Study Abroad in Ireland: The Best Choice I Have Ever Made! Past Review

By Kayla M (Accounting, University of Hartford) for

University of Galway: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I absolutely loved study abroad and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I did some amazing things, met some great people, and had some of the best experiences of my life. Studying abroad allowed me to get a taste of another culture and experience what it is like to live in another country. I learned so much and I have memories that will last me a lifetime!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The grading system at National University of Ireland, Galway is quite different than it is at University of Harford. I think they are much easier graders at NUI Galway. There is little work, if any at all, other than the midterm exam and/or final exam. It can be a little scary only having one or two assignments during an entire semester. The other difference is that the students at NUI Galway do a lot more reading than what I am used to at University of Hartford. Most of their essays and exams are based off of whatever reading you have done throughout the semester.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	I was very pleased with my program! The overall group was smaller, but I definitely liked that more. I felt as if I was able to get to know the others more. The program director was very nice, funny, and always accessible! The excursions were a ton of fun and well prepared. I would recommend this program to anyone!
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I felt extremely safe in Galway. The area in which my apartment was located was the perfect distance from the school, supermarket, and city center. Mostly everything was provided in the apartment except for bedding and bathroom items. I had requested that I live with Irish students and other international students and when I arrived at the apartment, I had two Irish roommates and two other international roommates from Europe, so I was very happy with that!
* Food:	I ate at many different places in Galway. I would recommend any of the pubs, cafes, or bistros in the city center!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	There are some amazing things to do and see in Ireland! Some of my favorite things were the Cliffs of Moher, visiting Connemara, and seeing a lot of castles, for example the Blarney Castle, Dublin Castle, and Ross Castle. Another thing I did was a weekend with a host family in Connemara, which was arranged through my Irish for Beginners class. It was one of the best experiences I had while in Ireland!
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	Safety was a big concern for me when going abroad and I couldn't have picked an area in which I felt safer. Galway, Ireland is very safe. Everyone walks around, so you never feel alone when walking to school or the city center. I do recommend always having someone with you at night, no matter where you are. I did have to go to the health center one time and it was the easiest process. There is one right at NUI Galway and I just walked in and within 10 minutes of getting there I was in to see the nurse. They were very friendly and helpful!
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* 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)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I was pretty well prepared with the amount of money that I would be spending. I would advise you to budget your money and give yourself a specific amount to spend each week and not allowing yourself to go above that amount, unless of course you spent less money in a week prior to that.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university?	Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	My experiences The people I met The area in which I lived
* What could be improved?	Nothing!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Irish for Beginners I and II
Course Department:	GDT 102.2 and GDT 103.2
Instructor:	Belinda
Instruction Language:	Irish
Comments:	This course can be challenging at times because the Irish language is difficult to learn, but it was my favorite class that I took at NUI Galway. It was a very fun class and the instructor was very nice, fun, and knowledgeable. I felt it was very easy to participate in class and ask questions when needed. I highly recommend this class!
Credit Transfer Issues: