Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
Become immersed in the rich culture and history of Ireland while studying at the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway! This program allows you to directly enroll in university courses in a variety of fields while living and studying alongside Irish students. It's is ideal for students from a variety of majors who wish to take courses taught in English. Galway, known as “Ireland’s Cultural Heart” is a city rich with history, culture, and pride for its Irish heritage.
Situated on the western coast of Ireland, Galway is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with a thriving cultural and commercial community. Galway is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, with a population of 65,000. As a city where English is commonly spoken against the backdrop of Irish, Ireland's first official language, Galway is home to the world renowned Druid Theatre Company, the Macnas Street Theatre Company and An Taibhdhearc, the National Irish Language theatre. The close proximity of the Connemara "Gaeltacht," the country's largest Irish speaking community and location of the Irish-language television service, Teilifis na Gaeilge, gives a distinctive "Gaelic" dimension to the cultural life of Galway. Although a bustling center of arts and commerce, Galway still retains a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, where the city's medieval streets, waterways, wealth of music sessions and other cultural events bring students into contact with Irish history and culture every day, earning Galway its title of "Cultural Capital of Ireland."
Getting to Your Program
You are responsible for arranging your own transportation to Galway but are given guidelines on arrival dates and times.
Visa
You must have a U.S. passport valid for six months after the end of the program.
When you enter Ireland for the first time, you will need to carry specific documentation with you in order to enter as a student. Students studying in Ireland for a period longer than 3 months must register for a residence permit within one month of arrival in Ireland. The NUI Galway International Office will arrange an appointment for UW-Madison students to register with the immigration authorities at the beginning of the semester. For more information about this process, as well as the documentation you need in order to enter Ireland, please review the document "NUI Galway Student Immigration Requirements" in your My Study Abroad account.
Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program. Upon arrival, a registration and orientation program will precede the start of the semester.
Housing
You will arrange your own housing in university-approved residential complexes or private houses and apartments. Located throughout the city, many accommodation options are available and most can be arranged before arrival in Galway. You are responsible for your own meals and can use cooking facilities in student housing or purchase food from a number of restaurants on campus.
Excursions and Activities
Galway's thriving arts, culture, and outdoor scenes offer you a great variety of social activities, from windsurfing and sailing to contemporary and traditional Irish music. Over fifty societies and thirty athletic clubs at NUI Galway provide opportunities to meet Irish students, while the university's ALIVE volunteer program allows you to get involved with local community and non-governmental organizations, societies and clubs, the NUI Galway Student Newspaper and Radio Station, work with disadvantaged students, and mentor first year students. USIT, a student travel company near campus, provides you with information and discount cards for travel to other parts of Ireland and Europe, while discount European airlines frequent the airport in nearby Shannon.
Insurance
You will be enrolled in the UW System required health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
On-Site Support
NUI Galway International Office staff
Handbooks
Use the links below to find out more information on academics, daily life and student impressions for this program.
Galway Spring 2013 IAP Handbook (Spring - 2012-13)
Galway Brochures for Study Abroad Students (Spring - 2012-13)
Galway IAP Program Handbook (Fall - 2013-14)
International Student Guide 2013-14 (Fall - 2013-14)
IAP Galway Program Handbook (Year - 2013-14)
International Student Guide 2013-14 (Year - 2013-14)
Returned Student Network
Click
here to see testimonials from students abroad or to contact a returned student.
Student Profiles
Check out student profiles to learn more about their experience abroad.
Lindzey Kobiske
Student Testimonials
"Galway is an incredible city. I couldn't open my eyes wide enough to take in everything."
Blogs
Read about current & past students' adventures.
Jane-Spring 2013
NUI Galway's old stone quadrangle and original mid-nineteenth century buildings brush shoulders with new, modern facilities, reflecting its history and recent growth. Situated on the banks of the River Corrib and close to the city center, NUI Galway has a student body of 13,000 and enjoys a close relationship with the city.
NUI Galway offers a wide selection of courses from the Faculty of Arts, Celtic Studies, Commerce, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, and Science. You may tailor your selection of classes from across a wide range of disciplines to suit your individual academic requirements.
In addition, students who study abroad in Galway will have the option of taking a service learning course called "Service Learning - Literacy Project for Study Abroad Students". This course will allow students to work with area elementary and high school students while in Galway.
Affiliate Institution(s)
National University Ireland, Galway
Program Web Page(s)
International Students at NUI Galway
Foreign Courses
Classes available at NUI Galway
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
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