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UC DUBLIN - UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN Program Level: Undergraduate Number of Weeks/Term: 15 |
- Background
- Location Information
- Program Dates
- Host Institution
- Academic Information
- Academic Disciplines
- Credit Transfer Information
- Eligibility Requirements
- Program Costs
- Housing and Meals
- Insurance
- Extracurricular Activities
- Climate
- VISA & Passport Information
- Your Next Steps
- Experiences of Former Students
- Contact Details
BACKGROUND
Georgia Tech (GT) has developed a number of overseas programs around the globe. These programs provide students with the opportunity to complete a portion of their academic programs in top-notch foreign universities that are partnered with GT. As a result of immersion in a foreign academic and cultural environment, students have the maximum opportunity to learn to operate effectively in an atmosphere that is wholly different from that of GT and the U.S.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Ireland
Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. Half the size of Arkansas, it occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. Ireland resembles a basin - a central plain rimmed with mountains, except in the Dublin region. The mountains are low, with the highest peak, Carrantuohill in County Kerry, rising to 3,415 ft (1,041 m). The principal river is the Shannon, which begins in the north-central area, flows south and southwest for about 240 mi (386 km), and empties into the Atlantic.
By the Act of Union (1801), Great Britain and Ireland became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. A steady decline in the Irish economy followed in the next decades. The population had reached 8.25 million when the great potato famine of 1846-1848 took many lives and drove more than 2 million people to immigrate to North America. Modern Ireland now enjoys more immigration than emigration. Formerly an agriculture-based economy, the "Celtic Tiger" has become a leader in high-tech industries. In some recent years its economy has grown as much as 10%. Thanks in large part to the boom of the "Celtic Tiger" economy in the 1990s, the Ireland of the 21st century is a vibrant, culturally rich and ethnically diverse country with an entirely youthful and optimistic outlook - over half the population is under 30!
Dublin
Located on the east coast of Ireland, Dublin began as a Viking settlement founded over one thousand years ago. In the 21st century, with a population of over one million people, Dublin is the thriving capital of the Republic of Ireland and is the centre of the political, diplomatic, administrative and commercial like of the country.
Famous for its literary tradition, Ireland's capital has been home to writers from Jonathan Swift to William Butler Yeats and James Joyce. A visit to Dublin allows you to explore both the historical and the modern, from castles and churches to cafés and clubs.
PROGRAM DATES
Fall Term: early September - mid December
Spring Term: mid January - mid May
Academic Year: early September- mid May
NOTE: Students may participate in this program for the fall, spring, or for a full academic year.
HOST INSTITUTION ACADEMIC INFORMATION
University College Dublin is Ireland's largest and most richly diversified university. It provides a broad range of courses grouped into five Colleges (College of Arts and Celtic Studies, College of Business and Law, College of Human Sciences, College of Life Sciences, College of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences).
UCD traces its origins to the Catholic University of Ireland founded in 1854 by Cardinal John Henry Newman, author of the celebrated "The Idea of a University."
Today, UCD is a vibrant, modern university of over 22,000 students situated on a spacious and leafy campus some 5km to the south of Dublin city center.
ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES
Subject Areas Available:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Language Information
All courses are taught in English.
Course Information
For detailed course information: click here. Top
CREDIT TRANSFER INFORMATION
Credit for courses taken as part of GT exchange programs is added as transfer credit on the GT transcript. Since it is important to know which kind of credit students will earn abroad as soon as possible, GT requires that courses be pre-approved for transfer. With a Foreign Credit Approval Form (available from OIE) in hand, and the credit transfer system information (listed below), students should submit course descriptions to the appropriate academic unit to request their approval. If taking Math classes, for example, then the student should go to the GT School of Mathematics to get permission for the courses to transfer to GT. If approved, the GT School of Mathematics signs the Foreign Credit Approval Form showing how the courses will transfer so that students will know which type of credit they should expect to receive.
For detailed credit transfer instructions click here
For the Foreign Credit Approval Form click here
CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM
This information is intended for undergraduates students only. Graduate students must speak with their academic unit to to determine the acceptance of transfer credits.
