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Irish American Scholars (Exchange Program) (Study Abroad Program)

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  • Locations: Belfast, Ireland; Coleraine, Ireland; Jordanstown, Ireland; Londonderry, Ireland
  • Program Terms: Fall, Spring, Year
  • Restrictions: NWU applicants only
Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Spring 2025 10/01/2024 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA

** Indicates rolling admission application process. Applicants will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Language of Instruction: English Minimum GPA: 3.2
Housing Options: Apartment, Dorm Areas of Study: Accounting, Acting/Performance Art, Advertising, Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Art History, Arts, Business, Business Information Systems, Celtic/Irish Studies, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Criminology, Economics, Education, English, Film, Finance, Geography, Health & Human Services, Health Science, History, International Business, International Relations, International Studies, Law, Liberal Arts, Linguistics, Literature, Management, Marketing, Mass Communications, Math/Statistics, Mathematics & Statistics, Media Studies, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Politics, Social Work, Sociology
Program Type: Exchange
Program Description:

Study abroad in Northern Ireland:  Irish American Scholars Program

Queen's University Giants Causeway
Northern Ireland's Coast Aerial view of Belfast
 
Institution
The Irish American Scholars exchange program allows a limited number of NWU and other U.S. college students to study for one or two semesters in Northern Ireland.
 
The five participating universities in Northern Ireland are as follows:
  • Queen’s University Belfast
  • St. Mary’s University College
  • Belfast Metropolitan College
  • University of Ulster
  • Stranmillis University College
 
As a Study USA-supporting university, Nebraska Wesleyan University can nominate up to 3 students per year to apply. There is a minimum GPA of 3.2 required, and only current sophomore and junior students are eligible.
Locations
Northern Ireland is a superlative destination to study abroad in the United Kingdom, with a population of 1.7 million people. Belfast is its capital city with a population of about 270,000 people. 60,000 of those are enrolled in one of the Higher Education institutions in the city.
Located on the “Emerald Isle,” Northern Ireland is a land of rolling green hills, ancient castles, and roaring oceans. Students are sure to have a fulfilling experience living and learning in Northern Irish culture at any of these universities:
 
  • Queens University Belfast is one of the 20 top research-intensive institutions in the United Kingdom. While the university does not offer courses in all disciplines, most U.S. students will find appropriate subjects at Queens University. http://www.qub.ac.uk
  • The University of Ulster has a national and international reputation for excellence. With four distinct campuses across Northern Ireland, students are placed at a specific campus based on their field of study. www.ulster.ac.uk
  • St. Mary’s University College specializes in liberal arts and teacher training, and is integrated into the larger Queen’s University system. In 2011, St. Mary’s was ranked third amongst all universities in the United Kingdom for student satisfaction with their overall university experience. To learn about studying at St. Mary's University College, check out this part of their website.
  • Stranmillis University College is highly recognized for its teacher training curriculum, but also offers courses in early childhood and health and leisure studies. Stranmillis is a college within the system of Queen’s University Belfast. www.stran.ac.uk
  • Belfast Metropolitan College specializes in educating students with strong career goals in vocational areas such as business, marketing, computing, performing arts, communication and Irish studies. www.belfastmet.ac.uk

There are good transport links in Belfast, locally using Translink buses and trains. Belfast has two airports, Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport, that will connect you to many locations throughout Europe including London, Paris, Rome, Krakow. There is also an airport in County Derry, and there are excellent rail and sea links to the UK and Europe.
Academic Calendar
Varies by university. Irish American Scholar programs are available for one semester an academic year. The following are approximations:
 
Fall semester (September – December)
Spring Semester (January – April/June)
Academic year (September – April/June)
 
International students must attend orientation programs, which are scheduled at the schools in Northern Ireland before the beginning of each semester.
For more detailed information, visit the website of your desired host institution or the Irish American Scholars Program website.
Housing
Housing can be arranged through the schools in Northern Ireland but this must be done in advance.
 
