General Practical Information

• The Euro
• Estimated Cost Of Living
• Banking and Finance
• Post Offices
• Climate and Clothing
• Telephone Services
• Police and Emergencies
• Shopping
• Driving in Ireland
• Embassy Addresses
• Useful Addresses

The Euro

Ireland adopted the euro as its currency in 2002 and is one of the 17 EU member states that comprise the eurozone.  The other countries participating in the single European currency are: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain.

One euro is made up of 100 cent.

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Estimated Cost Of Living

The following is an indication of the approximate cost of living in Galway during term time.

Monthly
Rent	€ 390
Food	€ 260
Books and other academic requisites	€ 60
Clothes, laundry	€ 60
Recreation	€ 180
Other	€ 100
Total	€ 1,050

When making your decision to study in Ireland you should ensure that you will have enough money to see you through to the end of your studies. National University of Ireland, Galway will not be in position to offer you any funding. If you are going to receive an Erasmus mobility grant your home university will administer this to you.

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Banking and Finance

International students can open a bank account after they have registered as students of NUI Galway. Banks on or near campus are:

Bank of Ireland, NUI Galway

Tel. no. 353 91 524555             Fax no. 353 91 527671

and

Allied Irish Bank, Distillery Road, Newcastle, Galway

Tel. no. 353 91 524466             Fax no. 353 91 524095.

To open a bank account you will need a number of documents: a photocopy of your passport, your NUI Galway ID card, your own national ID card and a letter (which you may obtain from the International Office) confirming your personal and course details.  The electronic transfer of funds from abroad will usually take 3 – 5 working days.

 Ireland places no limit on the amount of money that you may bring into the country in euro or foreign currency notes, traveller’s cheques, banker’s drafts, or letters of credit, but you may need the approval of exchange control in your own country for any transfer of funds. You will certainly require, immediately on arrival, a certain amount of cash to cover such expenses as train, bus and taxi fares, overnight accommodation and meals. It is advisable to have about €250 in cash and some traveller’s cheques, which are readily cashable.  Another convenient way to have cash at your disposal here is to make sure your foreign credit card account is in credit and then use your credit card to withdraw money from an ATM in Ireland.

 Most banks in Galway provide a Bureau de Change and Traveller’s Cheque facilities. There are also Bureaux de Change at Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport. Banks are open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and until 5pm on Thursday.

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Post Offices

There are several post offices in Galway, including one adjacent to the university campus on Newcastle Road. A standard 50g sealed letter to Britain or mainland Europe costs 82 cent. The General Post Office, on Eglinton Street, is normally open from 09:00 – 18:00. Smaller post offices may close for lunch.

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Climate and Clothing

Western Ireland’s proximity to the Gulf Stream ensures that the temperature in winter rarely falls below 0ºC. However, the climate is damp, so be prepared for frequent rain and wind. Waterproof clothing, a warm jacket or raincoat, an umbrella, and woollen sweaters are essential items for winter wear. These can all be purchased cheaply in the larger chain stores in Galway.

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Telephone Services

The main mobile phone providers in Ireland are Vodafone ( http://www.vodafone.ie/), o2 ( http://www.o2.ie/), Meteor ( http://www.meteor.ie/), Tesco Mobile ( tescomobile.ie) and Three ( http://www.three.ie/).  There will be an option of “bill-pay”, where you have an account and monthly charges, or “pay as you go”, where you buy call credit as you need it.  There are plenty of mobile phone shops around Galway where you can investigate the various packages.  You should shop around to find the one that best suits your own requirements and the duration of your stay here.

 Prepaid international call cards are a cost-effective option too, and they can be purchased in newsagents or post offices.

 When dialing Irish telephone numbers from overseas, you should omit the zero in the local area code. 

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Police and Emergencies

A police officer in Ireland is called a Garda Siochána. Full details of national and local Garda stations are in the green pages at the front of the telephone directory. In Galway, the main Garda station is located in Mill Street, telephone (091) 563161.

If you have an emergency dial 999 and ask for the service you require. The telephone number for University College Hospital is (091) 580580.

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Shopping

City-centre shops and department stores are open six days a week, most closing at 6pm; some larger shops also open until 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and may also open on Sunday afternoons. Supermarkets are usually open late on Thursday and Friday, as well as all day on Sundays; indeed some are open 24/7. If you are cooking for yourself, you will find all the basic foodstuffs are cheapest in the main supermarkets (Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Supervalu, Lidl and Aldi), and some of these also have suburban branches. Most supermarkets will have own brand foodstuffs, which will be cheaper than regular brands.

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Driving in Ireland

A full driver’s licence from other EU countries is valid in Ireland. Traffic in Ireland travels on the left-hand side of the road. Cars can easily be rented provided you have a full driver's licence.

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Electricity

The standard mains voltage is 220v. Three-pin plugs are standard on most electrical equipment.

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Embassy Addresses

Austria

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Useful Addresses

Ireland West Tourism

Áras Fáilte, Forster Street, Galway

Tel: +353 91 537700

Website: http://www.discoverireland.ie/

Irish Council for International Students (ICOS)

41 Morehampton Road,
Dublin 4
Telephone: 353-1-660 5233
http://www.icosirl.ie/

Department of Foreign Affairs

80 St Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.
Telephone: 353-1- 4780822
http://www.gov.ie/iveagh/

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Some Final Points to Remember

• Make sure that you return your Erasmus Application Form by the appropriate deadline.
• Make sure that your travel arrangements enable you to be in Galway for the Orientation sessions.
• If you have to arrange accommodation please arrive at least one week before the start of the semester.
• Please remember to have the following with you on arrival in Ireland:
  • Your passport
  • Some other form of identification
  • Your European Health Insurance Card
  • The name of your NUI Galway Erasmus Academic (Departmental) Coordinator
  • Letter of Acceptance
  • Visa (if required)

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