Maynooth University Department of Chemistry

We are Maša Frešer and Karolina and we come from Slovenia. We are both studying chemistry at the University of Ljubljana, finishing our third year. 

2. What university do you attend in Slovenia? How is it different from Maynooth University?  

Compared to Maynooth, our university is spread over the entire capital - Ljubljana, which has pluses and minuses, but we must admit that the campus impressed us a lot, because everything is in a heap, many more people. The system of study is slightly different than in Ireland. 

3. Why did you choose to come to Maynooth University?  

In addition to English, we both speak another foreign language, namely Karolina Italian and Maša German, but they are fluent enough to live with this language, which is why we decided to go to Ireland and not to Spain or any other country. At the time, Maynooth was the only Irish university with which the university was affiliated, and we have no regrets about attending Maynooth. 

4. How did you spend your time in Ireland? Do you have any favourite places? 

In four months in Ireland, we experienced many things, met many wonderful people and visited quite a few beautiful cities and places. We lived with a friendly family in Carpenterstowntogether with five other Erasmus students. The family gave us everything and more. After the first week, we really felt at home and comfortable. We also visited some sights and places such as Cork, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Belfast, Kilkenny... everything was very beautiful and special in nature. In May, when the weather was a little nicer, exploring the country was even more beautiful and pleasant. But we also liked Dublin and its surroundings, from the Phoenix Park to the very centre of always lively and musical Dublin. We would both choose Dublin as the most beautiful capital of all the ones we have visited. 

5. Do you have any advice for other international students? 

International students coming to Ireland would be advised to take the time to explore your beautiful country, as Maynooth's schedule is not so busy and there is already plenty to see during the week, and at weekends we recommend city tours and other parts of the country that can be reached by train or by bus. Don't forget to look for various student discounts, which always come in handy. 

You live with families, so don't delay in finding an apartment, as you will be living there for 4 months 

Of course, getting to know as many people as possible is hardly a necessity. 

6. Would you recommend MU to other international students?  

I would also recommend MU to other international students, especially chemistry, as the schedule is suitable for Erasmus, the professors are friendly, explain the material well and are always ready to help. We were also very positively surprised by the chemistry department, which welcomed us very nicely and was ready to find solutions and provide a good experience. 

7. What are your best tips for international students coming to Ireland? 

We bought groceries mostly in Lidl and Aldi because we think it is the most affordable. Food compared to Slovenia is pretty much the same price in stores. We lived in Castleknock village with a host family. It was a really lovely family, and we are glad that we lived with them because it is another unique experience. There was a wife and husband with two kids that were our age (19 and 21) and they have a really big house so we were 7 Erasmus students living with them. Price was 500 euro per month, and we were 3 girls in one room with our own bathroom and shared kitchen. It was quite far from Maynooth but affordable price and closer to Dublin. We needed 50min to get to university. First 20min walk than 20min train and 10min walk again. For tickets on the train, we used student leap card (90 minutes ride = 1 Euro). We also went to Dublin a lot and we used the bus than got us really close to the centre (Temple bar). 

8. How could we improve your time in MU?  

We enjoyed time at Maynooth, there was also an introduction weak that was very helpful because they showed us the campus and library. We got to know other Erasmus students and made friends. I think improvements could be that we could live in Maynooth to be closer to university. Otherwise, we can’t think of anything else. 

9. Is there anything that you wish we had done differently? 

We think I would be really helpful that you would made possible for students to do short laboratory project and could write a thesis about it. In second semester of 3 year in Slovenia we need to do a project with the help of one mentor (we can just help them) and then write a thesis to end our bachelor’s degree. And this is much easier to arrange than to find 6 courses that are exactly the same as ours in Ljubljana University. 

10. Now that you are at the end of your time in MU, is there anything you would have done differently? 

We are really satisfied how we planned things. But the onething we were really lucky was to get such a great house to live in. Now we know that a lot of students had a hard time getting a place to stay so maybe in is good to start looking for a place really early or even before they give you the website with all the possible hosts.