University College Dublin uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS):
1.4 ECTS credits = 1 GT credit
GRADING SYSTEM
University College Dublin uses the grading system listed below:
UCD Grade = US Grade
A+, A, A- / 4.2, 4.0, 3.8 = A
B+, B, B- / 3.6, 3.4, 3.2 = B
C+, C, C- / 3.0, 2.8, 2.6 = C
D+, D, D- / 2.4, 2.2, 2.0 = D
E, F, G, NG / 1.6, 1.0, 0.4, 0 = F
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Eligible students must meet the following criteria:
PROGRAM COSTS
The same matriculation, tuition and other mandatory fees (including transportation, technology, activity, health, and athletic) apply to a term abroad as would normally apply at Georgia Tech. Exchange students must pay tuition and fees to the GT Bursar for each semester they are abroad. No other expenses associated with this program are paid to GT; instead, these expenses are paid on site.
The currency in Ireland is the Euro. Exchange rates fluctuate, so check the newspaper or click here for the most current rates.
DON"T FORGET TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!! See the OIE web site for more info: click here
Following are cost estimates for one semester at Dublin that may help you prepare for your term(s) abroad. All costs are in USD.
In State Tuition $3,035 Out of State Tuition $3,285 GT Mandatory Fees $818 Books and Supplies $450 Administrative and/or Application fees $0 Miscellaneous (includes passport/visa fees, required field trips, local transportation and incidentals) $765 Roundtrip Airfare $950 Room and Board $6,385 Additional Language Instruction $0 Mandatory Insurance $150 Total $12,553 (in state) $12,803 (out of state)
*Out-of-state students pay in state tuition, plus $250 for this exchange program.
*Costs in the preceding chart are estimates for undergraduates based on tuition rates posted by the GT Bursar for "continuing students." Guaranteed tuition rates, graduate tuition rates, and MBA tuition rates vary. Please check the GT Bursar's web site click here to confirm actual tuition rates based on degree, term, or level of study. Actual costs may be higher or lower than those listed above, depending on the exchange rate and personal spending habits/needs.
HOUSING AND MEALS
Housing
UCD has on-campus accommodation available for over 2,000 students in three, four, five and six-bedroom self-catering apartments in four locations. However, places are limited and UCD is unable to guarantee accommodation to all international students.
Students should be prepared to supply all other necessary kitchen items themselves. There is a small freezer section in the fridge but there is not a large freezer in the apartment. Any specialist equipment such as microwaves, woks etc. must be purchased separately. Televisions are not provided in the residences. Televisions can be bought or rented in electrical shops in the city centre. Students must pay the television license themselves. A television license costs approximately 160 Euro per year and can be purchased in the Belfield or any post office. Each student's bedroom contains a bed (three feet wide by six feet long). There is also a desk, chair, lamp and wardrobe. A duvet (comforter) and a pillow are provided; students must buy their own bed linen and towels. There are no phones provided in the apartments and while there are payphones provided in some houses, most students purchase mobile phones.
An application for on-campus housing is required. For more information, click here.
The Students' Union or SU located in the Student Centre also keeps a file on accommodation offered in flats, apartments and house-sharing. The Students' Union Handbook contains advice on your rights as a tenant (you can get a handout from the SU as well) and the Students' Union accommodation officer can help you during the year with any problems you might encounter with your landlord/landlady. A newsletter giving an up-to-date list of available accommodation is printed at peak times during the months of August to October, and is available from the Students' Union Accommodation Officer. This type of accommodation is usually self-catering, flat/house-sharing. Notice boards in the Library Building are used to advertise flat/house shares. Students should note that they will have to go and look at the accommodation advertised themselves, as the university is not in a position to make bookings on your behalf.
Meals
Students living on-campus at University College Dublin are offered meals deals for Lunch/Supper and Breakfast. These are available for purchase in advance at a greatly discounted price.
There are a number of restaurants and cafés on the Belfield campus open Monday to Friday during the academic year. The approximate cost of a full main meal is 5.25 Euro. There are smaller restaurants located in the Science Centre, the Agriculture building and the Student Centre on campus and cafés in the Sports Centre and in the Arts, Library, Commerce, Architecture buildings and in the Conway Institute and Health Sciences Centre.
For more information, click here and click here.
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INSURANCE
Students participating in this program will be assessed $150 per semester for mandatory insurance coverage. You will be covered by T.W. Lord and Associates. For detailed information about this insurance plan, click here. This cost is included in the above cost estimates for the program.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Student Centre was opened in October 2000. It houses the offices of the Students' Union, the Health Centre and the Students' Consultative Forum. It also has restaurants serving hot and cold snacks and a students' bar. There are a number of function rooms of various sizes suitable for a range of student events. The Students' Union runs events here on a weekly basis, including gigs, discos and special events. The Freshers' Ball, is Ireland's biggest student event.
