GoAbroad
IFSA international students
IFSA University of Galway Partnership logo

IFSA University of Galway Partnership

by: IFSA, Institute for Study Abroad

9.1 (10)Verified

IRISH TRADTION MEETS BOHEMIAN CREATIVITY IN A SMALL, COASTAL CITY 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. Known as the National University of Ireland, Galway until 2022, the university has a strong se...

Read More

Program Highlights

Historic City Lane Walking Tour: A local guide takes us from the Spanish Arch through the old city to Eyre Square.

Gaelic Games Experience: Ireland’s national Gaelic games include hurling, Gaelic football, handball, and camogie—ancient sports not widely known outside Ireland.

Rugby Match at The Sportsground: Take in the atmosphere as you walk with Connacht Rugby supporters to the stadium, just outside the city center.

Stand-up Comedy or City Festival: Galway is known for drawing comedians who want to try new material on a discerning audience and monthly festivals that often center on food, film, or theater.

Day Trip to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey: Hop on the bus to tour the wilds of Connemara and its must-see rugged landscape on the way to the west coast’s best scenery.

Quick Details

Locations
  • Galway, Ireland
Availability
Year(s) Offered2025, 2026Terms Available:
  • Fall
  • Spring
  • Academic Year
Age Requirement:Varies
Types & Subjects:
  • Art & Fine Arts
  • Art History
  • Asian Studies
  • Biology
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • See more
Guidelines:
  • American
  • Canadian
See all program details

Awards

GoAbroad Innovation Awards 2024 Finalist - SustainabilityInnovative Student Video 2023 FinalistInnovation in Crisis Response Finalist 2022

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

9.1

Total Reviews

10

Great craic! -- studying abroad in Ireland through IFSA

September 07, 2020by: Sara Pabich - United StatesProgram: IFSA University of Galway Partnership
9

One of the most common phrases you will hear is “what’s the craic?” It is a common phrase throughout University’s to discuss the level of fun one is having (ie. average, good, great). How did I learn this? Upon arrival, our IFSA resident director immediately introduced us to some of the common Irish phrases and words. Not only did our IFSA resident director tell us what they were, but we also had to practice them in context. This simple gesture helped guide us into our cultural immersion in another country while giving us the confidence to engage with fellow Irish classmates. This is what IFSA is best at - ensuring their studying abroad students succeed academically, personally, and professionally. Before enrolling in courses, IFSA held an orientation through what to expect when enrolling in courses. This more in-depth explanation actually led IFSA students to become a resource for other international students who did not get an in-depth orientation as we did. Furthermore, they promoted personal growth by encouraging us to immerse ourselves in the culture. For example, they encouraged me to learn Gaelic and live with a host family for a weekend. This is an experience I never would have done without the encouragement of our resident director. Finally, they held a meeting at the end of our study abroad experience about how to talk about your study abroad experience in a professional setting. In discussing what skills I learned and the different ways I could frame my study abroad experience, I have the confidence to talk about my study abroad experience in an interview. If I could do another study abroad experience, I would definitely choose to go through IFSA again.

Can I go back now?

November 20, 2019by: Erin Venuti - United StatesProgram: IFSA University of Galway Partnership
9

Studying abroad in Galway was one of the best decisions I've ever made. For one, the city of Galway is absolutely incredible! There's so much history, and culture, and color, and I really felt like I was part of the community there. While abroad, few things would make me feel happier than taking a walk down to the Latin Quarter, grabbing a coffee at a cafe, and listening to the buskers performing on the street. My classes were really great as well. Naturally, school is school no matter where you go, but I was really lucky to get into some awesome classes on Irish culture, history, literature, and language. A few of my classes even included field trips up and down the west coast of Ireland. IFSA was a great support for me while I was abroad, thanks in large part to my on-site advisor, Rachel. She was like our big sister! And she clearly loved the city as well -- we'd often see her walking around downtown too and it was so nice to see a friendly face in an unfamiliar city. In short, this is the best program ever and you should totally study abroad with IFSA NUI Galway!!

Getting immersed in Irish culture

February 26, 2019by: Kate Leahy - United StatesProgram: IFSA University of Galway Partnership
9

NUIG is a very large university - and with a large university comes large opportunities. But luckily, I wasn't thrown into it. I took the group flight IFSA offered, so when I arrived I was greeted at the airport with other American students. We went through two days of IFSA orientation - learning about our apartments, the walk to the grocery store (and how you have to bring your own bags), the walk to campus, the city centre, etc. After two days of thinking I had the hang of cooking and meeting new people (all 15 of them) I got thrown into a huge orientation at NUIG, with hundreds of international students there for the semester. Wow was I glad I had already gone through some of the stuff so I could get to know what campus was like! With this I joined multiple clubs on campus, went to some sporting events, a live comedy show, and so much more. I felt immersed in the Irish culture and my Irish university, but I couldn't have done it without IFSA!

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Galway, Ireland

Types and Subjects

  • Subjects & Courses
  • Art & Fine Arts
  • Art History
  • Asian Studies

Availability

Years Offered: 2025, 2026

Age Requirement

Age Requirement Varies

Guidelines

  • American
  • Canadian

Program Cost Includes

  • Tuition & Fees
  • All Program Activity Costs
  • Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
  • Wifi Costs

Accommodation Options

  • Apartment/Flat

Qualifications & Experience

    Language Skills Required

  • English

    Accepted Education Levels

  • University Sophomore (2nd Year)
  • University Junior (3rd Year)

Application Procedures

  • Online Application
IFSA, Institute for Study Abroad

IFSA, Institute for Study Abroad

9.1Verified

Ready to Learn More?

IRISH TRADTION MEETS BOHEMIAN CREATIVITY IN A SMALL, COASTAL CITY 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. Known as the National University of Ireland, Galway until 2022, the university has a strong service culture. Easy to navigate on foot or by bike, this beautiful campus is hugged by the Corrib River on one side and neighborhoods that border the city center on the other. Start your cultural journey by learning Gaelic at the university’s beginner class for visiting students. (More options for visiting students include drama, indigenous arts, marine biology, and Irish teaching philosophy.) Whe...

Related Programs

Browse programs you might like