My name is Benedek Kiss, and I am a student at the International Business School. In my third year, I had the unique opportunity to participate in a dual degree programme at Dublin Business School. This experience was particularly special because we were the first two students from our university to take part in this programme. This meant that we had limited information at the beginning, however I believed that the experience would be worth navigating the uncertainty.

Before moving to Dublin in September, we visited the city in August to assess the situation.

Fortunately, my fellow Hungarian student and I found a flat to share until the end of our studies. Our accommodation was 10 kilometres from the university, but we were able to use public transport day and night without changing lines. Compared to Budapest, Dublin is much smaller, making it easy to navigate the city centre, with everything within walking distance. The university is located on one of the busiest streets in the city centre, allowing us to spend time sightseeing or engaging in other activities after lectures.

At the university, our fellow students were extremely friendly and helpful, whether it was with academic tasks or everyday matters. Over the course of the year, I formed close friendships with two people whom I still rely on today. They have already visited me in Budapest, and we plan to take several trips together in the future. This is one of the greatest gifts a programme like this can offer: making new friends when you move to a distant country and cannot bring your friends and family with you.

At first, I was worried about how lost I would feel at the university, but luckily this never happened. The professors were incredibly supportive, always ready to answer our questions and explain things if needed. Classes ran smoothly and lectures were often followed by practical work in small groups, which made the daily routine even more interactive and facilitated communication and getting to know each other. It was fascinating to see how people from different cultures often shared the same opinions or had completely different perspectives. We studied alongside many students from Italy, Germany, France, and Spain, as well as from Brazil, China, Romania, and several other countries. The only strange thing was the length of the lessons: only 50-55 minutes, with 5–10-minute breaks. This was a challenge to get used to it at first.

Overall, in addition to learning, the programme has provided me with a wealth of experiences, opportunities, and connections, enriching my life. Spending two semesters abroad, has strengthened my desire for further international study. My Irish degree has also opened up many new opportunities for me. Today, I can't imagine my life without the experiences of the past year.