Study Abroad: Spring & Summer 2025
Wexford, Ireland
Learn about Georgia Southern’s Wexford Campus: teaching, research, upcoming projects, and more. Click below to stream a 24-minute feature from RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster. On the original air date (September 25, 2024), over 450,000 people in Ireland watched the show!
Georgia Southern University’s European Campus
Do I Need a Passport?
Yes. International travel requires a passport. If you do not have a passport or you need to renew an expired or expiring one, start the process now.
How Do I Register for the Courses I Select?
You do not. Once you have been accepted into a Wexford Campus program, that program registers you for your chosen courses.
Live in Historic Wexford, a Viking & Norman Town
Study & live in Wexford Town, a beautiful coastal settlement in southeastern Ireland, founded in 800 by Vikings & walled in the early 1200s by Normans. Using archives, some GS students research the emigration of hundreds of Wexford natives to Savannah between 1848 and 1856.
Explore Legendary Coasts, Mountains, Buildings
Get to know the Emerald Isle. Start your trip by taking in the majestic cliffs & cloudscapes of Ireland’s western coast: the Wild Atlantic Way. Then, in Wexford, the “Sunny Southeast,” enjoy gorgeous mountains, farmlands & beaches, as well as prehistoric monuments, medieval castles & 18th-century “big houses” (country mansions).
Experience Irish Culture, Music, Sports, Cuisine
Revel in traditional music, performed in atmospheric pubs. Witness the ancient, fast-paced team sports of camogie (women) & hurling (men), played by athletes wearing Wexford’s purple & gold colors. Be mesmerized by the intricate footwork of Irish dance. Savor delicious fresh produce from family farms.
Expand Your Professional Network & Expertise
Broaden your knowledge by engaging in compelling EFEXes (Educational Field Experiences) in & beyond County Wexford. In addition to must-see sites that all program participants visit, we craft field-based, discipline-specific learning opportunities that supply insights, approaches & contacts relevant to your career goals.
Gain the Important “International Edge”
Invest in your professional competitiveness & future employability by gaining the “international edge” that many companies demand in job candidates. Interact with a range of Irish experts willing to share knowledge & perspectives. See challenges & opportunities through new lenses.
Thrive in a Safe, Friendly Environment
Feel calm & comfortable as you study & learn in Ireland, earth’s third safest country. Members of the unarmed police force are “guardians of the peace.” Ireland aims to live up to core values: respect, tolerance, hospitality & social harmony. For example: It has instituted a pubic holiday, St. Bridget’s Day, to honor women.
Page Menu
YOU NEED AN UP-TO-DATE PASSPORT TO TRAVEL
If you need to obtain or renew a passport, act immediately. Processing times are long.
In Ireland: March 28 – May 10, 2025
THIS PROGRAM IS FULL
May 19 – June 20, 2025
Courses • Cost • Initial Application
June 23 – July 24, 2025
Courses • Cost • Initial Application
We could not have asked for better leaders. They poured knowledge into us! I am grateful for this eye-opening, mind-altering, unforgettable experience. I look forward to returning to Ireland again soon! — Susan Wright (Business Major • 2024 Participant)
The Best-Value Study Abroad Program in the University System of Georgia
Maps: Ireland is about half the size of Georgia. County Wexford occupies Ireland’s southeast corner. Wexford Town, the county seat, is 100 miles south of Dublin. Apart from Wexford Town (SE), the county’s principal urban centers are Gorey (NE), Enniscorthy (center), and New Ross (SW).
You Cannot Travel without a Passport
Obtain or Renew
Absolute Requirement
No exceptions: You need a valid passport to fly to and enter Ireland. The same applies to flying back to and reentering the United States. If you do not have — or you need to renew — a passport, apply immediately. The processing time can be lengthy. If you are a US citizen, be sure to use an official Department of State website (links below), not some third-part website. Currently, US citizens do not require a visa to visit and/or study in Ireland, so long as the trip lasts fewer than 90 days.
Six-Month Rule
The Six-Month Rule (if you already have a passport): Your passport’s expiration date should be at least six months after your scheduled return date. Use this webpage to identify the return date of your study-in-Ireland trip, then add six months. For example: Gus Marvin Eagle’s passport expires on November 1, 2025. Gus is returning Stateside (from Ireland) on July 25, 2025. Adding six months, Gus identifies December 25, 2025, as the truly critical date. Per the six-month rule, Gus needs to renew his passport now.
