NCI Blog

When anyone asks me how I knew Eoin Fennessy, I usually say that we were in college together. That answer is technically true, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. I first met Eoin in September 2003 among a group of students in my first-ever class when I started lecturing in National College of Ireland. Eoin was a brilliant student and deservedly won the special achievement award and the student of the year award at his graduation in 2004. I wouldn’t normally quote from a chant popularised by fans of Liverpool Football Club, being of a different allegiance myself. But there is a chant titled “We all dream of a team of Carraghers”, in tribute to Jamie Carragher. And in an Irish football context there is the chant of “A Team of Gary Breens”. Many times during my lecturing career in NCI, I wished I had a class full of Eoin Fennessys! “A Team of Fennos”!

College can be an exciting, challenging and sometimes terrifying time – but don't worry, we’re here to make the journey a little easier for you. We asked NCI’s staff and faculty to share their best words of wisdom and candid advice, for our new students. Whether you’re a part-time student juggling studies with a full-time job or an undergraduate who’s come straight from school, there should be some tips here to help you navigate your college years.

Let’s face it, there are only really three ways that you can get more done at work: work longer, work harder or work smarter. Our preference is for the latter, which requires being thoughtful about how you manage your energy, as well as how you manage your time. To help you save some of both, we’ve done the hard work for you: here’s our guide to the smartest ways to reach peak productivity and efficiency at work.

Everyone can feel a little unmotivated from time to time – we’ve all experienced that reluctance to get up when the alarm goes off, or the feeling that we just don’t want to go to work today. But if that feeling starts to become the norm, not the exception, then it’s time to take stock of your life. If you recognise most of these tell-tale signs, then it could be time for you to think seriously about moving on.

Whether this is your first experience of being a student, or you’re coming back to study at night while working by day, there’s no denying that college life can be demanding. Fortunately, there are plenty of free apps that will help you to keep yourself organised and on top of things. Whether it’s recipe planning, communicating with classmates, stress management or managing your notes, our top ten free apps for students have got you covered. Make sure you share your favourites in the comments!

Are you an international student considering Ireland as a destination for your studies? If you answered yes then I’m sure there are plenty of questions you need answered – like how much money will I need? What accommodation options are available? How do I travel to Dublin?

Are you ready to take the next step in your education and career?