Frequently Asked Questions
- What is city of Dublin like?
- Will there be someone to meet us on arrival?
- What's the accommodation like?
- What course materials do I need?
- How much (approximately) money should we bring?
It really depends on your own tastes and standards! Dublin is quite an expensive city, but you can certainly get by very comfortably on a shoestring if you do your research. In terms of purchasing food, you will be provided with continental breakfast (tea/coffee/toast/cereal/fruit) but you're on your own after that.
There are a lot of cheap and cheerful restaurants catering to all tastes around the Temple Bar area where you will be staying and studying and there is also a very clean and tidy kitchen at your accommodation where you can cook for yourself.
Dublin can be quite an expensive city (ie. at least €5 for a bottle/pint of beer!) - bring your student card (an ISIC card is widely recognised) as you will get some discounts with it - you may even get commission-free banking (when exchanging cash/traveller cheques) also in some banks. Depending on your circumstances and tastes €25 / €30 a day should be enough for food/drink/necessities.
Obviously if you intend to travel outside of Dublin for weekends, there is that extra expense - USIT, the student travel people, are a 5 minute walk away from the school at O'Connell Bridge. If you want to buy souvenirs or any other mementos, you will need to budget more.
A word of caution here that is important to all of you - Dublin, like any city can be a dangerous place - don't do stupid things like walk around with tons of cash, stick with those you know at night, don't wander off the beaten/well-lit track etc. There are security boxes in Temple Bar House - please use them - bring travellers cheques and/or credit cards (with PIN).
Once you are enrolled on the course you will need to pay a €200 deposit which secures your place. Your full course fee will then be as advised by the school.
- Currency: Irish currency is euro (€)
- Budget: there are of course many predictable and unpredictable factors to consider when planning your trip. Below are some suggestions of what to consider for your budget
- Your course fee
- Your flights
- Your meals: the hostel provides a continental breakfast which is basically coffee and toast. The Gaiety School of Acting will also provide you with some basics for breakfasts such as cereal, yoghurt, fruit and milk. You will need to pay for your own lunches and dinners. As stated before the hostel has catering facilities so you can be frugal and make your own meals rather than eating out all the time. On average, you should assume that lunch will cost you €5-€10 each day and dinner will be €10-€20 (this of course depends on how expensive your tastes are so this would be a minimum)
- Socialising: a glass of wine/pint of beer cost approximately €5
- Night club entry can be approximately €5-€10.
- Cinema tickets are approximately €10
- Theatre tickets are approximately €20
- Internet cafés cost approximately €1-€2 per hour for computer usage
- Please be careful to have a contingency budget for emergencies.
- Don't forget that you will spend more than what you think! There will no doubt be clothes or souvenirs that you will really want so plan to have enough money for this too.
- Handling money - it is a good idea to change a small amount of money changed into euro for immediately on your arrival to cover your taxi/bus into the city and anything else you might need or want when you land.
- Best way to carry money: ATMs are all around the city. Make sure you can use your bank card overseas and that you know your PIN. Ask for a duplicate card in the event of losing one. Make sure you use a card linked to a current, not a savings account.
- Credit cards are widely accepted.
- Banking: banks are open from 10am-4pm Monday to Friday. You may get more access to a bureau to change in other places but you will be charged higher commission rates.
- How much performing will we be doing?
- What will a "typical" day be like?
- What date is the tuition due and how can I pay?
- Is this just for American students?
- Will I be safe in Dublin?
- What do I do next?? How do I book?
- What time zone is Dublin on?
- What do I need to do before I travel?
- How do I keep in touch with home?
- What do you suggest I pack?
- What can I do in my free time?
- I am a minority student - will I feel comfortable and safe in Dublin?
- What behavior is expected of me when I am with you?
- Tell me what's in the small print!
