samuel beckett bridge at night in dublin ireland
Dublin, Ireland

Semester in Dublin

New for Sping 2025!

Study Program Part-Time Internship

Tentative Dates

-

17 weeks

Costs

Credit

12 - 16 semester hours

18 - 24 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Overview

Spend your semester living and learning in Ireland’s capital, Dublin, where you’ll get a true taste of Irish Culture. One of Europe’s most youthful cities, the charm and ancient heritage of Old Dublin still shines through amongst today’s emerging European tech hub and growing multicultural population.

When class is in session, you’ll take courses through CIEE Dublin and/or take a mix of local university courses at CIEE’s renowned partner institution, Dublin City University. You may also enroll in courses with a local flavor, like business, politics, cuisine, or sustainability initiatives.

Outside the classroom, you’ll have every opportunity to actively participate in Dublin’s local community. Immerse yourself in Irish culture with optional credit-bearing internships or volunteer opportunities. Don’t stop there; round out your study abroad adventure by participating in co-curricular and extracurricular activities and off-the-beaten-path trips organized by CIEE to appreciate Ireland’s impressive cultural attractions and landmarks. 

Unique Experiences

Explore iconic sites

Such as the 1,000-year-old Christchurch Cathedra, Howth fishing village, and the 18th-century Guiness Brewery

Combine courses with peers

at CIEE and local students at Dublin City University

\

Embrace Dublin's literary and artistic heritage

with local music at the Cobblestone, street art in Temple Bar, and high literature at Marsh's Library

1,036

YEARS SINCE DUBLIN WAS OFFICIALLY FOUNDED

800

PUBS OPERATING ACROSS THE CITY

1,853 ACRES

IN PHOENIX PARK, EUROPE’S LARGEST URBAN PARKLAND

Experience
  • dublin castle exterior
  • dublin castle summer time sunny student group
  • Dublin long street

Your Destination

With a young, vibrant population of more than one million people, Dublin is a city on the move and an emerging high-tech European hub. Still, the charm and culture of Old Dublin shine through, and the echoes of literary giants like Joyce, Shaw, Swift, Wilde, and Beckett remain. Since the late 1990s, a multicultural Dublin has emerged with immigration from around the world. Today, the city is a dynamic, lively multicultural space nestled between the country’s jewel green landscape and the Irish Sea.  

CIEE Dublin is located on Dublin City University’s All Hallows Campus in the leafy suburb of Drumcondra, one mile North of the city center.

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Dublin. 

The Culture

dublin girl overlooking castle on cliffs of moher

Excursions & Activities

  • Get to know Dublin with cultural activities such as guided walking tours, visits to museums, cathedrals, galleries, and historic sites
  • See more of Ireland with day trips that bring your coursework to life on visits to the Wicklow mountains of Glendalough, the medieval town of Kilkenny, or other parts of the island, such as Belfast in the North or Galway on the West Coast
  • Listen to traditional music and storytellers in local pubs and cafés
  • Hike stretches of Dublin’s spectacular coastline 
interns abroad ireland laptop

Internship

A credit-bearing internship placement and accompanying course allows students the opportunity to have practical work experience in a company within a variety of industry sectors. In addition to the on-site business experience, students participating in an internship program have a weekly classroom component, which provides academic support to their practical experience. 

In recent years CIEE Dublin has placed interns in the following sectors:  

  • Non-Profits, NGOs, and Community Organizations 
  • Arts and Entertainment   
  • Hospitality, Tourism and Events 
  • Business (sales, business development, finance)  
  • PR, Marketing and Communications  
  • Galleries  
  • Small Cultural Organizations  
  • Social Entrepreneurship  
  • Tech Start Ups: IT, EdTech, Fintech, MedTech  
  • Video Game Industry  
  • Social Media 
dublin student preseting

Directed Independent Research

Directed Independent Research is for qualified students who have demonstrated academic rigor and curiosity toward a particular research topic. Independent research topics will be approved by CIEE Dublin Academic Director and home institution. To enroll, students must submit a research proposal including a clearly defined research topic, explanation of research plans, description of preparation in the planned area of study, list of resources, tentative outline of a final paper, and suggested schedule of progress. Each student completes a total of 100-120 hours of research and meets regularly with an advisor to complete an academically rigorous, ethically sound, and culturally appropriate research project and final research paper.  

Supervision would be coordinated through the academic director with periodic reporting of progress on the part of the student. 

Iterative and final submissions will be uploaded to a dedicated course on Canvas for feedback, transparency and record keeping. 

Program Blogs

From CIEE

Ireland vs. Scotland Travel: Where Should You Study Abroad?

