study abroad in Ireland with IFSA
Belfast
, Ireland

Ulster University Partnership

Program Overview

Recognized for academic excellence and innovation, Ulster is a great place to connect with peers from Ireland. Each of its four Northern Ireland campuses has a different vibe and academic offerings, ranging from business, computing, and engineering at the newly expanded, state-of-the-art campus in Belfast, to liberal arts and Irish studies on the north coast at welcoming Coleraine.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Fall: April 15
Academic Year: April 15
Spring: Oct. 15

Minimum GPA

3.00

Credit load

15

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Residence Hall/Dormitory

Instruction language

English

Prerequisites

None

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Academics

Looking for specific classes? Explore CHART, our exclusive class database — if the Ulster University Program is pre-approved at your institution, you’ll find classes recently taken by other IFSA students.

Ulster University has four campuses in Northern Ireland and each campus is home to different subjects. Search courses at each campus on the Ulster University Global online modules catalogue.

Each course description will have a module code, the semester when the module is offered and the number of Ulster University credits the course is worth. Courses offered in the fall are listed as semester 1 courses, courses offered in the spring are listed as semester 2 courses and courses that are year-long are listed as semesters 1/2. We recommend that you choose modules in Level 4 or Level 5 to ensure the best experience at Ulster. Some students may qualify for advanced Level 6 modules, and Level 7 modules are strictly unavailable to visiting undergraduate students.

If you’re looking for particular subject areas, see below which campuses typically offer relevant classes:

  • Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences: Belfast Campus, Coleraine Campus, Magee Campus
  • Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment: Belfast Campus, Magee Campus
  • Life and Health Sciences: Coleraine Campus, Jordanstown Campus, Magee Campus
  • Ulster University Business School: Belfast Campus, Coleraine Campus, Magee Campus

Past IFSA students have found Ulster a great match for nutrition and health sciences majors as well as engineering and built environment-related majors.

Credit Conversions

A full course load at Ulster University is 60 CATS credits, which is equivalent to 15 U.S. semester credit hours.

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.

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 two (2) years of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term. However, students with just one (1) year of study will be considered.

Recommendation Letter
Your application to this program will require one (1) academic letter of recommendation.

Visa Requirement

  • Fall or Spring Term: Not required for U.S. or Canadian citizens. A visa may be required if you are a citizen of another country.
  • Academic Year: A visa is required for all students.

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 courses 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.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As a result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.

  • George’s Market: Explore Belfast’s last surviving Victorian covered market, an active site for trade since 1604. Sellers offer fish, coffee, sweet treats, crafts, art, collectables, and more, while buskers play live music. Check out displays that trace the history of the market and the city.
  • Stand-up Comedy at The Empire or The Black Box: Visiting a local club is a not only sure to make you laugh out loud, it’s also a great way to catch local perspective and the humor that’s such a huge part of Northern Irish culture. Popular in Belfast, shows range from amateur night to professionals who showcase their unique local take on world events and Northern Irish culture.
  • The Titanic Museum, Titanic Quarter: Learn the story of the famous ship, from conception and construction through its fated 1912 maiden voyage, all in the place Titanic was built and launched.
  • Rugby Match at Kingspan Stadium: Soak up the atmosphere as you walk with local Ulster Rugby supporters to the stadium, just outside the city center. Then catch the excitement as you cheer on the home team.
  • North Coast Day Trip: You won’t want to miss this chance to explore this jaw-dropping region, world famous for beautiful beaches, folklore, charming villages, and geological stunners like Giant’s Causeway, a series of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. You'll also see Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge and the ruins of Dunluce Castle, a treat for Game of Thrones fans.
  • Kilkenny Weekend: Don’t miss this two-night trip to Kilkenny, a charming medieval city dating back to 1195. Stay in a hostel with IFSA students who are studying all over Ireland and explore this small central Ireland standout, known for its history, artisan food, sporting culture—and Ireland’s most notorious witch. Visit a local farm, try hurling with a local coach, test yourself with a pub quiz, explore Kilkenny Castle, and more.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Residence Hall/Dormitory

Meals

Self-Catering

Dates and Fees

Term

Term begins

Term ends

Program costs

Application deadline

Spring 2024

January 22, 2024

June 1, 2024

$21,475

Oct. 15

Fall 2024

Mid-Sept. 2024

Mid-Dec. 2024

$18,975 (estimated)

April 15

Academic Year 2024-2025

Mid-Sept. 2024

Late May 2025

Contact IFSA

April 15

Term

Spring 2024

Term begins

January 22, 2024

Term ends

June 1, 2024

Program costs

$21,475

Application deadline

Oct. 15

Term

Fall 2024

Term begins

Mid-Sept. 2024

Term ends

Mid-Dec. 2024

Program costs

$18,975 (estimated)

Application deadline

April 15

Term

Academic Year 2024-2025

Term begins

Mid-Sept. 2024

Term ends

Late May 2025

Program costs

Contact IFSA

Application deadline

April 15

Get Started

Kristen Clark

Kristen Clark

Admissions Counselor

Kristen Clark

Kristen Clark

Prearrival Counselor

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