A woman with blonde hair wearing a black graduation cap and gown holding a diploma in front of a red door
Friday, 26 July 2024

In the latest instalment of our Alumni Spotlight series, we speak to University of Limerick graduate Aisling Fee, who studied BA Applied Languages

From nightlife and football matches to making her travel dreams a reality, Aisling discusses how her time in UL was some of the best years of her life.

Tell us a bit about yourself? 

My name is Aisling Fee, I am 25 years old and I come from Drumkeerin, Co.Leitrim. 

What course did you study, and what year did you graduate?  

In 2021 I graduated from BA Applied Languages. Unfortunately, due to Covid we had to do our final year online, but in 2022 we returned to UL to have a proper ceremony to mark the occasion.  

I majored in French, Spanish, marketing and also completed TESOL as an extra module after coming back from Erasmus in third year and in final year. 

Why did you choose to study at UL?  

For many reasons! First of all, the course Applied Languages really appealed to me, I loved the fact that there is such a variety of career paths afterwards and I wasn’t fully sure what job I wanted to do when I was filling out my CAO form at 18. 

My favourite subjects in school were languages and I really enjoyed learning them, so I thought, why not? So many people study certain courses for a certain job at the end but it is important also to make sure you study something you like. 

I also wanted to discover a new city, at the time I was beginning college the Galway-Limerick motorway wasn’t yet built. Coming from North Leitrim, Limerick seemed so far away and I had never been before.  

Most of my home friends were studying in colleges closer to home and I wanted to branch out and meet new people which I’m so happy I did because then I had two sets of friends - college ones and home ones, over the years they have also met and became friends! 

Finally, no one can deny the UL campus is amazing. It is always buzzing with different activities. The facilities are A1 and the surroundings are very scenic.  

Coming from the countryside, I love spending time outdoors. Limerick City is great and has a class night life with lively bars and clubs which, let's be honest is an essential part of college life.  

But the campus itself, which is super accessible from the city, is also surrounded by lots of rivers and greenery which I really appreciated. Often when there was any bit of sunshine going a bunch of us would head to Clare Glens waterfall, Kilmurry Castle, Killaloe or if we were feeling adventurous, Lahinch and the Cliffs of Moher. 

A group of seven men and women wearing summer clothes sitting on rocks with a blue sky behind them

What were the highlights of your course?  

As I mentioned, I loved not only the variety of career paths afterwards but also the variety of the course content.  

There are so many languages to choose from and you can pick advanced or beginner’s level.  

Aside from the core modules you also have optional modules and even for the fussiest of people there is something to spark your interest between linguistics, literature, cinema, economics, politics and many more. 

I always knew I wanted to travel and studying languages would obviously be a way to make this dream a reality. As part of the course, we had to opportunity to do an international work placement and an Erasmus programme.  

Both of which look great on your CV and show you are willing to adapt to new environments.  

Furthermore, it enables you to discover a new culture and meet new people who have often a very different upbringing and mindset from you, which you can learn so much from. 

As an AHSS student, you had the opportunity to learn from some of the top academic talent, in state-of-the-art facilities. What was your experience like as a student here? 

The facilities are really modern and top class, notably the sports facilities - between the running track, tennis courts, football pitches, gym, swimming pool etc., you won’t be bored.  

Also, you can’t forget about the library, the canteens and of course Stables (the college bar), the craic couldn’t be bet.   

A special mention is also necessary for the staff of the library café, who are the most wholesome women in the world. If you ever feel home sick and are missing mammy all you need to do is call in here for a cuppa and they will call you lovie, pet, darling and all of your problems instantly disappear.   

What advice would you offer to students considering studying at UL? 

I would say put it on the top of your CAO. The quality of student life is unbeatable, you won’t regret it! 

Separately, what advice would you offer to students considering studying your course? 

My applied languages course has got me places I could never have dreamed of. I am now completing an internship in the number one communication school in France.  

I look at my fellow classmates and everyone is doing such cool and different things – teachers, journalists, sales positions, Foróige workers, Jameson brand ambassadors, support services for Apple. 

There are lots of classes in smaller groups which makes it so much easier to make friends and also allows you to build a relationship with teaching staff, who by the way as a whole are really friendly and supportive, they don’t take life too seriously and you could have a laugh with them.  

I was never afraid to put my hand up in any class and ask the teacher to repeat or explain more. They were always happy to help and the classes were very interactive, we were never bored!  

