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Ireland
EAP Arrival and Orientation Information
SPRING 2014
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EAP orientation in Ireland
(a) Dates & Venue
(b) Orientation Accommodation
(c) How to get to EAP orientation
(d) Orientation Programme
Host Institution Orientation
(a) Travel to Host Institution
(b) NUI Galway Orientation
(c) UC Dublin Orientation
(d) UC Cork Orientation
(e) Trinity College Orientation
Arriving early?
Luggage, mobile phones, money and jet lag – useful tips from previous participants
Contact details for UCEAP Study Centre
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EAP orientation in Ireland
All students attending universities in Ireland must attend an EAP orientation in Dublin.
Full participation in the EAP orientation is required for all students as it is an integral part of the
student contract.
Failure to attend the whole EAP orientation could result in dismissal from the programme.
(a) EAP Orientation Dates & Venue
EAP orientation will take place in Dublin. For Galway, Trinity and UCD students, this will be in
advance of your host orientation. For Cork students, your host orientation in Cork will run before
UCEAP orientation in Dublin. Please find below the date, location and start time.
Your Irish Host
University
EAP
Orientation
Location
Arrive in Dublin
for Orientation
by:
EAP Orientation
accommodation
See Map
EAP Orientation
starts:
EAP Orientation
ends:
UC Cork*
NUI Galway
Trinity College
Dublin
Dublin Saturday 4th
January, 2014
Travelodge
St Stephen’s Green
Saturday 4th January,
11.30am at the
Travelodge
Monday 6th
January, 8.00am
Cork – Students
can depart the
evening of 5th
January if they have
class on Monday
6th.
UC Dublin Dublin Thursday 9th
January
Travelodge
St Stephen’s Green
Thursday 9th January,
11.30am at the
Travelodge
Saturday 11th
January, 8.00am
* UC Cork Students: You must arrive in Cork on or before January 2nd. Please see UC Cork
Host Orientation on page 9.
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Orientation Accommodation:
UCEAP has pre-paid 2 nights at the Travelodge St Stephen’s Green for you so you are not
responsible for these two nights’ accommodation. If you require any additional nights, please
arrange and pay for this directly with the hotel. There are several branches of the Travelodge in
Dublin so please ensure you travel to the St Stephen’s Green location
Travelodge St Stephen’s Green Lower Mercer Street Dublin Tel: +353 147 20 800 Website: Travelodge St Stephen's Green Please search “Travelodge Lower Mercer Street, Dublin” for online map: Location
Check-in is from 2pm onwards but if your room is available, the hotel will let you check in early.
Alternatively, please ask to store your luggage in the locked storeroom.
Check-out is by 12 noon.
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(b) How to get to EAP Orientation:
Getting to Ireland:
Airline information:
You can fly to Ireland directly from the States or via one of the larger UK airports depending on the
airline. Most direct international flights will land in Dublin or at Shannon airport (on the West coast of
Ireland) but if you are transferring from the UK, you may have a choice of destinations in Ireland.
For flight information, you may wish to check the following airlines, although this is just an initial list:
Aer Lingus: http://www.aerlingus.com/
American Airlines: http://www.americanairlines.com
British Airways: www.britishairways.com
Northwest Airlines: http://www.nwa.com/
Delta Air: www.delta.com
Getting from the Airport to the Orientation Hotel:
Dublin, Galway and Trinity Students
If you are flying into a city other than Dublin, you will be able to take a Citylink http://www.citylink.ie/
or Bus Eirann http://www.buseireann.ie/ coach to Dublin City Centre.
To get to the hotel from Dublin International airport, take the Airlink Bus to College Green (Trinity
College/Temple Bar) – Stop 12. Please see the attached bus stop brochure: Airlink Bus
Information. This will cost you 6 euros for a single fare. Once you get off the bus walk to the top of
Grafton Street, toward St Stephen’s Green and take your first right along King Street South and then
next left onto Lower Mercer Street.
You could also take a taxi directly from the airport but this would cost you around 30 euros.