Typical housing options include residence halls or apartments, all located on or near the university campus. Homestays are also available. Public transportation to and from the university is effective.
 
Payment for housing also varies. Some universities offer housing packages for on-campus residency halls, while others may work with local landlords to rent several properties on a short to medium term lease. Some universities allow students to arrange their own accommodation.

For more information about housing options, look at the Irish American Scholars website.
Financial
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Everything that helps you pay for NWU will still help you pay for your study abroad with the Irish American Scholars Program. PLUS because it is an Exchange program, students who choose the Irish American Scholars Program can apply for an NWU Education Abroad Grant. 

Apply for an NWU Education Abroad Grant and learn about other study abroad scholarships.

Program Costs
Program costs paid to NWU – students pay NWU tuition and fees for the semester(s) of exchange.

Estimated Additional Costs
  Semester Academic Year
Airfare $700 - $1000 $700 - $1000
1Housing $650 - $2375 $1300 - $4750
2Meals $0 - $2000 $0 - $4400
3Essential Living Expenses $400 - $700 $800 - $1400
Books and Materials $100 - $150 $200 - $300
4Local Transportation $25 - $50 $50 - $100
Insurance $235 - $650 $375 - $1300
Visa (for US Citizens) $0 $40
Passport $135 $135
Estimated Total Additional Expenses                  $2010 - $7060 $3600 - $13425
5Personal Travel and Spending $500 - $1000 $1000 - $2000
1Housing expenses vary by where students choose to live. Homestays include 3 meals per day. The other housing options do not include food and for some utilities cost extra.
2 Homestays include 3 meals per day. The other housing options do not include food. Students staying in homestays should budget at the lower end of the meals estimate. Students living elsewhere should budget at the higher end.
3Essential living expenses include, but are not limited to, toiletries, cell phone, emergency funds, laundry, etc.
4Students staying in homestays and off campus housing should budget at the higher end of the local transportation estimate.
5Personal Travel and Spending amounts vary by student and will be affected by how often a student goes out, travels, and the items they purchase.

Please note that "additional costs" above are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc.  Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted.

Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. When planning for estimated additional costs, students are encouraged to research currency conversion rates.  Please email studyabroad@nebrwesleyan.edu for additional information about estimated costs.
Academics
Schools in Northern Ireland limit the number of students they accept as Irish American Scholars. 
Acceptance is generally determined by space availability and by a student’s GPA.
Students who apply for a full year may be offered only one semester because of space limitations. In addition, there are generally fewer opportunities to place students during the spring semester.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.200 on a 4.000 scale is required. No exceptions.
 
Current NWU sophomore and junior students may apply.

Students may not attend a school in Northern Ireland for their final semester of study.  In order to obtain a visa, students must show that they are required to return to the United States to complete their education. This means that juniors may apply only for the fall semester. Additionally, because they usually have not completed sufficient coursework in their major field of study, students who are currently freshmen will not be accepted as Irish American Scholars.

To learn more, visit the Irish American Scholars Program website.
Outside the Classroom
Northern Ireland has strong, diverse cultures and history.  Learn more by visiting any of the many museums and heritage centers throughout the country or by attending festivals throughout the year celebrating a variety of cultures. Northern Ireland is also famous for its beautiful scenery including the North Coast, the Giants Causeway and the city of Derry/Londonderry.
Northern Ireland is famous for its artistic talents. You will find many opportunities to get involved, from theatre to music festivals. Londonderry was named the “City of Culture for 2013.” Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney was born in Northern Ireland, as was C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia), Liam Neeson and Kenneth Branagh, to name a few.
Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and some programs may fill up before the listed deadline.  Each year applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer will open up on August 1st.  After opening, the deadline will be listed below and an Apply Now button will be available at the top and bottom of this page. 
 
Irish American Scholar applications have a 2-part application process so students are encouraged to complete their NWU application as soon as they know they want to participate in the Irish American Scholar program – even if they don’t know which specific host university.
 
For additional information about deadlines and how to apply, please email studyabroad@nebrwesleyan.edu.