February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Today, the city is still a commercial gateway, though the tribes are more likely to be composed of serried ranks of students who, representing 15 percent of the population during the academic year, are the lifeblood of many of the city’s social, cultural, and commercial institutions. With nearly 65,000 residents, Galway is a compact city and retains both a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. It is a city with strong artistic and musical traditions, where evenings can be spent watching performance artists in the medieval streets or sitting in a pub, enjoying the local music.
At the heart of Galway is the National University of Ireland, located on 260 riverside acres.
NUI Galway, founded in 1845, has been a beacon of excellence for more than 150 years. It was recently awarded the title of Ireland’s University of the Year. It has academically strong programs of teaching and research throughout its seven faculties: Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, Celtic Studies, Medicine and Health Sciences, and Law. The university has an extensive range of world-class undergraduate and postgraduate programs that offer students opportunities for personal and academic development, as well as the skills and knowledge necessary to find employment in the modern marketplace.
Almost 1,000 international students attend the university each year, many from North America taking full degree programs. North American students are also particularly attracted to the university’s Junior Year/Semester Abroad Program, which allows students to select from regular course offerings across all faculties. A popular feature is that these programs are structured on a semester basis that mirrors the North American academic year. All programs carry module credits, which are transferable to U.S. college programs. International students at NUI Galway benefit from excellent support services, ranging from accommodation to academic and personal counseling. Students are encouraged to join one or more of a multitude of clubs and societies as one way of integrating into student life.
When students look back on life as a student in Galway, they are thankful not only for the opportunities opened up to them by the university’s commitment to academic excellence but also for the intimate moments, where lifelong friendships were made over coffee in the historic “City of Tribes.”
The following are testimonials from U.S. students who have recently completed study terms at NUI Galway:
“To say my stay in Galway has been the best year of my life is quite possibly the most accurate way to sum up my experience there. The professors made themselves available to their students whenever necessary. The atmosphere of the university made it possible to meet people easily while both the students and staff were exceedingly friendly and approachable.”
– Rebecca Anne Bresler,
Wheaton College
“The experience I had while studying for the year at NUI Galway was a once-in-a-lifetime one. The friendships, the classes, and all the traveling I did in Ireland and throughout Europe are all memories I will never forget. I learned so much academically, socially, and culturally. NUI Galway was definitely the best university. The staff and students were so friendly and helpful.”
– Sheila Kelly, Framingham State College
“The university’s clubs and societies are inviting and there’s so many to choose from that a visiting student is guaranteed to find one they like. It’s also the best way for a newcomer to find their niche and make friends easily. The friends I left behind on my return to America are some of the best I have ever made.”
– Erin Dinneen, Stonehill University