However, it may be worth it if you have a lot of luggage or there are a few of you to share the cost!
Please note that if you get a taxi you do not need to tip the driver too much, generally 1 or 2 Euros
will be enough.
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*Attention students going to UC Cork*
You have to arrive on or before January 2nd in time for your Cork orientation. If you are flying in to
Dublin airport on the 2nd of January, there are buses that will take you directly to Cork from the
airport. Aircoach operates hourly services from Dublin Airport to Cork. Services depart from outside
the Arrivals area.
To get to the UCEAP Orientation you will have to travel to Dublin from Cork. To get to Dublin for our
Orientation you are advised to get the Aircoach on the morning of 4th January. Buses depart from
Patrick’s Quay in Cork and arrive at Bachelor’s Walk in Dublin and will take roughly 3 hours and cost
€22 for a return ticket. It is advisable to book your bus in advance as they can be very busy and
seats are not always available when purchasing a ticket on board.
(c) Orientation Programme
Your EAP Orientation will start at 11.30am prompt. After a welcome meeting, you will have a short
break for lunch before we head off to visit a local attraction, such as Kilmainham Gaol or the Book of
Kells. We will then go for dinner in the city centre. The following day will consist of meetings on
Academics and Life in Ireland, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour of Dublin and dinner.
You are advised to wear comfortable shoes as we will be doing a lot of walking and to bring a bottle
of water. You will also need a small amount of money (around €14) for lunches. Remember it will be
very cold in Ireland in January so make sure you bring warm clothes, hats and scarves are
recommended!
Please note that EAP orientation is for EAP students only and not friends and family.
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Host Institution Orientation
(a) Travel to host institution
Students going to Galway:
EAP will pre-purchase a Citylink or Aircoach coach ticket for you from Dublin to Galway so you do
not need to arrange this travel yourself. Your bus will leave Dublin in the morning on January 6th
and the journey will last around 2.5 hours. You will be given instructions at orientation on how to get
to the correct bus stop in Dublin.
Students going to Cork:
As students from Cork will already be in Ireland for their host university orientation, you will need to
buy a return coach ticket (as mentioned on page 6) from Cork to Dublin and we will reimburse you
€10 for travel when you get to Dublin. Due to the fact that some students who are going to Cork may
need to leave on the evening of Sunday 5th January because classes start on Monday 6th, you should
hold off booking your bus until you find out your class schedule at the Cork orientation.
Getting to campus from Galway City Centre:
You can get to Galway campus either by bus or taxi. You can catch a taxi from the taxi rank on Eyre
Square and this will cost you around 10 euros. Alternatively, you can take the No.4 ‘Newcastle’ bus
service run by Bus Eirann, which departs from Eyre Square. There are different bus stops for each
of the bus services, so check the No4 runs from that stop and make sure that you are heading West
in the direction of ‘Newcastle’ and not East to ‘Merlin Park’! You will go past Galway Cathedral to the
top of University Road and then turn right at the Esso station along Newcastle Road. The main
entrance to the university is on University Road but you can alight at any stop on Newcastle Road or
University Road. If your accommodation is not on campus, please ask your residence directly which
local bus will take you there.
For further details, please check NUI Galway website: http://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/contact-
us/how-to-find-us.html
Getting to UC Cork – Main Campus:
Campus is around a 30 minute walk from Cork city centre in the direction of Western Road. If you
are going by foot, follow St Patrick’s Street (the main pedestrianized shopping street in the city
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centre) to the end and cross over Grand Parade on to Washington Street. Keep following
Washington Street for around 15 minutes until it turns into Western Road. The campus will be on
your left. If your accommodation is not on campus, please ask your residence directly which local
bus will take you there.
If you are travelling with luggage, you may be best to get a taxi, which you can find at the bus or train
station or can hail in the city centre. A fare from the centre of town to the campus would be around
5 - 8 euros.
