Helëna McAlinden - Studying Economics and Philosophy 

My name is Helëna McAlinden and I’m a third year student studying Economics & Philosophy. Although these two disciplines, at first glance, do not necessarily overlap, I had a keen interest in studying them both as I have always been in awe of the fine-tuned machine that is an economy and the many variables that have to be co-ordinated in order to maintain equilibrium. Furthermore, studying philosophy encourages one to think for them self and to ask questions about the nature of things such as our values, existence, knowledge, reason, language and mind, the study of which provide the backbone of many economic theories.

The best thing about combining two subjects such as these is that while economics tends to be more so a factual study of logical systems already in place, philosophy encourages independent thought and critical engagement with the subject matter and has taught me a great deal when it comes to arguing a case and presenting my own position systematically. In choosing these two subjects I have acquired a great knowledge of the economy while at the same time the ability to understand the fundamental anchors guiding the theory behind it and the tools to critically engage.

My course is spread out over the UCD Belfield Campus. Philosophy lectures take place mainly in the John Henry Newman Building whereas Economics lectures take place mainly in the O’Brien Centre for Science. It’s a short walk past the lake and the James Joyce Library from one building to the next and given that it’s probably the liveliest part of campus, it’s near impossible not to run into someone you know along the way, which is not ideal on the days you roll out of bed and leave yourself 15 minutes to get to a lecture.

The elective modules have also been a superb addition to my experience in UCD, giving students the opportunity to study modules outside their programme area. In my case, this meant I could focus in on keeping up Spanish as a second language which is very important to me.

As I applied to join the International programme in second year, I’ll be spending my third year studying Economics abroad at the University of Barcelona, an opportunity that I am so grateful to have available to me! The Erasmus office have been extremely helpful in assisting me find accommodation, fill out all of my applications on time and to get in contact with other students going to the same university. I hope that by the time I complete my fourth and final year in UCD I’ll have full working proficiency in the Spanish language to compliment my degree. Fingers crossed!

Aside from all of the academic opportunities that have been opened up to me during my time in UCD I have also gotten a job on campus as a student caller in the UCD Foundation raising funding for student scholarships. I have worked here since my first year in UCD as a student and it has been an invaluable experience to me. Not only can I say that I have assisted a very worthwhile charity in securing much needed funds but also that I have worked as a part of an incredible team of equally driven students from an array of different courses and made some incredible friends.

It is also as a result of my experience working with the UCD Foundation that I have begun considering a career in sales, marketing or perhaps advertising for myself. For this reason, I joined the career mentoring programme that UCD offer and have been assigned to the managing director of a marketing firm. I found this programme extremely useful in that it heightened my understanding of the different aspects of the profession and I now have a contact to go to with any queries that I may have in the future.

At this point in time I am focusing mainly on organising myself to move away for the year but I plan to pursue an internship in one of the areas of particular interest to me when I return and have also interest in pursuing an MBA or a Masters in Marketing once I graduate.