Welcome to your new home A guide for students preparing to join us at University College Dublin International Study Centre ucd.ie/isc Welcome to your new home Dublin is a fantastic place to live and study. This friendly and welcoming city will be your new, exciting home away from home, a place where you will create new memories that you’ll treasure for life. We want to help you settle into your new home quickly and easily, so that you can concentrate on your studies and start enjoying student life in Dublin. This guide provides all of the important information you need to prepare for travelling to Dublin, Ireland as well as living and studying at University College Dublin International Study Centre (ISC). For up-to-date information before your arrival, visit: ucd.ie/isc Contact details UCD International Study Centre, Telephone: to be confirmed Richview Newstead Block A, Emergency telephone: Belfield, Dublin, +353 (0) 877 467953 Ireland Useful websites: International Study Centre: ucd.ie/isc Education in Ireland: educationinireland.com Irish Council for International Students: icosirl.ie Discover Ireland: ireland.com Visit Dublin: visitdublin.com Weather: met.ie Contents Get ready to join us 1 What to bring with you 5 to Dublin, Ireland Arriving in Dublin, Ireland 7 Getting to University College Dublin 9 International Study Centre Your induction programme 11 Your campus 13 Campus map 15 Campus map key 17 Your checklist 19 Get ready to join us at the International Study Centre Before you join us, there are five things you need to do first. 1 Apply for your visa (if required) Most international students (non-European Economic Area) need a visa to come to Ireland, although there are a number of countries where you may not require a visa. To check whether you need a visa and to apply ✓ Evidence of course fees paid if required please visit the Irish Naturalisation and a) A copy of an Electronic Transfer of Funds from Immigration Service (INIS) website: inis.gov.ie the applicant to the bank of the centre/valid receipt showing course fees lodged to an If you do need a visa approved student fees payment service Step 1: Complete the online application form. b) Visa letter Visit: visas.inis.gov.ie If the course fees are: Step 2: Follow the instructions on the summary application form you will receive, which will include • in excess of €6,000, at least this amount must be information on where to submit your form and paid before applying for the visa documents • less than €6,000, this must be paid in full before applying for the visa Step 3: Submit the documents, outlined below. ✓ Documents must be sent to the local Irish Embassy/ Evidence you have the academic and English ability Consulate/Visa Office.For a full list, visit: to follow your chosen course inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/pages/study ✓ Such evidence will include exam results AND ✓ Summary application form (printed, signed qualification certificates AND English certificates. and dated) providing full details of your previous While not a mandatory requirement, it is education recommended that all applicants take a Secure English Language Test (SELT), and provide the ✓ An explanation for any gaps in your educational original certificate with their visa application. history Any certificate must have been issued within 2 ✓ Two colour passport photographs – not more than years of the expected start date of your course. 6 months old ✓ Evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself ✓ Current passport (valid for 12 months after your during your studies arrival date in Ireland), and a copy of previous If you are studying in Ireland for at least six months, passports, if applicable. you must provide bank statements covering a ✓ Signed letter of application including your full six-month period immediately prior to your visa contact details application showing immediate access to at least ✓ Letter of Acceptance from University College Dublin €7,000 and ready access to an amount of at least ISC confirming and specifying acceptance on your €7,000 for each subsequent year of studies, in addition course of study. This letter should confirm the to the course fees for each of those years. €7,000 is the amount of fees payable and fees paid for the estimated cost of living in Ireland for a student for one course. Our visa letter will provide proof of this. academic year. 1 The bank statements must show full contact details of the bank – name, address, telephone 2 Book your accommodation Did you request accommodation when you filled number and include the name and address of the out your application? If so, our ISC Accommodation account holder and the account number. Team will contact you directly regarding the options available. If you are a sponsored student, then details of the relationship is required. Evidence of ready access You might prefer to book your own accommodation, may include the sponsor’s employment letter with which you should secure before you depart for contact details of the employer – name, address Dublin, Ireland. You will need to let us know where and landline phone number, and four recent you will be staying, by emailing: payslips. [email protected] If you are funded by a scholarship, please provide details of the funding and a letter to support this. ✓ Evidence of private medical insurance See point 5 3 Book your travel ✓ Details of any previous visa applications for any Once you receive your visa, you can book your country and visa refusal letters (if applicable) travel. You should arrive ready for the first day of term to get a good start to your studies. If you have ✓ Birth certificate (for unaccompanied students booked your accommodation with us, it will usually under 18 years) be available two days prior to the start of term. ✓ Consent of parent(s)/legal guardian(s) You should book any flights home after the official end of term date, which can be found in your You may be required to provide your Biometrics offer letter. information as part of the application process. You need to submit the required documents to Please see page 9 for your suggested arrival airport. avoid your application being refused. Processing time and visa decisions Please allow a minimum time of 8 weeks for student visas to be approved. Visa decisions are published weekly (every Tuesday). You can search for the progress of your application using your Visa Transaction Number that will be allocated to you at the time you submit Continued on pages 3-4 your application. Visit: inis.gov.ie 2 Get ready to join us at the International Study Centre Before you join us, there are five things you need to do first (continued). 4 Complete our pre-arrival form At around one month before term starts, we will email you with a link to an online form. You will need to complete this with your travel information - so we know when to expect you - and your visa details. If you would like us to arrange your taxi from the airport, please let us know by ticking the box on the form. On the form, you will need to provide us with the number of a mobile phone that you will have at the time of traveling so the driver can contact you. 5 Ensure you are insured In our experience, it is essential that international students have the protection of personal insurance for the duration of their time in Dublin, Ireland as well as for registration with the Garda (police). When you applied to the International Study Centre, you will have had the option of taking insurance cover with StudyCare. This insurance policy covers loss of personal possessions as well as providing health and medical insurance. If you have not taken this option, please make sure you have secured your own policy. For full information on StudyCare, visit: ucd.ie/isc If you need help and advice, your local representative or your student enrolment adviser can help you. 3 4 What to bring with you to Ireland You’ll need to pack some important items, such as your passport and visa, in your hand luggage for easy access, while other non-essential items can be packed away in your suitcase. Things to pack in your hand luggage Passport and visa Essential toiletries and medications (please Your offer letter check with your airline what’s permitted) Your education certificates including IELTS or Enough money to live on in the first few weeks. other original Secure English Language Test We advise using traveller’s cheques and not bringing large amounts of cash. Evidence of funding for your tuition fees and living costs, including sponsor letter (if you are being sponsored) Things to pack in your suitcase Dublin has a variety of shops so you’ll be able Accommodation documents, including your to buy everything you need to live comfortably. signed tenancy agreement Many of the personal items you wish to bring with Four passport-sized photographs you, such as clothes, accessories and books can Any insurance documents go in your suitcase. Medical certificates including vaccination records Mobile phone 5 Top Tips Check with your airline on what you can bring in terms of size and weight for hand and checked luggage. Calling from Dublin? Once you’re in Dublin, you don’t need to include the ‘+353’ just replace it with an ‘0’. For example, a number that internationally is +353 (0) 877 467953 becomes 0877 467953. We recommend that you bring: Irish Socket • Comfortable clothing such as trainers, jeans, t-shirts, jumpers and a warm coat.