Have you ever considered studying in Ireland? That Harvard Girl interviewed Hedvig, a current first-year student at University College Dublin about her experiences.
Who are you and where do you study?
My name is Hedvig Mary Johansson, I’m 20 years old and I am a first-year undergraduate student at University College Dublin (UCD). I grew up in Helsinki, Finland and moved to Ireland in September 2022 for college. I study Health and Performance Science, which is a three-year Bachelor of Science degree consisting of sport performance, human health and science courses. Before university, I took a gap year, during which I was working full time. I am also a preliminary championship Irish dancer and athlete, who is passionate about all things fitness and wellness!
Why did you want to study Health and Performance Science at UCD?
I’ve known from a young age that I wanted to study in Ireland. Additionally, after I began Irish dancing it seemed like the best option for me, given that some of the best Irish dancing schools are based in Ireland.
When I was in secondary school I wanted to study psychology, specifically of sport, since as a competitive dancer I have had to work on my mindset a lot. However, after some research, I came across the Health and Performance science course at University College Dublin. We study subjects such as anatomy, physiology, strength and conditioning, sport psychology and coaching. Safe to say there’s a lot of variety which keeps the course very interesting!
As an athlete I immediately knew this would be the degree for me – it would surely help me advance my dancing career as well. I also found out that I would be able to continue on to do a Master’s degree in sport psychology after this course, which sealed the deal for me!
I chose University College Dublin firstly because this particular course and its modules seemed fascinating. Additionally, UCD is ranked one of the best universities in Ireland, so I had no doubt I would receive a good education here.
Can you walk us through the application process?
You apply through a system called Central Applications Office (CAO) which processes applications to all Irish universities. The application facility opens in early November and closes in early February. Applications are made online. You are able to apply to ten universities at once, and they have to be listed in order of preference. I only applied to three universities: University College Dublin, University of Limerick and Dublin City University. All three have a sport science course. I was lucky enough to get my first choice!
As an applicant with a foreign graduation diploma, I had to send copies and translations of my documents through the post from Finland to Ireland. Overall the application process is very easy. A step-by-step guide to making an application can be found on the CAO website!
What are your days like at university?
When it comes to classes, every day is different. Some days I might not have any lectures or labs, on other days I might be at college from 9am to 6pm. However, it’s a relief since there’s a lot of reading to do, so on the days when I have no classes I can just focus on studying and catching up on previous lectures.
I like to wake up quite early and go to the gym before my classes. Not only do I get my day started off efficiently, but it also saves time – I’ll have the rest of the day to do college work and spend time with my friends!
I have dance classes every Tuesday and Thursday evening, and in addition I would sometimes have an extra practice or a private class on the weekend.
If I’m not in college, at a dance class or the gym, I’d usually be spending time with my friends or housemates, taking a walk, doing chores or just relaxing at home.
How has it been moving and living abroad in Ireland?
I had been planning the move for a long time so I’d like to say I was well prepared for it. However, no matter how well you plan, the mental challenges that follow from uprooting your life and moving to another country will take you by surprise!
The first few months were definitely tough. I was experiencing quite a bit of homesickness, and since everything was new – my environment, apartment, school, friends, dance school, and day-to-day life – it was very energy-consuming getting used to it all. However, when I began getting into a new routine and making new friends, life became much more enjoyable. Especially after spending Christmas in Finland, it was easier to return to Ireland than it first was in September. Now I’m definitely enjoying college life to the fullest!
What are the best things you have experienced at university?
Firstly, I’m very lucky to be studying something I am passionate about. My courses are interesting, I have a lot of motivation to study and I’m beyond excited for my future career. I’d say that is definitely one of the best things I have and continue to experience here!
Secondly, I’m lucky to have formed so many good friendships in college. It’s very fulfilling to be surrounded by people who share similar interests with me. I also get along well with my three housemates – our house really feels like home. This has helped ease homesickness!
What about challenges?
The very start of the academic year was definitely the most challenging period of my life. I had to get used to all the life changes I was experiencing, all the while having a lot to study. But luckily that phase is now in the past, and I can definitely say I learned a lot from it!
A challenge I continue to face (just like every college student) is obviously the fact that I have to study all the time to keep up! Initially, it really took me by surprise how fast-paced college is. However, I think a big part of it is my degree being only three years, as opposed to Bachelor’s degrees usually being four years in Ireland.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years time I’ve hopefully acquired a Master’s degree and will be working in a fulfilling job with lots of opportunities to succeed. Whatever career path I’ll be on, I’m already quite sure it will have something to do with sport psychology and athlete mindset training!
When it comes to Irish dancing, as a 26-year-old I’ll possibly have already retired from competing. However, I might be performing in some dance shows, and hopefully I’ll have obtained a registered Irish dance teacher’s certificate. Possibly even that of a certified competition adjudicator.
So, whatever I’ll eventually choose to do, it’s evident I will be working in the sports field!
What advice would you give someone who is about to apply to the same program?
Firstly, as this is only a three-year course, the workload can feel overwhelming at times since there is a lot of science and theory to study in a smaller amount of time. Therefore I’d highly recommend figuring out what the most efficient study techniques are for yourself. As soon as you’re using techniques that work for you and have learned the basics of every subject, studying gets easier and becomes more interesting!
I have to add, even though I am an athlete myself and so are multiple others in my programme, that’s in no way a requirement to study sport sciences. We study multiple different subjects, so there’s surely something for everyone to enjoy, athlete or not.
I’d also make sure to look into possible career paths you might want to take after this course. Health and Performance Science graduates can find employment in sport consultancy, health promotion, education and research, professional athlete or team support, strength and conditioning or exercise physiology, and are also eligible to apply for MSc and PhD programmes in the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science.
So, as long as you are interested in sports, sciences, human health or athlete coaching, you will definitely enjoy this program!
If you are interested in studying abroad, check out other posts on this site, such as Why Study Abroad? International Students Answer, and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter!