<p>I'm sorry to post this here but I did see the thread about sending kids abroad in this forum. Has anyone sent their children to Dublin to study for a year? Anyone studied at Trinity College, Dublin? If so, How was their experience? If I could ask the same of parents who have sent their children to study at the Univ of Edinburgh, that would be fantastic. How do the cities compare? </p>
<p>Thanks,
Fred</p>
<p>I lived in Dublin for almost a decade. Been to Edinburgh many times, but never lived there. Did not go to Trinity. Went to UCD instead. As far as cities go: They are both nice and safe. Public transport is mainly by bus in both. Both also have many museams and cultural events. There is also a big nightlife in both.</p>
<p>As far as the unis go. I would say they are at the same level.</p>
<p>Any more specific questions</p>
<p>Are they of similar size? Equally expensive? I know people talk about the north/south-side divide or they used to in Dublin. How pronounced is the difference? I find huge cities a bit overwhelming. This is a rookie question but I know that Trinity College is a constiutient college of UCD. But, does that mean that Trinity is a separate school from UCD? As in they are separate entities? </p>
<p>What would you say is distinct about both cities and/or the people? What is the flavor of one versus the other? Would you recommend one over the other?</p>
<p>What did you study at UCD? How was your experience? </p>
<p>Do UCD and Trinity offer on-campus housing/meals? [typical American here] I believe I had read that UCD had housing available but it was say 3 miles away from the city? </p>
<p>Clearly I'm confused</p>
<p>Thanks for your help
Fred</p>
<p>Dear Fred,</p>
<p>Trinity College and UCD are two different universities. Trinity is actualy part of the University of Dublin. There was a plan 500 years ago to make the university of Dublin like oxbridge, with many different colleges. However, only trinity was built and therefore the University of Dublin and Trinity College are the same thing. </p>
<p>UCD was set up 150 years ago by Cardinal Newman as a uni where Catholics could go to receive a higher education as they were banned form Trinity. </p>
<p>Trinity college is in the centre of the city (south side of the river). While UCD is located about 15 minutes away by car in Irelands most affluent Suburb.</p>
<p>People always talk about the differences between the south and north. The South is a richer area in general than the north. However, there are affluent areas and poor ones at each side of the river.</p>
<p>Regarding accomodation both UCD and Trinity have them on campus. I don't believe you can buy a meal deal like in the USA but both unis have several restaurants where you can eat all 3 meals.</p>
<p>I studies social sciences and spanish at UCD and I am now in the UK doing a masters. </p>
<p>As far as size Dublin is bigger than Edinburgh but not by much. Dublin is probably abit more expensive than Edinburgh.</p>
<p>As far as the size of unis. Uni of Ed and TCD are about the same size. However, Trinity is contained to a campus,</p>
<p>Once again, thank you for your time in detailing these significant distinctions. How was your time at UCD? I am considering an application to study Aggression Studies or Ecunemetrics at Trinity but I don't think I have the necessary background for the latter. </p>
<p>Do you have any thoughts about the Film School at the National University of Galway or, living in Galway for a year? Too small? </p>
<p>Thanks for walking me through my confusion</p>
<p>Best,
Fred</p>
<p>I really liked my time at UCD. Good place and education. Ver big though. ABour 20.000 students and a huge campus.</p>
<p>If you are going for film studies in ireland go for UCD. Galway is nice for a weekend but would not like to live there full time.</p>
<p>psmyth000, are you still around these boards? </p>
<p>i am an american college student from right outside of new york city, deciding between studying abroad in dublin and edinburgh for this coming spring. i'm looking for a rich, cultural, fast-paced city feel - similar to NYC. as a musician, the celebration of the arts will be essential. i'm looking for old dive bars, skinny/winding streets, and great live music. as a philosophy/english major, a certain degree of overall "intellectualness" is required, too. still, though, i'm focused primarily on a multicultural, fast-paced, exciting city experience.</p>
<p>any advice or ideas regarding the differences between dublin and edinburgh in the above-mentioned areas would be beyond appreciated. thank you so incredibly much!!!</p>
<p>I would classy both as having dive bars amd having a medium passe of life. Both are somewhat multicultural, but not to NYC's extent.</p>
<p>But if you want somewhere more like NYC, maybe you should looka t London.</p>