Technology Study Abroad Programs in Dublin, Ireland

Studying abroad was one of the scariest and most fulfilling things I could have done during my undergraduate experience. I was a commuter student in my undergraduate program, and was not used to the independence offered to me during this program. I had the time of my life. As a Trinity student, we were given a co-living apartment about a 20 minutes walk from Trinity, right in the center of the Dublin. My apartment also offered a beautiful view of the Wicklow mountains. Trinity was an amazing school to attend, and the academics were challenging, and the classmates were interesting. I took a couple of courses that would not be offered at my home university, and I had a lot of fun. It was so cool being able to attend such a historical school, and attend its events, such as Trinity Ball. In addition to attending a school with a beautiful campus, our resident directors planned spectacular trips around Ireland as well! I felt that I saw most of the country in my four months there. We did a variety of activities and it was fun to experience with other Americans. I learned a lot about the Irish culture and history. Dublin is also a central location in Europe, and my roommates and I were able to take a couple of trips around the continent. Flights within in Europe are so cheap and you are not necessarily restricted to the country you are studying in. I saw so many sights and met a lot of different people through my travels. I will forever be thankful that I decided to study abroad. I still talk to my study abroad roommates and have visited them around the United States after our program has ended. I've also ended up back in Ireland in a graduate program at UCD because I loved it here so much. My program with API was definitely part of my journey to end up here, and I would recommend studying abroad to anyone who is thinking about it (I definitely recommend Ireland, but I'm not biased).

Going abroad was a spontaneous, circumstantial decision for me rather than a well-thought out plan. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. I stumbled upon this program after consulting with an advisor at the International Programs Office at my school in late October. I knew I wanted to go to Ireland or Italy, and this was the only program left available due to the timing of my decision to go abroad. Little did I know that Maynooth, Ireland would hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life! Maynooth is a gorgeous college town situated on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland. Dublin Center is easily accessible by bus or train. It is Ireland's only college town, with an active student body and a wide array of things to do. Many of the students I met and became close with were other students studying abroad (Erasmus students), from various states in the U.S. and even from countries across Europe! The Erasmus student population is what made the experience for me personally, although there were many friendly locals I met as well. Grab a pint of Guinness at the Roost, go for a hike with alpacas in the Irish countryside, or explore all that Dublin Center has to offer. Ireland has no shortage of beautiful landscapes and interesting people, and I highly recommend spending your semester abroad in this truly wonderful country. API offers excursions to all of the must-see places in Ireland, including the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, the Blarney Stone, and more. They were extremely accommodating and highly proactive in ensuring that all of my needs were met before I studied abroad. I highly recommend spending your semester abroad with API.

Participating in the AIFS Abroad program was truly an ideal way to experience studying overseas. From start to finish, every step was made incredibly easy thanks to the clear layout and step-by-step guidance provided. Many of my initial anxieties about going abroad were alleviated because I had consistent support throughout the entire process—from applying to arriving in Ireland, and even when it was time to return home. It was comforting to know that help was always available. The people of Ireland were wonderful—warm, welcoming, and eager to share their rich culture with us. I will never forget the amazing food, especially the spice bags, which I still dream about. The entire experience is something I would never trade for the world. I genuinely believe that everyone should seize the opportunity to go abroad at least once in their life, and Ireland through AIFS is a fantastic choice. The breathtaking landscapes, combined with the ease of navigating public transportation, made exploring the country a joy. Every day presented new opportunities to meet incredible people and immerse myself in unforgettable experiences. AIFS Abroad in Ireland offers an enriching adventure that leaves a lasting impact. Ireland’s vibrant atmosphere is one of its standout features, with live music filling pubs and streets every night, creating a lively cultural scene that’s perfect for students looking to immerse themselves in local life. The accessibility to culture goes beyond just music, as many of Ireland’s museums offer free entry, providing countless opportunities to explore the country’s rich history and heritage. Dublin City University (DCU) is ideally located to take advantage of all these experiences. Situated close to the heart of Dublin, the university allows students easy access to the vibrant city life, while also being just a bus ride away from the peaceful countryside, stunning beaches, or even a quick train journey to explore other parts of Ireland. This blend of urban and rural access offers students the best of both worlds. Academically, DCU stands out with its strong educational standards. The professors are passionate about their subjects and deeply invested in their students' success, fostering a positive and engaging learning environment. With reasonable class sizes, students benefit from a more personalized education experience, similar to what they might find in the United States, ensuring a smooth academic transition for international students. One of the highlights of the AIFS program at Dublin City University is the class trips and excursions. These trips, led by a dedicated advisor who is always available for support, provide an incredible opportunity to explore Ireland beyond the classroom. The advisor organizes weekend trips to iconic destinations like Galway and Cork, giving students the chance to experience the diverse beauty of the country. In addition to these trips, the program offers a range of group activities, such as dinners, visits to sporting events, tours of Irish farms, and even a unique tea bus experience. These excursions not only allow students to immerse themselves in Irish culture but also help build strong bonds with fellow students, creating lasting memories of the time spent abroad.

