University of Galway Campus
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Myers '14 - "The Aran Islands" , Inis Mor, Galway, Ireland
Summary: Located on the banks of the wild River Corrib, University of Galway’s sprawling campus is only a short walk from the heart of the city: The Latin Quarter! Holy Cross students have the unique opportunity to directly enroll in a full course load (usually 6 classes) at University of Galway, the gem of Ireland’s beautiful west coast. HC Students will join Irish students and other international students in on-campus dorms and attend a range of classes offered across the university.
Galway city boasts a robust arts scene. It is the home of Ireland’s first professional theatre company outside of Dublin: the renowned Druid Theatre. Stop in to the Town Hall Theatre or the Mick Lally for a play. Catch some live music at the Roisin Dubh, one of Galways best-loved music venues. If you fancy a “trad session” try the Crane Bar’s student nights! Enjoy festivals all year long. From the comedy festival in the Fall to the Theatre festival in Spring, there’s always something “on!” in this charming seaside town.
University of Galway is a suitable study abroad location for most majors. Students that do well in Galway tend to be academically independent and enjoy a slower pace of life. Galway is a great “jumping off point” for exploring the best of the west: from Connemara to Clare to beautiful Westport in County Mayo, there is lots to explore along Ireland’s wild Atlantic way. Beware: Dublin airport is a 3-hour bus ride away, so this is a great site for students who are looking for a more immersive experience. Weekly trips to mainland Europe aren’t generally in the cards for students who call the west “home.”
Check out the Galway Compass, your comprehensive guide to all things study abroad in Galway! Continue reading below for a snapshot:
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Name: University of Galway (formerly National University of Ireland, Galway or NUIG)
Location: Galway, Ireland
University size: 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students (18% international)
University founded: 1845
Terms available: academic year, fall, spring
Dates: late August-early May (academic year); late August to mid-December (fall); early Jan - early May (spring) Start and end dates noted are tentative and subject to change.
Calendar: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/registry/academic-term-dates/
Pre-university program: n/a
Registration info: 60 credits per year (30 per term) is a full course load. This usually amounts to six 5-credit classes per semester. There are some 10-credit classes! If you take one 10-credit class and four 5-credit classes, that is considered a full-time course load even though you are only in 5 modules (classes).
ICIP required: Yes for academic-year students
Housing: Students live in on-campus and are not guaranteed to be placed with other Holy Cross students.
Maximum capacity: 20 students from Holy Cross per semester: This is a highly competitive program. We are only able to send 20 students per semester as a maximum, and regardless of applicant volume, we need to make every effort to balance the Fall and Spring semesters. Preference will be given to Academic Year students. In the event that we receive more applications than available openings, or we need to shift students from one semester to another, we will select participants with the highest GPAs in their respective majors to attend University of Galway during their preferred semester. It is advisable that students interested in University of Galway arrange to meet with Assistant Director Emma Meade (emeade@holycross.edu) to discuss alternative locations in the event that student interest in Galway exceeds capacity.
University website: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/
Study Abroad website: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/international-students/studyabroad.html
Student life/campus activities: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/university-life/
North American Student Guide: https://www.nuigalway.ie/international-students/downloads/A-GUIDE-FOR-NORTH-AMERICAN-STUDENTS.pdf
Visa fees: Garda (police) registration fee is 300 EUR. A visa is not required for U.S. citizens (students must show access to $3,000 when registering with the Garda National in Ireland). Non-US citizens must check visa requirements for their country of citizenship: http://www.inis.gov.ie/
Housing deposits: Students are required to pay a REFUNDABLE housing deposit to University of Galway. Last term, the deposit amount was €250. This amount is subject to change each semester.
Course Catalog (module search)*: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/international-students/inboundstudyabroad/ourprogramme/ Please be aware that students do not typically register for classes until they are physically in Galway, therefore flexibility is a must!
Courses previously taken by Holy Cross students: https://sa.holycross.edu
On left-side menu, click on Courses Taken Abroad for Holy Cross Credit then select program. Please be aware this list is meant to give you an idea of the types of courses available to you at Galway based on what past students have taken. This is NOT a list of classes that are guaranteed to be available to you and you are not limited to the classes on this list. Class offerings change each semester and you can certainly register for classes that you do not see on this list.
Grade equivalency sheet: Available on the Holy Cross Registrar’s website: http://www.holycross.edu/support-and-resources/office-registrar/study-abroad-equivalencies
*Note: In Ireland, classes are called “modules” and majors are called “courses.”
All information listed above is subject to change.
For more information, please contact:
Emma Meade, Assistant Director
Email: emeade@holycross.edu
Phone: 508-793-3090
Office: Smith 213
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