Fernanda is a Creative Digital Media student and this is her second time to choose Ireland and the TU Dublin Blanchardstown Campus (formerly ITB)as a study abroad destination. Find out why…
In 2014 I had the chance to study abroad with the Brazilian program titled Science Without Borders. This program gives students the chance to study abroad for one year – we can send applications to three different colleges andTU Dublin Blanchardstown Campus was my first and most important choice. Just one year after going back to Brazil I had the chance to come back and finish my studies at the same college!
But why?
My first contact with TU Dublin Blanchardstown Campus wasn’t personal, I was looking the list of possibilities at the Education in Ireland website, trying to find what could be the best way to be the best professional in the area that I was studying in Brazil. It was a very hard choice, Ireland is one of the biggest countries investing in the IT area, and the colleges are incredibly attractive, so, why did I choose this small college located in Blanchardstown? What makes TU Dublin Blanchardstown Campus so special to me? Here are some of the reasons why I choose to study there… twice!
1. The International office at TU Blanchardstown is dedicated to supporting international students during their time at ITB
Studying abroad is scary, you don’t know what to expect, you have so many questions in your mind: where am I going to live? Who am I supposed to talk to? How do I pay bills? Daily things that you really don’t want to be freaking out about it, but you do, because you don’t know what to expect from a different culture and country! And TU Dublin Blanchardstown was, since the moment that I sent my first application, extremely helpful with all these queries. There wasn’t a single time that the office didn’t reply me or didn’t offer to help me. From the first decision, until my second trip back to Ireland. This support is invaluable and it is very important to make things a little bit easier for you as an international student.
… at TU Blanchardstown, I have this feeling that I’m working with my future professional colleagues.
2. TU Dublin Blanchardstown Campus offers a caring environment with personal access to highly qualified staff
I like to talk. I like being able to have a personal conversation with my lecturers, nobody likes to be a number, specially when studying abroad. You want to feel comfortable and welcomed. TU Dublin Blanchardstown provided me this contact with my lecturers in a daily basis, when I have a query I can just email my lecturers and they always reply, invite me to chat and everything takes place in a very relaxed environment. This makes the college experience very smooth, and at TU, I have this feeling that I’m working with my future professional colleagues.
TU offers their international students high standard apartments next to the campus
3. Accommodation
Looking for a place to live it’s hard. No matter where you are studying abroad, looking for a house or apartment is always difficult. You have to check every single detail, and sometimes you end up needing to start over! When I first applied to study at TU I sent an email to the international office asking about the living arrangements as I was already very anxious about the process. This was anxiety that was completely unnecessary as TU offers their international students high standard apartments next to the campus at a 25 minute distance (walking). If you’re not the walking type of person, the college shuttle bus stops just 6 minutes from the apartments. And when I say high standard, i’m being very serious! The apartments are all 2 rooms apartments, with double beds and ensuites, and it’s all organised by the office, you don’t need to worry about anything, and if you are worried about anything you can just email the office and they will help you.
The TU library has the latest books for research and learning, and these resources are available to every student.
4. College facilities
As a Creative Digital Media student I need to have access to the the best and most up-to-date equipment to complete my college work. Creative Digital Media students have access to private Mac labs, the Macs are updated and have all the necessary applications for the course. The students also have access to top quality digital cameras, audio recording equipment, and other materials necessary for video and audio. The library have the latest books for research and learning, and these resources are available to every student.
Another thing that is very important for me at ITB is the gym. TU Dublin Blanchardstown have a gym on campus, which is free for all students, and they even have Personal Trainers on request, making it easier to keep fit and healthy!
Studying at TU is a chance to always improve myself, to grow as a person and as a professional, to make friends and to learn.
5. Friends from Ireland, friends from Europe, friends from all over the world
TU Dublin Blanchardstown is a small college so it’s very easy to get to know different people from all over the world. The office always organises social events for the international students including trips, dinners and breakfast, anything to make us closer to each other, to support each other through our studying abroad time. Not only the international office, but also the Student Union is always arranging events on campus to make the life more fun. Since I got here I have not only met people from all different places in the world: from Canada to China, Lebanon, Switzerland and more, but also Irish friends that I consider my own family now– all in the college environment, once again, making everything better and that little bit easier!
Studying at TU Blanchardstown is a chance to always improve myself, to grow as a person and as a professional, to make friends and to learn.
Interested in studying abroad? Visit the Education in Ireland website for more information