Case Study C - Diana Alexandrova

A native of Sofia in Bulgaria, Diana’s case is a reminder to all that you need not be an EU national to partake in the Erasmus programme. She is a student of Commerce in the University of Trier, Germany, and is spending the current academic year learning at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), on Ireland’s spectacular west coast.

Apart from taking modules in business, finance and accounting, Diana is also studying marketing. ‘I heard in Germany that NUIG is very famous for their marketing department – that they’re very strong in this subject.’

Besides the lure of a high-quality marketing module, Diana chose Galway as her Erasmus destination as she feels ‘smaller cities reveal more about the culture and the people of a country’. She certainly chose well, as Galway is often referred to as Ireland’s ‘cultural capital’ and is a vibrant, student-friendly town that is easily negotiated on foot.

Learning English was also a major motivation for the Erasmus trip; ‘My English is definitely better,’ says Diana, ‘and I’ve also made many Irish friends, although sometimes they have to speak slower so that I can understand them!’

As well as successfully coming to terms with the charming Galway accent, Diana has met and befriended many other international students through the good work of NUIG’s International Society, a body that organises excursions and parties on a weekly basis.

Diana experienced absolutely no problems when preparing her application and funding. Besides signing a contract stating the modules she intended to take in Galway, all the organisational work was carried out by the University of Trier. An agreeably small amount of work for a trip that will stay with her for the rest of her life!