For UCD international students

Made it to Dublin. Now what?

Built by UCD students who figured it out the hard way. IRP appointments, PPSN, bank accounts, Leap cards, finding people who actually get it. So you don't have to.

Find your people ✦

@ucdconnect.ie completely free no sign-up spam

Your first weekDublin

Book IRP appointment

do this before you land

Get a Leap card

airport or newsagent

Apply for PPSN

needed for work & tax

Open AIB account

fully online, ~1 week

Get a SIM (try 48)

€12/mo unlimited 5G

2 of 5 done, keep going ✦

Built by and for students of

UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

international students at UCD

countries represented on campus

0 things

nobody tells you when you arrive

Know before you go

How well do you know Dublin?

Six questions on the things that actually matter when you arrive. IRP, transport, Irish slang, and more. Finish the quiz and we will tell you exactly what to do next.

Takes 90 seconds

Each answer comes with a real tip

No sign-in required

🎯

How ready are you for Dublin?

6 quick questions about life in Dublin and UCD. Takes about 90 seconds. Actually useful.

IRPPPSNTransportIrish slangBankingCampus

The stuff nobody tells you

Your first week in Dublin, sorted.

IRP, PPSN, bank account, Leap card, SIM. Every YouTube guide mentions them. None of them explain exactly how to do it, what order to do it in, or what trips people up. This does.

IRP Registration

The Irish Residence Permit is the most time-sensitive thing on this list. Book your appointment online before you even arrive. Appointments fill up fast. Leave it too late and you could be waiting months.

IRP proves your legal right to be in Ireland. You need it to work part-time, open certain accounts, and apply for some services. The appointment system is through the Irish Immigration Service.

1
Go to irishimmigration.ie and create an account on the booking portal before you travel.
2
Book your IRP appointment slot. Pick the earliest available date, even if it is weeks away.
3
Arrive in Ireland. Your countdown (90 days) starts from your entry date.
4
Bring your passport, acceptance letter, proof of accommodation, and proof of finances to the appointment.
5
Your IRP card will be posted to your address within a few weeks.

Tip: You can book the appointment before you land. This is the single biggest time-saver. Most students don't know this and end up in a 2 to 3 month queue.

PPSN: Your Tax Number

Your Personal Public Service Number is Ireland's version of a national tax ID. You need it to work legally, claim tax credits, and access some public services. It's free to get.

Think of PPSN as your identity number for anything government-related in Ireland: work, tax, and certain benefits. Without it, any employer legally can't pay you.

1
Go to mywelfare.ie and create a MyWelfare account.
2
Apply for a PPSN online. You will need your passport and proof of address in Ireland.
3
You may be asked to attend an appointment at your local Intreo / Department of Social Protection office.
4
Your PPSN is posted to your address. Keep it safe. You will use it for everything.

Tip: mywelfare.ie is the official government portal. Don't pay any third-party service to do this. It is completely free.

Bank Account: AIB

You'll need an Irish bank account to receive wages, pay rent, and set up direct debits. AIB is the most student-friendly option. You can open an account entirely on your phone in about 20 minutes.

AIB (Allied Irish Banks) has a free current account for students and you can verify your identity via a short video call in the app. No branch visit needed.

1
Download the AIB Mobile app and start the account opening process.
2
Have your passport ready for identity verification.
3
Complete the video verification call in the app. Takes about 5 minutes.
4
Enter your Irish address. A one-time code will be posted to that address.
5
Enter the code in the app. Your account details and debit card arrive by post within about a week.

Tip: You need an Irish address to apply. If you're in student accommodation, use that address. Your card arrives separately. You can use your account details to receive money before the card arrives.

Leap Card: Get It Day One

A Leap card is a reloadable travel card for Dublin buses, the DART train, and the Luas tram. Around €2 per journey, and trips under 90 minutes are free if you change between buses. Get the student version for 50% off.

A regular Leap card costs €5 to buy. The Student Leap card gives you 50% off all fares: €2 becomes €1. You need your student ID and UCD email to qualify.

1
Pick up a regular Leap card at the airport, any newsagent, or a Leap vendor (€5, includes €0 credit).
2
Top it up immediately. You can do this at the newsagent or at Luas/DART machines.
3
Go to leapcard.ie to register and upgrade to a Student Leap card using your UCD student ID.
4
Your upgraded card is posted to you within a week. In the meantime, use the regular card.

Tip: Always tap on AND tap off when using the Leap card on Dublin Bus. If you forget to tap off, you will be charged the maximum fare for that route.

SIM Card: Go with 48

You need a working Irish number as soon as possible. Banks, IRP offices, and landlords all ask for it. 48 is one of the cheapest options: around €12 to 13 a month for unlimited 5G data, calls, and texts.

48 is a prepay provider that runs on the Three network, which has strong 5G coverage across Dublin including the UCD campus.

1
Pick up a 48 SIM at any newsagent, Tesco, or the 48 website (free SIM, or delivered by post).
2
Insert the SIM and activate it at 48.ie. Takes about 3 minutes.
3
Top up €12–13 online and select the monthly 5G bundle.
4
Set up auto-top-up so it renews automatically each month.

Tip: Other decent options: GoMo (€9.99/month, unlimited everything), Vodafone PAYG, or Three prepay. 48 and GoMo are consistently the cheapest for students.

Important: Information here is for guidance only and was accurate at the time of writing. Always verify current requirements at the official government websites. Rules do change. When in doubt, ask your international student office at UCD.

✦ by the numbers

The reality of arriving

Data drawn from UCD student union reports, the OECD International Student Experience study (2024), and Wellforward's own onboarding interviews. These numbers are why Wellforward exists.

Biggest week-one challenges

Finding accommodation68%

Understanding IRP / immigration61%

Opening a bank account54%

Feeling socially isolated49%

Navigating public transport38%

Directional estimates - Wellforward founder interviews & UCD SU surveys. Not a formal study.

Smurfit intake by region

100students

Asia Pacific

South Asia

Americas

Europe

Africa/ME

Approximate - based on publicly available UCD international admissions data 2024/25

“I wish I'd known more about…”

% of students who felt underprepared in each area on arrival

Directional estimates - Wellforward founder interviews, not a formal survey

~65%

of college students report feeling lonely (Active Minds, 2024) ↗

1 in 3

international students cite accommodation as their #1 arrival challenge (OECD, 2024) ↗

9.5%

of international students present with social isolation vs 6.7% of domestic students (CCMH, 2023) ↗

The bar chart and radar data are directional estimates based on Wellforward founder interviews and UCD SU research - not from a formal survey. The three statistics above are from published third-party sources linked above.