JShister

I've been accepted to postgraduate study at both Trinity College Dublin and the University of Leeds but I can't decide which to attend. Has anyone been to either of the (or preferably both) cities? I've never been to either so I don't have any idea what it's like to spend a good amount of time in either one. Any advice would be most appreciated!

lobo_mau

1 vote for:
...Dublin's fair city
where girls are so pretty
I 1st set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone

alanRow

I vote Leeds as you are going to be living there rather than visiting for a few days

nytraveler

Dublin - charming and wonderful - and how can you resist Trinity?

lobo_mau

how can you resist the breweries circuit?

JShister

which city is more expensive to live/go out in?

janisj

Which school has the best department/reputation in your field?? That would seem to be the most important IMO.

Having said that - Dublin for a tourist -- Leeds to live/go to school. So things being equal school-wise -- I'd choose Leeds. And tons to see nearby when you aren't hard on the books . . . . .

flanneruk

The two cities are surprisingly interchangeable, except that Leeds is essentially Victorian and the creation of proud industrial barons, while Dublin's interesting buildings (the ones Ireland's last 50 years of philistine rulers haven't knocked down) are mostly 50-100 years older, and were built by a slightly feckless ruling class as a centre for ruling.


Some of Dublin's nightlife is ruined by gangs of British pissheads. Oddly, Leeds gets fewer of them, and generally handles them better. The cost of living is usually lower in Leeds (booze in particular is a lot cheaper)

Leeds is surrounded by far, far nicer countryside and has good public transport to get to it. If you can live in college at TCD, you get an experience otherwise only available at Oxford or Cambridge: Leeds University, though among Britain's top ten or so, is still a Victorian pile with humdrum accommodation.

Dublin beats Leeds on posh culture, like theatre. But Leeds is an hour or so by train from Liverpool, York and Manchester which between them have more of that stuff in a day that all of Ireland gets in a month.

The quality (though not price) of drinking, eating etc are much of a muchness. Personally, I've always found Dublin pubs overrated - and West Yorkshire ones underrated, except by the people of West Yorkshire.

And there's the rub. Nothing against the fine people of Leeds. But a contest between them and Dubliners for wit, grace, eloquence and charm is like a contest between me and Robert Redford for rugged good looks.

For all their many virtues, Yorkshire folk just don't do charm like Dubliners.

Does that help?

alanRow

Beer's better in Yorkshire - and the average Yorkshireman has been described as a Scotsman with the generosity squeezed and they'll call a spade a bl**dy shovel

helen_belsize

I would opt for the best course in your subject area.

Leeds is also only a couple of hours by train from London. Do you want to meet up with any fellow students transferring to Europe for postgraduate study? My feeling is that Dublin is less easy and definitely more expensive if you want to travel elsewhere in the vacations.

lavandula

What is going to look better on your CV so you can get a job later? This is a more important consideration because it's a choice for life. In my field TCD has a better reputation, but I don't know what you study. Forget what the city is like in this case; both are big enough cities and students can make fun anywhere. If you are concerned about the tourism perspective, you can always visit Leeds or Dublin on a special trip after you have made your selection.

Lavandula

MissPrism

I agree that you should go for the university (not school please, it can cause confusion) that is best for your subject.

For institutions in the UK, you could have a look at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide

Unfortunately it does not cover the Republic.
The Times does include Ireland, but they now charge for access

BigRuss

Ultimately this choice is whether to live in central England or in Ireland and that's really easy -- Leeds.

janisj

Lavandula, MissP, & BigRuss: the OP is <u>more than a year old</u>. I'm pretty sure the decision was made long ago.

MissPrism

Ah, yes, there has been a resurrection spate recently.
School holidays?

BigRuss

Bugger. I usually check for that.

Thinking that Fodors needs a "dead thread" policy -- no chatter for 6 mos, then the thread can only be revived by the person who started it.

lavandula

Oops, that shows how much I check dates. OH, well, hope the OP made a good decision!

Lavandula

Sandylan

I have never been to Leeds but I know a lot about Trinity as two of my children are graduates and I have attended some conferences there. The college was founded in 1592 and is in the very heart of Dublin. Visitors are welcome and accomodation is available outside term time. See the website at www.tcd.ie for details.There are many postgrad students there from all over the world.

janisj

Sandylan: If you'll note the 4 posts directly above yours -- this is an old/moldy thread. The OP isn't still looking. . . .

Sandylan

I am aware of the previous entries of course but subjects such as this interest many other too.I have just read on the Trinity website that Dublin has became a Unesco City of Literature joining the three others-Edinburgh, Melbourne and Iowa City.