How to be sustainable as an international student at UCD

Source: https://www.ucd.ie/global/international-blog/2026/being-sustainable-as-an-international-student/ Parent: https://www.ucd.ie/global/

Wednesday, 21 January, 2026

Post by Sophie Bonheim and Mark Jackson. Photo Credit: Vincent Hoban.

Being sustainable as an international student at UCD is made easy through our many engaging programmes and initiatives.

Sustainability initiatives like Big Zero, Seeding Change and the UCD Sustainability Society allow international students like you to engage with climate action, environmental justice and community-led change during your time in Ireland.

Big Zero Programme

UCD Global is launching the Big Zero Programme for its second year, with the first session taking place on 27 January in the UCD Global Lounge.

The co-curricular programme is designed for international students studying at UCD for a single trimester or a full academic year, including Erasmus, non-EU Exchange and Study Abroad students. It aims to embed sustainability education into the international student experience.

The programme is delivered in collaboration with Big Zero, an accredited Carbon Literacy and Community Action training organisation. Together, UCD and Big Zero provide students with the knowledge and tools to understand climate action and sustainability within an Irish and European context.

Last year, 32 international students from 15 countries participated in the programme, learning about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and exploring how individuals can take positive action for sustainability.

In previous years, students have visited Hometree, a nature restoration charity working to establish a Wild Atlantic rainforest in the West of Ireland. They have also visited Airfield Estate, where they were treated to a cooking workshop using only local Irish ingredients and learned about Airfield’s ambitious sustainability efforts.

One previous participant said of their experience on the Big Zero programme:

I feel very prepared in not only being able to accomplish more climate action personally but being able to inspire others to do so as well. The Big Zero programme has totally shifted my ideas on how to think about climate and our actions.

On successful completion of the programme, students will receive a Carbon Literacy Certificate from the UK-based charity the Carbon Literacy Project, which is all the more reason to take part!

Applications are now closed for the Spring 2026 trimester, but the programme is expected to run again in Autumn 2026.

Seeding Change

Run by UCD Volunteers Overseas in association with Comhlámh, Seeding Change is a 5-week group workshop that is open to staff, students and alumni, with three places also reserved for those outside the UCD community.

This free course focuses on climate and environmental justice issues, and encourages those taking part to critically examine environmental concerns in the world today. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet with environmental campaigners who will share their experiences about campaigning for change.

Relationships will also be examined as a way to deal with environmental concerns, whether those be with ourselves, interpersonal or with the natural world. The course will also consider how the natural world might benefit from better relationships.

A participant from last year’s course had this to say about UCDVO’s Seeding Change course:

"The method of teaching was something I really enjoyed. This course gave room for mindful listening and reflective thinking and I found myself coming up with ideas that I wasn't aware of before. I was able to contribute and learn from the experiences of others on the course, most importantly, connect with them too."

The first session will take place online on 4 February, with the rest of the course taking place in the UCD Global Lounge in the Gerard Manley Hopkins building from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.

For more information about this course and applying, please visit the Seeding Change webpage.

UCD Sustainability Society

Started in 2023 by BSc Sustainability students, this society has over 400 members and that number is growing every year.

Sus Soc host a range of sustainability-themed events throughout the academic year, including clothes swaps, exciting guest speakers and a winter formal with over 200 student attendees.

They also host a sustainable fashion show for all you trendsetters, fun social events like pub quizzes, as well as successful fundraising events.

If you’re ever in need of a caffeine boost, Sus Soc also run coffee mornings called “Climate Chats” in collaboration with the UCD Sustainability Toolkit research team, in which students can openly discuss their experiences with climate anxiety.

All students are welcome to join, so if you’re passionate about climate activism and being green, why not sign up?

Find out how by visiting their Instagram page or their dedicated webpage.

Sustainable Student Resources

Discover our range of sustainable international student resources on our Sustainability page, including our Green Guide and information on the Green Erasmus+ programme.

Contact UCD Global

UCD Global, Gerard Manley Hopkins Centre (UCD International Office), Belfield, Dublin 4. T: +353 1 716 8500 | Location Map