Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

In this personal blog, Ellen Cruise, a master’s in Marketing student at the University of Limerick from Seattle describes why living on campus was one of her best decisions: 

Living on campus at the University of Limerick offers a unique and enriching experience that goes beyond academics. From creating authentic connections with your flat mates from around the globe to immersing yourself in diverse cultures, to the perks of campus living extend beyond the classroom. 

Global Community 

One of the standout advantages of living on campus is the opportunity to live with individuals from various corners of the world. The multicultural environment fosters a global community where you can learn about different customs, traditions, and perspectives. Sharing a living space with other international students not only broadens your worldview but also creates lasting friendships. 

Unique Cultural Experiences 

Campus life at UL is a vibrant tapestry of cultures, allowing students to learn and participate in celebrations of unique holidays from across the globe. Whether it’s Diwali, Lunar New Year, or Thanksgiving, living on campus provides the chance to immerse yourself in diverse festivities. This semester, my flatmates and I wrote out a list of special holidays within our culture and we all agreed to celebrate them together. Additionally, sharing meals from different cultural backgrounds introduces you to a rich diverse sense of global cuisines. This semester, we decided Monday nights we would all have dinner together. Each week we take turns cooking food from our culture or trying new recipes together. 

Expanded Social Circle 

Some of my favourite memories from this semester consist of Harry Potter movie nights where we’ve invited others to join. It’s been the most fulfilling experience of ‘widening the table’ and making space for others. It’s also been a great chance to meet new people. From hosting casual encounters like movie nights, to organized social events, UL campus life makes it easy to connect with people you might not have met otherwise. It’s always fun planning the next event together. 

I would strongly encourage prospective students and current students to consider the opportunities closely linked with living on campus. For me, UL’s campus living experience has been gateway to a world of diversity, cultural enrichment, and social connections that I hadn’t experienced before. I’ve foraged lifelong friendships with people from all over the world connecting over celebrating unique traditions and seeking to understand one another.