My journey at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) started 2 years ago, when I received a full scholarship from the Irish Aid Fellowship to study the Master in Management program in 2018. After more than 10 years of working hard in different Marketing and Management positions, this opportunity gave me the time I needed to take a break from my work, to refresh and build a stronger foundation for my future. And what Ireland had offered me within one year was beyond my expectation, with TCD as a home for wonderful experiences and a cornerstone for my career development.
The 1937 Postgraduate Reading Room
An excellent experience
For over 400 years, the gorgeous campus of TCD stands strong at the heart of Dublin and keeps attracting people from all over the world to visit. Being a student, I had the chance to see every day what tourists need to travel thousands of miles to see for a couple of hours. Moreover, the student perks allow me to go and see the Book of Kells and The Long Library as many times as I want, for free. In addition, I could invite several friends to come with me, without any fee too. The privileges also include taking a deeper look at the hidden Museum Building and having lunch at the beautiful Dining Hall almost every week. And it is worth mentioning that TCD is the place to have a full (and delicious) Irish Breakfast with less than 7 euro, coffee and bread included. Visiting the campus every day had been a wonderful experience for me, and a constant reminder of how grateful I should be for this life.
The beauty of TCD Museum Building
Beauty aside, the school also provides us with a plethora of support. From the step-by-step guide for the newcomers, to the free mental health services, to the frequent meet ups and training to everybody who might need help with networking or learning the necessary skills for colleges. And there are more than 100 clubs and societies for us to join, make friends, have fun, and learn together. My number one society was the Trinity Hiking. And I had wonderful trips with other members to beautiful places such as Howth and Glendalough.
One of many gorgeous scenes of TCD in Spring
Last but not least, especially for avid readers, TCD has the largest book collection in Ireland. As a student, I could borrow so many valuable books to read and had access to helpful journal collections. They helped me tremendously when I had to do my literature review for the dissertation. Moreover, TCD’s library system includes many facilities such as Berkeley, Lecky & Ussher Libraries, Hamilton Library, Kinsella Hall, and the 1937 Postgraduate Reading Room. Apart from hosting some specific book subjects, those libraries have distinct vibes. And it is such a bliss to try studying at different places to refresh the mood, especially during the examination periods.
Do you know that TCD has the largest library in Ireland
A strong foundation
As the first and oldest university in Ireland, TCD remains the leading university in the nation. And I strongly believe that its world-class education has transformed me from the inside out. The courses I took were practical and highly applicable to the real world. It’s been two years since my graduation, yet I still use very frequently the knowledge and skills that I gained from courses such as Negotiation and Entrepreneurship and achieve remarkable results. I came to TCD with more than 10 years of experience, and had already co-founded and managed 4 businesses. But only after finishing the program have I had the confidence and competencies to be an effective CEO. Thanks to what I learned, I was able to navigate my company through the pandemic storm, and let it survive and thrive.
Practical Seminars with world class guest speakers
By interacting with people from all over the world and with younger classmates, I had the chance to hone my communication skills. I learned to listen better, observe more thoroughly, and sell my ideas more convincingly. And those skills are essential to my current and future workplace, when the new generations are taking over, and when we are working with more international customers.
International and practical group projects
An additional benefit of studying in a diverse classroom is a broadened vision. I want to play bigger games, with talented people worldwide, not just the ones that I feel comfortable with. As a result, my company has been pivoted to serve the international market. And the network that I had built from my time in TCD has been proving to be useful when I can reach out to my former classmates for their support.
The Front Square of TCD with its iconic Campanile
Is TCD worth the investment, in terms of both money and time? My answer is definitely “YES!”. It gave me an amazing year and a solid foundation for future success. I would highly recommend anyone who wishes to study in Ireland to research and reach out to the university via their digital channels below.
Website: https://www.tcd.ie/
