High School Abroad in Ireland
High School Semester Abroad in Ireland Gallery
The Take-Aways
Independence & Resilience
Come home better prepared to make transitions, take control of new situations, and appreciate challenging experiences for what they are: opportunities to learn and grow.
College Readiness
Studying abroad gives you the kinds of life skills that can’t be learned in a classroom — and shows college admissions reps that you’re already one step ahead in terms of initiative, maturity, and independence.
Global Citizenship
After immersing yourself in unfamiliar practices and customs, you’ll become better equipped to interact with people from other cultures — in school, on the job, or in your personal life.
93%
said their experience made them more aware of global issues.
79%
said their experience with CIEE helped shape their college applications.
96%
said they regularly use the knowledge and skills they acquired while abroad with CIEE.
The Destination
Rolling hills, bustling cities, and historic sites make the Emerald Isle an unforgettable learning environment.
Discover the majesty and rich culture of the Emerald Isle.
With CIEE, you’ll have the unique opportunity to experience Ireland as its own people do. Give Gaelic football a try with your classmates after school, or meet up with friends at the local pub on a Saturday afternoon for traditional Irish stew and soda bread. Join your homestay for a scenic drive, or hike through the countryside on a crisp fall afternoon.
From sleepy Louisburgh, nestled at the foot of Croagh Patrick, to charming Ballylickey in the heart of magnificent Bantry Bay, Ireland offers an idyllic setting for a high school study abroad program. Through classes at a local high school, extracurricular activities, and living with a homestay, you’ll immerse yourself completely in Irish culture and discover what it’s like to step outside of your comfort zone and make the world your classroom.
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 Ireland.
Orientation
Upon arrival in Ireland, you’ll be picked up at the airport by CIEE staff and begin your two-day orientation in Dublin. During orientation, you will participate in different workshops focusing on a variety of themes — culture, language, academics, social norms, current events — all designed to best prepare you for your experience in Ireland. Additionally, you’ll see some of the best that Dublin has to offer!
After orientation, you will depart for your host community and spend a couple of days with your homestay before starting school.
Program Blogs
My Journey to Ireland - A Blog Takeover by Simone!
The idea of Studying abroad has always been a plan in my life. My older sister studied abroad as a high school student and spent a lot of time studying... keep reading
An Irish St. Patrick's Day
I've always wondered what St. Patrick's Day is like in Ireland. It's the one holiday that makes everyone think of Ireland, rainbows, and leprechauns. First of all, it's not as... keep reading
Irish School
While I was researching my semester abroad, I wondered a lot about the differences in school and how a typical day at an Irish school was like. For those of... keep reading
Sample Activities
The land of Shaw, Swift, Joyce, Lewis, and Yeats beckons. Ireland’s rolling green hills are dotted with cozy tearooms and medieval castles. Yet cities are equally known for their tech and pop music scenes. Irish history comes alive during excursions to museums, cathedrals, galleries, and historic sites in and around Dublin. Farther afield, you might travel to Achill Island, Connemara, and Galway in the West of Ireland, or journey to Northern Ireland to tour Belfast. You’ll have a whole year or semester to discover the country — on your own, with new CIEE friends, or maybe even your homestay!
Tuition for this program includes the cost of one day trip and one overnight trip per semester. Trips will take place earlier in the semester to allow trimester students the opportunity to participate. These trips vary every semester and may also be adjusted to mitigate COVID-19 risks, but some examples of past excursions have included:
3 Day Overnight Trip Examples
Wild Atlantic Way Trip
Travel with your peers to Ireland’s stunning Wild Atlantic Way in the counties of Galway and Mayo. Enjoy two nights in the market town of Westport. You’ll have the chance to develop orienteering, climbing and teamwork skills in Connemara, experience kayaking in Clew Bay and visit Croagh Patrick where you will try your hands in preparing traditional Irish meals on a local farm.
Kilkenny Historical Visit
Have fun strengthening bonds with your program peers while taking in the many exciting sites in the medieval city of Kilkenny. Work together to follow the Nore Valley Treasure Trail, explore the famous castle and surrounding park and sample modern Irish cuisine where you’ll surely be surprised with the range of food options available. You’ll also take a hike above the 5th century monastery of Glendalough which is situated in a glacial valley consisting of two lakes.
1 Day Trip Examples
Lough Erne
Take part in archery, zip lining and more at this scenic lake in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.
Carlingford
Home to Ireland’s largest aerial adventure course called Sky Park, enjoy a day of fun and adventure with views for miles!
Boyne Valley
Explore Ireland’s 5,000-year-old past and modern mysticism in the Boyne Valley.
Dates & Fees
Eligibility
At the time of departure, students must:
Be at least 15 years old by the start of the program and they cannot have their 18th birthday while on program
Have a minimum GPA of 2.5
Demonstrate, through the application process, their flexibility, maturity, adaptability, and readiness to face the challenges of living in a new culture
Application Fee
$50
Priority deadline discount: Apply to a fall semester or academic year by February 15 and get a $400 discount. Apply to a spring semester by July 15 and get a $400 discount. Discounts are deducted from final balance.
Program fee includes international airfare and iNext travel insurance. Full inclusions are found online.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Academic Year 2024 38 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Spring 2025 20 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Spring Trimester 2025 13 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Fall 2024 24 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Fall Trimester 2024 | Start Date TBD* | End Date TBD* | ||
| Program Spring 2024 20 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $20,250 | |
| Program Spring Trimester 2024 13 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $16,250 | |
| Program Fall 2023 24 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Costs $20,250 |
| Program Fall Trimester 2023 18 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Costs $16,250 |
| Program Academic Year 2023 41 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Costs $27,500 |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.