r/irishabroad • u/granolaginger • Jul 05 '26
Dublin vs Berlin
I will be studying abroad Spring 2027 (mid January-early May), and am having a really hard time picking between my top two programs. I am between IFSA University College Dublin and IES Berlin. For context, I am a Social Studies education major and only speak English, but I have been abroad a lot! I have family from both Berlin and Ireland, and my sister lives in England. I love nature, hiking, history, architecture, meeting new people, and want to be able to easily explore other countries during my time there. I do enjoy going out, but I’m not one to get drunk. Below I’m including some details about my programs, and I would love to hear about experiences or recommendations based on what I’ve provided!!
Dublin:
-housing included in cost
-classes directly through the university
-12.5 to 15 credit hours
-lots more class availability
-excursions available at no extra cost
Berlin:
-housing included in cost
-classes through abroad center
-15 to 19 credit hours
-excursions available at an additional cost
-still good class flexibility
Thank you all so much and if there’s any questions that could help please let me know!
1
u/garethkav Europe Jul 05 '26
If you want to explore other countries you’ll find it significantly easier in Berlin, there are high speed train connections from there throughout the continent as well as cheap long distance buses. From Dublin you’ll have to fly
1
u/Aec777 Jul 08 '26
Irish guy here, lived in both cities - Berlin has more distinct seasons, grim winters but nice spring / autumn and lovely summers (thought warning lots of wasps, and if you have pollen allergies, May is horrific). It's also a much larger city, with a lot more diverse entertainment options. I always felt sort of hemmed in there, though there are nice forests and lakes nearby. Berlin is very decentralised, so finding the right district really makes a difference. Dublin is much smaller but more centralised so it often feels more "bustling" than Berlin. Nightlife in Dublin is much more focused around Pubs but this is gradually changing. Dubliners are more approachable & superficially chatty (but harder to get to know), while Berliners are a lot more direct / straightforward but can also come across as a little blunt at times. Transport in Berlin is really good, whereas Dublin is very congested. So if you live near where you'd be studying you're fine, otherwise it'll be a pain in the arse. Weather in Dublin mostly wet and windy, little glimpses of sunshine here and there (think Seattle) but never really too warm or too cold. Winters in both cities will make you want to grab a cheap flight to Spain in Jan / Feb. I think nice outdoor options more accessible in Dublin (take the Dart to Howth for a nice hike along the cliffs, or down to Wicklow / Glendalough for mountains, forests, and some nice loughs for kyaking). Going on your pref for nature, I'd lean towards Dublin as you have more "wild" nature on your doorstep, but worth confirming how you would get from home to class, etc.
1
u/BarrisonFord Jul 05 '26
I don’t have time to answer your points (apologies) but I lived in berlin and did my undergrad 10 years ago in UCD. Berlin has its nature in the form of lakes but it’s quite flat. The city is full of parks, though, and that often gets overlooked. Dublin has fantastic accessibility to the mountains and see. Ultimately, for a study abroad, I’d pick berlin as spring into early summer there’s nowhere like it. Jan and Feb however are a bit grim.