A Successful Semester in Ireland Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

While the Irish grading system is much stricter than in the States, the staff members at IFSA-Butler Ireland were a huge help in offering academic advice and support to their students while abroad. In addition, there were a wide variety of courses available to the study abroad students, each with unique aspects that really engaged me in my education!

On-site administration of your program

The IFSA-Butler program made sure their students were prepared before even leaving the country, and they also have a staff in Ireland whose sole purpose was to ensure that your semester abroad is successful and enjoyable. When I flew out to Ireland, my Irish program advisor met me at the airport and spent the first few days making sure we were adjusted. After that, she always kept in touch and was available for any questions and emergencies, from how to mail a letter to what to do when you lose your passport. In addition, they offered two trips that were included in the program fee that allowed me to really delve into the culture of Ireland. Overall, the IFSA-Butler program was what made my semester abroad such a success.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

While we did not get to pick where we lived at the University of Limerick, the IFSA-Butler program did not disappoint. Not only did they place us within an apartment village centrally located on campus (which was clearly the best village after speaking to residents of other villages), but they also made sure all of us students within the IFSA-Butler program were located in the same apartment building. Living together helped us bond and build friendships with each other.

Unfortunately, the University of Limerick did not offer meal plans, which means students have to feed themselves. However, the flats come equipped with a full kitchen. Also, the IFSA-Butler Ireland staff helped us at our orientation week learn how to prepare healthy meals and gave us tips as to where to get our food. They even walked us to Aldi to get our first batch of groceries.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

While it proved a bit difficult to meet other Irish students because of the closeness of the Americans within our program, IFSA-Butler offered great cultural integration. In addition to providing a thorough presentation during orientation week about the Irish culture and important cultural differences, they also made sure our program trips were culturally focused, whether we were learning how to play the sport of hurling in Kilkenny or learning about the history of distrust between the Protestants and Catholics in Belfast. Finally, they also prepared us before our return home by warning us of reverse culture shocks and ways to overcome it.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

IFSA-Butler provides an international insurance that you enroll in for the time while you are abroad. Luckily, I didn't have to use it, but if I had, or if I had had any other questions about how to take care of my health, I easily could have called up my Irish staff advisor and ask her for help. In addition, they provided tips during orientation about how to stay healthy while at the University of Limerick.

Ireland in and of itself is one of the safest countries I have ever been in. Even the police officers, called garda, don't carry guns because there is no need for them. I never felt unsafe even as I was walking alone across campus at night or walking in Limerick city in the dark. If there were any safety concerns, our Irish staff were always just a phone call away. In addition, our orientation week included some garda officers visiting with us and giving us more information about their jobs and safety in general.

IFSA-Butler truly enhanced my study abroad experience. Also, now that I have other friends beginning to study abroad in Ireland with other programs, they seem to be running into many issues that I never encountered with IFSA-Butler. IFSA-Butler had such a friendly staff, cultural-focused trips, and many more aspects that made it the perfect study abroad program.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Apartment

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• Local Students
• Americans

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Friendly staff
• Culturally-focused trips
• Helpful orientation week and pre-return home presentation

• Better integration with the Irish students

The Outright Urbanite