Students going to UC Dublin & Trinity College Dublin
If you are staying in campus accommodation or in a private residence in Dublin city centre, EAP will
give €10 towards a taxi fare to take you to your accommodation. Further information will be given at
EAP orientation.
(b) NUI Galway Host Orientation
Your NUI Galway orientation will take place on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th January. You must
attend the mandatory sessions on course registration but there will also be other optional activities
such as campus/library tours and evening events organised for you. Please keep checking the
following website for details. http://www.nuigalway.ie/international-students/atnuig.html
(c) UC Dublin Host Orientation
Your UC Dublin orientation will take place from Monday 13th to Friday 17th January. During this time,
you must attend all mandatory information sessions regarding course registration. There will also be
a variety of social activities as well as campus & library tours organised for you. Please keep
checking the following website for details: http://www.ucd.ie/international/study-at-ucd-global/coming-
to-ireland/orientation/
(d) UC Cork Host Orientation
Your host orientation will take place on Friday 3rd January. During this time, you must attend all
mandatory information sessions regarding course registration. There will also be a variety of social
activities as well as campus & library tours organised for you. Please keep checking the UCC
website for details: http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/international/visiting/orientation/
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(e) Trinity College Dublin Host Orientation
Your Trinity orientation will take place from Thursday 9th to Friday 10th January. During this time, you
must attend all mandatory information sessions regarding course registration. There will also be a
variety of social activities as well as campus & library tours organised for you. Our liaison at Trinity
will email detailed arrival information shortly.
Campus/Private Accommodation:
Please note that campus accommodation is not guaranteed, especially for students coming for one
semester only. However there may still be spaces so it is still worth applying. Trinity gives priority to
first year students and then international students who are staying for the full year.
If looking for private accommodation, you would be advised to arrive in Dublin a week or more in
advance of your EAP orientation so that you have time to view rooms. The Student Welfare Office at
Trinity College Dublin keeps a list of landlords who have short and longer-term rooms to rent. The
Welfare Office can also help with rental agreement advice so please check leasing details with them
prior to signing any contracts with your landlord.
Past EAP students have also found rooms using the following websites:
www.daft.ie
www.rent.ie
www.gumtree.ie
www.let.ie
www.chubbproperties.com
You might want to contact other EAP students going to Trinity this year/semester via our facebook
page www.facebook.com/EAPIreland so that you can get together to search for rooms.
Dublin is a large city, and is broken up into separate postcodes, which are further subdivided into
neighbourhoods, also called villages. A good rule of thumb is that even-numbered (Southside)
postcodes (D2, D4, D6, D6W) are safe places to live, while odd-numbered (Northside) postcodes
(D1, D3, D5, D7) are not as good areas. The dividing line is the River Liffey. The exceptions to this
rule are D8 on the Southside and D3 (referring to Clontarf neighbourhood only) on the Northside.
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D3 – Clontarf is a very safe residential village but it can be hard to find accommodation here as it is
in high demand.
D8 – we do not recommend you stay in this area, in particular the Rialto district.
D1 and D2 - are the closest to campus and so are desirable places to live.
D4, D6 and D6W – are walkable to campus. In D6, an area known as Rathmines is popular with
students, and is accessible via bus and fast tram. Out of all the southern postcodes, D6 is one of the
most affordable with an average monthly rent and utilities of around €500. For this money you will
probably be sharing a flat or a house with other students. It is also a 30 minute walk/15 minute cycle
away from campus. Trinity Hall is also located in Rathmines and so if you get into university
accommodation you might be placed here.
Advice from previous UC students
Arrive early so that you have time to look around properties and find the right one for you.
Get an Irish cell phone as quickly as possible as landlords prefer to talk to prospective
tenants on the phone rather than email.
If you choose a flat outside of the city centre then transport into university is the other
consideration. Perhaps invest in a bike or a bus pass.
Remember to look up whether the flat you choose is close or accessible to amenities that you
might need eg. Supermarket.
Team up with other students (home or study abroad) to find a place together or you might be
able to find a spare room in current private student flat.