This past summer I traveled to Dublin, Ireland with CEA CAPA. I had an overall wonderful experience and found the staff both pre departure and within my host country to be very helpful. They were quick with responses and assisting in any worries that I might have had. While there, we had two CEA CAPA planned trips that were very fun and a good chance to explore the country. I met so many wonderful people on the trip too. Over all my experience was really great!

I had a wonderful opportunity this Fall to do a Study + Intern program in Dublin. Living at Dublin City University, Dublin was an incredible city to explore with so much character and an incredibly relaxed atmosphere. The program included multiple excursions, such as a day trip to Cork. In addition, Dublin was an amazing launchpad to explore a large portion of Western Europe. I will always cherish this unique opportunity to spend a semester in Ireland.

Tremendous staff. Environment is like none other and they accommodate well. For Seville, the city has been tremendous and CIEE gives you a proper introduction to this magnificent city. Whether an intern or a student during one of the sessions, you can get along with everyone and overcome the anxieties of a new city

I would be very likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because this program gives you many opportunities to explore the city you are in as well as the surrounding areas. All of the employees are very kind people who will be their to uplift and support the students who are abroad.

I studied abroad In Dublin, Ireland, with CAPA, and it was the experience of a lifetime. I went for my spring semester of 2020, so my experience was cut short; however, I did get to go for about 50 days. To start, the people at CAPA were so helpful before and while I was there. Any questions you have, they can answer, which helped relieve my stress. CAPA is a great company that wants to make the transition as easy as possible. The city is absolutely beautiful, and it is easy to get around! Dublin is filled with history, culture, and amazing people. They have an excellent public transportation system as well, and you can walk everywhere. As a hospitality major, it was fantastic to take classes from a different perspective. I met some of the nicest people while I was there, and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

An experience of a lifetime! CAPA supported me from the moment I applied to the moment I arrived in Ireland. CAPA made me feel safe and kept me engaged and informed while I was in Dublin. Anyone who wants to study and learn about the culture of Dublin is the place to visit. I learned so much about the history and the culture of Ireland. Be apart of a family and go with someone who will connect and show you the ins and out of the country CAPA is the program to go with!

I am so glad that I spent my summer 2019 abroad in Dublin, Ireland. It was without a doubt the most fun and adventurous summer I have ever had in my life. The program I was in lasted ten weeks. CAPA did a great job coordinating both my classes and my internship. CAPA was instrumental in setting everything up beforehand (where I would be staying, where I would be taking classes, etc.) as well as maintaining the same helpfulness after we had arrived. Studying at Griffith college was an amazing opportunity and a new experience for me, as I had never taken classes outside of my home university. The university is only about a mile away, which doesn't seem very far after the all of the walking you will inevitably be doing around Dublin. I was also very happy with my internship. CAPA asked me a few questions beforehand regarding my interests and where I would like to be placed. I really enjoyed the company I ended up working for. CAPA also provided everyone with detailed directions on how to navigate the city and get to your internship site, along with bus fares if needed. Lastly, the housing accommodations were very nice. Staycity apartments, where we stayed, is a very nice apartment complex that typically holds four people in two bedrooms, a kitchenette, a small living room, and a balcony.

