IFSA-Butler at Trinity College, Dublin

  Ireland

• Dublin: 
Dublin

Term: Academic Year 
Dates: September - June

Description: Trinity College was established in 1592 by commission from Queen Elizabeth I. It is the oldest university in Ireland and one of the older institutions in all of Europe. Occupying a forty acre site in the heart of Dublin, Trinity is one of Ireland's major tourist attractions. The college was modeled after the ancient colleges at Oxford and Cambridge but the majority of the buildings today date from the 18th century.

Many of the luminaries of the Irish literary tradition were educated at Trinity in Dublin, including Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde. The college occupies a central part in the lives of Dubliners who point with pride to its 400-year history of academic excellence.

Highlights: Apart from the spectacular beauty of the country and the richness of its history, Ireland is famous for music, art and folklore. This heritage is treasured around the world by the descendents of emigrants and the people among whom they settled. From the end of 19th and into the 20th century, a surge of pride in Irish nationalism yielded some of the world's greatest literary works and contributed heavily to the impetus for Irish independence from Britain. Although most students think of Ireland as a place to undertake courses in Irish studies or liberal arts, curricula in science, engineering and computer science are widely available.

The intellectual traditions of Ireland and her reverence of scholarship date back to medieval times. Schools and monasteries flourished to such an extent that for several centuries they were the centers of learning and religion for all of western Europe. This heritage is reflected today in the academic excellence and prestigious reputation of Ireland's colleges and universities.

The academic year in Ireland runs along roughly the same time frame as the American academic year. It begins in late September and ends in mid- June. Teaching terms usually consist of three ten-week periods separated by two four-week breaks, although some universities have switched over to the semester system.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: Inquire for more info.

Experience Required: no