Skills Development

The Writing Centre is Open

Do you need help with your assignments? Our dedicated Writing Coaches offer free, friendly, nonjudgemental support to all DCU students, on any aspect of academic writing: brainstorming and planning, structure and cohesion, language and phrasing, critical thinking and writing, building an argument, managing your time, and more. The Writing Centre is a skills-buliding service that will help you become a competent and confident writer. 

• Book an individual 30-minute appointment (in person or online) to receive personalised advice or to go over your assignment with a Writing Coach. 

• Attend a workshop on a particular aspect of academic writing.

• Not sure where to start? Browse our Writing Toolkit on DEVELOP for quick guides, video tutorials, templates, and more. 

Career Development

Making the Most of Job Boards

The DCU Careers Service provides access to two job portals.

MyCareer: Your hub for graduate roles and summer internships (outside of the INTRA Internship programme), and campus events.

GoinGlobal: Your gateway to international opportunities, including country-specific career advice.

How to use them effectively:

Look Past the Title: Job titles vary by company. Read the full description to identify core skills and requirements that align with your experience and interests.

Be Proactive: Don't just look at the list of duties; look at the list of required skills. This section tells you exactly what the employer values. Use it to check if your current experience matches what they need, or to identify new skills you might want to learn.

  Automate Your Search: Save time by setting up job alerts so you’re notified when new roles are posted.

Health and Wellbeing

Smoking and Vaping

While we are still settling into a New Year, it can be a time to let go of old habits and make new ones. One of these habits might be smoking or vaping, which can feel incredibly challenging to quit. If you've tried before, you're not alone.

Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical found in both cigarettes and most vaping liquids. When inhaled, it forms dependence on the product. Smoking or vaping often becomes intertwined with daily activities, social situations, or stress relief, creating strong behavioral patterns that are hard to change. Nicotine pouches give the same reaction in the body. 

If you're looking to quit smoking, we recommend focusing on proven, safe, and effective methods:

• Get support from a Stop Smoking Advisor, GP, or pharmacist. Their guidance can significantly increase your chances of success.

• Utilise licensed medicines to stop smoking. These include Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) (available in pharmacies) and prescription treatments from your GP. 

• Committing to quit for 28 days, and getting support to change your behavior, make you five times more likely to quit for good! Visit Quit.ie to find information on free Nicotine Replacement Therapy, or call into the pharmacy on campus. 

Monday 26th January  

Global Connect Cafe (International Students) (register)

Monday 26/01/2026, 17:00 - 19:00

GLA.KA201A (Main Room, Skills Development Centre, U Building)  

Tuesday 27th January

Careers talk from the European Space Agency (ESA) (register) 

Tuesday, 27/01/2026 13:00 - 14:00

GLA.QG22 (DCU Business School)

Ethnic Minority Mental Health Support Group (register or drop in)

Tuesday, 26/01/2026 16:00 - 18:00  

GLA.KA201A (Main Room, Skills Development Centre, U Building)

Wednesday 28th January

Pathways to Success (PTS) Week 2: Building structure and setting goals (register)

Wednesday, 28/01/2026 08:00am - 09:00am

Virtual
 

Writing Centre: Reflective Writing Tips and Strategies (register)                                 

Wednesday, 28/01/2026 18:00 - 18:45                                                                                                                   

 Virtual

Thursday 29th January

Meditation: Cultivate calmness, clarity and emotional positivity (drop in)

Thursdays, 13:15 - 13:45pm

Interfaith Centre, Glasnevin Campus

Brigid’s Day Festival (Lá Fhéile Bríde): Make a St. Brigid's Cross (drop in)

Open to everyone. All materials provided. No booking required.

Thursday, 29 January, 14:00 - 16:00

Interfaith Centre, Glasnevin Campus

Writing Centre: Beyond Summary: Critical Writing at University (register)

Thursday, 29/01/2026 18:00 - 18:45

Virtual

Loop Reflect Awards 2026: Calling all students!

Are you proud of a Loop Reflect learning portfolio you have developed yourself or in a group? Do you want to showcase your hard work and creativity? This is your chance to shine!

You are invited to submit your learning portfolio to the Loop Reflect Awards competition. This event highlights exceptional student work, showcasing learning, skills, innovation, and personal growth in thoughtful and engaging ways.

Submit via the entry form by Wednesday, February 25th at 5pm.

Winners will be announced at the awards which take place on Tuesday, March 10th at 1pm.

Best of luck to all participants!

Students' Union Elections

Nominations for Lead DCU 2026 are closing on 28th January! 

If you’ve been considering running, this is your final opportunity to step forward and represent students in the coming year. These roles offer the chance to gain valuable leadership experience, contribute to meaningful decision-making, and make a tangible impact on student life.

To find out more, visit the Students' Union website.

If you have any questions, please email suelections@dcu.ie

Closing soon! gradireland Undergraduate of the Year

Remember that the closing date for the gradireland Undergraduate of the Year Awards is midday on Monday 2nd February 2026. More information here.

Key dates
Coming soon: Deadline for Withdrawal - half fee tuition, Friday 30th January. Students who withdraw on or after 1st February are liable for full fees. More info on the Registry website. Contact student.support@dcu.ie to discuss your options with a Student Advisor. 

Contact us:

W: dcu.ie/students
E: student.support@dcu.ie