Ireland Galway Castle 80076493

We invite you to study abroad with API in Galway, the "Cultural Capital of Ireland," which has also been voted the friendliest city in Europe by Condé Nast magazine. You can choose from a range of undergraduate courses as offered in the Faculties of Arts (humanities), Commerce (business -- AACSB accredited!), Engineering, and Science at the top ranked University of Galway, one of Ireland's most international universities, which attracts students from around the globe. This program also includes credit-bearing service learning opportunities.

Enroll in classes alongside students from across the world, earn valuable academic credit, experience the warm and inviting hospitality of the Irish people, and explore this charming coastal city known for its lively atmosphere and its festivals, exceptional food, and fantastic art scene!

What's Included?

Highlights

Pre Departure Services

Advising

APIConnect Platform

Orientation Materials and Resources

Access to International Phone Plans

API Alumni Network

Social Networking

Scholarships

On Site Services

Airport Reception

On-Site Orientation

Housing

Tuition

Medical and Life Insurance

Excursions

Resident Directors

Social and Cultural Activities

Welcome and Farewell Group Meals

Volunteer Opportunities

Re-Entry Services

Re-Entry Materials and Support

Post-Program Evaluation

Transcript

Alumni Network and API Ambassador Program

View all opportunities and amenities

Application Requirements

  • Minimum 3.0 G.P.A.
  • Open to juniors and seniors
  • Completed API application
  • University Approval Form
  • One official transcript
  • Passport-sized photo
  • Copy of passport/birth certificate
  • Entry Requirements: Valid passport with supporting documents
Session Program Dates Program Cost Application Deadline Extended Application Deadline Payment Deadline
Spring Jan 2, 2024 - May 2, 2024 $21,900 Nov 5, 2023 No Extension Nov 24, 2023
Fall Aug, 2024 - Dec, 2024 $21,900 Apr 30, 2024 No Extension May 30, 2024
Academic Year Aug, 2024 - May, 2025 $42,900 Apr 30, 2024 No Extension May 30, 2024

Students who are interested in taking courses in the fields of engineering and science will be subject to an additional fee of $2,000 per semester; $4,000 per year.

API students participate in excursions designed to help familiarize them with the culture and surrounding areas of their host city and country. The following is a listing of potential excursions for API Galway programs. API may need to modify the excursions offered in a given term due to travel restrictions or health and safety concerns.

  • Kylemore Abbey & Diamond Hill National Park

    Kylemore Abbey is one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions and is located in the Connemara countryside! Originally a castle in the late 1800s, it is now owned and run by the Benedictine community. While visiting Kylemore Abbey, students will enjoy walking around the lake and beautiful walled garden, and learning about the romance and history of Ireland’s most intriguing estate. After visiting Kylemore Abbey, we will then travel to Diamond Hill National Park. We will walk on gravel paths, a boardwalk, and steps in order to climb up the slopes of Diamond Hill. The views are truly spectacular and you can see the Connemara coastline all the way to the islands off of Galway, the Twelve Ben Mountains, and down to Kylemore Abbey. It is truly a breathtaking view!

  • Killary Sheep Farm & Killary Fjord

    Killary Sheep Farm is located in a beautiful picturesque area overlooking Killary Fjord, on the Wild Atlantic Way in Connemara. This farm has over 200 ewes and lambs roaming freely on their land. While visiting this incredible farm, students will watch a sheep dog demonstration in which they will learn about how these hardworking dogs are trained. Students will also get to bottle feed some of these adorable little lambs. In addition, students will learn about bog cutting using a traditional tool called a sleán. In the past, Irish people relied on heating their homes using turf taken from a bog. After the farm visit, we will make our way to Killary Fjord for a wonderful walk with stunning views! Killary Fjord is one of just three glacial fjords that exist in Ireland and it is over 16km long.

  • Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, and Aran Islands

    Our first stop will be at Ireland’s most visited tourist attraction, The Cliffs of Moher. Our tour of the cliffs will explore their 350 million year history and you will have the opportunity to see for yourself why the cliffs are Ireland’s favourite tourist destination. From the cliffs, we will travel the short distance to the quaint village of Doolin, world-renowned for its traditional Irish music scene. In Doolin, we will visit the Doolin Caves which is a dramatic underground experience like no other! Finally, from Doolin we will take a short ferry trip across the water to the largest of the Aran Islands, Inis Mór. We will stay overnight on the island, renting bikes and exploring this incredible green island.

  • Ring of Kerry

    The Ring of Kerry is a tourist trail and part of the mystical & unspoilt region of Ireland that has attracted visitors for hundreds of years. Its spectacular beauty is beyond question and it is a natural centre for outdoor pursuits that include golf, water sports, cycling, walking, running, riding and the very best fishing in freshwater rivers. Above all, the Ring of Kerry provides an amazing insight into the ancient heritage of Ireland and takes in some of the most spectacular landscapes of Ireland’s Southwest.

    There is a huge variety in the excursion including incredible scenery, historical and archaeological sites of national importance, Ceilí dancing, traditional music, Gaelic football, meeting local people, visiting a Gaelic speaking area and learning about local traditions & the way of life. Students get to experience life in Kerry and visit places most tourists never see. It’s always great fun or ‘great craic’ – an experience not to be missed!

  • The Cliffs of Moher & Aillwee Caves

    The Cliffs of Moher & The Burren are at the heart of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, which is Ireland's rugged West Coast, and one of its most dramatic landscapes. This is Ireland at its most panoramic, with its cliff top walks, quintessential Irish Villages, friendly country vibes…all surrounded with jaw dropping views! It’s an adventure never to be forgotten! Students will also travel through The Burren, which gets its name from the Gaelic word 'bhoireann' (meaning 'a stony or Rocky place'), which formed over 320 million years ago under what was a tropical sea. This unusual landscape has an intriguing underworld area that is best understood by a visit to the famous Aillwee Caves, which are about 1.5 million years old, and boast some of the most spectacular stalactites and stalagmites in Ireland.

  • Limerick City, Bunratty Castle, and Folk Park

    Built in 1425, Bunratty Castle and the surrounding Folk Park grounds shine a light on the daily lives of its 15th- and 16th-century inhabitants. In the 1640s the castle and grounds were abandoned and left to ruin for centuries. However, in the 1950s the process of restoring it to its former grandeur began. Open to the public, it is a labyrinth of staircases and rooms that one can wander and explore while imagining a life long ago. Bunratty Folk Park recreates rural and urban life in 19th-century Victorian Ireland. There is an extensive array of vernacular buildings, indicative of all of the social strata from the poorest one roomed dwelling to Bunratty House, a fine example of a Georgian residence for the gentry.

    Students will also get to enjoy the Medieval city of Limerick where we will sample the local cuisine at the Limerick Milk Market. The market has been selling food and goods since 1852 and is the heart of the city. Then we will explore the city centre by taking part in a walking tour full of Limerick’s medieval history.

  • Cork City, Blarney Castle, Cobh & Kinsale

    Blarney castle tends to be top of most bucket lists, and for very good reasons! You’ve heard if you kiss the Blarney Stone, you’ll get the gift of the gab for 7 years, right? Well if you are hot on becoming a storyteller after all your adventures, this is certainly the thing to do, and you also get to check out a pretty awesome Castle & Gardens at the same time! What’s not to like? In addition to Blarney Castle, our stops will include: picturesque towns of Kinsale & Cobh, and a Cork City walking tour.

  • Ring of Kerry

    The Ring of Kerry (or Iveragh Peninsula, to give it its correct name) is a tourist trail and part of the mystical and unspoiled region of Ireland that has attracted visitors for hundreds of years. Its spectacular beauty is beyond question and it is home to some of Europe’s finest beaches. Above all, the Ring of Kerry provides an amazing insight into the ancient heritage of Ireland, containing Iron Age forts, Ogham Stones, old monasteries and a landscape carved out of rock by the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago. Kerry is one of Ireland’s must visits, and one of the best weekend getaways!!

