I always wanted to study abroad and heard of horror stories from people about bad providers. However, this story was not true for IFSA-Butler Ireland. They took amazing care of me and made sure that I was having the greatest time of my life. They hosted amazing events and awesome trips to Northern Ireland and Western Ireland. There office was always open and always had a pot of tea ready for students. I would recommend non-stop IFSA-Bulter Ireland!!

I studied elementary education in Northern Ireland in the fall semester of 2013. The program was through Stranmillis University College, part of Queen's University Belfast. Prior to this, I had studied abroad MANY times (Literature in Context course in Ireland, language school in Japan, monastic Buddhism program in Taiwan) and this was by far the best-run program.

The accommodations were wonderful, each person had a single room complete with a bathroom. It was quiet, which is important to me. It included breakfast and dinner at the dining hall, which was only steps away from the dorm where we all stayed.

The excursions we went on as a group as part of the program were top-notch. We went to the Northern Irish coast to see the Giant's Causeway and the rope bridge. We went to government buildings and historical sites. They took us out for great meals. Beyond things planned by the program, there were also all kinds of opportunities to get involved socially with the community at the school. I personally became extremely involved with the fencing club (a sport I had done before for many years) at Queen's, and I made many lifelong friends there.

As an academic program, I found it to be very worthwhile. We were given training and background on the Northern Irish curriculum before being assigned to our schools. We worked with a master teacher, just as we would have in the states. We had tutors assigned to us to guide us as we worked on our projects. I felt like I learned so much and it really broadened my international perceptions of education in general.

I really can't say enough good things about this program. If you're wondering if you should go to Northern Ireland through IFSA-Butler, the answer is definitely yes!

I studied at University College Cork through IFSA Butler in the spring of my junior year of college. There simply aren't words to describe how wonderful the experience is, and that is coming from an English major! IFSA offered unparalleled support as we entered the country, teaching us useful slang phrases and giving us tips on how to best amalgamate ourselves into Irish university life. I made some of the best friends of my life studying abroad at UCC with IFSA Butler, and came away a different person. If that alone isn't enough of an endorsement, I decided to go abroad again, to UCC, in the spring of my senior year. It is a truly beautiful experience, something all university students should consider. I had the time of my life!

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.

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!

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.