Pre-Med Study Abroad Programs in Ireland

I had a pretty great semester at UL. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes and the professors, but also learned a lot about myself and the Irish people. I joined the Christian Union pretty early on and was welcomed into fellowship with that group. I accompanied some friends of that group into smaller towns I may not have otherwise visited and helped lead churches playing piano. I was welcomed into homes and I really felt loved. I also got to see much of the countryside and felt it easy to travel around to sight see. My time in Ireland is a time where I grew in knowing myself but also my understanding of the world. I loved learning Irish traditions, culture, and history, and I know that I could never know nearly as much by staying home.

In my time here, I learned so much about what I am capable of and what the world has to offer. This is largely due to the support of the study abroad team and resources like the writing, counseling, and health centers. I am so proud of all I have accomplished, be it in academics and the things I learned, and in stepping out of my comfort zone and exploring more about Ireland, Irish culture, and how I immerse myself in it. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this possible for me.

It was honestly the best experience it could have been - Great organization of the study abroad program, easy module selection, broad offer of modules, fun and regular campus activities, a bunch of reserved housing spaces for international students (be fast though) and a great study abroad team that helps with all your worries! I made so many good friends and enjoyed the spring semester immensely. 10/10 would recommend. the only negative part is that Ireland is a pretty expensive country as it is... UL offers a lot of cheaper food options though, that helped!

My exprience of study abroad was great. I could make friends at University of Limerick and they were very kind to me. The class was also valuable. I took a music class and I could learn traditional Irish music, it was worth to compare with my culture’s one.

My preconceived ideas of what a semester abroad would entail and teach me were completely incorrect. I was pleasantly surprised in various ways by how much this experience changed my values and perspectives. Living with 5 other international students taught me about various cultures. Gaining both classroom and clinical experience for my degree broadened my understanding of healthcare systems. Developing strong relationships with my peers and the faculty improved both my education and understanding of Irish culture. Traveling often broadened my worldview and strengthened my critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I am a smarter, stronger, and better person as a result of studying in Ireland. It is an experience I hope many others get the opportunity to do. I am confident saying that so far, these were genuinely the best four months of my life.

My time at UL was unforgettable! Everyone was so welcoming, friendly, and supportive! My time abroad was truly a life changing experience and I will only talk highly of the University of Limerick! I got to engage with professors and my peers, learn about a ton of new topics, and travel the world! I am forever grateful I chose UL as I truly found a home within Ireland! I could never thank the people and places of Ireland that made it a forever home to me!

I loved every second of going to the University of Limerick, from the traditional Irish music, great events on campus, meeting all the other student abroad students, I made forever friends, tons of great memories, I highly suggest going on as many trips as you can via the UL student life website, and the other tour bus agencies

The Studying abroad experience at the University of Limerick in Ireland through Iowa State University offered a unique opportunity to immerse myself in Irish culture while continuing my academic journey. The University was located along the scenic River Shannon which allowed me to talk beautiful daily walks beside it, and the University of Limerick is known for its innovative programs, vibrant campus life, and strong focus on international collaboration which really allowed me to excel in academics while there. During my semester abroad, I engaged with a diverse student body, explored Ireland’s rich history and landscapes, and gained a global perspective that enhanced both my personal and professional growth. This experience fostered independence, adaptability, and lifelong memories.

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.

What I appreciate most about IFSA is their dedication. I had a wonderful experience abroad in Dublin, Ireland and IFSA served as the platform which enabled me to have everlasting friendships and memories. From my first experiences like choosing my classes and other introductory conversations, it was evident that if I ever had a question or worry someone at IFSA would be there to help. Not only was this the case before arriving in Ireland, but also throughout the time I was there. Our program leader was amazing and truly made the experience for a lot of my friends and I. She was extremely hard working and was dedicated to her job, which was to ensure we were safe, well off, and enjoying our stay. She created an environment where we all felt safe to be ourselves and absorb in the new culture and fun things the city had to offer. I was introduced to brand new people and a brand new city, and while it was a little intimidating at first, I am grateful for every minute of it. I was able to experience what a big university in an urban setting felt like. The complete opposite of what my home school is. This is just one of the many cases where I was exposed to the other side of the spectrum. For three months I was able to live a different life and with that I learned so much about myself. It was a time for me to reflect and realize who I truly was in this new environment. I learned that I am stronger than I know, and capable of amazing things. In addition to this independence, I learned little things like how keep a schedule and stay organized, especially if you are in three different countries in a course of a week. This new environment created so many memories and friendships that I will cherish forever.

I truly could not put into words how much I enjoyed my experience. My experience exceeded every single one of my expectations. IFSA was the perfect bridge for me between me and University College Dublin along with a connection in Ireland. As someone who was a little nervous to be in a foreign country for a whole semester without anyone I knew, the IFSA events, orientation, and staff on site always made me feel comfortable, and it helped me so much to know there were people there for me at all times. It was extremely nice to have someone explain how the education system differs in Ireland from what I was used to and also someone to guide me through each part of my experience in order to have the best experience possible. The IFSA staff were also incredibly helpful both before and after my time abroad. When preparing, all of my emails were answered within hours I sent them, and the advisors even got syllabi from UCD that I asked for. When returning, IFSA gave a lot of materials to cope with reverse culture shock and kept up with me as an outlet to share about my experience. All in all, I would recommend IFSA to anyone looking to study abroad and am forever grateful to them for contributing to an experience that I will treasure my whole life.

