Galway Program Overview

Founded in 1845 as the Queen's College Galway, the National University of Ireland--Galway has successfully conserved its original mid-nineteenth century buildings of Tudor architectural style, and the new buildings around the old stone quadrangle at the heart of the campus reflect the university's steady growth of the past decades.

The distinctive feature of NUI-Galway is the bilingual, multi-cultural atmosphere which the university promotes by offering a full program in the Irish language alongside a traditional English-language program. Each year large numbers of visiting students from both North America and continental Europe are attracted to the university.  Those participating in the program will join approximately 11,000 other students taking classes from the university’s seven faculties (Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, Celtic Studies, Medicine & Health Sciences, and Law).

Aside from the academic studies, NUI-Galway has many activities, clubs and extra curricular activities open to all the students.  There are more than fifty societies and thirty athletic clubs on campus that cater to a wide variety of interests.  NUI-Galway also has a Student Union that runs a stationery shop, bar and snack bar service. Additionally, the Union is involved in the operation of the Galway Student Travel Centre. Entertainment is organized regularly and all students are welcome to come. The university is located along the River Corrib and in close proximity to the mountains and hills of Connemara, providing plenty of opportunity for water sports, as well as hiking and mountaineering. 

Galway is generally regarded as a safe city; however, a Campus Watch Service operates in the University and its objective is to make NUI-Galway a safer place in which to study, live and work.

Program Type:

This is a Marquette-exchange program, so most financial aid generally applies. To learn more about how this program will affect your specific financial aid package, please see the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Living:

University apartments and en suite apartments

Duration & Dates:

Fall semester: early September to late December
Spring semester: early January to late May
Summer: Late June to late July

Eligibility:

Most majors; minimum 2nd semester sophomore; 3.0 GPA

Language:

Courses taught in English

Subjects:

Accounting, Business, Finance, Anatomy, Ancient Classics, Physics, Archaeology, Botany, Business Law, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, Geology, Literature, Marketing, Mathematics, Biology, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Spanish, Statistics, Women’s Studies

Permit/Visa:

Visa not required for US Citizens

Orientation:

Orientation is provided for each semester to give advice to new students living in Galway, including procedures and other general info. It is also a great chance to meet staff and students.