything,” she shares, with gleaming eyes and quickly adds, “Our mood lightens up the minute we set foot here.“
Sravanthi is pursuing her Masters in Data Analytics and is impressed with the learning system. “It makes you think. Projects are given throughout the year and that makes learning effortless and a continuous process. Then we also learn from each other. You can sit in any class you are interested in. Then you can also join societies and groups, those are plenty,” she says.
Societies of various nationalities and groups for various activities are across universities. Shilpika from National College of Ireland tells us that students have the freedom to start new societies. “I started the photography society in my college and it has been acknowledged as the best new society this year. So there is a lot of scope for individuals to explore and grow,” she says.
The room conundrum
Accommodation is one of the only hassles that students travelling to study in Ireland face. The situation is challenging for those studying in Dublin, but for students in the countryside, like the cities of Cork, Limerick and Galway, students enjoy a host of benefits. While some of them are set up with Irish families which host them during their time in the country, students also opt for on campus accommodation.
“It is also easy to find homes which you can share with fellow students. I stay with three other South Indians. We shop for our groceries every week, quite affordable in this part of the city and cook everyday,” says Prasanna who is from Madurai is currently pursuing BE Honours in Structural Engineering at Cork Institute of Technology.
Navin Rajpal, 23-year-old student at the National University of Ireland, Galway is pursuing Masters in Management. Galway, another quaint and picturesque county is around 200 km away from the bustling Dublin city. Navin chose Galway for a reason. "I stay 25 minutes away from the university and share my home with a Chinese undergraduate. We have a common kitchen and cook our own food. It is not so difficult," he says.
Divya also assures, “Don’t worry, you will never go hungry! We will need around 600 euros a month for food, rent and other expenses.”
(The writer was in Ireland at the invitation of Education in Ireland)