Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING Past Review

By (Fairfield University) - abroad from 08/28/2013 to 12/22/2014 with

Fairfield University: Galway - Semester or Year in Ireland

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was so amazing, words can't even describe

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

2X week classes can sometimes meet twice in one day at separate times and are 50 min each, 1x week are 1:50 long. 90% of classes are one 3000-4000 word essay due the last week, which is good and bad. Check with your home University about 70 point scale, because a 70 at NUIG is = A, but means your work is perfect, meaning it's hard to get. You won't leave with less than a B in any general class like english, philosophy, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Awesome! Anne rocks, wicked nice, pays for trips to Dublin, and takes you out to eat a few times on Fairfield's tab.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

PERFECT! So close to center, you are literally in walking distance to any pub you want.

* Food:

AMAZING! Aside from cooking (which was difficult) going out to eat was amazing.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Ehh, it's pretty touristy, but you eventually do become a regular and can pick out tourists pretty quick.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

n/a

* Safety:

I'd avoid Eyre Square at night because it's full of drunk kids, and I saw a few fights, but overall it's a safe small city.

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)

The Euro sucks. I spent about 40-50 EUR on food, and then a pint of beer is about 5EUR, so multiply that by however much you think you'll drink/night.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 80EUR
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Shop at SuperValue>Dunnes Drink before going out Guiness is wicked cheap Fly RyanAir

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The Quays Pub
  • Monroes Pub
  • The Front Door Pub
* What could be improved?
  • nothing
  • nothing
  • nothing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Galway is about 3 hours from the Dublin airpot, which is the only 24 hour airport to fly around Europe friend.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.