Dublin, Ireland

University College Dublin Partnership

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Program Overview

Follow in the footsteps of James Joyce and five Irish prime ministers at Ireland’s largest and most richly diversified university. UCD is ranked among the top one percent of universities worldwide and offers rich research opportunities, an active student union that stokes the campus social scene, and quick access to the lively city center.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Fall: April 1
Spring: Oct. 15
Academic Year: April 1

Minimum GPA

3.00

Credit load

12.5–15

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Instruction language

English

Language prerequisites

None

Visa required?

Not in most cases. Learn More.

Apply Now

Academics

Students apply to one college or program within UCD. Students must take the majority of their courses within their college or chosen program.

Explore available courses on the University College Dublin’s online course catalog.

  • Click on the “Modules” tab (the font is grey, the tab is grey when it’s been clicked on). 
  • To search by subject, select the college you’re applying for (ie Arts & Humanities or Engineering) under “Category”
  • If there a multiple subjects available under “Subject,” choose the subject area you’re interested in
  • Then tick the boxes to filter your search for Levels 1, 2, and 3.
  • Click the search button to see courses offered
  • Check when the course is offered (semester 1 = fall, semester 2 = spring)

Credit Conversions
The typical course load at University College Dublin is 25-30 ECTS credits, which is equivalent to 12.5-15 U.S. semester credit hours.

1 ECTS credit = 0.5 U.S. semester credit hours

It is your responsibility to confirm your home institution’s requirements regarding course load during your study abroad experience.

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 course 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.

Study abroad students at the University College Dublin may enroll in Level 1-3 (100-300) classes. Level 4 (400) classes are not available to study abroad students.

English
English majors may enroll in a full course load of English modules and will receive priority registration for these modules, particularly with 300 level (level-3) modules. These students can select up to two, 300-level modules, worth 10 ECTS credits each. Non-English majors are encouraged to speak with their IFSA Enrollment Counselor for guidance on the appropriate modules to select.

Psychology
Psychology majors receive priority registration and can typically take a maximum of three to four psychology modules. Non-psychology majors can select modules subject to availability, although availability is typically limited.

History
History majors receive priority registration in history modules. Non-history majors can select modules subject to availability.

Scientific and Engineering Research Opportunity
UCD, a prestigious research institution, offers IFSA students the opportunity to enroll in a credit-bearing research experience in the UCD College of Science or the UCD College of Engineering. Based on your academic background and research interests, you will be assigned to an active lab and pursue a research project under the supervision of UCD faculty and their graduate student team. At the end of the semester, you will present your findings in a poster presentation session open to the whole university. UCD will mail your poster to your home institution. If interested in this opportunity, please contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor and we will ensure that you enroll in the correct UCD class for the research option. UCD will confirm the specific details of your research placement shortly after your arrival in Ireland.

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 semester 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 if your cumulative GPA is below a 3.0.

 

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.

  • Dun Laoghaire Afternoon: Once a place for Victorian Dubliners to vacation in style, seaside Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dun Leery), is now a thriving suburb with a busy main street and funky cafes. Walk the pier following the footsteps of literary greats like James Joyce to a well-known swimming spot called 40 Foot. Explore art, small beaches, and history of restored Victorian bathing pools, and enjoy the best ice cream in Ireland.
  • Gaelic Games at Croke Park: Ireland’s national Gaelic games include hurling, Gaelic football, handball, and camogie—ancient sports not widely known outside Ireland. Try them yourself with guidance from local coaches.
  • Rugby Match at Royal Dublin Society: Walk to the center of the city as you soak up the atmosphere with local Leinster fans, then and catch the excitement as the home team goes for a win.
  • Stand-up Comedy or a Play: Dublin is known for summer arts festivals that often center on food, film, or theater. Take part for a unique taste of Irish culture.
  • Alternative Dublin Walking Tour: Explore bustling thoroughfares and hidden lanes alike to discover the characters that make up Ireland’s vibrant music scene and see the city’s fabulous street art. Along the way, learn about the city’s LGBTQIA+ contributions to local culture.
  • Day Trip to the Hill of Tara and Newgrange (Brú na Boinne): Travel back in time with a visit to these sacred sites of ancient Ireland, which include the spiritual home of the Celts and a 5,200-year-old burial mound. Don’t miss the chance to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site and its exceptional prehistoric art.
  • 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

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

Students live in university-owned and operated student apartment buildings or townhouses on campus or less than five miles away. Your flatmates are other visiting students, or students from Ireland or other countries.  

Sample housing 

Take a look at Merville Residence to see what your UCD home in Dublin might be like:  

  • Location: On the main campus in Dublin’s Belfield area, near the Owenstown Park entrance.  
  • Living space: Students live in apartments in groups of four or five. Students have single bedrooms, each with a bed, desk, pillow, duvet, and storage, and share two bathrooms, living space, and a kitchen with storage, refrigerator, microwave, and oven. Students provide sheets and towels and basic kitchenware.  
  • Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare and eat their own meals, and often say cooking and sharing meals is a fun, social part of their day. 
  • Additional details: 24/7 security. Residential advisor; social events and other opportunities to connect with peers. Laundry in adjacent building. Convenience store on-site. Bike storage. On-site gym.  
  • Nearby: Dundrum Shopping Centre. Dublin city center (3 miles; Dublin Castle, St. Stephen’s Green, shops, restaurants, and more.) Coastal town of Dun Laoghaire. Dublin Mountains.  

Dates and Fees

Term
Term begins
Term ends
Program costs
Application deadline
Fall 2024
August 29, 2024
December 22, 2024
$23,275
April 1, 2024
Academic Year 2024-2025
August 29, 2024
May 18, 2025
$43,990
April 1, 2024
Spring 2025
Mid-Jan. 2025
Mid-May 2025
$23,795 (estimated)
Oct. 15, 2024

Get Started

Kristen Clark

Enrollment Counselor