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

When you think of Ireland and Scotland, you might be imagining two very similar countries – lots of greenery, the U.K., cafés, and packed, early histories. And although there are... keep reading

From CIEE

What Does Craic Mean? Your Guide to Irish Slang

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

For those not from Ireland , the frequent use of “craic” by the Irish can be a little confusing. We get it. The concept can be a mix of a... keep reading

From CIEE

Why Study Abroad in Ireland

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

There is no doubt about it: The small country of Ireland has a huge amount of opportunity for those looking for an exciting adventure. Especially for students looking to take... keep reading

Housing
Academics

Academics

Semester In Dublin students create a schedule of courses, choosing between those offered by CIEE and those of CIEE Dublin’s local host institution, Dublin City University (DCU). The constraints on student choices are just practical ones – for example, commute times between CIEE and DCU for courses that are scheduled on the same day. During the course selection and add/drop process, the local academic team actively manages and assists the registration process. Once finalized, students will register their courses both with DCU and CIEE to ensure that they can receive credit for the courses they have chosen.

In terms of teaching, learning, and assessment: In-person instruction can include lectures, discussions, analysis of readings, and case studies, in addition to media presented for consideration. Some courses can be discursive in nature, requiring active participation from students, whereas others, particularly at the host institution, may involve lectures coupled with independent reading and research on the part of the student.

Some courses include compulsory field trips or day trips; with CIEE courses, these are embedded as co-curricular activities. Assessment is continuous and is based on overall performance, including class participation, homework assignments, papers, presentations, projects, and exams. On successful completion of a course, students receive numerical grades which are converted to U.S. letter grade equivalents, using an equivalency chart for courses completed at the home institution. 

GPA

2.7 for students taking any classes at Dublin City University 

2.5 for students taking CIEE classes only 

Additional Requirements

Please refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.  

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Requirements

Students are required to enroll in a combination of courses offered through CIEE and/or the host institution, DCU, that satisfies the credit requirements of the program, as outlined. Students cannot fall below or exceed the required program credits without prior approval. 

Program Credit

12-16 U.S. semester/ 18-24 U.S. quarter credits

Course Credit

CIEE Courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours 

CIEE Internship: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 15 seminar hours, 100-120 internship placement hours 

CIEE Directed Independent Research: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 15 contact hours, 100-120 research hours 

CIEE Service-Learning Project: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 15 seminar hours, 90 service hours 

Dublin City University: Typically, 3-5 U.S. semester/4.5-7.5 quarter credits; 30-60 contact hours 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Academic Culture

CIEE courses are designed to follow U.S. academic culture and standards. The class environment typically features a combination of traditional lecture and discussion with co-curricular excursions and activities. Heavy emphasis is placed on student participation. Host Institution classes tend to be more lecture-based and students are expected to work much more independently than in the U.S., thus more time may be required for studying than students are accustomed to at their home campuses. Similar to classes at U.S. institutions, students should expect to spend an average of two hours of preparation and study for each hour in CIEE classes. To avoid falling behind, students should not plan personal travel out of Dublin when classes are in session and instead plan trips for the long weekends. 

Class Format

Courses taught at the CIEE Center are typically for CIEE students only. Host Institution classes include both local and international students. A typical class schedule includes a combination of both CIEE and Host Institution-administered classes, and will span from Monday to Friday. Classes at both CIEE and DCU typically meet 1-2 times per week, for anywhere from 1-3 hours per class session, depending on the course. Attendance in CIEE classes is strictly enforced, both for classes and required co-curricular excursions. Instruction is supported and augmented online by CIEE’s learning management system, Canvas, and by DCU's in house Loop system.

Grading

CIEE reports all final course grades to students’ home institutions using a U.S. letter grade equivalent scale of A-F. For CIEE-administered courses, students’ grades are based on attendance, class participation, homework, project work, presentations, and midterm and final examinations. Learning outcomes assessment is continuous through personal reflections, evaluation feedback, self-assessment, and requirements as set out in course syllabi.  

Host Institution courses are graded using numerical grades, which are converted to U.S. letter grades. Assessment is based on overall performance, including essays, coursework, and final exams or papers. In many courses, students are graded on class participation, in-class activities, homework assignments, exams, papers, and oral presentations. CIEE reports final grades for host institution courses using recommended U.S. letter grade equivalencies, following a predetermined grade conversion scale”. 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Language of Instruction

English

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Courses

Course Information

  • Not all Host Institution courses (known as ‘modules’ in Ireland) are available to study abroad students. Course registration is finalized on-site. Class timetables are only available on arrival, during orientation week, however the Irish academic system allows for flexibility in the final registration window for international students.  
  • You can only choose Host Institution courses from one discipline (called “stream” in Ireland). You may not mix disciplines/“streams.” 

