University College Cork was an exciting place to be for those who study abroad for the social scene or to interact with people from a different culture. The housing situation widely varies; however, don't count out your housing situation at first glance, it may end up working out better than you expect! For example, I was housed in an older townhouse with seven other study abroad students, which I found overwhelming and challenging at first, yet this ended up being the perfect opportunity to learn how to be more outgoing.

Going abroad is something that will forever be apart of who I am, not only from the experience but the memories and friendships will be cherished throughout my life. I ventured to Europe for the first time by myself to study abroad and I could not have asked for a better experience. I attended Indiana University, where many students go abroad, but decided to take on the journey alone in a foreign country (which I highly recommend!). As a social work major there were not many options to programs so I conducted a lot of research on my own, as study abroad had always been a dream of mine. IFSA-Butler provided so many resources throughout my entire stay in Ireland with access to information about traveling, safety, shopping, restaurants, academics, and social life activities. The orientation that was provided at the beginning of the semester allowed everyone to meet other individuals and feel more comfortable with the support that was being provided. During our stay at UCD there were two weekend trips that were provided through IFSA-Butler to different parts of Ireland. These trips allowed me to see more of Ireland with experienced locals (our program directors) to understand the local culture and history of the country better. In regards to the education at UCD it was very similar to my courses at IU, with fairly large lectures, potentially smaller discussion meetings, midterm and final exams/papers, and instructional assistants in the courses for additional support if needed. The tricky part for me was the grading system as it is extremely different than what is used in the United States but once again, IFSA-Butler gave us access to this information prior to the program and answered questions that I had throughout. The housing accommodation was very similar to a dorm or apartment, each individual had their own room and we shared common spaces like the bathrooms and kitchen area. Since the native language is English I truly believe that helped me transition to living in Dublin and succeed in my courses as it eliminated the language barrier that some of my friends were experiencing.

Overall, I would highly recommend this program or any program through IFSA-Butler, as it was truly the experience of a lifetime! I made lifelong friends through the program that I still visit and talk with daily. I was able to feel comfortable traveling to new places and adjusting to life in a new country.

Going abroad was the best decision I’ve ever made. IFSA advisors helped me throughout the entire process. From helping me find a syllabus for a class I was interested in to a year later helping me request another transcript. While there, advisors made frequent visits to the campus wanting to catch up or be there if we needed some help or advice! They were all simply amazing and I couldn’t have done it without them!

The IFSA staff is incredible; they really care about your experience and put in a lot of effort to make sure you get the most out of your time abroad. IFSA offers local cultural experiences and trips, an abundance of knowledge about the country you are living in, and so much support for any challenges you may face during your time abroad. I would recommend the program to everyone interested in going abroad.

I studied abroad in Galway through IFSA-Butler. It was incredible; I've never been happier in my life than I was in Ireland. Everyone at IFSA is so helpful and kind and supportive. They walk you through every step of the application process, help you prepare to leave, meet you when you arrive, and help you get settled. There's always someone ready to answer any questions and troubleshoot issues. When I first arrived in Galway, we had several days of orientations where we moved in to our apartments, met the other students on the program, and IFSA staff literally walked around the whole city with us, took us on tours, and bought us meals so that we could get to know Galway and feel comfortable there. IFSA also organized two weekend excursions that are included in the program, to Kilkenny and to Belfast. They were both incredible, with a mix of planned activities and free time, so we didn't miss out on anything. The whole time I was living in Ireland, I personally knew the IFSA staff who were my contact points- they came to campus regularly to check in and chat with everyone, and would even just hang out with us in town if they had free time. If I ever needed anything, all I had to do was send a text, easy enough since IFSA provided us with Irish sim cards for our phones! IFSA is just a fantastic program, they took such good care of us and really went above and beyond to make this trip the highlight of my life.

Galway is also an amazing city. It's very safe, whether you're walking home at 3pm or 3am. I was NEVER harassed the entire time I was there. It's beautiful and historic and small enough that you can walk pretty much everywhere, but big enough to include several ruined castles and open fields full of horses. And if you're interested in learning the Irish language, Galway is a great place to be. It's near the Gaeltacht, and NUIG offers Irish language courses for international students that include a weekend homestay in Connemara, which was an incredible experience. I met some of my best friends at NUIG. I loved everything about my semester abroad, and that was made possible by IFSA. If you're serious about going abroad, CHOOSE IFSA and CHOOSE GALWAY!

I am currently a Mathematics and Statistics major, and I never really thought I'd be able to fit a whole semester abroad with my course load. QUB offered many upper-level math courses, and I was able to get credit for my math major while abroad! I was also able to take a couple of classes that I found inherently interesting, such as Religion and Political Science. QUB offers study abroad students access to a plethora of academic disciplines, which is perfect for the American Liberal Arts student.
IFSA-Butler was a fantastic program which allowed me to easily transition into the Belfast culture. The IFSA staff in Ireland were super helpful with getting to know the city. I and the other students on my study abroad program were easily able to get to know each other through the IFSA hosted activities during the orientation, and all of us were super comfortable with the environment within days of arrival! Definitely would recommend Belfast as a study abroad destination, and definitely through IFSA!

Going abroad is now a huge part of who I am. It was an incredible experience in Dublin, Ireland as I got to see 31 cities across 11 countries. I was able to visit friends from my home university, as I had travelled to Dublin alone. It was incredibly easy to make friends in the program as they have an orientation upon arrival. This was great as I was feeling a little overwhelmed at the fact I had actually landed in Ireland and would be here for months away from friends and family. IFSA - Butler was great by providing information about travel, academics, housing, shopping, and more. If they had not hosted an orientation I would have been extremely lost. Also, they continued being a great resource while in Ireland, as well as before and after I had been in Ireland. Today, I could talk for hours about the things I saw and experienced. Also I gained confidence and became a stronger version of myself. My family was incredibly proud of what I had accomplished and so was I. Lastly, I was also battling my anxiety throughout my travels. This was something I was not going to let stop me from doing what I had planned to accomplish. That experience has given me more control over my anxiety today. As for people I had met, I talk to them everyday through texts, snapchat, and more. We have also visited each other multiple time after returning to the U.S. I made lifelong friends.

Studying abroad with IFSA-Butler was an experience I will never forget. Belfast, Northern Ireland provided the perfect environment for both studying and exploring, and I couldn't be happier with my choice to attend classes and live for a semester at Stranmillis University College. The stunning scenery, rich culture and history, and welcoming people characterize the region, and it is no surprise why this is one of the fastest growing tourist locations in Europe.

My experience was enhanced by the support and guidance of IFSA-Butler, the American study abroad organization who planned by trip and ensured that the transition went smoothly. They were there every step of the way--from buying to plane tickets, to picking classes, settling in the dorm, providing enriching cultural experiences while abroad, and ensuring credit transfers when back home. I will never forget some of the outings they planned to facilitate our understanding of the unique cultural differences that make Northern Ireland/Ireland so special. For instance, we played Gaelic football in Dublin, visited the Peace Walls in Belfast, and went kayaking in a fjord in the Atlantic. Overall, I am so happy I chose IFSA-Butler and would highly recommend it to anyone else looking for a unique study abroad experience!