Ask Irish students for advice on the best areas, places and types of flats to live in – they may
be more direct than agencies.
Sometimes our students have viewed 5 or 6 places before finding the right one – so be
patient and take a good look around.
If you have any queries or would like to make contact with past EAP Trinity students for further
information, please email Fraser Bryden: [email protected]
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Arriving Early?
It is often possible to check in to your campus accommodation early or find alternative temporary
accommodation on campus. The Accommodation Office at your host institution will be able to
provide you with exact details of rooms available and costs.
If you have family travelling over with you or you prefer to stay in private bed & breakfast / hotel
accommodation for your first few days, then you will find recommendations on your host campus
Accommodation webpage, as give below.
Host University Accommodation Office Contact Details:
UC CORK
College Road, Cork
Tel: +353 21 490 2353
Fax: +353 21 427 4483
Email: [email protected]
http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/where/temp-lodgings/
NUI GALWAY
Aras Ui Chathail Building
Tel: +353 91 492 760
Contact; Agnes O’Farrell
Email: [email protected]
http://www.nuigalway.ie/student_services/accommodation_office/
http://www.nuigalway.ie/student_services/accommodation_office/temp_accommodation.html
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
Accommodation Office
West Chapel
Trinity College, Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 896 1177
Fax: +353 1 671 1127
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
http://www.tcd.ie/accommodation/Visitors/
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
UC Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1 716 1034
Fax: +353 1 716 1154
Email: [email protected] http://www.ucd.ie/residences/
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Alternatively, you can also find hotel accommodation via the local tourist board.
Cork Tourist Board: http://www.corktourist.com/
Dublin Tourist Board: http://www.dublintourist.com/
Galway Tourist Board: http://www.galwaytourist.com/
Ireland Tourist Board: http://www.discoverireland.ie/Where-To-Stay/Accommodation-Guide
Another source you can use when searching for a hostel is the website
http://www.hostelworld.com/
If you are having difficulties finding suitable accommodation, please let us know.
Luggage, Mobile Phones, Money and Jet Lag
Useful Tips from Previous Participants
LUGGAGE
Travel light!
Students routinely say how they wish they had brought HALF of what they actually did for their time
abroad …
Every year many students seem surprised at how far and how many times they have to move and
carry their suitcases.
In Ireland, you will notice a lot of stairs, uneven pavements and no elevators. You should also expect
to have to lift and carry your bags quite a bit on the journey from the airport to orientation
accommodation, and, in all likelihood, at your host university as well (very few host university
residences have elevators). So it is worth trying to travel as lightly as possible!
One solution for students who do have a lot of things they wish to bring for the year is to arrange to
have the heavier items shipped directly to their host university. Please check with your host
university directly if this is permitted. Students who decide to do this will have to ensure they have
the correct delivery address (and in particular the postcode) for any shipment, which might mean
sending it just prior to their own departure from California, or even asking someone else to send it on
a short while after they’ve arrived and have their postal address confirmed. Items like bed linen,
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duvets or blankets take up a lot of room in your suitcase, so it is much better to purchase them here.
Many Halls will have a scheme where you can buy these items.
It is also worth noting that many students do tell us that they buy more clothes than they expected to
while on their year abroad (bargains are available here, contrary to expectation!). So please take
note and bring as little with you as you can.
MOBILE PHONES
Cell phones are called mobiles in Ireland. “Pay-As-You-Go” is the most common plan for study
abroad students as it offers flexibility and good rates. Often, EAP students purchase an inexpensive
handset that will serve them for one term or one year and a SIM card with their chosen plan – which
usually includes either free texts or free minutes, or a combination of the two. As it is a competitive
industry, you should be able to find good options. Credit for your ‘pay-as-you-go’ phone can be
purchased at ATM machines, shops or online and you can top up as and when you need.
