IFSA: Study Abroad Programs in Ireland

Going abroad was the best decision I’ve ever made. IFSA advisors helped me throughout the entire process. From helping me find a syllabus for a class I was interested in to a year later helping me request another transcript. While there, advisors made frequent visits to the campus wanting to catch up or be there if we needed some help or advice! They were all simply amazing and I couldn’t have done it without them!

The IFSA staff is incredible; they really care about your experience and put in a lot of effort to make sure you get the most out of your time abroad. IFSA offers local cultural experiences and trips, an abundance of knowledge about the country you are living in, and so much support for any challenges you may face during your time abroad. I would recommend the program to everyone interested in going abroad.

I studied abroad in Galway through IFSA-Butler. It was incredible; I've never been happier in my life than I was in Ireland. Everyone at IFSA is so helpful and kind and supportive. They walk you through every step of the application process, help you prepare to leave, meet you when you arrive, and help you get settled. There's always someone ready to answer any questions and troubleshoot issues. When I first arrived in Galway, we had several days of orientations where we moved in to our apartments, met the other students on the program, and IFSA staff literally walked around the whole city with us, took us on tours, and bought us meals so that we could get to know Galway and feel comfortable there. IFSA also organized two weekend excursions that are included in the program, to Kilkenny and to Belfast. They were both incredible, with a mix of planned activities and free time, so we didn't miss out on anything. The whole time I was living in Ireland, I personally knew the IFSA staff who were my contact points- they came to campus regularly to check in and chat with everyone, and would even just hang out with us in town if they had free time. If I ever needed anything, all I had to do was send a text, easy enough since IFSA provided us with Irish sim cards for our phones! IFSA is just a fantastic program, they took such good care of us and really went above and beyond to make this trip the highlight of my life.

Galway is also an amazing city. It's very safe, whether you're walking home at 3pm or 3am. I was NEVER harassed the entire time I was there. It's beautiful and historic and small enough that you can walk pretty much everywhere, but big enough to include several ruined castles and open fields full of horses. And if you're interested in learning the Irish language, Galway is a great place to be. It's near the Gaeltacht, and NUIG offers Irish language courses for international students that include a weekend homestay in Connemara, which was an incredible experience. I met some of my best friends at NUIG. I loved everything about my semester abroad, and that was made possible by IFSA. If you're serious about going abroad, CHOOSE IFSA and CHOOSE GALWAY!

Going abroad is now a huge part of who I am. It was an incredible experience in Dublin, Ireland as I got to see 31 cities across 11 countries. I was able to visit friends from my home university, as I had travelled to Dublin alone. It was incredibly easy to make friends in the program as they have an orientation upon arrival. This was great as I was feeling a little overwhelmed at the fact I had actually landed in Ireland and would be here for months away from friends and family. IFSA - Butler was great by providing information about travel, academics, housing, shopping, and more. If they had not hosted an orientation I would have been extremely lost. Also, they continued being a great resource while in Ireland, as well as before and after I had been in Ireland. Today, I could talk for hours about the things I saw and experienced. Also I gained confidence and became a stronger version of myself. My family was incredibly proud of what I had accomplished and so was I. Lastly, I was also battling my anxiety throughout my travels. This was something I was not going to let stop me from doing what I had planned to accomplish. That experience has given me more control over my anxiety today. As for people I had met, I talk to them everyday through texts, snapchat, and more. We have also visited each other multiple time after returning to the U.S. I made lifelong friends.

I always wanted to study abroad and heard of horror stories from people about bad providers. However, this story was not true for IFSA-Butler Ireland. They took amazing care of me and made sure that I was having the greatest time of my life. They hosted amazing events and awesome trips to Northern Ireland and Western Ireland. There office was always open and always had a pot of tea ready for students. I would recommend non-stop IFSA-Bulter Ireland!!

I studied at University College Cork through IFSA Butler in the spring of my junior year of college. There simply aren't words to describe how wonderful the experience is, and that is coming from an English major! IFSA offered unparalleled support as we entered the country, teaching us useful slang phrases and giving us tips on how to best amalgamate ourselves into Irish university life. I made some of the best friends of my life studying abroad at UCC with IFSA Butler, and came away a different person. If that alone isn't enough of an endorsement, I decided to go abroad again, to UCC, in the spring of my senior year. It is a truly beautiful experience, something all university students should consider. I had the time of my life!

One of the things I loved the most about IFSA-Butler was the staff. The people working for IFSA in Ireland are some of the most caring and fun people I met while I was abroad. They did their absolute best to make sure not only that everyone's needs were met, but that they enjoy themselves, and it showed. They provided support before the semester even started with pre-departure emails with information on what to expect while traveling to Ireland and once you arrived in addition to help selecting housing. They were gracious about answering any question, in person or through email, no matter how seemingly trivial spanning any topic from academic-related to social to where to go in town for certain shopping needs. They would also host casual events at the office to just hang out and eat good food or watch TV. The IFSA staff also did a great job of balancing this support with independence. All of the support was there for you if you need it, but it wasn't forced upon you. They were always there if/when you needed them. I grew very close to the Dublin IFSA staff members, and I know I will visit them when I hopefully go back.
Above all, my best memories through IFSA were in the Culture and Community class they provide. This non-academic, optional class met once a week exposed me to so many aspects of Irish culture and current affairs I never would have known before. It was held in the cozy IFSA office, and we would all sit on couches and have tea and biscuits. The short assignments were thought-provoking, as well as the discussions we had. I met new people in the program through this class that I had a lot in common with.

My experience at UCC and with IFSA-Butler was outstanding. Ireland, with its sights, nature, and--especially--people, is one of the greatest places in the world. I was never bored and although Ireland is such a small country, there was always something to do or see.

IFSA Butler's staff was incredibly accommodating. The education we received at the start of our time abroad was necessary and informational. They worked with us relentlessly throughout the semester to make sure that our needs were met and our experience was beyond what we could imagine. The planned weekend trips and site dinners were absolutely worth it; always organized, informational, and fun.

I cannot recommend IFSA Butler and its Ireland program enough. I was able to step out of my comfort zone while feeling supported by their staff, and I truly feel like I am part of an IFSA Butler Ireland family.