CIEE College Study Abroad in Dublin, Ireland

I absolutely loved this program! The program coordinators were lovely and provided support to their students. The program was amazing! I spent a year there, and it really did change how I look at the world. This coming from a former high school exchange student no less. It also helped me figure out what to do after I graduate. I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in a great program without the added stress of learning a brand new language.

Let me preface this with: I love Ireland. This review is 100% biased because, I am, totally, unequivocally, in love with the Emerald Isle.

I am also not a person who took the decision to study abroad lightly. As a disabled, solo-traveler, I needed a program that was both accommodating and allowed students their independence. CIEE Dublin was the perfect fit, whenever I needed a program director (love ya, Martin & Meriah!) they were always accessible. I planned solo trips out of the country, and there was no overbearing mothering. The balance was careful and considerate, and I had a truly amazing summer because of it.

The social scene on the program was amazing during my session, everyone was super friendly and we all planned outings (like weekend trips to the Cliffs of Moher) together. I will say, I am, personally, a fan of trying to make friends with "natives" (that feels weird to say...), but the other students on my program were pretty great (not as clique-y as I was expecting, honestly!) and so was the professor! Everyone became like a family for those 4 weeks, and will probably make any future study abroad programs feel lackluster.

Overall, if you want a program where you can be sure you aren't completely navigating academia in a foreign country alone, but want to have real independence, you should seriously consider this program. Oh, and um, make sure you have a steady supply of American Tylenol before going to Dicey's.

I studied abroad during the Spring of 2017. The academic system at first was a bit challenging due to the difference in scheduling, grading, and evaluations. As the semester went on, it became easier to understand and adapt to. I personally enjoyed most of the classes I took, as I tried to make them pertain towards my minors. Half of my classes were located on the St. Patrick’s Campus, so it was about a fifteen-minute bus ride there and back. The bus stops are located on each campus, so it was not an inconvenience. I do highly recommend studying throughout the semester, even if the final seems far away. You will not regret it when the time comes. I promise.
Traveling was super convenient and accessible while in Ireland. That said, I would highly recommend for the first month or so to explore all that Ireland has to offer before venturing around Europe. I can safely say Ireland was my favorite place I explored out of all of my travels. Odds are many of the things you see and do will come up in your classes, especially CIEE led ones, and having witnessed them will make it easier to visualize and comprehend what you are learning about. When you do travel and return, it makes Dublin seem like you’re returning home to a familiar place. The CIEE coordinators are great resources for ideas and suggestions of where to go and what to do while there. It’s a good idea to become familiar with them, so if a situation where you may need advice or assistance comes up they can readily help you. Plus, they’re pretty cool people to know in general.
Many of the best memories stem from the little moments and places you will stumble upon. My advice would be to stay flexible. It’s great if you have an idea of where you want to go and what you want to see, but if you try to jam fifteen monuments into one day it can become exhausting and take away from the experience.
Another tip I have is if you are traveling to a non-English speaking country, or even a country where English may not be the first language but they’re known to speak it, find a list of common phrases and words in that country’s language and keep it handy. Even if you aren’t confident about what you are saying, most people appreciate the effort you are making to be a part of their culture. It’s okay if you butcher it, just make an effort.
Other than that, I suppose my only other advise would be that Dublin is beautiful, take time to explore what it has to offer. You don’t want to come to the end of the trip and realize you know far less about the place you’ve been living in for the last few months or don’t know how to navigate. Even if you mainly travel around with a friend or group of people, try to be the navigator every once in a while. In case anything were to happen, you would know how to safely get back and it will make you more confident in your future travels.

The opportunity to study in Dublin was amazing. I met some of my best friends on the trip. Future participants should know to print their acceptance letter when going through customs. Post program I am inspired to work abroad and explore new perspectives. It would be useful to carry a money belt. Something to be aware about is that locals and foreigners are less likely to be politically correct. I still keep in touch with the friends that I made on the trip.

This experience was life changing and a journey. The trip occurred at a pivotal point in my life and left a deep impression on me. The staff and support group of CIEE in Dublin was amazing. Martin and Aoife worked so hard to make us feel welcome, safe, and comfortable. We went on many excursions into the city and country to explore museums, parks, and countryside sights. They made sure our courses would not overwhelm us and they constantly checked up on us so we would not slip through the cracks. The Irish countryside will made me fall in love with it and all the coasts had so much character on every side of the island we explored. The experience gave me renewed awe of God's creation and I was so blessed to have the opportunity to go.

At first the idea of going abroad to a new country with new people was terrifying, but those thoughts were quickly erased. Spending four months in Dublin with people who became family was the most amazing experience. The classes were intriguing, the people were full of kindness and the culture took my breath away. I have formed life long friends both from different schools within the states as well as in Ireland. The program was life changing to say the least. It truly opened my eyes to a who new look on life while also giving me the chance to challenge myself in the classroom.

I had no idea what to expect upon my arrival at Dublin, but thankfully CIEE took care of all the problems that I could have encountered being a foreigner in a strange city. Not only did we get to go on guided trips throughout the program to places like Belfast in Northern Ireland and Galway, we were also taught the rich history of each place we visited. Dublin is a great city and a wonderful place to have your first travels as it is a very western friendly city with the same accommodations you would be used to back in the states. However it also has it's very own distinct culture rich with interesting and diverse people and is also a place you'll never feel like an intruder as the Irish are very welcoming. CIEE made sure I was prepared before my trip as well has taught us many lessons on how to deal with culture shock which happens upon your arrival to Ireland as well as your departure to America. Definitely recommend this program!