Non-US Citizens
Holders of foreign passports: If you are not a US citizen, it is almost certain that you can still travel to Ireland with us. As soon as possible, we should start a conversation. Email irish@georgiasouthern.edu, using the subject line, “Wexford Campus: Non-US Passport Inquiry.”
Honors College Global Scholars • Spring 2025
MAXIMUM OF 24 SLOTS
THIS PROGRAM IS FULL
Overview
For Freshman Honors students, selected on the basis of a web-based application and an interview, this 24-person program offers a trio of linked, three-credit-hour courses: one each in geography, history, and English. It also provides Honors CORE 2000, a one-credit-hour course. The courses share two thematic tracks: (1) sustainability in agriculture; and (2) types of nationalism. Before Spring Break, the courses meet in-person on the Statesboro campus. After the break, they continue in-person on the Wexford campus. In both venues, the courses privilege interactive experiential learning.
Work on the sustainability theme includes becoming familiar with the United Nations’ 17 sustainable-development goals (e.g., No Poverty; Clean Water & Sanitation). Helping strengthen their résumés, students conduct — and then analyze and report on — an academic survey of Irish farmers’ attitudinal and mental wellbeing in response to pressures to meet mandatory European Union sustainability targets, navigate low-margin markets for agricultural products, and adjust to climate change. (Many farmers say, “It’s hard to be green when you’re in the red.”) The survey is conducted in partnership with South East Technological University Ireland (SETU) and the Irish Farmers Association. In addition to their survey efforts, students actively participate in the annual, two-day Sustainability Festival on SETU’s Waterford Campus, a visit that includes downtime to socialize with some Irish peers.
The nationalism theme explores constitutional, cultural, land, and physical-force nationalism in Ireland, but with reference, too, to other nations and regions, such as Bengal. A central focus is the United Irish Rebellion of 1798, inspired by the American and French revolutions. Becoming the rebellion’s ground zero, County Wexford lost at least a fifth of its population during the bloody conflict. The aftermath of ’98 (as the rebellion came to be called) included the creation of the United Kingdom; the first-in-the world mapping of an entire country; the first-in-the-world establishment of a national education system; the first-in-the-world development of a mass non-violent political movement; and several additional uprisings.
Dates & Flights
First Day of Semester (Statesboro Campus): Monday, January 13, 2025
Spring Break (No Classes): Mo-Mar-17 through Fr-Mar-21
No In-Person Instruction: Mo-Mar-24 through Th-Mar-27
Fly to Ireland: Friday, March 28, 2025
Trip to Galway (West Coast): Sa-Mar-29; Su-Mar-30; Mo-Mar-31 (Three Overnights)
Stay in Wexford (East Coast): Tu-Apr-01 through Sa-May-10 (Check Out that Morning)
Last Day of Final Exam Period: Fr-May-09
Fly Back to the US: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Faculty Outbound Flights (Fr-Mar-28): #1 • Domestic Connector • Delta DL-3112 • Depart SAV at 6:30 PM Local • Arrive ATL at 7:48 PM Local >> 2 hrs., 32 mins. Layover >> Flight #2 • Transatlantic Overnight • Delta DL-176 • Depart ATL at 10:20 PM Local • Arrive DUB at 9:45 AM Local (Next Day)
Faculty Return Flights (Sa-May-10-2025): Flight #1 • Transatlantic Daytime • Delta DL-177 • Depart DUB at 11:00 AM Local • Arrive ATL at 2:50 PM Local >> 4 hrs., 53 mins. Layover >> Flight #2 • Domestic Connector • Delta DL-2425 • Depart ATL at 7:43 PM Local • Arrive SAV at 8:52 PM Local
Covered Expenses
The Spring Honors Program Covers the Following Major Expenses
>> All accommodations in Ireland (Galway and Wexford), including a weekly change of bedlinen and towels for stays longer than four overnights.
>> All program-mandated travel within Ireland, such as group airport pick-ups and drop-offs and private-coach transportation for EFEXes (Educational Field Experiences).
