IFSA: National University of Ireland, Galway Partnership

Name: IFSA: National University of Ireland, Galway Partnership
Brand: Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA)
SKU: 75626
Rating: 9.2 (5 reviews)

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IFSA: National University of Ireland, Galway Partnership

About

Cead Mile Failte! Nowhere in the world will you find a country richer in tradition and heritage than Ireland. Students participating on the National University of Ireland, Galway program will be living and learning alongside Irish students, as well as visiting historical sites like Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle and Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. Galway is widely regarded as the cultural capital of Ireland with its bustling center of arts and music.

Special Offer

Study abroad in Ireland for FREE with a full-ride scholarship.

Scholarships

IFSA Scholarships and Financial Aid

We believe that study abroad should be within reach of every student, so we offer a wide range of scholarships and funding opportunities for all our participants.

Value

$500 - $2,500

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Questions & Answers

Reviews

9.2 Rating

based on 5 reviews

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Study

Academics 8.6
Support 9.4
Fun 7.6
Housing 9
Safety 9.4

Showing 1 - 5 of 5

Ireland is a place I have always wanted to visit and learn more about, but because my classes were in the middle of the day Monday-Friday, it was difficult to see more of the country. I also wish they explained the bus system more before the start of the program and the most reliable buses we should use.
I believe that the location was perfect to truly experience the heart of Ireland. This helped show me that I want to work in a global-oriented organization once I graduate college.

Make a plan for how to spend your weekends in Ireland, but don't be afraid to just wing it in a city. Just walking around and exploring the cities was a lot more fun that planning every moment down to a tee.

What would you improve about this program?

The class schedule times could be in the mornings.

I absolutely adore this program because we had on-site staff that was always available to use. Suzie was an immense help even when some of the school staff wasn't flexible. I had the most amazing time in Galway, Ireland and consider it my second home now. I plan on moving to Dublin, Ireland to get my masters in Education because I fell in love with Ireland. I took the summer courses which were all about art and literature of Ireland and I left like it was very helpful when I went on tours because I knew the background information about what I was touring. This town was very active and friendly and I felt safe the entire time. Quickly making friends here from girls around the states was really easy and we all mainly went and traveled all over Ireland every weekend. Loved the professors because they are so passionate and knowledgeable about their subject and came with us on some of the school mandated trips. Loved this program and wish I could have stayed longer!

What would you improve about this program?

I think that making sure that the classes and the descriptions of what they entail at the beginning of the program would be much more helpful. They asked us to put down our 4 top options and then we would get 2 but it made it sound like we would choose them when we got to Ireland. It all worked out, but it was stressful because I was in another country and was having to try and get in contact with my school at home and run interference between the two schools.

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.

What would you improve about this program?

Less scholarly requirements, maybe? I have no other complaints. Keep going to Belfast! It's a great learning experience.

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.

I had an amazing adventure in Galway with IFSA Butler. I felt well taken care of and Ireland was a perfect place for me to be. Even though I traveled extensively throughout Ireland, I was always glad to be home in Galway. The staff were so friendly and helpful and the adventures together were always fun. A great choice!!

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Hannah Sutton

Program

IFSA: National University of Ireland, Galway Partnership

Job Title

IFSA-Butler Program Advisor

Hannah Sutton, IFSA-Butler Program Advisor, works with students planning to study abroad in England and Australia. Hannah graduated from Butler University with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. During her junior year, Hannah spent a semester at University College Dublin on the IFSA-Butler Ireland program. Her experience led her to develop a passion for study abroad and education and she joined the IFSA-Butler team to help guide other students to their own study abroad adventures.

Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?

A young woman posing for a picture.

Hannah: Even though I studied abroad in an English speaking country, I still think it’s becoming more important than ever for people to learn another language and/or truly immerse themselves in another culture. You don’t have to look very far to see examples of the variety of cultures that make up the fabric of our day to day lives.

Our world becomes increasingly cosmopolitan with every day and it’s important to be open to experiencing other cultures and seeing things from other perspectives so we can work with one another, regardless of difference in language and background. No matter where we come from or what language we speak, we all share a human experience and by learning a new language or throwing ourselves into an unfamiliar culture, we can only expand upon that experience, all for the betterment of the world in which we live.

What does the future hold for IFSA-Butler - any exciting new programs to share?

Hannah: IFSA-Butler is just starting to roll out a new model of programs called “Engage” that we hope will allow even more students the opportunity to spend a semester abroad and come back knowing how to articulate the formative experience. Our Engage programs will be available in Barcelona, London and two Australian cities, Adelaide and Gold Coast.

In my opinion, the most exciting part of these new programs is the required Exploring Community & Culture class (also known as C&C), taught by IFSA-Butler staff. We currently offer C&C on a few of our existing programs, but with Engage, C&C will be a key component in giving students the tools to unpack and understand the world around them on a deeper intercultural level.

As an added bonus, our Engage programs also offer a more affordable option for students looking to save a little money!

About Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA)

The Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1988. Our primary goal is to provide quality study abroad opportunities, plus academic and personal support services, for qualified North American undergraduates seeking to earn academic credit through study abroad.

IFSA is organized to assist our students from the...

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