  • Kylemore Abbey & Diamond Hill National Park

    Kylemore Abbey is one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions and is located in the Connemara countryside! Originally a castle in the late 1800s, it is now owned and run by the Benedictine community. While visiting Kylemore Abbey, students will enjoy walking around the lake and beautiful walled garden, and learning about the romance and history of Ireland’s most intriguing estate. After visiting Kylemore Abbey, we will then travel to Diamond Hill National Park. We will walk on gravel paths, a boardwalk, and steps in order to climb up the slopes of Diamond Hill. The views are truly spectacular and you can see the Connemara coastline all the way to the islands off of Galway, the Twelve Ben Mountains, and down to Kylemore Abbey. It is truly a breathtaking view!

  • Killary Sheep Farm & Killary Fjord

    Killary Sheep Farm is located in a beautiful picturesque area overlooking Killary Fjord, on the Wild Atlantic Way in Connemara. This farm has over 200 ewes and lambs roaming freely on their land. While visiting this incredible farm, students will watch a sheep dog demonstration in which they will learn about how these hardworking dogs are trained. Students will also get to bottle feed some of these adorable little lambs. In addition, students will learn about bog cutting using a traditional tool called a sleán. In the past, Irish people relied on heating their homes using turf taken from a bog. After the farm visit, we will make our way to Killary Fjord for a wonderful walk with stunning views! Killary Fjord is one of just three glacial fjords that exist in Ireland and it is over 16km long.

  • The Cliffs of Moher & Aillwee Caves

    The Cliffs of Moher & The Burren are at the heart of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, which is Ireland's rugged West Coast, and one of its most dramatic landscapes. This is Ireland at its most panoramic, with its cliff top walks, quintessential Irish Villages, friendly country vibes…all surrounded with jaw dropping views! It’s an adventure never to be forgotten! Students will also travel through The Burren, which gets its name from the Gaelic word 'bhoireann' (meaning 'a stony or Rocky place'), which formed over 320 million years ago under what was a tropical sea. This unusual landscape has an intriguing underworld area that is best understood by a visit to the famous Aillwee Caves, which are about 1.5 million years old, and boast some of the most spectacular stalactites and stalagmites in Ireland.

  • Limerick City, Bunratty Castle, and Folk Park

    Built in 1425, Bunratty Castle and the surrounding Folk Park grounds shine a light on the daily lives of its 15th- and 16th-century inhabitants. In the 1640s the castle and grounds were abandoned and left to ruin for centuries. However, in the 1950s the process of restoring it to its former grandeur began. Open to the public, it is a labyrinth of staircases and rooms that one can wander and explore while imagining a life long ago. Bunratty Folk Park recreates rural and urban life in 19th-century Victorian Ireland. There is an extensive array of vernacular buildings, indicative of all of the social strata from the poorest one roomed dwelling to Bunratty House, a fine example of a Georgian residence for the gentry.

    Students will also get to enjoy the Medieval city of Limerick where we will sample the local cuisine at the Limerick Milk Market. The market has been selling food and goods since 1852 and is the heart of the city. Then we will explore the city centre by taking part in a walking tour full of Limerick’s medieval history.

  • Cork City, Blarney Castle, Cobh & Kinsale

    Blarney castle tends to be top of most bucket lists, and for very good reasons! You’ve heard if you kiss the Blarney Stone, you’ll get the gift of the gab for 7 years, right? Well if you are hot on becoming a storyteller after all your adventures, this is certainly the thing to do, and you also get to check out a pretty awesome Castle & Gardens at the same time! What’s not to like? In addition to Blarney Castle, our stops will include: picturesque towns of Kinsale & Cobh, and a Cork City walking tour.

