Students are able to receive letter-sized mail to the IES Abroad Center. Packages larger than that will not be accepted. If you are shipping a debit or credit card, we recommend that you disguise it as regular mail (i.e., put it in a birthday card or use a cardboard FedEx or UPS envelope). While you are free to receive mail addressed to you at the IES Abroad Center, it is best to receive letters and packages to your assigned housing address. There are staff available 24/7 at Beckett House to receive post. Post and packages are held at reception and can be collected at your convenience. Beckett...

Meeting Local People Making friends in the local community is often a main priority for students. It’s not always easy to meet people, especially people your own age—doing so will likely require initiative on your part and also courage and perseverance. Never hesitate to ask the staff at the Center for guidance—they will be glad to help you. Think about how you get involved at your home campus and seek out opportunities to do something similar while abroad—this is just one way you might meet people. Here are some examples of how previous students got involved in the local community (along with...

Estimated on-site expenses *All prices below are depicted in euros (€). Food & Drink Groceries per week, if you cook every meal at home 65 Breakfast at a restaurant 8 Lunch at a restaurant 10-15 Dinner at a restaurant 15-20 Soft drink 2.50-3 Coffee 3-4 Meal at a university dining facility 7 Housing Extra Linens (IES ABROAD Dublin provides one set for free) 25 - 30 Toiletries per Month 10-20 Laundry per load 5-6 per load; an average of 4 loads per month Social Activity & Entertainment Movie 8-10 Theater performance 10-60 Museum entry fee 0-25 Fitness club membership per MONTH 25-40 Dance club...

Currency The Irish monetary unit is the euro (€). For more information on the euro and related topics, visit the European Commission website. Handling Money Abroad Before departing, you should exchange about USD$200 into euros in order to cover immediate expenses. Euros can be purchased at large US banks, American Express offices, and at most international airports in the United States and abroad. In case of an emergency, however, you should have more than one way to access funds. The following guidelines will help you plan for financial management abroad. ATM When accessing a bank account...

Commuting Daily commuting using the city's extensive public transportation system is a reality for all who live in or near Dublin. Housing is in Dublin City Center; nearby major transportation stops. Housing is about a 45-minute walk or a 25-minute bus or LUAS ride to the IES Abroad Center depending on the locations of your classes, internships, or other daily responsibilities. Public Transportation Once you have learned to embrace the differences inherent in the Irish system, you will be well on your way to mastering the art of getting around on public transport within Dublin and Ireland! A...

Dublin weather varies all year round. It can be cold and rainy in late fall and early spring. Rainwear is a must and umbrellas are always useful. Permanent press clothing will have innumerable advantages, particularly when traveling. You will find that the usual campus clothing in the United States is quite acceptable in Dublin, although we recommend wearing jeans rather than sweatpants.

Electricity in Ireland operates at 240 volts (as opposed to 110 volts in the United States), which means you may need a transformer (USD$30 - USD$40) and an adapter in order to use electrical items purchased in the United States. DO NOT bring items such as hair dryers or straighteners, as these items will blow a fuse and can, instead, be purchased inexpensively in Dublin. Remember that an adapter does not transform the voltage. It only changes the shape of the plug. We urge you to conduct some research on adaptors, converters, and transformers for Ireland to find out what you need before you...