The A to Z of Student Life
Theme: Student Life
Tools and supports to help you manage your Student Life
Check out the A-Z topics below curated by your SAL team:
For further information on Commuting and Travel to DCU campus, please visit here
Clubs & Societies
There are over 150 Clubs & Societies in DCU spread across campuses and they cater to all interests, hobbies, and passions. You can even set up your own! From developing existing skills to trying something completely new, joining a DCU club or society is one of the best decisions you will make at DCU.
Involvement in a club or society activity gives you a welcome break from your academic studies and the skills and competencies gained through committees and other organisational work will really enhance your CV and give you that extra edge in your future career. In addition, being involved in DCU clubs and societies will enhance your social life and help you make lifelong friends as well as create memories to treasure for life.
Uniquely, in DCU you can gain extra credits for your involvement in club and society life through the Uaneen Module. (See ‘U’ Uaneen Module). DCU Clubs and Socs are well served with fantastic facilities in the brand new student Centre -The U with meeting rooms, rehearsal space, and office space to organise daily activities. In addition, there is a large auditorium and numerous rooms which are available to Clubs and Societies on the St Patrick’s Campus also.
Join up for only €4 (per membership) during Clubs & Societies Days. Information on this year's virtual Clubs & Societies Days will be available at www.dcusu.ie If you are interested in setting up a club or society or need further information please contact any of the following support staff:
Glasnevin Campus
Yvonne
Senior Sports Development Officer
T: +353 1 700 5811
Head of Clubs & Societies
Clubs & Socs clubsandsocs@dcu.ie / +353 1 700 8436
Clubs & Societies Leadership Programme
The Clubs & Socs Leadership Programme is a development programme for emerging student leaders at Dublin City University. The programme is led by the Office of Student Life and Sports & Wellbeing. We recognise that the skills and competencies gained through involvement in clubs, societies, Student’s Union and volunteering are an integral part of the student experience and can give you the essential skills to develop your club, society or volunteer activity as well as employability skills that employers want!
The Clubs & Socs Leadership Programme aims to provide a framework where you can learn and develop as you run your activities through development days, training, workshops and resources. The Clubs & Socs Leadership Programme is a key component of DCU’s strategy to provide a transformative student experience.
As a leader, you will have access to many exciting and challenging activities to develop your leadership skills. Your leadership journey starts here!
For more information contact:
DCU Sports & Wellbeing
T: +353 1 700 5625
or
Head of Clubs & Societies
Office of Student Life
The aim of the Office of Student Life is to promote and enhance the student experience outside the classroom by providing opportunities for student growth, leadership and development. Its vision is to create a welcoming environment where every student finds what they need and can create lifelong lasting memories. Providing the financial and administrative platform for the Students’ Union and Clubs & Societies in DCU, the OSL has a base on both campuses - in the U in Glasnevin and in D112 and in Java on St Patrick’s Campus, (D112). These spaces have staff and facilities, including meeting rooms, social spaces, a Helpdesk, computer facilities, and many other support services.
Contact:
Glasnevin Campus - The U Building
T: +353 1 700 5392
St Patrick's Campus- D112 and Java
T: 353-1 - 884 2230
W: http://www.dcustudentlife.ie
Sports Facilities – DCU Sport
Glasnevin Campus
DCU Sports Complex, on the Glasnevin Campus, is a state-of-the-art facility, incorporates health, wellness and sports to meet all your exercise and leisure needs. Sports Complex membership rates are available to DCU students for either the academic or the annual year. Student membership includes access to the pool, spa facilities, fitness centre, group fitness classes and free squash and handball. DCU Sport has a number of exciting groups fitness classes, such as Kettlebells, Bodyblast and Spinning. DCU Sports Arena hosts a number of sports, such as superleague basketball, badminton and volleyball and can facilitate a number of other activities. We also have a minor hall, a climbing wall, a racquetball/handball court and several studios for an array of programme activities.
A 3G All Weather GAA Pitch, Squad High-Performance Centre, Athletics 5-Lane Sprint Track, Long Jump & High Jump & Throws Area have all been added to our Sports Grounds facility. The High-Performance Centre provides a world-class training environment in DCU Sport for DCU scholarship athletes and international level athletes in a range of sports from athletics, boxing, rowing, weightlifting, inter-county level GAA players & IRFU Ladies Rugby Squads.
Our Soccer Centre has five 5-a-side pitches for recreational games and leagues, and a large 7-a-side pitch for squad training. Included in this centre is a covered, four-lane, 75-metre sprint track.
For more information, please visit our website at www.dcu.ie/dcusport or call to reception for a tour of the facilities.
DCU Sport
T: +353 1 700 5797
St Patrick's Campus
St. Patrick’s campus has a number of sports facilities. There are two full-size sports halls, along with a number of sports equipment stored in each hall. These halls are also used for staff and Students Union Fitness Classes. Each hall has separate changing/showering facilities for both male and female students. Outside, there is one, brand new, full-size GAA astroturf pitch and one full-size soccer pitch. Both of these pitches are in great condition and have two outdoor changing rooms and showering facilities to cater for players and teams.
Student Charter
To help you understand the relationship that exists between you and the University, we have created the DCU Student Charter in close liaison with the Students’ Union. It is designed to provide a framework which will help steer you along your DCU journey and make the most of your university experience.
