Galway, Ireland: Cheers! Past Review
By Elizabeth F (Anthropology., Trinity University) for
Arcadia: Galway - National University of Ireland, Galway
My study abroad experience was the best experience in my life. If I could study abroad again in Galway, I would definitely do it! From the experience, I learned to be more confident, independent and better able to understand people from different cultures.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload at the university in Ireland was definitely less demanding. The fact that there was less daily work, helped in terms of having time to explore the culture of Ireland, Galway and Ireland in general. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The onsite coordinator was not connected with the Study Abroad Headquarters in Dublin meaning that if there was a problem, students had to call down to Dublin to get the problem fixed. This came as an inconvenience at times. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing situation was great. I lived with two Irish students in a student apartment complex. It was really nice to be around other local students, while living independently in an apartment. The only items that students were expected to buy were bed sheets, a duvet and a pillow. Cook utensils were available at the apartment. |
| * Food: |
The food is only as good as you can cook! There is a grocery store right across from the student apartments, so it was easy to buy food. Students are expected to cook for themselves. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program offered two trips, one to the Aran Islands and the other to Belfast. The trip to the Aran Islands was offered at no charge. For the trip to Belfast, students had to pay only a little fee. Both trips were definitely worth it! It was an great way to get to know Ireland. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
At the university, students have access to the student health services free from charge. The student health services is accessible for all students with any problem that needs to be addressed. Overall, Galway is an extremely safe place. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about 50 euros a week on food. Students can expect to spend more when going out to town for the nightlife. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The currency exchange rate from the US dollar to the Euro is something that is unanticipated, but it is something that students cannot control. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The program was decent. Galway is one of the best places for a student to study in. It's a small town, but with much life to it! Everything is within walking distance and there are diverse activities within the town. I would chose the Galway program over the Dublin one because it |
