The Program

• University College Dublin (UCD) was established in 1854 and among its more famous alumni is the writer James Joyce
• The university consists of five colleges: Agriculture/Food Science/ Veterinary Medicine; Arts & Celtic Studies; Business & Law; Engineering & Architecture; Health Sciences; Human Sciences; and Physical/Life Science
• UCD’s main Belfield campus is located 2.5 miles south of the city center, to which it is connected by a regular bus service

Your Host City: Dublin
The city of Dublin, on Ireland’s east coast, dates back to the time of the Vikings and beyond. For much of the last 1,000 years, it’s been Ireland’s cultural and political capital. Evidence of the city’s history, and its part in Ireland’s long struggle for independence, can be found all over the city.  The Book of Kells, an illuminated, eighth-century manuscript displayed in Trinity College, is probably Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure. The nearby National Gallery, on Merrion Square, has works by Jack B. Yeats, brother of the poet, among others. As you walk the streets of Dublin, in the footsteps of Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus, you’ll see statues of Joyce, Swift, and Beckett. You’ll also hear music emanating from dozens of pubs, especially in the Temple Bar neighborhood on the south bank of the Liffey.


Academics
In order to have an idea of what classes are available, you should visit the University College Dublin website.  From this link, you can then access the pages for the Schools you are interested in.  Once on the Schools' website you can then choose an academic program (major).  To find individual courses you should go to the Module section and click on the different stage links.  This will then take you to a list of courses.

When looking for courses, be sure that you are looking at courses for undergraduate students only and that you are looking at classes in the correct term of study.  In addition to courses within their main college of study, students may choose up to two courses outside of their main college of study.  For a listing of UCD Colleges and the schools that fall within each college, please visit this page. 

You will need to be sure that you are registered as a full time student according to University College Dublin and Rutgers University. That means you will need to take the equivalent of at least 12 Rutgers credits each semester.  The credit translation system between UCD and Rutgers University is 2:1, meaning a 10 credit course at UCD would come back as a 5-credit course on your Rutgers University transcript and a 5 credit UCD course would be worth 3 Rutgers credits.  A normal class load at UCD is 6 courses, however Rutgers students may take less with prior approval.  It is not possible to take classes as not-for-credit or pass/fail.

For information about Study Abroad credit transfer, registration, and transcripts please visit the Academics section of our website.


Academic Calendar
Fall Semester: Early September – Late December
Spring Semester: Mid-January – Late May
To view the current academic calendar, please visit the UCD web page.
*All dates are subject to change.  Do not book your flight until you have been accepted by the university and the academic dates have been confirmed. 


Accommodations and Meals
Student residence halls are located on the Belfield and the Blackrock campuses which vary in price, please check the budget sheet for pricing. Most of the housing is suite-style.  The residence halls are typically comprised of three or four single bedrooms with a shared kitchen and common room. University accommodation is self-catered, which means you will not have access to a meal plan, but you will have use of kitchen facilities in order to prepare your own meals. A pillow and duvet are normally provided, but you should bring your own sheets, duvet cover, and towels. There are no “American-only” residences. Your particular placement is made entirely at the discretion of the UCD Accommodation Office. For more information, please visit the UCD Residences web page.

You may also have the option of living near UCD in an off-campus apartment shared by other Study Abroad students. No meal plan is available, but you will have use of the apartment’s kitchen. The kitchen will most likely be furnished with cookware, cutlery, plates and utensils. Once you arrive, you can determine whether you need to purchase any kitchen items.

If you are accommodated on-campus, you should not count on being able to stay in your room during official university breaks. You will need to visit the University College Dublin Accommodation office upon your arrival in order to reserve space during university breaks. You may be charged a fee per day for using rooms during the breaks. You may also be asked to change rooms during the breaks so that repairs can be done.


Financial Information
For more information on the total cost of the program go to the top of this page, locate "Budget Sheets" and click on the appropriate term.
 
For more information about Finances, including information about Financial Aid please visit the Finances Section of our website.
 
As part of your preparation to apply for this study abroad program, please familiarize yourself with the Rutgers Study Abroad policies.

Scholarships
Students are also encouraged to start researching Scholarship opportunities as early as possible.  You may find the following scholarships applicable to this program.

Rutgers Global–Study Abroad  Scholarships- Available to all Rutgers students participating in a Rutgers Global–Study Abroad program during the fall/spring/academic year/summer.  For more information please visit the Scholarship section of our website.

Benjamin A. Gilman Study Abroad Scholarships- Available to study abroad students who receive a Pell Grant.  For more information about the scholarship and additional eligibility requirements please visit the Gilman website.

Please also visit the Scholarships section of our website for additional information about Rutgers and National Scholarships.