Learning English and finding Student Accommodation in Dublin

Finding somewhere to live in Dublin

You’ve managed to get a place in an English course, you’re halfway there! All you need to do now is find student accommodation in Dublin. This can be a tricky business in Dublin, as it’s a small city with a lot of people. Don’t panic though, if you follow these golden rules you should have no problem finding a place to stay in Dublin whether your stay is short or long term.

 

1. Find out the location of your school, and the transport options around it! Dublin has plenty of transport options… trains, buses, trams, etc… but in general you want accommodation that’s not too far from the school so you can sleep in, just a little!
2. Don’t make any payments to private landlords before you arrive! It’s advised not to hand over any of your money until you’ve arrived at the apartment, even if it does look like an MTV Crib! If it seems too good to be true, it probably is! Generally if your looking for private rental, its best to get a hostel or hotel for a week or two and then start looking once your here. Here are a few websites for finding student accommodation in Dublin: http://www.daft.ie/, http://www.rent.ie/, http://myhome.ie
3. Look at dedicated student accommodation options in Dublin. Private student residences are popping up all over Dublin in recent years. The majority of them are centrally located and have excellent amenities such as gyms, laundry, games and study areas, and their own social calendars! They can be a slightly pricier option, but you’ll save a lot on transport and taxis! They’re especially handy if you’re coming for the Summer months when Irish students finish up college and there are loads of rooms. Here’s a list of the best ones in Dublin:         https://apartostudent.com/, https://unineststudents.ie/locations/dublin/, https://www.livstudent.com/
4. Know your budget! Student accommodation in Dublin, in fact, all accommodation in Dublin is expensive, especially in the city centre. So do look at the outskirts and commuter towns, you’ll get a lot more value for your money. Dun Laoghaire, Kilbarrack, Blackrock, Stoneybatter and Dundrum are cheaper options.  
5. Consider a host family! Most English Language schools offer the option of staying with a host family. This is great and affordable option where you will be able to practice English both in the classroom and at home and make long lasting relationships so you may have somewhere to stay if you ever come back to visit!

 

Why come to Dublin?

If you’re coming from abroad to learn English and can’t yet decide where to go here’s a list of reasons why Dublin should be your first choice!

• The Irish like to talk! Irish people are known for being some of the friendliest people in Europe, and love a bit of ‘banter’ or ‘craic’ which you’ll find in any pub or bar across the city at any given time. So if you’re looking to get speaking English outside the classroom there’s plenty of opportunity to go out and practice and enjoy a night out!
• There’s loads to do! You can visit one of Europe’s largest city centre parks Phoenix Park, home of Dublin Zoo, the President’s house and also home to plenty of wild deer!
• Dublin is also home to the Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery both of which do tours and you’ll also get a free pint of Guinness or whiskey drink.
• If you’re a culture vulture, Dublin city centre boasts one of the Europe’s most prestigious universities – Trinity College – which is home to the Book of Kells and the Renaissance Marsh’s Library opened in 1701. There are also countless galleries and museums both modern such as the The Irish Museum of Modern Art and historic venues such as the Natural History Museum.
• The nightlife is great, whether you’re a club goer or prefer bars and pubs, you’re in luck, as almost every second or third building in Dublin is one of them. There’s Temple Bar which is the main hub for pubs in Dublin, but it’s pricey and very tourist focussed. If you want to find the places with the best drinks promotions and live acts for each night download the app ‘Dublin Pub Finder’ and it’ll do the hard work for you! Nightclubs such as ‘District 8’, ‘The Button Factory’ and ‘Tengu’ often have some of the best international DJ’s playing.
• Dicey’s Bar on Harcourt Street also does great student drink deals, get there early though, because it fills up fast and the queue can be long.
• There is loads of great coastal hikes. Dublin is a coastal city, and there’s plenty of great seaside towns such as Howth where you can walk Howth Head and eat in some of the best Fish and Chip shops in Dublin. Dun Laoghaire is also a great seaside town with popular swimming spots such as the 40ft as well as a Wetherspoons overlooking the harbour which sells ridiculously cheap booze! They also have a great market in the People’s Park every Sunday.
• Job Opportunities! Dublin is a very multicultural city, with many multinational companies such as Google, Microsoft and Accenture having their headquarters based here! If you’ve got English on top of your native language many of these companies look for multilingual employees for a variety of roles and often offer great perks and sometimes even provide accommodation. Looking for work can be daunting when you’re not fluent yet in English, but its not at all as difficult as you might think. Everest Language School offers all students help writing and reviewing their CV’s and a great blog you can check out is a from Spanish native Sofia J. Valls who gives great advice on finding work in Dublin when you’re not a native English speaker – you can check it out at http://www.vivirytrabajarendublin.com

 

What accommodation does Everest Language School offer?

 

Everest offers three different types of student accommodation in Dublin.

 

1. The first is host families, where you can stay in either a single room (€200 per week if you come alone, or €185 per week for a twin room if you come with a friend). As mentioned before this is a great way to speak English outside of the classroom! Host families are also half-board meaning you get your breakfast and dinner provided for you each day. Families are generally located about 30-40 minutes from the school on public transport.
2. If you are looking for somewhere closer to the school, budget friendly and looking to have more of a social experience with other students outside of the classroom, Everest also offers a hostel option. Our hostel partners can give you everything from a bed in a 12 bed dorm to a four bedroom dorm.
3. Last but not least, is the shared apartment option. We offer accommodation in shared student apartments located about 20 to 30 mins from the City Centre by public transport. Shared rooms and private rooms are available.

 

Whether you decide to book accommodation with Everest or not, you can always contact a member of the team and they will advise you on finding accommodation in Dublin for your stay!