Hello/ Merhaba/ Hallo/ Hola/ Namaste/ Olá
My name is Busra Deniz and I am currently pursuing an MSc in Business Management at Dublin City University, ranked in the ‘Financial Times world’s top 90 Management’ courses. I’m an international student originally from Turkey, and this blog is about my experience at DCU.
Settling In / Extracurriculars
DCU is regarded as one of the world’s leading young universities. Around 22% of the student population is international students representing over 110 different nationalities all together. Dublin is a global city with people from over 152 nationalities, which allows an excellent opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds. As an international student, coming to Ireland for the first time can be overwhelming and it can be difficult to meet people. DCU organises lots of events and has clubs and societies through which you can meet new people and make friends, helping us settle in.
You might be wondering if DCU provided us with social events during the Covid-19 lockdown? DCU continued to organise virtual events, and I enjoyed attending these from the comfort of my own room. I also attended online workshops such as photography.
DCU arranged Christmas events this year for the international students who were away from home. They arranged a traditional musical comedy which included songs, gags, slapstick comedy and dancing.
Studying
The education system in Ireland might be different than in your country. For example, I am from Turkey, which is more exam-focused in assessments – in Ireland, you get more assignments. It can be tough for an international student especially from a non-English speaking country but don’t worry, DCU provides a writing centre where the international students get to learn how to write assignments. This, by the way, was really helpful for me.
DCU is famous for its library and library resources. You might be thinking about how we were able to use the library during Covid-19 restrictions. There is a ‘book a seat’ system for the library, there was a two meters social distance rule, and voilà we could study in the library. There is a ‘scan and send’ option where library staff scans a book and emails it to you. There are also a plethora of online resources available for students in the DCU online library.
Research
DCU is Ireland’s most research-oriented university with a strong reputation for World-Class Research. 92% of DCU graduates are in employment or start further studies within 6 months of graduation.
DCU arranges a Career Fair where you can meet with representatives of renowned companies and ask them questions. This year it was held online, and I met HR and representatives from different organisations. The experience was amazing! DCU has its own career service where you can book an appointment and learn how to make a CV. The career service gives you feedback on your CV which is really helpful. DCU also provides free platforms for improving digital skills.
These are a few of the reasons that I chose to pursue a masters from DCU. I am proud to be associated with DCU, a university that is highly engaged with Covid-19 research and vaccine development. I have really admired how DCU handled the Covid-19 situation by providing all the necessary assistance to both incoming and existing international students.