Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

1. Introduce yourself, where you are from, and what you are studying in UL? (What University did you go to for Erasmus?)   

Hiya, my name is Kevin. Currently, I am in my final year of the BSc Psychology course here at UL. I’m local to Limerick, I grew up and live very nearby UL campus!  

For my Erasmus semester, I completed a four-month programme at the Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany.   

2. What motivated you to choose that University for your Erasmus, and how did it align with your academic or personal goals?   

  While deciding where to study on Erasmus, the size of the university and of location was very important to me. Philipps offered a relatively similar sized university to UL and Marburg is even smaller than Limerick. This suited me.   

Leaving home and studying abroad is an already daunting enough experience so I decided to go for somewhere low-key. This ended up working so well in my favour as the programme was intimate and easy to meet people, and the friends I made there are for life.  

3. What were the biggest challenges you faced during your Erasmus experience, and how did you overcome them?  

The language barrier was something that initially really fazed me. I was situated in a relatively small town, so naturally some of the older residents did not speak English. This is particularly difficult to manoeuvre in your first few weeks after arriving. Especially in situations like navigating public transport or dealing with landlords and so on.  

However, it becomes second nature eventually. You find ways to make it work. A lot of communication can be conducted non-verbally! It of course also helps to learn a bit of the language. I used some beginner resources on YouTube as well as downloading Duolingo. I still practise to this day!  

4. Can you describe a memorable experience or interaction that had a significant impact on you while on Erasmus?   

 
 The first thing that comes to mind is a trip my friends and I took to The Hague in The Netherlands. Travelling around mainland Europe is such a novelty for an Irish person. This particular trip stands out to me as we took a bus from central Germany all the way over. I recall this trip taking 8 hours each way.   

The city was enjoyable, and we spent 4 nights there exploring nearby towns and the city centre. My company kept me going, travelling with your new Erasmus friends is a rite of passage. Your time together is fleeting, and I can’t think of a better way to spend it.   

5. How has your Erasmus experience influenced your perspective on your future academic or career goals?   

Studying abroad is a nice time to reflect on your goals and what you would like to do next. For me, it was eye-opening to see the opportunities available for us to complete further study abroad.  

6. Has Erasmus impacted on your future plans?   

I have definitively considered completing further education abroad after completing my Erasmus programme. It has also given me a generally higher sense of motiavtion to travel more often!  

7. What was the biggest culture shock you experienced while on Erasmus?   

One difference that caught my attention was that after every class you complete in Germany, the students knock on the desks. This is done as a sign of respect for your teacher, and it also acts as a form of subtle gratitude. It is something I never would have expected, but I became fond of the tradition and miss it sometimes here.   

8. What was your favourite thing about your Erasmus experience?   

Without a doubt, the friends I made during my time on Erasmus. Those cliché “saying goodbye to me Erasmus friends” Tiktoks slowly start to become your reality.