The Students' Union provides a number of services to UCD students, from shops to free entertainment. All registered UCD students automatically become members of the Students' Union. The Students' Union Handbook is distributed free to students during the first weeks of term. It gives further details on the services provided and advice on how to cope with various problems you might encounter. The Student Union offices are located in the Student Centre.
There are over 100 clubs and societies registered with the Students' Consultative Forum ranging from sports to academic interests. You can join any of them during Freshers' Week (second week of the first term). Membership of societies costs 2 Euro and sports club membership costs from 8 to 12 Euro. The selection of clubs and societies is huge, and no matter what your interests, there should be at least one that caters for you. Joining clubs and societies is the best way to meet people in UCD and most sports clubs cater for beginners.
The UCD International Students' Society organizes social and cultural events throughout the year. It is open to both international and Irish students, with the aim of encouraging integration and creating an atmosphere from which all students will benefit.
CLIMATE
Ireland has a mild, temperate climate. Summer temperatures generally range from 60ºF/15ºC to 70ºF/20ºC. Spring and autumn are generally 50ºF/10ºC. Winter is between 40ºF/5ºC and 46ºF/8ºC. (Snow is rare, but showers can occur at any time of the year.)
VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION
Complete information about how to apply for or renew a U.S. passport is available from the GT Office of International Education or online: click here
A valid U.S. passport is required to visit the island of Ireland. Visitors of all other nationalities should contact their local Irish Embassy/Consulate prior to traveling to the Republic of Ireland and visitors to Northern Ireland should contact their local British Embassy, high Commission or Consular Office.
If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, or USA, you currently do not need to apply for a student visa before arrival in Ireland. (You should re-check this information with the Embassy of Ireland before your departure to make sure it is still correct). You will be required to complete immigration formalities once you have registered at UCD. Should a student fail to produce these documents, you will be in breach of Irish Immigration Regulations. The Irish Immigration Officer will have no choice but to refuse you entry into Ireland.
All students admitted by the Irish Immigration Officers upon arrival in Ireland will have their passports computer swiped and date stamped, endorsing a requirement for them to register with the Immigration Office. Immigration registration takes place at the Garda National Immigration Bureau in Dublin.
The International Student Handbook has further details about Immigration Regulations and required documents, including evidence of financial support and medical insurance. For more information, click here and click here
YOUR NEXT STEPS
To begin the process of participating in this exchange, please do the following:
EXPERIENCES OF FORMER STUDENTS
click here
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Becky Gunter, Semester Study Abroad Advisor
GT Office of International Education
631 Cherry Street
Savant Building, Suite 211
Atlanta, GA 30332-0284
Phone: (404)894-7475 Fax: (404)894-9682
E-mail: becky.gunter@oie.gatech.edu
OIE web site: click here
Host/Program Web Site: click here
Dublin
Ireland
Europe
Semester
15
12
English
For more info, contact OIE.
Can I go abroad while pursuing a GT degree?
GT students have many opportunities to participate in semester/exchange and study abroad programs. In a semester program, you actually take classes with the host universitys students and faculty. (In some cases, this means that you must have excellent knowledge of the local language to participate). Semester program participants usually pay normal GT tuition and fees for each term abroad. Credits can be pre-approved to transfer back to GT so that you do not get behind in your studies. The application deadline for fall and academic year programs is in early February; for spring programs the deadline is in September/October.
In a study abroad program, the courses are taught by GT faculty and you register for regular GT courses. Residents pay normal matriculation fees, but do not pay ancillary fees (athletic, health, etc.). Non-residents only pay resident matriculation plus $250 ($1500 for GTL Summer/$2000 for GTL Spring/Fall) . This is a savings of over $6,000 for out-of-state students who participate in GT study abroad programs as full-time students! Deadlines for summer study abroad programs vary from early January to mid-February.
In most cases, if you are eligible for financial aid or scholarships, you can apply your grants, scholarships, and/or loans toward the expenses associated with participating in all GT programs.
GTs International Plan: More than just study abroad
Your major is participating in this new initiative!
The International Plan is an intensive, degree-long program designed to prepare GT graduates professionally and personally for successful lives in the 21st century. Requirements of the program include international coursework, two terms abroad (any combination of study, research or internship abroad), proficiency in a second language, and a culminating course. Students who complete the program will have a designation on their diploma indicating completion of the degree with global competence: for example, BS in Mechanical Engineering: International Plan. For more information or an application, contact your major advisor or OIE and visit the website: click here