Study abroad in Ireland with IFSA
Galway
, Ireland

University of Galway Partnership

Program Overview

Study Irish history, science, engineering, and more in Ireland’s beautiful western coastal region. Known for proudly preserving its language and culture, Galway has a youthful, bohemian vibe, thanks in part to a sizable student presence.

The University of Galway was known as the National University of Ireland, Galway until 2022.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

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

Minimum GPA

3.00

Credit load

12.5 - 15

Housing

Apartment/Flat

Instruction language

English

Prerequisites

None

Apply Now

gallery-imagegallery-image

Academics

Looking for specific classes? Explore CHART, our exclusive class database—if the University of Galway program is preapproved at your institution, you’ll find classes recently taken by other IFSA students.

Explore the available classes at the University of Galway by downloading the Galway Visiting Student Handbook: Fall and the Galway Visiting Student Handbook: Spring. These handbooks show available classes and credits in the previous year, as well as website links to additional class details.

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

1 ECTS credit = 0.5 U.S. credit hours

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

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.

First-Year Classes
Most first-year (i.e. freshman year) classes are offered on a yearlong basis only. Full-year students may enroll in first, second, and third year classes; however, students applying for a semester program are generally limited to second- and third-year classes.

Engineering
Engineering modules are subject to departmental preapproval and class capacity limitations. Please check in with your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for more information.

English
Visiting students may take only one English seminar per semester and admission to seminar courses is limited.

Film Studies
Film Studies classes are not available to visiting students.

Journalism
Journalism classes are not available to visiting students.

Languages
French is available only to students who have previous knowledge of the language. First-year (i.e. yearlong) courses in Spanish, German, and Italian are available for beginners. Students interested in studying a language at Galway should be aware that it is difficult to determine what level they should enroll in until they have experienced the language teaching at the university.

Mathematics
Mathematics modules are subject to departmental preapproval. Please check in with your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for more information.

Music
Music classes are not available to visiting students.

Psychology
Psychology modules are subject to class capacity limitations. Please check in with your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for more information.

Science
Science modules are subject to departmental preapproval and class capacity limitations. Please check in with your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for more information.

Theater
Theater classes are not available to visiting students.

 

 

 

Learn more about Irish culture by taking one of three exciting community-based learning opportunities for 2.5 U.S. semester credit hours:

Philosophy in Irish Schools
This is a service-learning class and is delivered via a series of academic lectures, reflective seminars, and includes over 14 hours of service at local elementary schools. If you would like to take this class, you will need to connect with your IFSA Enrollment Counselor in advance, as it does require a police background check before you arrive in Ireland.

Exploring Irish Theater
This class allows students to explore Irish theatre and performance, through both classroom-based and practical activities. Students form an understanding of the distinctive characteristics of Irish theater, analyzing works of writers from W.B. Yeats to Martin McDonagh and beyond. They consider critically the history of Irish theater through hands-on, archives-based activities and develop practical skills by engaging in workshops that cover acting, playwriting, direction, and more. No prior experience of Irish theater is needed, nor is it necessary to have any experience with acting.

Scientific Research Experience
This class allows visiting students to develop research experience while in Galway, taking on a number of hands-on tasks under the guidance of a faculty mentor and professional researchers. Students can develop skills in the laboratory setting, learn new analytical techniques, and review relevant literature and research. The course will culminate in students preparing a formal report detailing their research experience. Availability is limited, so please check in with your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for more details.

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) semesters of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.

Recommendation Letter
Not required.

Visa & Resident Permit Requirements

  • A visa is not required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
  • A visa may be required if you are a citizen of another country.
  • A resident permit 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 our control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.

Activities

  • Local rugby matches
  • Theater performances
  • Comedy gigs
  • Castle tours
Excursions
  • Trip to Belfast and the Antrim Coast include visits to Dunluce Castle, Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge, and Giant’s Causeway

Housing and Meals

Housing

Apartment/Flat

Details

There are no meal plan options for the University of Galway. Students will have kitchens in their apartment/flat to cook meals.

Dates and Fees

Term

Term begins

Term ends

Program costs

Application deadline

Fall 2023

August 28, 2023

December 16, 2023

$19,575

Passed

Academic Year 2023-2024

August 28, 2023

Early May 2024

Contact IFSA

Passed

Spring 2024

Early Jan. 2024

Early May 2024

$19,575 (estimated)

Oct. 15

Fall 2024

Late Aug. 2024

Mid-Dec. 2024

$19,575 (estimated)

April 15

Academic Year 2024-2025

Late Aug. 2024

Early May 2025

Contact IFSA

April 15

Term

Fall 2023

Term begins

August 28, 2023

Term ends

December 16, 2023

Program costs

$19,575

Application deadline

Passed

Term

Academic Year 2023-2024

Term begins

August 28, 2023

Term ends

Early May 2024

Program costs

Contact IFSA

Application deadline

Passed

Term

Spring 2024

Term begins

Early Jan. 2024

Term ends

Early May 2024

Program costs

$19,575 (estimated)

Application deadline

Oct. 15

Term

Fall 2024

Term begins

Late Aug. 2024

Term ends

Mid-Dec. 2024

Program costs

$19,575 (estimated)

Application deadline

April 15

Term

Academic Year 2024-2025

Term begins

Late Aug. 2024

Term ends

Early May 2025

Program costs

Contact IFSA

Application deadline

April 15

Get Started

Apply Now
schedule time to talk
Vineeta Chauhan

Vineeta Chauhan

Admissions Counselor

Vineeta Chauhan

Vineeta Chauhan

Prearrival Counselor

IFSA Student Stories

Study abroad in Ireland with IFSA

November 13, 2018

What Am I Doing Here? One Student’s Faith Journey Abroad

Learn more

January 10, 2018

The Invisible Identity Survival Guide

Learn more