Welcome to our International Student Guide to Ireland! In this blog series we’ll be sharing an overview of student towns and cities throughout the country with tips on where to go, what to eat and the best student deals on everything from culture to nightlife. First up, Waterford…
Best places to eat, drink and dance!
Waterford is packed full of great places to chow down and offers great value for a student budget. Grab a coffee and a cake at Aoife’s Cafe and Gallery in The Mall and take in a little art while you’re there. Make Waterford Blaa, a gorgeous award-winning white bread roll, a staple in your diet. You can pick these authentic glutenous gems up in bakeries around the city.
Burzza’s is a cool spot serving up wood-fired pizza and burgers to write home about. Feel like something a little spicier? Grab a burrito at Amigo Burritos. Or let your tastebuds head east and try out one of the many great Indian restaurants around the city including Eastenders (we especially love their all-you-can-eat Sunday buffet). Little India also serves up delicious food at great prices and The Goa Cafe is a little more upmarket but great for a treat!
Once your belly is full Waterford has a plethora of places to choose from when it comes to quenching your thirst and taking your dancing shoes out for a spin. From traditional pubs like Katty Barry’s, Phil Grimes and Henry Downes to Geoffs Bar and Cafe and student club favourite The Foundry – there are plenty of places around town to enjoy a little downtime after all that studying! Try The Reg for live music seven nights a week and sample one of Waterford’s local brews from Metalman and Dungarvan Brewing Co while you’re there.
Shopping
There’s something to suit all tastes in Waterford from budget-busting clothes at much loved Irish institution Pennys to vintage gems dotted around the city including the lovely Vintage Trig on Michael Street.
The Book Centre is housed in a former cinema and Art Deco building that was established back in 1937. The screen, stage, ceiling and many other original features can still be seen and it’s a great place to browse everything from literary classics to modern fiction. It’s a book-lover’s dream. Take a trip to Rainbow Records for all your music needs – they buy and sell making it a great place to swap shop.
Don’t forget to visit one of Waterford’s weekend markets like the City Market every Saturday 9am to 3pm in John Roberts Square or Merchant’s Quay Indoor Market, also on Saturdays.
Things to see and do
Waterford boasts a jam-packed year of festivals, with one to suit every taste and interest from food to hot-air ballooning! The most well-known is possibly summer’s Spraoi during August – but there’s many, many more to choose from. Why not feast on local food at Harvest during the late summer months, or gaze towards the skies in September for the Hot Air Balloon Festival. Embrace arts and culture in October at Imagine Arts Festival and don’t miss the incredible Winterval at Christmas for a dose of festive cheer.
Waterford is steeped in history so make sure you explore the famed Viking Triangle and check out the host of museums dotted around the city including Bishop’s Palace, the Medieval Museum and Reginald’s Tower. They all offer discounted entry for students. Waterford is also the home of Irish crystal so make a trip to the House of Waterford Crystal a priority during your time here.
Exploring beyond the city…
To escape the city, students can go surfing in Tramore or hang 10 in Bunmahon, hit one of the many different beaches of the southeast, or take a walk in the Comeragh Mountains. The public transport is decent too, with buses going to and from the college every 20 minutes. Both Bus Eireann (our national bus service) and Irish rail offer great value student fares to destinations across the country – so get exploring!
Studying in Waterford
Waterford Institute of Technology offers students a multitude of third level courses and is recognised worldwide for academic excellence. As one of Ireland’s foremost providers in international education, the college has over 800 international students from 70 countries. Its location in one of Ireland’s smaller cities, means it an ideal base for many international students and offers all the facilities you could wish for – from first-class lecturers to campus accommodation and on-site catering.
The WIT International office is there to support all students studying abroad and celebrates the great diversity of the student body in an induction programme which encourages cross cultural integration from day one. They also organise events to mark the great world celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Diwali, Eid and of course St Patrick’s Day! So, what are you waiting for? Waterford is calling!
Planning on studying in Waterford and have more questions? Comment below and we’ll get back to you or read first-hand experiences of WIT from our International Student Ambassadors.