IFSA National University of Ireland, Galway Partnership
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- Fall: April 15
- Spring: October 15
YEAR OPTIONS: Students interested in calendar or academic year-long options should contact IFSA-Butler for deadlines, fees and more.
About National University of Ireland, Galway
Soak up the bohemian atmosphere of Galway as you study in the coastal town known as the cultural heart of the country. From classes in Irish language, history and culture to science and engineering, NUI-Galway has something for you. In Ireland's "most Irish" city, you will surely feel welcome.
National University of Ireland, Galway Benefits
- Youthful and lively city filled with art and music
- Located in a Gaeltacht area, where the Irish language and culture is celebrated and preserved
- Courses that focus on Irish history, arts, commerce, engineering or sciences
- An active Student Union that sponsors more than 50 social and cultural clubs and societies
What our students say
The Invisible Identity Survival Guide
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Home Is a Verb: Building a New Life in Galway
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Traveling While Transgender: A Journey of Self-Love
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Public Transportation: Your New Best Friend in Ireland and Beyond
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Loving the Irish Language
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Furthering My Educational Goals While Abroad: Homework Club at Scoil Bhride
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Why Care About Self-Care?
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Maximizing Your Experience Abroad the Old-Fashioned Way
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Forging a New Path, Revisiting an Old One
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13 Ways to Save Money Studying Abroad
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Traveling Alone Abroad and Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid
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A Portrait of the Artist in a New Language
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How My Ballet Shoes Defined My Experience in Ireland
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A Random Act of Irish Kindness – A Digital Story
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The IFSA Difference
Academics at National University of Ireland, Galway Partnership
Looking for specific classes? Explore CHART, our exclusive class database — if the NUI Galway Semester Program is pre-approved at your institution, you’ll find classes recently taken by other IFSA students.
Explore the available courses at NUI Galway by downloading the NUI Galway Visiting Student Handbook: Fall and the NUI Galway Visiting Student Handbook: Spring. These handbooks show available courses and credits in the previous year, as well as website links to additional course details.
Credit Conversions
At NUI, Galway, a full course load consists of 30 ECTS credits for the semester (equivalent to 15 U.S. semester credit hours).
1 ECTS credit = .5 U.S. credit hours
Please review all your syllabi and course materials when you are registering for classes (both pre-arrival and on-site). Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee that is disclosed in the syllabus or first meeting of class. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.
French is available only to students who have previous knowledge of the language. First-year (i.e. yearlong) courses in Spanish, German, and Italian are available for beginners. Students interested in studying a language at NUI, Galway should be aware that it is difficult to determine what level they should enroll in until they have experienced the language teaching at the university.
ENGLISH
Visiting students may take only one English seminar per semester and admission to seminar courses is limited.
PSYCHOLOGY
Visiting students are restricted in the number of courses they can take.
First Year Courses
Most first-year (i.e. freshman year) courses are offered on a yearlong basis only. Full-year students may enroll in first, second, and third year classes; however, students applying for a semester program are generally limited to second- and third-year classes.
Exploring the Indigenous Arts
This class offers students a practice-based opportunity to learn about indigenous Irish music, song and dance, set in the unique landscape of Connemara. The course analyzes Irish identity and history, and its current position within a global context, and to examine the impact that Irish culture has had on the development of music, song and dance globally. Students from any discipline are welcome to take this course. Weekly concerts and field trips are included.
Exploring Irish Theater
This course allows students to explore Irish theatre and performance, through both classroom-based and practical activities. Students form an understanding of the distinctive characteristics of Irish theatre, analyzing works of writers from W.B. Yeats to Martin McDonagh and beyond. They consider critically the history of Irish theatre through hands-on, archives-based activities and develop practical skills by engaging in workshops that cover acting, playwriting, direction and more. No prior experience of Irish theater is needed, nor is it necessary to have any experience with acting.
Service Learning Course in Literacy and Learning in the Community
Here's what one IFSA student had to say about her service learning experience: "The servicing learning class is a great opportunity to get more involved in the Galway community as well as make friendships that will last forever. The people I met in the service learning course became some of my best friends abroad because we shared such a unique bond. The class is very small and hands on; students go into the local primary school at least once a week and work with different age groups on their homework for the night. It is only one hour long, but the memories created during these short times will last a lifetime!"
Housing & Meals
The IFSA Team
IFSA has a dedicated team who are here to help you prepare to achieve your goals. Feel free to reach out. We are happy to answer your questions!
Program Advisor

Laura Arvin
Program Advisor, England, Spain
317-940-4272 larvin@ifsa-butler.org Read Full Bio Schedule Time to TalkFinance Advisor

Micah Spencer
Senior Student Account Coordinator
(317) 940-3077 mspencer@ifsa-butler.org Read Full BioResident Director
Academic Affairs Director