Are you as clear about your study-abroad plans as Navneet?

Studying abroad is no doubt a life-changing experience, that can be exhilarating and daunting at the same time. Learning from the experiences of others who have navigated the challenges of studying abroad and thriving in foreign countries can inspire you to pursue your dreams. Their insights and perspectives are invaluable. That is precisely why we (Hotcourses India) took the initiative to bring you stories from students currently studying at universities around the world!

Meet Navneet, a driven and focused student who knows what he wants and works tirelessly to achieve his goals.

He painstakingly researched universities and courses, finally narrowing down on Dublin City University in Ireland, to study his favourite subject – Finance. (Masters in Finance)MSC Finance.

(Dublin City University ranks among the top 500 universities in the world according to both the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 and QS World University Rankings 2023. DCU is one of the most popular universities among Indian students in Ireland).

Navneet is from Calcutta, with roots in the southern states of our country. He has always had a passion for numbers and a fascination with the stock market, M&A and related fields. His story of growing from an introverted person to being the student ambassador at DCU is nothing less than inspiring. Considering his fervour and eagerness for finance and related topics, it’s possible that in the future he may become one of the popular and prominent finance experts on social media!

We don’t want to pressure you – but, if there is one thing that we learned from Navneet about planning our studies abroad, it is the importance of being as clear about our aim as possible. We asked him all the questions that you might want to ask a student who has first-hand experience of studying abroad.

Here goes the excerpts from the interview that Hotcourses India had with Navneet:

What motivated you to pursue your studies in a foreign country? Was it your decision to study abroad or did you have somebody guiding you?
It was entirely my decision to pursue my studies abroad. I was determined to do my master's in Finance. I also wanted to complete it in 1 year. But most masters and MBA courses in India are 2 years courses. However, I discovered that universities in the UK and Ireland offer 1-year master's courses. I also had a good friend of mine already studying in Ireland. He recommended it as a good place to study. After extensive research, I narrowed down my options to a few colleges in different countries and eventually picked DCU. I also considered the fact that the scope for finance was higher in Ireland than in India.

Did you struggle to convince your friends and family to let you study abroad?
After conducting my research, and sending in my application, I told my parents about my decision to study abroad. My parents thought that I was joking! But after realizing that I was serious, they asked me to get them more information about the course, the fee, and the destination. I checked with my parents whether it will be feasible for them to support my education. It took them a while to process the fact that I’ll be going abroad to study, but they were pretty happy that I took the initiative, and they supported me a lot.

Regarding my friends – some of them did ask me why I picked Dublin of all places. I was open to feedback and suggestions, but deep down I know that the decision should ultimately be mine. I had my parents supporting me. So, I didn’t pay heed to the discouraging questions that came my way.

Well, Navneet did a good job selling his ideas to his parents and bringing them on board with his plans!

What support, advice and guidance did you get as you embarked on your study-abroad journey?
I had a friend who was already studying in Ireland and he briefed me on the opportunities available in Ireland. He suggested that I should definitely explore the possibility of studying in Ireland. He also suggested I do the research and take the call. He was always available to answer any questions that I had, especially because I didn’t know much about Dublin City. It took me 2 – 2.5 weeks to do thorough research and learn more about the place, the universities and the courses. I also compared the courses available in Ireland with those offered by universities in the UK.

What did you find easy and what was difficult during the process of planning your studies abroad?
The application process which I thought would be very difficult, turned out to be very easy and straightforward. If you have all the documents in order and a solid SOP, it should be easy to submit your application to universities.

The difficult or tricky part was the visa. I had heard stories of visa rejections and I didn’t want to go through the stress of dealing with that. I knew that I have to invest my time and effort to get everything done. Fortunately, I had the full support of my parents – who provided me with the necessary financial documents, bank statements, ITR documents, payslips and so on. It was important that I gave them enough time to sort out all the required paperwork.

How long did the process take for you?
My intake was in September. I had read enough articles that said that the application should be sent in as early as one can. So, I applied in the month of October of the previous year. I got my offer letter in December. It was a conditional offer letter as I did not have my degree certificate in hand owing to the pandemic. After I supplied the degree certificate within one month, I received an unconditional offer letter from the university.

Once I received the final offer letter, I began the visa application process – which was around March/April. It takes around 4 weeks to get a decision on your visa. I wanted to make sure I had enough buffer time just in case my visa gets rejected and I had to apply again. As with the university application, if you have all the necessary documents in order, the visa application process will also go smoothly.

Regarding visas - in case a student’s visa gets rejected and his/her classes are about to begin, what can they do?
The first step is to inform the university or your programme chair about the rejection and request an extension of your joining date. There were situations where candidates joined the class one month late and in such cases, the lecturers and professors will be available to help you catch up with the missed classes.

What has life been like since you arrived in Ireland?
It has been an absolute rollercoaster! It is a new country, culture and people and you are away from home. It is challenging that way and there will definitely be ups and downs. But overall, it has been an amazing experience!

I arrived in Ireland a month before my classes began. The initial months were filled with fun and excitement. But after a month or two, the reality of being away from home begins to hit you. I have stayed in hostels before, so I didn’t have to struggle much with homesickness. But then again, while in hostels back in India, I knew my parents were a couple of hours away by air or a few hours away by train. There was a certain level of comfort in knowing that they are easily accessible. But that’s not the case when you move to a different country. It is a different ball game altogether. But eventually, we learn to adjust and adapt.

Is it easy to find part-time jobs in Ireland?
The best way to cope with homesickness is to keep yourself occupied. I started looking for part-time jobs as soon as I arrived. I had decided that I wanted to work in the hotel industry. I opted for the unconventional way of looking for part-time jobs – I just picked up the phone and called all the hotels asking if they had a job. I landed a job and have been with that hotel for the last 8 months. I work there during the weekends.