There are six main service providers in Ireland:
www.vodafone.ie
www.o2.ie
www.meteor.ie
www.3ireland.ie
www.tescomobile.ie
www.emobile.ie
If you are looking to compare plans or just for an idea of costs, there are shops such as Carphone
Warehouse, that stock all service plans: www.carphonewarehouse.ie
You might want to unlock your US phone, which can be done, but be aware that this can void any
warranty you have on your phone. After having unlocked a smart phone, it can be the case that it is
no longer possible to get software updates. If you are not sure of your US phone’s international
capabilities, we suggest you speak to your provider before coming to Ireland.
Some of our host institutions have given international students a free SIM card at their host
orientation. If your US phone is unlocked, you can simply put in the SIM card and you are all set.
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MONEY
Please make sure your US bank knows that you will be abroad for a while! You don’t want to try your
card while here only to have the purchase rejected because your bank thinks someone outside the
country has stolen your account details!
Our host institutions have banks on campus or very close to campus. You can only open a bank
account in Ireland once you have arrived. In order to open a bank account here, you will need a
letter from your host university, proof of your new address and your passport. It can take some time
to organise and have access to your new bank account so you are advised to bring enough money in
traveller’s cheques or have this available via a US account to get you going.
Registration with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB): You will need to open a bank
account so that you can deposit the amount required by the GNIB. Please see Item 3 of your Pre-
Departure checklist for further information:
http://www.eap.ucop.edu/Participants/ireland/Pages/1314_irish_universities_spring.aspx .
Tipping: We do not tip here in Ireland as much as you may be used to doing in California. Generally
speaking, if you were to go to a formal restaurant then it is customary to leave 10% as a tip. If you
are in a café and receive table service, leaving small change is acceptable but not necessary. Bar
staff do not receive tips at all. In taxis, we would round up the fare to the nearest 1 euro or perhaps
give 1.50 euro if for longer journeys.
During EAP orientation, we will provide more information about banks and money matters.
JET LAG
Before the flight:
1) Try to get plenty of rest and hydrate.
2) It can sometimes help people to start adjusting to their new time zone a few days before
travelling. Setting your watch ahead and shifting your meals can train your brain into the new
time you will be in.
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While on the flight:
1) Stay away from coffee and alcohol!
2) It’s best while flying internationally to drink water, as hydration is key to fighting jet lag.
3) Make yourself comfortable, even if that means you bring a pair of pyjamas to wear for the
flight.
4) Depending on the time of your flight, you might want to forgo the dinner they serve, as it will
probably be in the middle of night in Ireland. It’s okay to snack, but try to wait until breakfast is
served.
5) Try to sleep on the plane! Even if you only get a few hours, this will help you upon your arrival
in Ireland. It is a long journey and upon arrival you will be expected to stay alert and focus to
participate in the EAP orientation.
After the flight:
1) Try to stay awake until evening (always aim for 8-9pm) the first day. Not only will orientation
be occurring, so you will need to stay alert and focused, but this will help your body adjust to
the new time more quickly.
2) Continue to drink lots of water.
3) Get sunlight. Yes, Ireland may be known for clouds, but sunlight will help those circadian
rhythms get into their new time zone!
Combating a jet lag can take up to a few days. With these steps, you should be able to tackle it well.
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Contact details for UCEAP Study Centre
The UCEAP office in Edinburgh oversees students at the Irish host instituions.
UCEAP Edinburgh Study Centre
50 Buccleuch Street
Edinburgh, EH8 9LP
Tel : +44 (0)13 1662 8988
www.uceap-uki.org.uk/esc
As of December 16th, the Edinburgh Study Centre will be moving location:
25 Buccleuch Place
Edinburgh, EH8 9LN
Emergency Cell number: (if dialling from inside UK) 07968 704 994 and (if
dialling from outside UK) +44 7968 704 994
Programme Manager: Mrs Hilary Noyce
Skype: hilaryuceap
Programme Officer: Mr Fraser Bryden
Skype: fraseruceap
Sign up to our Facebook page to find out who else is coming to Ireland!
www.facebook.com/EAPIreland
www.facebook.com/EAPintheUK
Follow us on Twitter @ uceapedinburgh !
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