International Students

International Students

WIT welcomes a wide variety of international students from all over the globe! International students are an amazing way of learning different cultures and practices. Being an international student allows you to experience life in a different country and learn new things but it can also be a very daunting experience. Here are some quick tips and usual information for international students. If you need any more help or information you can contact the INTERNATIONAL OFFICE on 051 302724.

Languages
While Irish is the first official language of the Republic, English is the first language of the majority of the population outside the Gaeltachtaí.

Weather

Ireland has a mild, temperate climate with summer temperatures ranging from 16-20 degrees Celsius. In winter temperatures rarely drop below freezing point, but it can feel quite cold because of frequent rain and wind. A rain jacket is a must in Ireland because no matter what the season you are sure to see some rain!

Time

Ireland observes Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in the winter. However, Irish summer time is GMT plus 1 hour. The dates of change are the last Sunday of March and October. The clock goes forward by an hour in March and back by an hour in October.

Public Holidays

There are 9 public holidays (called Bank Holidays) in the year. These are composed of the first Mondays in May, June and August and the last Monday in October, plus New Year's Day, St. Patrick's Day (17th March), Easter Monday, Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day (26th December). Any dates which fall on a weekend will carry over to the Monday following.

Telephone Services

Mobile phones are widely used in Ireland and phone companies offer both pay-as-you go and monthly contract plans. It is important to shop around and to understand exactly what the costs will be. Mobile phones can be expensive for international calls so phone cards and call centres may offer alternatives:
Call Centres: some Internet cafes now have phone booths where you can make cheap long distance phone calls. Normally you are given a rate per minute and you pay when you have completed your call.
International Phone cards: these come in different values and are sold widely in newsagents. Call prices per minute can seem very low but it is important to check the small print for connection charges. Cards are best used from a landline phone as as they are usually more expensive when used from a public telephone box.

Smoking Regulations

Smoking is forbidden in enclosed places of work in Ireland. This includes office blocks, various buildings (including cinemas, theatres etc), public houses/bars, restaurants and company vehicles (cars and vans).Smoking is also prohibited on public transport e.g. buses, trains.

http://www.icosirl.ie/student_information
http://www.wit.ie/International/international.pdf