It is not easy to start your part-time work, as you need all your documents to begin with. You’ll need to register with GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau), and get your IRP card, PPS Number etc.

You also have to make a resume specifically for part-time jobs. An MNC work experience might not add value to your resume while seeking part-time jobs. But if you have been working with an NGO, that might help.

Networking is also key in finding jobs. Growing your contacts can come in handy during situations like these.

How is the academic life in Ireland? How did the campus welcome you?
Academic life is good. We have a beautiful campus and a huge library. You have ample space to sit down and have discussions with your friends and classmates. Campus life has been fantastic, with the opportunity to meet and interact with people from all over the world. The culture at DCU is indeed very diverse!

What type of facilities does your university offer?
The university has facilities for almost all indoor and outdoor sports. We have several clubs and societies on campus, such as the Dance Society, Erasmus Society, Postgraduate Student Society and the Investment Society. Literally, every department has a society. There is a huge Indian society too.

You just have to take your own initiative and join these societies. I am part of the ESN Student Network, and I am the Events Manager. There is no shortage of events to be part of, once you join these clubs or societies.

What about the career support offered by DCU?
We have a careers team at DCU. They guide you and inform you about job opportunities. They arrange visits by reputed companies and encourage students to interact with them. It is not like the placement cells in India – the Careers team do not help you land a job. Instead, they help you with interviews, CVs, resumes, upskilling etc. They help you network.

What were your expectations before you reached Ireland?
I only had expectations about the campus and my academic life, and I am happy to say that those expectations were met. The curriculum and course structure were just as I anticipated. As for everything else - I knew I was coming to a new place. I left the rest to unfold naturally. I knew it was going to be a dynamic experience. So, I just tried to adjust and adapt accordingly.

Is it easy to find accommodation in Dublin?
Thanks to my friend here, I had my accommodation sorted even before arriving in Dublin. There are student accommodations on campus. Though limited, the on-campus accommodation is great – the rooms are amazing and offer the convenience of living close to your classrooms! But it could be a bit expensive too. It could cost you around £850 per month.
DCU has tie-ups with other student accommodations too. If you do not manage to get accommodation, you can even try the websites, daft.ie or rent.ie. These platforms help you find a home in Ireland. If it fits your requirements and budget, you can trigger an email to the landlord, and they will get back to you to schedule a viewing of the property. If both your interests align, they’ll be happy to rent you the space. There are homestays and individual apartments or individual homes too. You can also find accommodation with host families.

It is comparatively difficult to find accommodation in Dublin, but never impossible.

Did you get to enjoy the Irish culture and community?
The culture is amazing. It is very different, especially for someone coming from a place like India. The people are very welcoming and warm. They have a very chilled-out life. I am waiting for my course to get over and then explore the countryside. There are several beautiful places, especially suitable for hiking. Dublin is an infotech hub. So you get to enjoy the best of both worlds in Ireland.

What do you miss about India while studying in Ireland?
I miss the fortune of having a car back home. I do not find the transport system in Ireland to be very convenient.
I miss home food and I miss my family and friends back home. I am miserable at cooking, but I’m planning to get better at it. I’m on the path to learning cooking at least the basics.

How long are your classes?
It depends on the modules, exams, assignments etc. Sometimes, we have classes from 9 to 6 with 2 hours of class and 1-hour breaks in between. We have a website, where we can check the schedules. If any changes are being made to the set schedule, our coordinators will get in touch with our class representative, who will in turn convey the information through email or WhatsApp. That has never been a problem for us. We get to know about the changes a week in advance.

Do you have people of other nationalities studying with you?
80% of my classmates are Indians! It is a very competitive course. 20% of others are people from different countries of the world. But I get to meet more people from other countries through the clubs and societies that I am part of.

What is the cost of living in Dublin? Is it reasonable?
Dublin is a bit of an expensive place. Cooking yourself can save you some money. Eating out can burn a hole in your pocket. However, it also depends on the type of food you choose to have. Fancy food will cost you fancy money! You can have a normal meal for 10-11 euros.

How is the weather?
I struggled with the weather in Ireland initially. It is a bit extreme and unexpected. The best time of the year is when you have the sun. When coming from a place like India, it is difficult to adjust to the cold. But you have to adapt to it. I am not a huge fan of the food here, But there are Indian restaurants and Asian stores to make you feel like you are back in India. There are a lot of Indians too; you often hear people talking in Indian regional languages.

How has studying abroad changed your perspectives about yourself and the world around you?
My experiences in school and college in India moulded me into the people-person that I am now. In a place like Ireland, you need to have friends and support systems to survive. Being an introvert will not work in your favour.

Do you have any advice for your juniors or the new international students who are going to come there for classes?

• I would tell them – Don’t stress. I have seen people taking so much stress planning their studies abroad. But also, don’t keep things to the last minute. Do not keep multiple options open. Narrowing down to one country and later to one city would be better.
• You should have time to prepare for everything.
• There might be hundreds of people to give you advice and suggestions. But at the end of the day, you are the decision maker. Do not go blindly by other people’s choices. Do your research and take your call.
• If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact the university or university alumni.

What are your plans or ambitions?
I am waiting to see how it goes. Obviously, I don’t plan on settling here. I do want to work for a few years and gain some experience. I’ll be applying for jobs in the EU or the UK. I want to see where I can be a right fit.

We hope you enjoyed learning about Navneet’s experiences and how he faced the challenges that came his way. Our goal, in line with Navneet’s intentions – is to provide you with valuable information and insights, that would help you make informed decisions about your own study abroad journey!