I studied in Dublin in the fall of 2019. I was the only student from my college, and I was completely terrified. I had never traveled further than outside the New England area, much less out of the country. In addition to this, I was a first semester senior. So I knew going in that this may be one of my most challenging semesters. Especially in a new academic environment, different from any other I had been exposed to. Most of my worries and fears stemmed from this. I was petrified that I wouldn’t be able to handle my course load. Since I was a senior, my home institution required that I take 5 courses, as well as an internship while in Dublin. I had already known that I had good time management skills. At home I had taken five classes and worked during one semester. I knew I could do it at home, but I was worried that the cultural differences would make it difficult for me to succeed. I have never been so happy to be wrong in my life. They say that studying abroad changes you in ways that you’d never imagine. I can say from first hand experience that they are absolutely true. My semester abroad was the best that I have ever had. I ended up becoming friends with everyone in my program! This made my transition and adjustment so much easier. In addition to this, I had the endless support of the CAPA staff in Dublin. If ever I had a question, comment, concern, or just wanted to share something I had learned, they were always there and more than happy to listen. My courses were some of the best I’ve ever taken while in college. Each lecturer made their class filled with new knowledge in ways that I can apply to my career. We analyzed problems for real-life scenarios, then worked as a group to find real life solutions. As a business major, with hope of one day starting my own business, this is incredibly useful. My internship was one of my favorite places to be during the week. I worked 15 hours, going to my site four days out of the week. My internship was at a startup Irish fashion company called Tonn. They make specialty T-shirts themed with the beauty of Ireland. I learned so much from being there. The company itself is only made up of four to five people, so I was able to see first hand the ups, downs, joys, and struggles of owning your own business. Here I learned how to plan for the unexpected, when and how to cope with frustrations, as well as when to walk away. In the U.S. I feel we sometimes struggle with this. Sometimes we take on more than we can chew, or get so invested in what we are doing that we can forget how important it is to take a break. My internship and my courses taught me that walking away and taking breaks are essential to success. While we would love to complete a task all at once, it is important to remember that we are not robots. We cannot run, continuously, forever. We are all human, and that is what makes us unique. They say that studying abroad changes you in ways you can’t imagine. I can say that they are right. My time abroad allowed me to learn more about myself than I ever had before. It allowed me room to grow as a person, and find myself in places I’d never thought I’d be. I have made relationships that will last a lifetime, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Travel has always been a passion of mine. In my 21 years I've traveled to 17 different countries, having experienced a multitude of different cultures, food, and people, but my experiences in Ireland stand of as my favorites. While abroad I saw 13 countries, and 30 different cities. My program with API was perfect from start to end.They helped me with planning, finding my flight, and picked me up at the airport. My site has a site director, Sophie, who helped us settle in then gave us a 2 day orientation of Maynooth and Dublin. Which was followed by another 2 day orientation presented my Maynooth faculty. After that my adventure truly began. Maynooth University sits about 40 min away from Dublin via train/bus, and encompasses around 12,000 students in a town of 12,000 citizens. It is a small town by a historical one with a large Church and small Castle on it's grounds. It has a beautiful garden behind it's historical buildings on the old campus, and modern architecture on the new. You can walk anywhere you need to go in town, the downtown shops will have whatever you are looking for. I was able to complete my minor in Psychology at Maynooth while also completing a certificate in Irish Cultural Heritage. Classes in Ireland were very different than classes in the US. Most of my classes had no homework, and no essays. They either had a Midterm and Final or just a midterm which determined your whole grade. This is something I loved because it allowed for more freedom on the weekends, but it did make the end of the semester a bit more stressful as I am used to creating a final project instead of test. I still really enjoyed this way of learning and felt it allowed me to truly make the most of my experience. Maynooth offers a variety of clubs and organisations. I was apart of the Volleyball Club (which place 2nd in the country), Disney Club (which took a trip to Disney Paris), and the Surf Club (which took a trip to Lahinch on Irelands West Coast near the Cliffs of Moher). These were incredible opportunities to be apart of. Very few people can say they went surfing in Ireland, or place 2nd in the country for collegiate club volleyball. This also allowed me to meet so many people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Now I have friends from Romania, France, England, Belgium, Spain, Canada, and Ireland. Not to mention friends I made from the US all across the country in NC, WI, MO, CO, MD... My program itself was one of a kind. I was apart of API Dublin although my school was in Maynooth. API Dublin included groups from University College Dublin, Trinity College, and Maynooth University. This was a great experience because it allowed me to meet other students at other schools and broaden my horizons even further. Through API we went on cultural excursions through our host country as well as internationally. I went on a trip to the Ring of Kerry, went sighting at Queen Maeve's grave, Galway, the Wild Atlantic Way, and Surfing in Bundoran. We also did smaller excursions closer to home like the Leprechaun museum, Paddle Boarding, and Community Service. And we went on an international excursion to Edinburgh, Scotland. There we saw Edinburgh Castle, part of the catacombs of the original city, and Greyfriars Kirkyard (Statue of Greyfriars Bobby). I could talk about my Abroad experiences for hours on end and really haven't stopped talking about it since I returned to my home institution. Ireland was home to some of the nicest people I have ever met. Helpful locals happy to show you around to be honest about the best spots in town and hidden gems many tourist miss out on. If you are looking for a school where you can be involved, if you are looking for a friendly helpful community, if you are looking for the best abroad experience around, look no further. API Maynooth is the trip for you.

