During my semester at Maynooth University I have taken both related and unrelated courses to my bachelor Media Studies. I have taken the courses:
- Advertising Industry & Audiences (5 ECTS) - Cultural Heritage of Royal Sites (5 ECTS) - Microeconomics I (7.5 ECTS)
- The Media, Advocacy and Development (5 ECTS) - Digital Marketing (5 ECTS)
- Media Law (5 ECTS)
I total I have gained 22.5 ECTS, so a bit less than all the courses together. This because Media Law, for me, was too difficult since it was a third year law course and without any background in law, it is quite difficult. Especially when you don’t know anything about the Irish law either. The credits for Digital Marketing are missing as well, since the last exam was moved on to a later date where I already planned my holiday. I did not find any difficulties with the course itself.
The quality of the education at Maynooth University is considerable lower than at the RUG. Here, I’m talking about the level of education, not the teachers or the way lectures are given. On the other hand, I must say that I was really surprised with how much attention Maynooth University gives to the well-being of her students. Maynooth Students’ Union (MSU) was very considerate about her student’s mental and physical health, made every student feel at home by having a society for anything you could think off and offered extra physical and mental support during the exam periods.
For any question, the MSU was there to help you.
The reception at Maynooth University itself was well organized. We had an introduction period in which we got to know our fellow exchange students, the campus and the MSU. Accommodation for Erasmus students was not very well taken care off. There were only 20 on campus accommodations available for more than 200 Erasmus students. Many, including me, had to find a room in Maynooth or surrounding areas. I have lived in Celbridge during my semester with a host, approximately 5 kilometers away from Maynooth University. A tip to find a room is to join the Erasmus Students Maynooth Facebook group that is set up by the university itself, where many rooms are listed.
Do keep in mind that Ireland is expensive. Rent is high, especially in Dublin and the surrounding areas. I paid €525,- including everything for a 12m2 room. In a month, I probably spend about
€1000,-.
Some money saving tips:
Public transport: Get a Student Leap Card which lets you reach a maximum of €20 for the bus. The card provides you with a discount fee for trains (DART & Commuter) and trams in Dublin (LUAS) as well. If you go to another city in Ireland, don’t take the train but take a CityLink.
Going out: Make sure you get in before a certain time (often 10), so you can get in for free. Watch the happy hour deals or go to Dicey’s in Dublin.
University: Don’t get lunch at the university. The food is not really good and it is cheaper to go to Aldi or Dunnes, which are both close to the university. If you like coffee, bring your own coffee mug! It gives you a small discount and it is better for the environment.
Groceries: Grocery shopping can be really cheap but it depends on what supermarket you are going to. The cheapest ones are Aldi and Lidl, followed by Tesco. I would avoid SuperValu, Dunnes and Spar.
Lastly, I want to say that you should not be afraid to go on Erasmus. You will find friends within a week, and even more within a month. Everyone is very open and are, just like you, looking for new friends to share their Erasmus experience with. Don’t be afraid to say yes to almost everyone. You are not only at Maynooth to study, but also to gain experience in living abroad and gain more social and language skills.
