USAC IRELAND: Galway - Irish Studies

My experience studying in Galway with USAC was seriously incredible. Everything was very organized, and the USAC staff are extremely helpful. I would recommend studying abroad to anybody, it’s a life changing experience.

I can't say enough good things about the USAC Galway program. Galway quickly became my favorite city I had ever visited. You get the perfect mix of a busy city, yet you're still surrounded by nature. There is so much to do between downtown, Salthill, campus, and surrounding areas. And Irish culture truly is everywhere in Galway, with the music on the streets, the Irish speaking areas nearby, and the summer festivals. University of Galway is a great campus and a great location. We stayed in Goldcrest Village, and I was blown away at how nice our dorms were! I took the Gaelic class and the Irish Music class and loved both of them. The course load is on the heavier side, but the material is really interesting and my teachers were great. There was a nice mix of learning inside the classroom paired with field trips and workshops. It was so special getting to learn about the culture while being immersed in it at the same time. The group flight that USAC offered was a big draw for me and it made the travel days so much easier. I loved that the program began in Dublin, not only for the sightseeing, but also for the chance to get to know the group before we even moved into Galway. It was a tiring 3 days with the time change, but very worth it. The field trips to Connemara and the Aran Islands were some of the biggest highlights of the trip for me and I have such wonderful memories from them. Overall, I was really impressed at how well the program was planned out and I felt like everything went really smoothly. I can't recommend this program more. I was pretty nervous going into it, but I knew as soon as I got on the plane that that was where I was meant to be. Everyone there was so nice and I felt like our whole program was one big group of friends. The personal growth, memories, and connections you get from studying abroad are priceless.

I honestly cannot recommend this program enough... if you're reading this, APPLY TO A PROGRAM!!! I was wary at first due to potential costs, paperwork, etc. I thought, "I could never study abroad, I wouldn't know anyone, I couldn't pay for the program." However, I took my time, committed to paperwork, and found that USAC was really understanding and patient about my financial setbacks. I spent 5 weeks in Ireland where I found myself amongst a group of such friendly people and our program director was amazing. Everyone was so attentive, and our visiting professors were so kind. I could categorize my life experiences into two sections: Before I Went to Ireland, and After I Went to Ireland, because this experience truly changed me. I lived with three other girls, and we spent our days doing homework, going to get pub chips in the afternoon, walking around town, and making dinner for one another. I haven't made friends so quickly before, and I am still in contact with them despite living in different parts of the country now. Some of the girls and I are planning an annual trip to return to Ireland this summer because we really found an amazing temporary home there. The visiting professors came from across Ireland and it made me feel so lucky for their commitment to travel and educate us. Outside of the program, we met so many amazing people from around the world, and it led me to lifelong friendships with friends from Germany and Ireland, who I have since visited long after the program ended. This program gave me the confidence that travel like this is 100% possible, and I have permanently moved to Germany (a week ago!) and I definitely would not have done this before this trip. You absolutely must apply, there's no time like the present. This could change your life! I'm serious!