I have had a great experience, it is organized and comes at a good cost. The staff on-site is very supportive and helpful (as well as Brooke in Portland), but we had an emergency situation and the Portland higher-ups didn't handle it well, nor did anyone answer the emergency number provided to us.

In the Fall of 2019, I studied at Griffith College with approximately 20 other American students, and it was an experience I will never forget. For as much as you grow in college, nothing matures you faster than a semester abroad. You are pushed out of your comfort zone, but in the best way possible. Through CAPA's program, I met such amazing friends from across the country, some hailing from L.A., NYC, and everywhere in between. I was challenged academically in a way much different from the U.S. Rather than having the daily, rigorous demands of homework and lectures in stuffy halls, my CAPA classes such as Global Cities required us to go into the city and immerse ourselves with the people, with the culture, and most importantly, the unfamiliar. A semester abroad will mostly be filled with experiences that are unfamiliar and uncomfortable. However, those moments of uncertainty often grow into the best moments and without a doubt, the most educational. For instance, my suitemates and I learned to cook for ourselves, which although was sometimes disastrous, it led to some of the most unforgettable moments from my semester. We learned to take public transportation using the Dublin Bus system, we became comfortable with traveling (especially with the wonderful accessibility of flights through the Dublin airport) and began to seek out new experiences. We became comfortable with the unfamiliarity that we experienced, and that's something you don't always have on a college campus in the states. Before I departed on my flight for my semester abroad, I felt terrified. I was unsure as to whether or not I would enjoy the semester, if I would feel terribly homesick, or if I would make true friends while away for four months. I was so fearful of what I was about to embark on. But now, I would jump on that plane and redo the semester in a heartbeat. I feel as though I grew so much throughout my time there, as I made decisions on my own, branched out and made new friends, and most definitely lived outside the bounds of my comfort zone. Even though I did get homesick at times, or was unsure of how to go about things in Dublin or at Griffith, CAPA had an amazing team on call to help with any issues. The CAPA Representatives present (Hayley, Darren, Suzanna, and Anna) truly made the semester flawless and enjoyable. As they hosted trips to the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Belfast, and even some delicious meals in between, they made you feel self-assured and confident in your abilities while abroad. It was a decision I have never regretted in my life. CAPA Dublin was a once in a lifetime experience for me, and I will forever look back on it as the best four months of my life. Coming from a girl who was so nervous and shy before her semester, this program allows for GROWTH and RISK in the best way possible. Take that chance, apply for the program, and hop on that flight. You won’t regret it!

I feel that CIEE tries to have activities for us and I really do feel that I am learning a lot here. Also everyone here seems really nice and I feel that though we are different a lot of the students seem to have the same mindset and its a good chance to network.