What You’ll Study

TOTAL CREDITS - 12-15 credits per semester

Students who choose to study abroad with API at the University of Galway (formerly National University of Ireland, Galway) choose from a range of undergraduate courses as offered in the Faculties of Arts (humanities), Commerce (business), Engineering, and Science. Courses are arranged in the seminar and lecture styles, and grades are based predominantly on one final exam.

SERVICE LEARNING MODULE/VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Philosophy and Irish Schools is a service learning class for visiting students from the United States. This semester long class is worth 10 ECTS credits (approximately 4-6 US credits) and is delivered via a series of academic lectures, reflective seminars and over 14 hours of service at local elementary schools.

Visiting students who do not participate in this course can volunteer their services through the University’s ALIVE program (A Learning Initiative and the Volunteering Experience).

TRANSCRIPTS

API students receive their transcript from the University of Galway upon completion of their program.

  • Kelly Kennedy

    Kelly Kennedy

    Kelly Kennedy will be your Program Coordinator and will help prepare you for your API program!

    (she/her/hers)

  • RD picture

    Jessica McNamara

    Jessica will be your on-site Resident Director and will be a resource for you while you are in Ireland!
    (she/her/hers)

Click Here to Find Classes

COURSE OFFERINGS

Courses are taught in the seminar and lecture styles, and grades are often based on one final exam and/or one final paper.

Some courses may have prerequisites, and some courses may require additional fees for labs, equipment, etc. There are additional fees for semester/year students who enroll in nursing/science and/or engineering classes. These fees affect the final program price. Generally, the extra fees apply to students who enroll in more than 10 ECTS of science/ engineering/ or nursing modules. Students are encouraged to contact the API office for further details.

Registration takes place upon arrival; however, we recommend that after consulting the course listings, students have 10 courses approved by their home university prior to departure, in order to allow for scheduling conflicts and the possible unavailability of certain classes. There is a 2-week add/drop period at the beginning of the semester in Galway. Voluntary, non-credit Irish language courses (Gaelic) are also available.

Course times, course descriptions and the semester in which a course is offered are subject to change and no course is guaranteed.

CREDIT INFORMATION

The University of Galway awards credit based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Semester courses at the university are usually awarded 5, 6 or 10 ECTS credits. Universities in the U.S. typically award .5 semester credit hour for every 1 ECTS credit. For example, a course worth 5 ECTS would transfer to the U.S. as 2.5 semester credit hours. It is very important that students planning on studying in Galway discuss the transfer of credits with an advisor at their home university – some universities have different standards for transferring ECTS credits. Based on the ECTS credits awarded per course, students usually take 5-6 classes in order to receive 12- 15 credit hours per semester. Students are responsible for ensuring that they are enrolled in the required amount of semester credits to meet requirements of the home university. In all faculties, entrance to specific courses is subject to the approval of University of Galway and the completion of certain prerequisites. Courses offered on a year-long basis can only be taken by students visiting for the full academic year.

Courses at University of Galway (Full Curriculum)

For the most up-to-date course availability on this program, explore our Class Finder. Sort courses by term, area of study, and more!

Click here to find courses, syllabi, and more!

Courses at University of Galway (Full Curriculum)

For the most up-to-date course availability on this program, explore our Class Finder. Sort courses by term, area of study, and more!

Click here to find courses, syllabi, and more!

Courses at University of Galway (Full Curriculum)

For the most up-to-date course availability on this program, explore our Class Finder. Sort courses by term, area of study, and more!

Click here to find courses, syllabi, and more!

Highlights
  • Service-learning opportunities for credit
  • AACSB accredited
  • Only Marine Sciences program in Ireland!
  • University of Galway is ranked among the top 1 percent of universities worldwide
  • Experiential education and philosophy program

API students live in student accommodations located on the university campus. Apartments generally consist of 4-6 single occupancy bedrooms, a shared living area, and kitchen. Each bedroom has a private bathroom. Semester students may be housed with Irish and other international students. It is common for apartments to be co-ed.

Housing for academic year students is included in the period between the fall and spring semesters.

Meals are not included in these housing options.

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