Academic Projects

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Communication, Journalism, and Media

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Languages and Cultural Studies

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Social Sciences

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Visual and Performing Arts

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Online Course Catalog: Study abroad: Which modules can you choose? (dcu.ie)

DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY SAMPLE COURSE LIST:

Below is a list of DCU sample courses from which CIEE students may choose. Please note this list is subject to change. Within the areas below, students have course options (courses are called “modules” in Ireland). Availability is based on course schedule, subject level, and limitations of resources, and all choices are dependent on approval from the sending university.  

Students can only select courses from their discipline (called “stream” at DCU) and may not mix disciplines. Students will receive all relevant course information upon acceptance into the program. The disciplines are the following:  

  • Business  
  • Humanities  
  • Education  
  • Engineering and Computing  
  • Science and Health  

Not all courses listed are offered every semester, and some courses have prerequisites. The final list of courses is made available during the course enrollment process on-site.  

The following list of courses constitutes a representative sample of course offerings through the Dublin City University and is subject to change. In some cases, prior background knowledge may be required to enroll in a class.

Fall Sample Course List

  • Psychology of Individual Difference & Diversity  
  • Developmental Psychology & Individual Differences  
  • Curriculum Development  
  • Introduction to Social Studies  
  • Media Writing & Expression  
  • Press and Public Relation New Enterprise Development Project  
  • Psychology in Organizations  
  • New Enterprise Development Project  
  • Modern Europe, 1830-1945  
  • A History of Northern Ireland, 1912-1998  
  • Intro to Modern European Political Thought  
  • The Irish Political System  
  • International Security and Conflict  
  • European Union Law  
  • Identity and Belonging  
  • World Religions  
  • Globalization  
  • High-Technology Entrepreneurship  
  • Marketing Management & Planning  
  • Business Information Systems  
  • Operations Management  
  • Integrated Sport & Exercise Physiology  

Spring Sample Course List

  • Ethics of Journalism  
  • Introduction to Marketing  
  • Irish Writing  
  • Creating Childhood  
  • Genetics & Health  
  • Political Geography: Spaces of Memory  
  • Assessing Early Leaning and Development  
  • Introduction to European Integration  
  • The Universe  
  • Citizenship, Diversity, and Inclusion  
  • French Fantasy Literature  
  • Comparing Perceptions of Otherness  
  • Lifespan Development  
  • Climate Change: Causes and Consequences  
  • Irish Women in the Long Nineteen Century  
  • Medieval Archaeology  
  • International Trade and Business  
  • Visual Arts and Music Education  
  • Psychology in Organizations  
  • Employee Relations Procedures  
  • Talent Management  
  • Financial Theory  
  • Separation Techniques  
  • International Finance  
  • Cell Biology  
  • Organic Chemistry 

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.

Scholarships

Scholarships & Grants

CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.

Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:

  • Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
  • CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
  • MSI Grant
  • Trailblazer Grant

To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.

Learn more about scholarships

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Fees & Housing

Program Spring 2025 17 weeks Start Date * End Date * Fees & Housing $19,950

*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.

To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300*

Educational Costs = $12,956**

Housing = $6,500***

Insurance = $194

Total Fees = $19,950

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Meals not included in program fee = $1,710

International Airfare = $1,100††

Local Transportation = $400

Books & Supplies = $250

Personal expenses = $240†††

Total Costs = $3,700

Optional Housing

CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.

Select Housing Fee = $750

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

*non-refundable fee

**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.

For groceries if you plan on making your own meals, budget more money if you plan on eating out regularly.

††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

†††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries

What's Included

Tuition

Housing

Pre-departure Advising

Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions

Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet

Orientation

Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city

On-site Staff

Full-time program leadership and support in your city

Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities

Excursions and/or Study Tours

Travel Protection

CIEE iNext travel protection

24/7 emergency on-site support

Staff

Our Staff

Enda O’Connell

Center Director

Enda is responsible for overall management of CIEE Dublin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Primary Education Teaching from Dublin City University and the equivalent of a Master’s degree in...

Marcus Gatto

Academic Director

Originally from Denver, Marcus has lived in Ireland for a decade. Before joining CIEE, he oversaw an undergraduate law program at a private college in Dublin and taught various law subjects.

Verena Oskorip

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

A native of Argentina, Verena has a wealth of experience working with study abroad students in Dublin and also teaches Spanish-language courses with Instituto Cervantes in Dublin.

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