Belfast, Ireland

Stranmillis University College Teacher Education

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Program Overview

With a wooded campus near the heart of Lonely Planet-favorite Belfast and acclaimed programs geared to help you excel in education or special education, Stranmillis draws students from near and far. Benefit from a dedicated tutor as you explore classes in early childhood, primary education, post-primary education, or health, sport and physical activity and gain hands-on experience with a practicum.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Fall: April 15
Spring: Oct. 15

Minimum GPA

3.00

Credit load

15

Housing

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option

Instruction language

English

Language prerequisites

None

Visa required?

Yes. Learn More.

Apply Now

Academics

At Stranmillis, you will choose a full semester load of classes from one of the four pathways below and work with a dedicated academic tutor. More details about each pathway and its modules can be found here.

  • Primary (Elementary) Education
  • Post-Primary (Secondary) Education
  • Early Childhood Studies
  • Health, Physical Activity, and Sport

Electives span child development and intercultural studies as well as teaching for literacy, mathematics, the arts, religious education, physical education, and English as a second language. In addition, unique options are available for future teachers who wish to specialize in special education.

Stranmillis also offers the following special classes to visiting international students:

  • Children’s Literature (fall only)
  • Contemporary Approaches to Teaching Languages (fall only)
  • Learning and Assessment in Diverse Classrooms (spring only)
  • Northern Ireland Culture and Education
  • Peacebuilding and Reconciliation
  • Work Based Professional Practice, which includes field placements
  • Young People, Community and Culture

Credit Conversions
A full class load at Stranmillis University College is 60 CATS credits for the semester, equivalent to 15 U.S. semester credit hours. Some modules have different credit values in the fall and spring terms.

CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students

Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and class materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.

While not required, Work Based Professional Practice is overwhelming popular with IFSA students and often the highlight of their Stranmillis study abroad experience.

All pathways at Stranmillis offer you the opportunity to complete school-based work (for the Primary, Post-Primary, and Early Childhood pathways) or take practical studies (for the Health, Physical Activity, and Sport pathway). School-based work students spend approximately 25 percent of their time working directly with local pupils. Community-based placements are also available with local non-profit organizations for students interested in working with students outside a school setting.

Supervision is provided by Stranmillis teacher education faculty. IFSA recommends you speak with your home institution academic advisor on how this unique class may count toward U.S. state requirements for teacher education licensure.

You must apply for and receive a PBS Tier 4 visa in order to participate in any Work Based Professional Practice. IFSA will guide you through the visa process; however, you are responsible for the cost of the visa.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

  • You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
  • You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
  • You must have completed at least one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.

Recommendation Letter
Your application to this program will require one (1) academic letter of recommendation.

 

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As a result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.

  • George’s Market: Explore Belfast’s last surviving Victorian covered market, an active site for trade since 1604. Sellers offer fish, coffee, sweet treats, crafts, art, collectables, and more, while buskers play live music. Check out displays that trace the history of the market and the city.
  • Stand-up Comedy at The Empire or The Black Box: Visiting a local club is a not only sure to make you laugh out loud, it’s also a great way to catch local perspective and the humor that’s such a huge part of Northern Irish culture. Popular in Belfast, shows range from amateur night to professionals who showcase their unique local take on world events and Northern Irish culture.
  • The Titanic Museum, Titanic Quarter: Learn the story of the famous ship, from conception and construction through its fated 1912 maiden voyage, all in the place Titanic was built and launched.
  • Rugby Match at Kingspan Stadium: Soak up the atmosphere as you walk with local Ulster Rugby supporters to the stadium, just outside the city center. Then catch the excitement as you cheer on the home team.
  • North Coast Day Trip: You won’t want to miss this chance to explore this jaw-dropping region, world famous for beautiful beaches, folklore, charming villages, and geological stunners like Giant’s Causeway, a series of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. You’ll also see Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge and the ruins of Dunluce Castle, a treat for Game of Thrones fans.
  • Kilkenny Weekend: Don’t miss this two-night trip to Kilkenny, a charming medieval city dating back to 1195. Stay in a hostel with IFSA students who are studying all over Ireland and explore this small central Ireland standout, known for its history, artisan food, sporting culture—and Ireland’s most notorious witch. Visit a local farm, try hurling with a local coach, test yourself with a pub quiz, explore Kilkenny Castle, and more.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option

Meals

Most Included

Details

Students live in the heart of a welcoming, leafy campus in residential halls, so it’s easy to feel part of the Stran community right from the start. The dorms feature single bedrooms with individual, private bathrooms.  

Sample housing 

Take a look at Dunseverick Hall to see what your housing might be like:  

  • Location: Adjacent to other Stran residential halls, steps from central campus and academic buildings.  
  • Living space: Students are assigned to a single dorm room with an attached, private bathroom. Every floor has common space for socializing or studying. The hall also has basic kitchen facilities. Bed sheets provided; students provide towels.  
  • Meals: Your program includes breakfast and dinner in the campus dining hall. Students also have access to secure refrigerator space and storage for groceries in their dorm.  
  • Additional details: 24-hour residential support and security. High-speed Wi-Fi. Laundry on-site.  
  • Nearby: It’s easy to explore from this beautiful, tree-filled campus, just 1.5 miles from Belfast city center (Queen’s Quarter, St. George’s Market, Cathedral Quarter, Ulster Museum and more). The city bus stops at campus as often as every 15 minutes at peak times, and the nearest train station is 1 mile away.  

Dates and Fees

Term
Term begins
Term ends
Program costs
Application deadline
Fall 2024
September 15, 2024
December 14, 2024
$23,575
April 15, 2024
Academic Year 2024-2025
September 15, 2024
Early June 2025
$46,650
April 15, 2024
Spring 2025
Early Jan. 2025
Early June 2025
$27,995 (estimated)
Oct. 15, 2024

Get Started

Kristen Clark

Enrollment Counselor