Experience report
ANR: 180819
Name: Xiaoqian Sun
E-mail: sunxiaoqian15@hotmail.com
Exchange semester: Fall semester
Academic year: 2013-2014
Host University: Trinity College Dublin
Country: Ireland
TOPIC: Admission, arrival, housing
How was your arrival organized? Did someone pick you up from the airport/station? Was an
orientation or introduction activity organized? How was accommodation organized? Does the
university provide you with accommodation? What kind of accommodation does the university provide?
Did you have to book your accommodation in advance or did you have to search for a place to live
after you arrived?
I was picked up by one of my friends at the airport, she took me to her place at my first arriving day. I
found my room on the internet and moved there in the second day. I tried to order a room through the
campus website but due to the large amount of student I failed.
TOPIC: Location of university/city
Please describe the city you lived in. Where is the university located in the city? What is the best
place to go to eat/drink/dance/do sports/etc.? What are interesting things to see and do in your host
city? What was different than in Tilburg?
Trinity College Dublin is just located in the city center and you can find everything nearby. There are
about five Starbucks nearby and I can always find a place to have a sit. Gym is free to visiting
students, the swimming pool is wonderful there. Dublin is an international city and you can always find
people all over the world. People are extremely warm and nice, they always happy to help you when
you came across problems.
TOPIC: Academics
Which courses did you take and why? Which courses would you recommend? What did the courses
add to your program at Tilburg University? How does the university compare to Tilburg University
concerning the level of the courses, use of extra material, level of English, workload, etc.? Overall,
were you happy with your academic achievements during your exchange? Please describe the
campus of your host university.
During my exchange period, I chose five courses: Investment Analysis, International Business and
global economy, Advances in Marketing theories and practices, Human Recourses Management and
Economics in less Developed countries. Advances in Marketing theories and practices and
International Business and global economy are the forth-year courses and they are much harder than
the other three. Advances in Marketing theories and practices is quite interesting and im highly
recommend. The professers there are really good and they always answer your questions patiently.
The little Dublin accent is strange at first but its cool afterwards. There is no exam for exchange
students but essays instead. In geneal, the accedemic environment there is perfect and I practiced a
lot of my writing.
TOPIC: Social life
Which social activities organized by the university or students? Did you have contact with local
students? Did you have contact with other exchange students? How did you get along with the local
students and other exchange students? Did you travel to other places/countries during your exchange?
There are a mass of organizations found by students there. You can at leat find one of your interes
there. Most of my friends I knew were exchange student as well. We usually had lunch together and
went to library. I travelled to Galway and North Ireland during my stay. The views there are fabulous!
TOPIC: Living costs
How did you finance your exchange period, apart from the grant you received from Tilburg University?
What were your living expenses abroad like compared to Tilburg? What did you spend most of your
money on? What would you advice future students to spend their money on? Please outline your
approximate monthly budget whilst on exchange: housing, food, textbooks, etc.
My parents supported my finance as the same as I was in the Netherlands. The living cost in Dublin is
much higher comparing to Tilburg. Accomadation is about 550 euro per month, which is the largest
part of my living expense, The price of food is almost the same in the supermarket, but much cheaper
and tasty comparing to the restaurant in Tilburg.
TOPIC: Culture
Did you experience culture shock while on exchange? How would you compare your host culture to
your own culture? What did you learn about your own culture while on exchange? What was different
about your host culture than you expected? What did you like and not like about your host culture? Do
you feel you learned a lot about your host culture, and if not, what would you like to learn more? How
would you describe your host countries culture? If you travelled to other cities/countries during your
exchange, were they different than your host city/country, and how?
Honestly, the culture in Ireland is not such different from the Netherlands. As I came to the
Netherlands two years ago and travelled a lot, I got used to the cultures in Europe. The Irish people
are more generous than the Dutch people in general. But there are more drunk people in the street
and they are annoying. Dutch people also drink a lot, but they never disturb others.
TOPIC: Personal development
What did you learn from the people you met during your exchange? Would you do things differently if
you had the chance, and what would you do differently? What was your best experience, and what
was your worst experience? What will you remember for ever about your exchange period? What was
the most important lesson you learned about yourself during your exchange period?
I met many nice people during my exchange period, Everyone has its advatages and I learned a lot. I
met many nice Russion people during my stay, we usually eat together and share lifes together. I
never have deep talks to any foreign friends and the exchange experience is very valuable for me to
met so many foreign friends.
TOPIC: Tips for future students
Would you recommend an exchange period? Would you recommend your host university? What
should prospective students bring with them/leave behind? What preparation is required for going on
exchange to this destination? Was there anything you should have done in preparation that you didn’t
do?
I will definitely recommend the exchange program since I gained a lot from it. Trinity College Dublin is
the best university in Ireland and its historical environment is really attractive. Just remember to bring
some gifts from your home country since you will meet many nice people there.
TOPIC: A picture is worth a thousand words
If you took any pictures or made any videos that you would like to share with future exchange
students, please include them (or e-mail them separately). Pictures that show your daily life or
symbolize your exchange period are especially interesting for future exchange students.