Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

Hi, I am Suchira, a postgraduate student at UL studying Interaction and Experience Design. I have been a designer for most of my life. I started as a graphic designer but gradually moved to web design or user experience design, which are terms more popular in Interaction and Experience design. When I quit my job back home to study for my Master’s at UL, I knew it was a huge risk but one that was worth taking!

I arrived in Ireland in September, and like most students, I was enchanted by the place, especially by the university! The autumn weather, lovely warm-hearted people and a lively environment with music, dance, languages, food and culture… you truly feel as if this is a home away from home.

All my past work experiences, knowledge and skills came together as the semester started after a wonderful orientation week. In the beginning, all the students, including me, spent time adjusting to the different schedules and class timings, trying to find the right lecture rooms, rushing to class every morning and so on. Fortunately, I had amazing classmates who were always ready to help each other. Even when, at times, I got lost around the university while finding my way to class, there was always someone to guide me along the way.

The Computer Science building is where I have my classes most days. It is a lovely building with several rooms where you get access to the best systems. Usually, the rooms allotted would be the most accessible for a particular course, but you really have the best facilities in this space.

Working on iMacs is truly one of my favourite parts of the day!

During the week, there will usually be both lectures and labs for the modules. Currently, I have 4 modules in total – 2 compulsory and 2 electives. After the first two weeks of attending lectures, I began figuring out which days would be the most hectic for me. Accordingly, I started distributing my time to gradually build a schedule.

A typical week starts with an early morning lecture on Monday at 9 am. I always try to have enough time in the morning to eat some hearty breakfast and get ready for class. I also prefer to pack some lunch, but it depends a lot on the schedule – you might get time later, or maybe not! After my lectures, I like to spend some time in the building with my classmates or just finish off some work. If I have more lectures in the afternoon, I can just stay back anytime.

Tuesdays are the most hectic because the lectures go on from morning till late afternoon, with breaks of course! So be prepared for days like these, when you need to stay at the top of your game. These are also the days when you need UL Clubs and Societies to take your mind off of the hectic schedules. Early on, after two weeks on campus, I joined the Rowing Club and now every Tuesday evening, the club helps me gain some social life outside the classroom.

Now comes the mid-week – Wednesday. My lectures start around 9 am, just like Mondays and Tuesdays, and go on until the afternoon. And that’s mostly labs and lectures combined, so you get quite a good bit of hands-on work. The professors are more than happy to assist, and this is the time when you can get help directly from them if needed.

Thursdays and Fridays are mostly labs with just a couple of hours each day, so you can start relaxing by the end of the week. To make use of all the extra time, it’s a good idea to work on some assignments or reading materials for that particular week or pending ones. This way you avoid piling up and helps you stay on track.

The weekends are for you to unwind and relax. You might find the university empty around this time as most people leave for trips or meet their families. On Saturdays, I try to get some shopping done if I need to, while Sundays are just for exploring the beautiful city or simply hanging out with friends. I always look forward to the weekends for making a nice meal, maybe something special from my home country, or simply trying a new recipe!

That wraps up a week for me in short! It is extremely important to find balance in everything that we do, whether studying or working. I find walks to be a great way to let some steam off after a long day and the UL campus is one of the best places for that. All you need is a rain jacket and some nice shoes! I must admit that it took me some time to find balance while juggling everything all at once. But with discipline and a stable routine, things have gradually fallen into place and now I can start enjoying life at UL.