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The Irish Council for International Students was developed to promote the rights and welfare of international students who choose Ireland as a study destination. Please visit their website for a range of information on immigration, practical information and your rights and expectations as a student in Ireland: Irish Council for International Students Website
In the sections below you will find general information about living in Dublin
Ireland has a generally mild and temperate climate and is not prone to extreme heat or cold in summer or winter. It tends to be mild and damp year round and temperatures are generally between 4C - 18C.
Ireland uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)/Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+0), which is the same as the United Kingdom and Portugal.
Ireland also follows Daylight Savings Time to extend evening daylight hours. This means that the clocks change twice a year: on the last Sunday in March (Spring) when clocks go forward and on the last Sunday in October (Fall, more commonly called Autumn in Ireland) when clocks go backward.
An easy way to remember this is "Spring Forward and Fall Back"
The emergency services in Ireland: Garda (police), fire department and ambulance service can be contacted at 999 or 112.
It is best to go to the big supermarkets like Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Supervalu, Aldi and Lidl, as they are the most cost effective. They have several locations, close to MIE and around Dublin, some offer a delivery service.
Most international students buy a mobile phone for use in Ireland, with the most popular option being the “prepay” phone, also known as “top up” or “pay as you go”. Instead of getting a monthly bill, you top up your credit as needed. With the pre-pay option, you buy a phone and get a certain amount of free credit with it. Once your credit has run out, you can top up your credit a number of ways, including through an ATM, buying it in a newsagent or supermarket, or online.
There are three major phone service providers
There are smaller providers available also, to find the best deals which will suit your needs, using a price comparison website is helpful.
Students who wish to bring electrical appliances with them should note that the voltage in Ireland is 220v. You will also need an adaptor, as the sockets in Ireland have three rectangular holes. Irish electric sockets are the same as in the United Kingdom.
In Ireland, everyone drives on the left side of the road. This is the same as the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Kenya, among other countries.
Be careful when crossing the road, as this may be the opposite of what you are used to!
Smoking is banned in all workplaces throughout Ireland, including offices, pubs, bars, restaurants and on public transport.
Cost of living will vary widely depending on your circumstances and lifestyle. Below is the estimated monthly cost of living in Dublin. *
*there may be additional monthly costs such as health insurance.
You may find some helpful tips in the ICOS Cost of Living Guides for Students
The legal age in Ireland may differ from other countries, e.g you must be 18 years of age to purchase alcohol or other tobacco substances.
Citizen's Information has a helpful guide which outlines the legal age you must be in Ireland to do/partake in certain things. See: At what age can I? for further information.
