Daisy Cooper

Crochet, Castles & Connemara: My Irish Adventure

Hear from English Literature student Daisy Cooper about her Year Abroad in Ireland.

What was it like?

I absolutely adored my year abroad! I studied at University College Cork in Ireland, and it was fantastic. Cork itself is a beautiful city with a lot of history to explore. My study at UCC was exclusively lectures, and I had no seminars. My favourite modules at UCC were the ones tailored towards international students, such as Irish Folklore, Irish literature, and Irish history. I was able to learn so much about Ireland as I studied! Studying abroad opened my eyes to the opportunities out there for me academically and career-wise since there was such a wide range of modules I could take!

The university also had so many societies and sports where you could get to know others. My favourite societies were the Pop Society and the Crochet Society. There were also events for just international students where you could get to know one another. My favourite part of studying at UCC was the incredible friends I made. I travelled with my friends around Ireland on the weekends. We explored West Cork, Connemara, Galway, Killarney, Dublin, and Inishmore, and went up to Northern Ireland. My favourite trip was cycling around Inishmore! I have made friends for life and since my year abroad have visited my friends in Paris, Amsterdam, and Strasbourg! 

How was the application process? 

Applying to UCC was very simple, like applying to the University of Kent. Any documents needed, such as the Learning Agreement and the Transcript of Records, are easy to sort out. If I had any problems or questions, the Year Abroad Team at Kent and the staff at UCC were both happy to help. 

Funding and Travelling 

I, and other Kent students, paid a reduced tuition fee for a year abroad. The maintenance loan is higher for people studying abroad, and I also got funding from the Turing Scheme grant. Accommodation is expensive in Ireland; however, travel was cheap, so they helped balance each other out. Ireland would probably be one of the cheaper options for studying abroad as travelling from London to Cork was very easy and cheap. A flight with Ryanair from Stanstead was only about £25. Which was good because I could easily travel home for the holidays or during reading week! I brought all my belongings with me in a large suitcase the first time I flew to Cork and then only flew with a carry-on in the holidays to make things cheaper. Two of my British friends who were studying at UCC shipped their belongings to Ireland, which is also an option; however, I just bought cheap cooking utensils for when I was in Cork and then donated them at the end of the nine months. 

What do I get from the experience?

I gained a lot of confidence from my year abroad, and it fostered my interest in travel. It’s scary moving to a new country on your own, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone. I have learnt that going out of my comfort zone is an incredible opportunity for personal development, and I’m much more willing to try new things. My year abroad was honestly the best decision I have ever made! I have made memories I will cherish forever and the best friendships I could have ever wished for. I am very lucky to have met the people I did during my year abroad. Cork now holds a very special place in my heart.