DCU Student Charter
Students’ Union
All students of DCU are automatically members of the DCU Students’ Union. DCUSU is here for you throughout your time at DCU. We provide opportunities, help create change, throw great events on campus and offer support when things go wrong. DCUSU is made up of 14 executive officers, 5 of whom are full-time sabbatical officers elected and paid for by the student body. Each class has at least one elected class representative who sits on Programme Boards and attends the Class Rep Council to discuss all issues affecting the students of DCU. Your full-time sabbaticals represent your views by sitting on various university decision-making committees. Call into the DCUSU offices on either the Glasnevin Campus or the St. Patrick’s Campus to avail of our services, purchase tickets for upcoming events in DCU, buy your bus and rail tickets (including Leap Cards) hang out in our chill-out areas or just come in for a chat. Our doors are always open!
Glasnevin Campus Students’ Union Office:
T: +353 1 700 5392
St Patrick's Campus Students’ Union Office:
T: +353 1 700 9117
The Team
President -
T: +353 1 700 5279
E:
Vice-President Academic Life -
T: +353 1 700 5546
E:
Vice-President Wellbeing -
T: +353 1 700 5652
E:
Vice-President Community and Citizenship -
E:
Vice-President Diversity and Inclusion -
E:
Summer Abroad
Each year thousands of third-level students travel abroad to work, volunteer, or experience life in a different country for the summer months. Many stay close to home and travel and work in many of the European countries, especially if they are studying languages. However many take up the option of working and living in the United States on a J1 Visa or Volunteering in a third-world country. The J1 Visa is available to all Irish third-level students who are studying for an undergraduate degree. You must be in possession of a valid passport and you must be available for an interview with the US Embassy between February and May in the year of travel. Regulations for J1 Visas changed in 2015 and students must have secured a job before they enter the USA. For more information about travelling to the US, Europe or volunteering, go to:
Travel to US
J1 Online www.j1.ie
USIT www.usit.ie
Travel to Europe
Interrailing www.usit.ie
Volunteering
The Student Centre
The DCU Student Centre is located on the Glasnevin Campus and is where you will find the NuBar, plenty of space to relax, meet friends or log on to focus on college work.
The Student Centre is also home for the Student's Union offices and to the Student Support & Development Leadership & Life Skills Centre.
For more information please contact:
SU Helpdesk
T: +353 1 700 5392
W: www.dcusu.ie
Student Support & Development
T: +353 1 700 7165
The Street & Java Student's Hub
The Street - Glasnevin Campus
‘The Street’ is the area outside the Registry and Alumni Centre in the main foyer of the Henry Grattan building. Student Notice Boards are located here and provide up-to-date information about clubs and society events and student support service news, job opportunities, professional development opportunities and much more. Students can also sit around and relax, meet friends and use their laptops.
Java Student's Hub - St Patrick’s Campus
There are numerous areas around the campus where students can relax and chat. In addition to being a coffee shop, Java City is an area for students to meet. There are relaxing couches, a pool table, television, music and several notice boards.
Transport to DCU
Glasnevin Campus
The DCU Glasneivn campus is just a short distance from Dublin city centre, Dublin Airport and both the M50 and M1 motorways. The campus is bordered by Ballymun Road and Collins Avenue. Pedestrian, cycle and vehicular access is via the Collins Avenue and Ballymun Road entrances. There is additional pedestrian and cycle access via the pedestrian entrance on Collins Avenue and via the Albert College Park. There is no public through road from Collins Avenue to Ballymun Road.
St Patrick’s Campus
St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 is situated on the main Belfast Road (M1), which is also the road from the airport, about 2km to the north of Dublin city centre. Bus routes servicing St Patrick’s campus: 1, 11, 13, 16, 33, 41, 41B, 41C, 44. There are 2 bus stops outside the main entrance to St Patrick’s campus on the Drumcondra road.
All Hallows Campus
The All Hallows Campus is based on Gracepark Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, within a 5 minute walk from the St Patrick's Campus.
For multi-campus map information please see the following link:
DCU Multi-Campus Maps
Volunteering
Volunteering is about being an active citizen, a change-maker and an innovative individual whose aim is to make the world a better place in any way they can. At DCU we have a wide variety of volunteering opportunities on and off campus. Whatever your interests, skills or abilities - there is something for you!
Volunteering is an opportunity to widen your horizons while contributing to the capacity of community. In a competitive marketplace, graduates are always looking for ways of increasing their employability by developing an additional ‘edge’. Volunteering is one of the ways in which students can do this in a community focused and enjoyable environment, plus enhance their world view. Students will not only contribute in a very positive way to the benefit of society but will also develop their personal and professional skills by working with voluntary organisations either in Ireland or overseas.
Here in DCU, our Volunteer Helpdesk is run on the Glasnevin campus every second Tuesday in the U building which is where you can meet face to face with your Student Volunteer Coordinator and a new voluntary organisation. Our DCU Volunteer services are also run virtually to accommodate students studying remotely. We also have a number of charitable and civic student run societies which connect fellow students to their community. Social projects, activism initiatives and fundraisers take place every semester also - there’s the perfect volunteering opportunity for everyone!
Contact Information:
Follow @dcuvolunteer on Instagram
Follow @DCUVolunteer onTwitter
Student Volunteer Coordinator: justyna.byrzykowska@dcu.ie