Location:

Galway, Ireland

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

Calling all environmentally-focused students! NUI Galway's newest summer program offers students practical experience of the natural environment in the west of Ireland. It provides students with survey skills to identify natural resources and develops their skills to evaluate the sustainable use and conservation of Ireland’s ecological resources.

County Galway, on Ireland’s Atlantic West Coast, is a land of contrasts. Influenced by its oceanic climate, glacial history, hydrology, geology and human habitation, it has developed a variety of beautiful landscapes with unique and fascinating habitats and species. From the fertile rocks of the Burren karst limestone to the raised bogs of the Midlands, the sheer cliffs of the Aran Islands to the salt marshes of Galway Bay, there is a wealth of natural history to explore.

This summer school course is designed to encourage a multi-disciplinary approach to study ecology, by looking at all aspects of how these habitats are created and maintained through natural processes and anthropogenic activity. It will also consider conservation and sustainability issues and how a sound understanding of these ecological processes is used to combat the challenges facing the environment.

Setting Description:

Galway is a charming coastal city on the west coast of Ireland. County Galway is Ireland’s largest Gaelic-speaking area in the country, and even today the mother tongue of much of the population is the native Irish language. The countryside surrounding Galway seems not to have changed in 150 years. Fields that were abandoned during the potato famine of the mid-1800s still lie untouched, and one sees the low stone walls and rolling hillsides that characterize Ireland. In the midst of the history and tradition of the countryside lies the bustling city of Galway. Students find plenty of diversion in the city labeled the “Cultural Capital of Ireland.” Students can choose to attend a play at one of three world-renowned theaters or visit the 13th century Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, where Christopher Columbus is said to have prayed before undertaking his journey to the New World.

Cost:

Pre-departure, On-site, and Re-entry services included, such as advising and online resources, airport reception, resident directors, housing, tuition, tutoring, medical & life insurance, excursions, social & cultural activities, alumni network, Learning and Engagement Badge Program and more!

Additional Program Information

Requirements:

*Minimum 3.0 G.P.A. *Open to juniors & seniors *Open to students with previous coursework in ecology, environmental science, geography, botany, zoology, natural history, or natural heritage

Scholarships:

Yes

Scholarships Description:

API awards approximately $500,000 in study abroad scholarships annually ranging from $250 -$1,000 per student.