Study abroad at NUI Galway

Study Abroad Programme ι Class Selection ι Course Load ι Assessment ι Entry Requirements ι How to Apply ι Tuition and Costs

We welcome over 500 visiting students from colleges and universities around the world each year. If you are interested in attending NUI Galway for a semester or a year, then read on to find out more about our fantastic Study Abroad Programme.

Study Abroad Programme

As a visiting student, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full academic year studying at NUI Galway. Semester 1 (Fall) runs from September to December and Semester 2 (Spring) runs from January to May.

Class Selection

When you apply as a visiting student, you will be asked to list the general subjects you wish to study at NUI Galway. This is so that we can ensure that we can offer you a good choice classes to meet your specific major and/or minor requirements.

Visiting Students are given a two week period at the beginning of each semester to sample different classes on offer before making their final selections and a further ‘drop/add’ week is then allowed.

There is one exception to this rule. Admission to Engineering and/or Science classes at NUI Galway is subject to specific prerequisites therefore students intending to take Science/Engineering classes must indicate the specific classes when applying to NUI Galway. This is so that we can have you pre-approved before you leave your home institution.

The classes available to visiting students can vary year to year. The University publishes a list of available classes in advance of each semester, but as a general guide, please refer to the most recent Visiting Student Academic Handbook or email Orla Naughton at orla.naughton@nuigalway.ie

Visiting Student Handbook 2011-12, Semester 1 (Fall)
Visiting Student Handbook 2011-12, Semester 2 (Spring)

In addition, we have also developed the following classes aimed specifically at augmenting the international learning experience of visiting students at NUI Galway:

Service learning / Volunteering for Visiting Students

In Autumn 2009, NUI Galway introduced a Service Learning module designed specifically for Visiting Students on our Study Abroad programme. This semester long, credit-bearing course, ‘ Service Learning - Literacy Project for Study Abroad Students’, teaches students about literacy, reading awareness and reading strategies and involves working on a one-to-one basis with elementary and high school students in homework clubs based in Galway.

Visiting Students who do not get the opportunity to participate in this course, can volunteer their services through the University’s ALIVE programme (A Learning Initiative and the Volunteering Experience).

An Exploration of the Indigenous Arts

NUI Galway has teamed up with TG4, the national Irish language television network, to offer this credit-bearing semester-long programme on the creative Irish arts, including sean-nós (old style) singing, dance, music and language. Each semester, students travel to the heart of the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region) for Master Classes taught by leading Irish artists and to study documentary and other film footage on the traditional arts produced by TG4.

Study Abroad students are also invited to participate in the Arts in Action Programme, which includes events and performances in Irish and international dance, theatre, film, music and literature and the Gaelic Experience Programme, which includes introductory sessions for Gaelic football and hurling as well as walking excursions in the surrounding countryside.

Course Load

NUI Galway modules (classes) are credited in ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). A typical course load for a student is 30 ECTS per semester. ECTS credits are calculated differently to US credit hours because they measure the entire workload of a class, not just the class contact hours.

As a general guide, 5 ECTS equals 3 US Credit Hours (approximately). During your time in Galway, you can take between 5 and 7 classes per semester, depending on your academic requirements.

Assessment

As well as providing the widest possible choice of classes to suitably qualified students, it is also our policy that Visiting Students take the usual assessments of the University, alongside our full time students. This means that you will be integrated fully into the main student body of the University, thereby ensuring you benefit from a true international experience.

While Continuous Assessment is widely used, you may find that the academic culture at NUI Galway is more heavily geared towards formal end of term examinations compared to your home institution. Depending on the discipline, you can expect that most classes will require an end of semester exam (usually 2 hours) which will count for approximately 70-80% of your grade. In the absence of regular testing, students are required to undertake a good deal of self directed study throughout the semester in order keep up with the workload.

Entry requirements

Visiting Student applicants are normally required to have completed two full years at University before being admitted and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).

How to apply

Visiting Students can apply to NUI Galway through their home institution's Study Abroad Office. Alternatively, you can also apply through an approved third-party programme provider (e.g. IFSA Butler, Arcadia, API, CEA, Interstudy, etc.,). Contact your institution's Study Abroad Advisor for more information.

Alternatively, you may apply directly to NUI Galway. For more information, please download the International Student Guide.

All Applications for admission must be made on the official Visiting Student Application Form.

The closing dates for receipt of applications from Visiting Students are
(a) 30 April in the case of applications for admission for a full academic year or First Semester and,
(b) 31 October in the case of applications for Second Semester.

Late applications may be considered, but only in special circumstances.

The following documents must be submitted with the completed application form:

• up-to-date original transcript
• copy of birth certificate
• character-reference of a current date from a full-time staff member of the University/College you are attending or other person of standing who knows you personally
• the names of two academic referees to whom enquiries as to your academic standing may be addressed, if necessary
• a statement as to how you see your proposed courses of study in this University tying in with previous studies and with your future academic/career objectives.

Tuition and Costs

Please refer to our Fees and Finances section for more information.