Program Reviews

I picked this program because I wanted to be able to practice Spanish and become immersed in another cultures and this program let me do just that. The program staff were always warm and welcoming and my host family was truly amazing. Travel in Costa Rica is cheap so I was able to travel to all parts of the country and see national parks, beaches, and cultural sites. It was truly a wonderful experience, I've made friends for life, and I highly recommend it!

This program is great if you really want to immerse yourself in the culture. The second day you are there you'll be riding the 'colectivo' and the 'subte' like a 'porteño' and going home to a home-cooked meal.

One of the things I loved the most about IFSA-Butler was the staff. The people working for IFSA in Ireland are some of the most caring and fun people I met while I was abroad. They did their absolute best to make sure not only that everyone's needs were met, but that they enjoy themselves, and it showed. They provided support before the semester even started with pre-departure emails with information on what to expect while traveling to Ireland and once you arrived in addition to help selecting housing. They were gracious about answering any question, in person or through email, no matter how seemingly trivial spanning any topic from academic-related to social to where to go in town for certain shopping needs. They would also host casual events at the office to just hang out and eat good food or watch TV. The IFSA staff also did a great job of balancing this support with independence. All of the support was there for you if you need it, but it wasn't forced upon you. They were always there if/when you needed them. I grew very close to the Dublin IFSA staff members, and I know I will visit them when I hopefully go back.
Above all, my best memories through IFSA were in the Culture and Community class they provide. This non-academic, optional class met once a week exposed me to so many aspects of Irish culture and current affairs I never would have known before. It was held in the cozy IFSA office, and we would all sit on couches and have tea and biscuits. The short assignments were thought-provoking, as well as the discussions we had. I met new people in the program through this class that I had a lot in common with.

IFSA-Butler's program to Galway was an absolute dream. The experience in Galway was beyond stellar: the location and the program were perfect fits for me. I'm not a huge fan of big cities, and Galway was the coziest and happiest place to walk around and feel safe, regardless if it were 11 AM or 3 AM walking back from the bar. The housing was in a small neighborhood that was mixed internationalities, and I made friends with some of the best Irish souls there. Galway itself is gorgeous, and NUIG was a great asset to the experience. While some of the English classes I took were a smite bit overkill, the language program was fantastic- if you're interested in learning Irish, go here!! And finally, the IFSA-Butler program opened a lot of doors to experience Ireland outside of Galway. They planned trips to Northern Ireland (I loved Belfast), adventure parks in Connemara, and especially Dublin for orentiation for when we first arrived. The staff always went above & beyond for support whenever we needed it.

My experience at UCC and with IFSA-Butler was outstanding. Ireland, with its sights, nature, and--especially--people, is one of the greatest places in the world. I was never bored and although Ireland is such a small country, there was always something to do or see.

IFSA Butler's staff was incredibly accommodating. The education we received at the start of our time abroad was necessary and informational. They worked with us relentlessly throughout the semester to make sure that our needs were met and our experience was beyond what we could imagine. The planned weekend trips and site dinners were absolutely worth it; always organized, informational, and fun.

I cannot recommend IFSA Butler and its Ireland program enough. I was able to step out of my comfort zone while feeling supported by their staff, and I truly feel like I am part of an IFSA Butler Ireland family.

I studied in Dublin in 2014 at Trinity College Dublin. The people I met and the experiences I had were probably some of the best in my life. The culture and people are not only amazing and friendly but they have a lot more to share. Some may think that it will be tough to live in a different country for an extended period of time but the IFSA staff in Dublin was extraordinary. They all are so welcoming and I usually found myself hanging around their office when I had work to do or was just bored. Four months may seem like a long time in a foreign country but there is so much to do and see I couldn't even do it all. I will surely be back, hopefully soon!

LOOK NO FURTHER. THIS IS THE STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM YOU WANT I'M NOT KIDDING OK!!!!!! IT'S THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. I MET SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND GALWAY IS THE GREATEST PLACE I'VE EVER BEEN. IF A CITY COULD SPEAK, GALWAY WOULD SAY, "LOOK NO FURTHER, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT HERE AND THE PEOPLE ARE GREAT AND EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS".

The people of Galway and specifically the students at NUIG know how to have a good time, but I don't even know where to start when it comes to IFSA Butler Ireland. The program advisers, the location, the weekend trips... I remember when I was looking at study abroad programs. I went to DePaul University in Chicago, and when it came to studying abroad, the only thing I knew was that I wanted to go to Ireland. I sifted through so many programs before I decided on IFSA Butler Ireland at the National University of Ireland, Galway.

IFSA had everything I was looking for: campus housing rather than a home-stay, an orientation to help students get comfortable in a new city, and a very committed on-site program staff to help with any kind of concern or question. I met some of my best friends through this program which sounds so dumb, and you might not have the same experience with the people in your program, but I have never felt so at home with people I had just met as I did when I was in Galway. I owe every single moment of joy that I felt on my study abroad trip to IFSA Butler.

I AM A BETTER PERSON BECAUSE I WENT TO GALWAY AND BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH IFSA BUTLER TO DO IT.

10/10 STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM. WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE WHO'S LOOKING FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE, FUN, EXCITING, FLIRTY, COOL, AND ALL AROUND LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE.

In the fall of 2014, I spent a semester in Northern Ireland at Ulster University, Magee campus in Derry/Londonderry. It was a truly wonderful experience.
I found the city of Londonderry to be rich with history. They have a strong culture of the fine arts which was so exciting for me. I enjoyed the music scene at the Cultulann Doire (An Irish Cultural center). I went to many concerts and events. The buzz and energy of the Irish arts was so exciting to be around. The city is small, fun to explore and easy to get around. The pubs and cafes are very lively! Irish are fun people to be around and they definitely know how to have a good time!
I am an outdoors girl and I was not disappointed by the Irish outdoors! The famous Giants Causeway is very close to Derry with beautiful cliffs and hills to hike. The are some great parks in the area and the River Foyle is beautiful to go for runs along or walk by.

The housing that IFSA worked out was great! I had my own personal room and bathroom and a common kitchen. Very close to the University and a walkable distance to the city center. Ulster University placed five other international girls with me. All six of us became incredibly close friends and had so much fun going out in Derry together.

I did not find the academics of Ulster University very challenging. However, I did not choose extremely challenging subjects. I think that the challenge of academics at Ulster depends on the courses you choose. The academic schedule of the Magee campus is great because it makes it easy to plan long weekends. I was able many other towns in Ireland, and fit in a trip to Scotland! Magee campus also has a very close-knit international department. I made friends from all around the world; It is one year later now, and I am still very close to many German friends, a Palestinian, some Brazilians, and of course many Irish!

To top it all off, IFSA Butler was a wonderful program.We went to dinners with the IFSA Ireland staff and got to know them. They took us on a trip to an adventure center near Galway and they included a trip to Dublin for students that were studying in Northern Ireland! They checked in on us, and were a support system, yet at the same time, they let us do our own thing. IFSA is the way to go!

Studying at QUB is great, because it's not like those other study abroad programs where you take classes with just Americans. You are truly a student at Queen's, taking classes with other British/Irish (as well as international) students. I also love the British system of teaching, in which you have one 60-ish person lecture a week, followed by a tutorial with fifteen of your classmates where you talk about what you learned in lecture on an in-depth level.

Also, the Irish love to party, so don't worry, there's plenty of that. They go nuts for holidays, so Halloween lasts about two weeks and the Christmas ramp-up is about a month and a half. Luckily, it's not obnoxious, because this manifests itself in lots of fun ways-parties, festivals, people in dress-up, delicious food, cheap drinks, etc.

Studying abroad in Dublin with IFSA Butler was one of the best experiences of my life. I was able to explore a new country, learn more about it's culture, customs, and people, and make friendships with people from all over the world. Ireland is truly one of the best countries I've been too with a great culture, beautiful landscape, and the some of the friendliest people I've ever met.
Aside from the country itself, the IFSA staff was extremely welcoming and friendly. They did their best to get to know each and every one of us as well as make us feel at home in a new place. The IFSA program had many benefits that other programs don't, including a group flight for members of the program to take to Ireland together. They also offered an optional course on community and culture in which students were able to compare the Irish culture to their own as well as discuss what they've learned about the similarities and differences along the way. IFSA also offered several trips (included in the price of the program) to places like Northern Ireland and the Killary Adventure Center in Galway. These trips included transportation, planned meals and activities, as well as free time for students to explore on their own.
Overall I'm glad that I chose to study abroad with IFSA Butler. With everything included and the excellent staff, it was well worth it. Some of the best friends I made abroad were in this program, so if nothing else it helped me feel more at home by being able to connect with about 40 other students who were in the same boat as I was and from the same country. This network of people made my experience abroad more comforting and enjoyable.