I studied abroad through CAPA’s Dublin program for an entire semester.My two favorite things about CAPA’s program is their opportunity to do an internship and the attention they put towards making you feel like you’re truly apart of a community. There was only about 22 people in the program so we all bonded very quickly. CAPA organized so many events so that everybody could become a second family. From walking tours around Dublin on our first day to weekly lunches, movie and game nights, to thanksgiving dinner to side trips to places like Galway and Belfast. CAPA really put effort into making Dublin feel like a second home. Our three advisors were always there 24/7 to make us feel comfortable and safe our group always called them our Irish mom, dad, and big sister. When I think back to why I loved all of my experiences abroad it’s because of the people I was with. By far the best part of being in Dublin was my internship. Before going abroad students send their resume and a general cover letter to CAPA and they set you up with a skype interview with an internship.I interned for a non profit organization called Fighting Words which was founded by popular Irish author Roddy Doyle. Fighting Words holds daily creative workshops for primary and secondary students. Students come to Fighting Words on a field trip. In the morning we had a class of primary school children and I took turns with the other interns to teach the workshop where I would go through the basics and foundations of what a story needs such as a main character, title, plot. The kids worked together to come up with the story and they came up with the funniest things like a main character who is a french fry who’s greatest wish is to get a pet unicorn and is afraid of being dunked in ketchup and then they would break off into tables of 3 to 4 where an intern would sit with them and help them finish writing the story and create illustrations. In the afternoon the secondary school students came and we’d give them a situation such as you’re both in trouble in the principal’s office but only one of you actually did it and then we’d have them improv a scene. We’d type out their dialogue and then we’d get the class to fill in the gaps and create a story and then they’d also break up into groups with an intern to finish writing their own stories. There was honestly no better feeling than getting a hug from a kid or to hear them walking out saying they wanna come back here everyday. It solidify my future career goals to be in education and work with students. For doing this internship I got 6 credits and I worked 20 hours a week. Once a week CAPA held a night class where we discussed our internship. We learned how to “sell” our internship during interviews and we had to write reflections on our internship and what we learned about the culture. At the end of the semester we had to do a mock interview where we talked about abroad experience. These assignments and the class were where we earned our 6 credits from. CAPA requires you to take a minimum of 12 credits so I had to take two classes along with my internship. I actually loved my internship so much that I wished I could’ve done it full time but I really enjoyed my classes as well. The first class I took was called Irish History & Culture. We met once a week for three hours. Each class was a 40 minute lecture about Irish history followed by a 2 hour field trip with in Dublin. These field trips included walking tours, visits to Trinity College, ChristChurch Cathedral, Dublin Castle, the Dublina museum, and the Irish Emigration museum. We were graded on our weekly reflection that were 800 words where we had to tie in the lecture from class to our experience on the field trip. The second class I took was a film studies class that also met once a week for 3 hours. We had an hour long lecture and then used the rest of the class for screening of that week’s film. We went through different units of various film genres such as Italian neorealism, French new wave, and road movies at the end of each unit we were assigned a paper where we picked a film to focus on and show how it exemplified that genre. Being in Dublin was a memorable, life-changing and magical experience.

I got the opportunity to study abroad in Dublin, Ireland Summer 2019 with the CAPA and the University of Florida. Upon my arrival, they placed me in the best internship of my life. I got the opportunity to intern for IP Telecom, which was one of the main reasons I loved this program as much as I did. I learned so many qualities and skills I could not have if I stayed in the states for a summer internship. The CAPA representatives in Dublin are amazing, from tips on how to live to where to travel in your free time. They provide you with great living accommodations, a weekly memo of interesting things to go to, and a few events through the program span. All and all, this program was amazing for me and I recommend fully.

The reason I recommend choosing CAPA is that their students are their number one priority. Safety, accommodation, and communication were their three main objectives. The course content for our classes were so interesting and fun including the Exams! Studying abroad itself is a huge step and CAPA makes every effort to make that experience a valuable one!

I studied abroad in Dublin at an international business school right in the city centre, and it was one of the best experiences of my entire life. I lived about a 20 minute walk from school, so I was able to see and experience the city every single day, and the community at school and in my apartment was amazing. I didn't think city living was for me, but Dublin has an amazing sense of community for a capital city, and I fell in love with the country and the culture. CEA took us on some amazing trips, and the staff at the school were incredible. I would recommend this program to anyone looking to have the experience of a lifetime while also getting great, hands-on education.

CEA responded to this reviewMay 21, 2019

Thank you for your thoughtful review, Brianna! We are thrilled to hear you had a wonderful experience with CEA in Dublin, from the hands-on education to the incredible excursions! Be sure to stop by and say hello the next time you find yourself in Dublin!

CIEE is very well-staffed and they do everything they can to make sure you have the best experience possible. Everyone is friendly, the rules and guidelines are laid out for you, and the excursions CIEE plans are a blast!!