A guide to UCD’s Belfield campus for international students

University College Dublin’s main Belfield campus is a welcoming and friendly space for international students. However, exploring the 133-acre campus can be overwhelming for new international students trying to find their way. 

That’s why we have put together this short guide to help you navigate your way around campus and make the most of your first few weeks here by giving you the low-down on the best places to visit. 

The Main Lake

The main lake greets you as you enter campus from the N11 entrance. Opposite O’Reilly Hall, it is a favourite meeting place for students all year-round, but especially during the spring trimester when the weather is warmer. 

With spacious wooden benches, a pair of very famous swans and an impressive water fountain, the main lake is a brushstroke of nature on campus. Watch out for the seagulls flying overhead, though. They are known to have a taste for student lunches! 

The main lake also features a striking sculpture by Bob Quinn called Rendezvous, which doubles as a shaded and comfortable bench. 

The James Joyce Library

As the largest and oldest library on campus, the James Joyce Library faces the main lake. Spanning four floors, the library houses collections and publications for many disciplines, including arts, Celtic studies, science, and engineering. 

You enter the library through turnstiles using your student card. Inside, you can rent a laptop, borrow books and DVDs, use printers and photocopiers, and book group study rooms. The third floor of the James Joyce library was renovated in 2023 and is an ideal space for studying in comfort and style. 

The library also houses the UCD Writing Centre, which provides advice for students when writing essays or assignments. This can be especially useful for international students getting to grips with academic writing in English. 

The library also features UCD Special Collections, which has editions of many rare and historical publications for you to discover. Learn more about the James Joyce Library on their website. 

The Upper Lake

The upper lake is opposite the Engineering and Materials Science Centre, and is another popular meeting place for students from all disciplines. With wooden benches, a family of ducks and an occasional heron, the upper lake is the perfect place to unwind with friends between lectures. 

The Gerard Manley Hopkins building is only a stone's throw away, so many students choose to get their lunch to-go and eat it here while taking in the view. Like the main lake, this lake also features a well-known sculpture: Wind and Water by Paddy Campbell. 

Woodland Walks

There are over 8 km of woodland walks that circle the Belfield campus, where students often walk or jog during term time. It’s also a great place to relax or read a good book after a stressful day. 

The “secret” lake is part of one of these woodland walks, behind O’Reilly Hall. With ancient trees dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as a diverse wildlife, the woodland walks are your campus oasis. 

The Newman Building

Home to the faculty of Arts and beside the James Joyce Library, the Newman building is one of the oldest buildings on campus and is named after the founder of UCD, St John Henry Cardinal Newman. This quirky, brutalist building features large lecture halls, seminar rooms and inviting social spaces. 

The Trapdoor theatre, a multi-purpose black box theatre that houses the Creative Futures Academy, sits in the basement of this building. This space is often also used by drama and theatre students at UCD. 

The Newman building also offers one of the best cafés on campus, Bluebird Café. If you’re looking for a quick latte or mocha between lectures, this will be your go-to. 

The O’Brien Centre for Science

This building is one of the most impressive buildings on campus and is the home of Science at UCD, featuring state-of-the-art labs, lecture halls and seminar rooms. The O’Brien Centre for Science also houses the (opens in a new window)UCD Innovation Academy, which offers engaging elective modules that focus on developing creative and critical thinking skills that are applicable across a range of disciplines. 

Also on the ground floor is the Pi Restaurant, which serves up delicious and affordable meals every day. They make some of the best coffee on campus, so be sure to drop by whenever you need your daily caffeine hit!

Take a (opens in a new window)Virtual Campus Tour and explore the UCD Campus Map to discover all that UCD and Dublin have to offer. 

You can also book an in-person tour on our Campus Tours page.