Maynooth University International Office

It is possible to make connections with other international students through the Goin' app.  Details of how to connect through Goin' will be sent to you. 

There will be several ice-breaker and networking events available during Orientation and the first weeks of semester.

There are lots of activities on campus that you can join, where you will meet lots of other people: 

MULife - MU Clubs and Societies.  Try a new sport, or activity or join something you are already interested in.  Lots of sports clubs and student activity societies to try! 

Erasmus Student Network - A student society for all international students.  Events, movie screenings, trips around Ireland, social running club, etc. 

MSU Club - Student bar that also serves coffee and food and offers weekly events.  The MSU Information desk (see above) is close by and offers an alcohol-free meeting area. 

Learn a language through the Arqus Café - Maynooth University is part of the Arqus European Alliance.  As part of this, we are delighted to offer a virtual meeting place where students and staff from the Arqus partner universities can practice their language skills outside of the classroom. 

Irish people are outwardly friendly but can be quite reserved and difficult to get to know well - here's how to break the ice:

1. Suggest forming a small study group with your classmates - you are taking the same class so you already have something in common! 
2. Everyone loves food, especially free food. :) Bring a dish from your home country or a snack, and invite your classmates to try it.
3. Attend weekly events on campus that are well attended by Irish students - e.g.  Chat n'Chew on Mondays in the Student Hub; The 2 Mary's Coffee Morning at MSU. 
4. Irish people love sports—join an MU sports club or a sports club in the town; even if you are not sporty, you can cheer them on! 

Yes, it is very difficult to move to a new country and culture, but if you think about it, you have many similarities with other students on campus.

In your life at home you may have had friends for a long time, even from school, so it is hard to start again.  However, you are in the same situation as many other students looking to connect.  It is easier to connect with people who are going through the same thing. 

Friendship will not come to you - you must go to it.  You must put some energy into going to events and networking with people in person.   There are plenty of events on campus to attend, just keep going until you find your people