Maynooth University International Office

Akita University

I chose to study abroad in Akita International University in Japan. Being half Japanese, I really wanted to get in touch with my own country and culture. I study Anthropology and Media & Cultural Studies in Maynooth, and I love to research about Japanese media texts and popular culture. AIU offered many courses focusing on Japanese culture, as well as faculty members who were passionate about these subjects.

I particularly enjoyed the Japanese Modern Literature class, where we discussed various stories and made a video project for our finals. Another class I enjoyed was Warrior Cultures in Japan, where we studied and compared the cultures of Japanese samurai with Ancient Spartans. The class sizes are very small, often no more than twenty students. This meant a lot of discussion and personalized feedback, which I loved.

The university also organizes community outreach activities and bus trips, allowing exchange students to fully enjoy Akita's rich culture and interact with the local people.

Hong Kong Baptist University

I have enjoyed HKBU a lot so far! The campus is very nice and there are many differences between it and Maynooth. Living in a crowded big city where everything and everyone is very close to each other has been something to get used to since I've never been in a place like this before. Still, I'm thankful that our campus is located in a quieter area because I do find the central very overwhelming. It is amazing to visit, and very easy to get to with public transport but I always enjoy coming back to the campus. On the campus, everything is very close to each other - there are literally bridges combining the different buildings for easy access. Often there are escalators instead of stairs which is amazing, since it would be impossible to climb long stairs in this heat sometimes.

I live on campus in the Undergraduate Halls and I'm sharing a room with another exchange student. It has been nice, but I do miss having my own space. The bathroom is shared between two rooms and there is only one kitchen for one floor, and it is tiny. Most of the time we eat outside either in the canteens on campus or in the city since it is sometimes cheaper than cooking your own food. Luckily there is also a lot to do here so we don't spend much time in those tiny rooms. There are endless opportunities to spend time in the city, go to the beaches, or do hikes.

I had no idea that HKBU was this versatile.  I have been able to choose very interesting classes, especially in film and I've enjoyed them a lot. The staff and other students have been so nice and excited that I have chosen to come here. In my classes, I have often been the only or one of the few exchange students. There are a lot of exchange students here but most of them are taking business courses for example.  Presentations are also a big part of the courses and in one of my classes, our presentation groups each had ten students which was weird to me since I'm used to having 2-4 people per group. Choosing the classes was quite easy if you had done the research beforehand and were familiar with the portal. I found the website quite confusing and old at first, but now I'm more comfortable with it and choosing my classes for semester two went a lot more smoothly. There is a two-week add/drop period at the start of each semester where you can still edit your timetable and see if you like the classes you chose. Most classes are in English, but it is good to check this before choosing them as there are many taught in Cantonese. 

A few weeks ago, there was a weekend trip organized by the International Office to visit their collaborative campus in Zhuhai in China and it was a really cool trip and fully free!!  Then I took a trip to Beijing with a few friends, and it was really fun, especially seeing and walking on the Great Wall!  We are not going back home for Christmas, so we have been planning to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, and maybe Thailand over the holiday break. There are so many options for traveling over here! My dream would be to visit Japan and South Korea in the spring and I'm hoping that would happen!

Overall, I really recommend HKBU - it has already been an amazing adventure and I'm only at the start of it! 

University of Guelph-Humber - Toronto, Canada

Hi, my name is Edward and I'm currently studying in Toronto, Canada at the University of Guelph-Humber. I chose to come here as a last-minute decision, which I don’t regret at all and would recommend anyone to do a non-EU exchange. I am studying Business at Maynooth and I’m doing a lot of accounting modules over here, which I'm finding amazing. Toronto itself it is such a vibrant and busy city but at the same time not overwhelming at all, as there are many beautiful spots that work as a calming day retreat after all the nights out.

Canadians themselves are super friendly. I have made connections with people that I am absolutely grateful for. I can’t stress it enough that if you can do a non-EU exchange, I highly recommend it. The things you see and the people you meet are invaluable and will definitely help you grow as a person! 

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

My host university is University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the US or UMass Dartmouth. We are surrounded by beaches on both sides and about 1.5 hours away from Boston.  I chose this university due to its location and the business program. I am a 3rd year Finance and economics student and UMass has an amazing business department placing high consistently in rankings. Due to its location, we get to experience beaches, forests and the city all at the same time!

I currently take 6 classes (due to one being a lab for another class). The content of the classes are similar to that of Maynooth, however the class size is much smaller, making it feel more personal. The exchange co-ordinator over here (Jocelyn) emailed me asking what classes I’d like to take and then enrolled me meaning I did not have to unroll myself which was super convenient  and one less stress.  I would definitely recommend UMass! I have felt super welcomed whilst being here. Everyone is super nice and supportive. My roommates are American allowing me to get a full American experience, but the exchange students are European allowing me to have some similarity. Due to the location we’ve been able to go on a number of trips such as New York, Cape Cod, Boston, Salem as well as sports events such as a Baseball game in Fenway Park.

University of Mississippi - US

The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss is the flagship university for the state of Mississippi and is located in a college town similar to Maynooth, called Oxford. It is one of the oldest universities in the US and is known academically for its strong Accounting, Law and Business departments. If you are a sports fan, Ole Miss is ranked among the top in America, in American football, basketball, baseball and soccer. Most sporting events are free for students, or have discounted rates. American football culture is massive here and game days are an amazing experience, tailgating in the grove before the game and going to the bars afterwards. Ole Miss is a large part of Oxford, similarly to Maynooth and I feel that it shares the same feeling of safety that Maynooth does. 

Choosing classes was easy and there are academic advisors that can help you if you have any questions. Classes here are very different. They are much smaller, especially of you are taking senior or junior level classes, with only 30/40 people in each class. Attendance is mandatory. But I find that the classes feel more like secondary school as they are more discussion based, rather than just lectures. There is more work spread out across the semester rather than a focus on the final exam, but it is very manageable. The lectures here are very passionate about their topics and often are very interested in their students, helping them to find internships and employment after college. 

I am not working over here, but I have friends who are and it was very easy to find a job on campus. The jobs often come with perks like free Ole Miss merchandise or access to football games. There is a large variety of jobs, especially working alongside the sports events. All jobs are provided through the college and the International Office can help you to find one. Trying to find accommodation in Oxford is difficult, on campus is not guaranteed. If you are sure that you are studying here I would recommend applying to as many off campus student housing providers as possible as they are starting to fill up already. There is new apartments being built all of the time, but most off campus accommodation is expensive. Living in Oxford is expensive.

If someone is applying here, I will be here in the Spring and help them if they need to find accommodation, i.e. where to look, what apartments are nice etc.  There are buses that are free in Oxford, but without a car it is difficult to go elsewhere. The study abroad office does run trips to Memphis, New Orleans and surrounding cities.  I have been able to travel with the rugby team to other cities and universities like Nashville and Atlanta, so I would definitely recommend joining a sports club here. It makes it easier to make friends and in my experience, you get a much more 'American' experience if you make friends with locals rather than just other international students which may seem easier to do at the start. But I have made friends from around the world and all over the states.

I would definitely recommend Ole Miss as a study abroad option as it is similar to Maynooth as a college town and the constant sporting events.