University College Dublin Partnership

Students apply to one college or program within UCD. Students must take the majority of their courses within their college or chosen program.

Explore available courses on the University College Dublin’s online course catalog.

• Click on the “Modules” tab (the font is grey, the tab is grey when it’s been clicked on). 
• To search by subject, select the college you’re applying for (ie Arts & Humanities or Engineering) under “Category”
• If there a multiple subjects available under “Subject,” choose the subject area you’re interested in
• Then tick the boxes to filter your search for Levels 1, 2, and 3.
• Click the search button to see courses offered
• Check when the course is offered (semester 1 = fall, semester 2 = spring)

Credit Conversions
The typical course load at University College Dublin is 25-30 ECTS credits, which is equivalent to 12.5-15 U.S. semester credit hours.

1 ECTS credit = 0.5 U.S. semester credit hours

It is your responsibility to confirm your home institution’s requirements regarding course load during your study abroad experience.

CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.

Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.

Study abroad students at the University College Dublin may enroll in Level 1-3 (100-300) classes. Access to Level 4 classes varies across the UCD colleges, but generally if a student meet the module prerequisites listed, they are eligible to take the module. If confirmation is required before committing, please reach out to your IFSA Enrollment Counselor.

English
English majors may enroll in a full course load of English modules and will receive priority registration for these modules, particularly with 300 level (level-3) modules. These students can select up to two, 300-level modules, worth 10 ECTS credits each. Non-English majors are encouraged to speak with their IFSA Enrollment Counselor for guidance on the appropriate modules to select.

Psychology
Psychology majors receive priority registration and can typically take a maximum of three to four psychology modules. Non-psychology majors can select modules subject to availability, although availability is typically limited.

History
History majors receive priority registration in history modules. Non-history majors can select modules subject to availability.

Scientific and Engineering Research Opportunity
UCD, a prestigious research institution, offers IFSA students the opportunity to enroll in a credit-bearing research experience in the UCD College of Science or the UCD College of Engineering. Based on your academic background and research interests, you will be assigned to an active lab and pursue a research project under the supervision of UCD faculty and their graduate student team. At the end of the semester, you will present your findings in a poster presentation session open to the whole university. UCD will mail your poster to your home institution. If interested in this opportunity, please contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor and we will ensure that you enroll in the correct UCD class for the research option. UCD will confirm the specific details of your research placement shortly after your arrival in Ireland.

New country, new way of learning!

Here’s what to expect at University College Dublin:

• More emphasis on independent learning. The university recommends completing ten hours of independent study for each academic credit you seek.
• Less personal access to professors. Instead, it’s common to connect with more junior faculty members. Other resources include course designers (who line up lectures) and module coordinators.
• Grades are often based only on a single final paper or on a midterm exam and final paper.
• Academics reflect a similar level of difficulty as in the U.S., but follow a different grading scale. In Ireland, scores of 70% and above are considered “As.” (We’ll review this and give you a chart to refer to during IFSA orientation.)
• Full access to the university’s robust academic support system and resources, including assignment to an advisor. IFSA local staff are also available for individual help.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
• You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
• Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.

Recommendation Letter

• Your application to this program will require one (1) academic letter of recommendation if your cumulative GPA is below a 3.0.
• A research or internship site may request a reference letter before placement is finalized.

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.