I used to look forward to going to class and I really enjoyed the content especially the language culture classes where we studied social issues, cinema, politics etc. specific to the regions. 

Were you a member of any clubs or societies? If so, tell us a bit about your experience? 

Yes! I was part of the GAA club and played on the football team. It was a great way to keep active and meet new people.  

Often, we would travel to different places to play against different colleges such as Cork, Maynooth, Galway which was really enjoyable! 

What are some of your favourite memories from your time at UL?  

There really are too many to mention between student race days, rag weeks, doing my Erasmus programme in Montpellier, my work placement in Madrid.  

Honestly, if I had to pick a favourite, I would say it was the basics of living with my best friends. Giggling and gossiping until all hours of the morning and then walking across to the 24hour Inver at 3am for a spicy chicken roll, then dragging each other out of bed to get up for class at 9am.

They really were the best years ever! 

Four women in winter coats standing in front of a European church
Two women standing in front of a fountain on a sunny day

At UL, we’re known as the ‘Home of Firsts’ – are there any important ‘firsts’ that you experienced as a UL student, that you would like to share?  

Moving out of my parents’ home for the first time. Learning how to be fully independent – cooking, cleaning (even though at the start some others refused to learn how to use a washing machine and would dump their dirty laundry on their poor mammy to wash at the weekend!).  

Learning how to manage a budget which can be difficult because everyone wants to grab a pint every hour, but doing the food shop and only buying one tin of beans doesn’t last the full week! And also finding a balance between a hectic social life, studies, work and sport. 

The first time I ever travelled on my own was for my co-op in Madrid, I was so innocent I literally had to ask a staff member whether to head for the arrivals or departures! At the time it was such a daunting experience but ever since this moment I have discovered a love for travel and adventure. 

Are there any campus locations that hold special significance to you?  

One of my favourite campus locations was the language hub also known as the “lub” in the Languages Building. Here you can study in groups with a little bit of noise.  

There were lots of resources at your disposal with books, DVDs, and tapes in many languages. You could even have one to one or group conversation classes with Erasmus students and practice your language skills. There was always a really cool vibe here! 

How did your course and your overall UL experience prepare you for entering the workplace upon graduating?  

As soon as I graduated, I worked as an English lectrice in the University of Rennes for two years. This came about because this university has a direct partnership with UL.  

I received an email from one of my French teachers about the position in final year, at the time I had no idea what to do once I graduated so I thought, sure may aswell apply and then I couldn’t believe it when I was told I was accepted!  

It felt like overnight (well tbf it was from May-September), I reversed roles and switched from student to teacher. The students I was teaching were also Applied Languages students.  

They were almost the same age as me which was so funny because we had so much in common.

I thoroughly enjoyed my two years teaching in Rennes and thanks to certain people I met along the way, I made ties and decided to stay in France. 

Could you update us on where you are now in your career?  

So right now I am doing an MBA in EFAP communication school, Bordeaux. Normally it is a five-year course, but thanks to the four-year degree I did in UL, I could integrate straight into the final year of the masters.  

I am completing this via an alternance (internship). I am currently working as a marketing and communication manager for a medical supply company called Netraco & Santé.  

Along with the experience I am gaining along the way, the company also finances my master. I attend classes one week a month and the other three weeks I am in the office. 

What has been a career highlight so far? 

Before my internship, the healthcare sector was completely foreign to me. I am really enjoying working in it because there is huge job satisfaction with it, and it’s a sector essential to everyone. 

One of the projects we were working on, funded by a charity, included sourcing materials for a hospital being built in Africa where resources are extremely limited. 

In Paris last November, we also had a stand at a national healthcare convention where we got to meet and converse with many other people who worked in a variety of different domains within the sector which was really interesting too. 

A blonde woman in a black suit jacket standing next to a sign with text in French

What are your hopes and plans for the future?  

I can be very spontaneous and last minute at making life decisions so it is difficult to predict where I will be or what I will be doing!  

I am a very social person, so it is essential for me to find a job where I am around others and not just looking at a computer screen all day. Also, a career that is fulfilling where I feel like I am contributing to society.  

Health, happiness, family and friends is all that really matters and if I have all that, then the rest will fall into place. 

Is there anything else you would like to share?    

If anyone is interested in any part of my educational/professional career and would like more information feel free to send me a message via Linkedin/Instagram and I would be happy to answer. Best of luck!