IFSA provided me a study abroad experience that I will never forget. Going abroad is a humongous decision and commitment. Many people could feel anxious, excited, nervous, and even a little scared. I certainly felt all of these before my trip. However, from the first day that I landed in Dublin, I knew that I had an amazing support system with IFSA. They had their own orientation with the purpose of getting us acclimated and ready to call Ireland home for the next few months. Many of my friends who studied in different places did not have this and found the transition quite hard in the first couple of weeks. Also, they sponsored two trips to surrounding areas of Ireland where we were able to experience and immerse ourselves in the distinct Irish culture. Studying abroad is an amazing, and I am super grateful for IFSA as they provided me the platform to meet new friends and get to know Ireland.

I used to chuckle when people said: "Study abroad changed my life!" I don't think that the actual 'study abroad' changed my life, but the people I met and the ways that I grew both personally and academically changed who I am today. I am eternally grateful to the program advisors and friends I made while I was abroad. Going to live in a different country is scary and weird and exciting, and IFSA gave me all of the support that I needed to make it through the semester.

Studying abroad with the Institute for Study Abroad at the University College Dublin was one of the best experiences of my life so far! I had the opportunity to attend classes with Irish professors and students, I had the freedom to travel all over Europe on the weekends, and I had the opportunity to take advantage of the Irish culture and nightlife right in Dublin. What I will remember the most, however, are the friends I made through the program. Both the advisors and my fellow college students made Dublin feel like home. They made the experience so enjoyable that it was difficult to go home at the end of the semester. For any undergraduate looking for a study abroad program, I wholeheartedly recommend IFSA. You will not regret it!

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 wasn’t used to the academic system, and that’s definitely something I should have thought more about, because I ended up stressing out about it a lot. But being in Dublin, and even Ireland in general was the best experience I could have ever asked for. There was never a shortage of things to do, places to explore, and friendly people to meet, and I’m just counting the days until I can come back

I had never left the US before I went to go study abroad and I was excited but worried about what it would be like being an American abroad. But I quickly realized that I couldn’t have been in a better place because I truly found Irishmen to be the nicest people and the IFSA Staff was as well. It’s a very independent experience with great people to welcome you to a new country.

I am so so glad I went abroad with IFSA-Butler. They made the experience just that much better and easier for me and my family. There pre-arrival toolkit and instructions were so helpful and straightforward that it really helped ease the anxiety I and my parents felt about me going to live in another country. Unfortunately, I was sick when I actually got to Ireland and was really missing home, but I really credit the IFSA on-site staff (Ruth in particular) for convincing me to stay-and I'm so glad I did! My favorite parts of the program were the staff themselves and the trips that we got to take to Northern Ireland and Kilkenny. The IFSA on-site staff team was beyond amazing. Like I said, I wouldn't have even had a semester abroad without Ruth and they continued to support me throughout my time abroad in any way they could. I particularly liked how open they were about the office-we were welcome to stop in anytime to just hang out, do work, or have a cup of tea and snacks, and I really appreciated that open offer. The trips we took were also a highlight. I loved being able to see new sights and do so on a well planned trip (where I didn't have to plan anything, but still got free time!) and being able to meet other people on IFSA programs throughout Ireland. Overall, I know my abroad experience would not have gone nearly as well (or at all) without IFSA and I am so happy I went with them to end up with a life-changing semester in Ireland.

I am just going to preface this review by stating that before college, I NEVER thought I could or would be the person that studied abroad. I did not have the confidence or moxie to jump out of my shell and do something completely on my own accord. After my first semester freshman year, my classes had left me unchallenged and craving an experience that would make me feel confronted. This is when I decided to study abroad. I stumbled upon API's program at UCD through my study abroad office's portal and was immediately sold. I then went to API's website and saw the excursions they offered, the accommodations at the university, and the location of the university which produced butterflies in my stomach because at that point it all felt so possible. I emailed API with a ridiculous amount of questions and they got back to me quickly and with a ridiculous amount of answers to match my questions. Every staff member I spoke to at API made me so excited to start my study abroad journey, even through email which was a comforting feeling to have for such a monumental & life-changing decision. The application process was painless and so was leaving home, surprisingly enough. Leaving Dublin and my API family at the end of my fall semester on the other hand, was the most painful part of my study abroad experience, and I believe that speaks volumes to how much studying abroad shapes you and benefits you holisitically. Studying abroad is not black or white, it can't be described in one word, or even one story. I just know that I can now confidently say that my eyes are bright and wide open after spending a semester abroad. Dublin has truly stolen a piece of my heart for keeps, but given me moxie forever and to that I can thank this amazing program and their highly personable staff.