>> All entrance, guide, and participation fees for sites visited and activities undertaken as part of the program’s official schedule.
>> A group welcome meal early in the program and a group farewell meal late in the program.
>> The health-insurance packet required by the University System of Georgia.
Some Medical Information
In Ireland in general, medical treatment through a hospital emergency department costs no more than €100 per visit, even if that visit results in hospitalization for one or more nights. In the above circumstances, the program pays the €100. In most cases, a program graduate assistant or faculty member accompanies the student to the emergency department, although the student is legally obliged to check themselves in at reception (assuming they are able to do so).
Courses & Professors
For Credit, Choose Some or All of the Four Courses on Offer
Important Note: As the program uses an integrated teaching method, you must attend the instructional, field, and activity sessions — and produce the assignments — associated with all four courses, even if you choose not to take one or more of them for credit.
¶ HONS 1131 • Honors Inquiry in Social Sciences \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Amy Potter
amypotter@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ HONS 1132 • Honors Inquiry in Humanities \ 3 Credit Hours
¶ CORE 2000 • Core Capstone: Making Connections (Mandatory in the Core) \ 1 Credit Hour
Dr. Christopher (“Chris”) Caplinger
caplinca@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ ENGL 1102 • Honors Composition II \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Howard Keeley
hkeeley@georgiasouthern.edu
Program Director: Dr. Amy Potter • Faculty Fellow, Honors College Global Scholars • Professor, Geography
¶ General Inquiries: amypotter@georgiasouthern.edu
PLUS INITIAL APPLICATION FORM
Wexmester One • Summer 2025
MAXIMUM OF 44 SLOTS
Overview
Earn six credit hours by choosing any two courses from our menu of nine three-credit-hour courses. Add an addition credit hour by also choosing CORE 2000.
As the “Dates” section (immediately below) indicates, Wexmester One of Summer 2025 begins on Monday, May 19. Monday through Wednesday of that week are online, with Thursday free in preparation to fly to Ireland on Friday, May 23. The overnight transatlantic flight lands in Dublin on the morning of Saturday, May 24.
We spend our first three overseas nights in Galway City at the University of Galway on Ireland’s west coast. That stay allows us to acclimatize to the country, do team-building, and explore portions of the breathtaking Wild Atlantic Way.
Next, on Tuesday, May 27, we transfer to Ireland’s south coast for two nights in Waterford City, based at South East Technological University, Georgia Southern’s European research partner. Famous for Waterford Crystal, Waterford presents opportunities to learn about the influence upon Ireland of Vikings, the Catholic Church, and advanced STEM research.
From Thursday, May 29, through the end of Wexmester One, our home is Wexford Town, location of Georgia Southern’s European Campus. The classroom sessions, EFEXes (Educational Field Experiences), support network, and lifestyle available there enrich you as a scholar and a person. The program also provides EFEXes beyond Wexford Town to such compelling destinations as the Dunbrody Emigration Center in New Ross, County Wexford. The Center features a full-scale reproduction of the mid-nineteenth century barque (or three-mast sailing vessel) Dunbrody, which carried both goods and emigrants. Research by Georgia Southern students revealed that the original Dunbrody‘s maiden commercial voyage was non-stop from New Ross to Savannah.
Optional Additional Trips
Continental Europe
The program will offer one OPTIONAL, faculty-led weekend trip OUTSIDE Ireland, probably to Brussels, the capital city of Belgium. Ten student slots will be available, and details will be forthcoming. The trip will be packaged, with the cost covering airfare, ground transportation, accommodation, and trip-specific entrance fees (but not meals and incidentals). A participating student must pay the package cost in advance. Acceptance into the trip will be on a first-come, first-served basis for individuals who have paid the package cost in full by the deadline.
Dublin
During one weekend (not the Brussels weekend), the program will offer one OPTIONAL, faculty-led trip to Dublin, Ireland’s cosmopolitan capital city. For students who wish to enjoy the experience as a day trip, at least one faculty member will accompany them from Wexford Town to Dublin and back again. For students who wish to overnight, at least one faculty member will be available in Dublin throughout the weekend.
Dates
First Day of Class (Online): Monday, May 19, 2025
Fly to Ireland: Friday, May 23, 2025
Trip to Galway (West Coast): Sa-May-24; Su-May-25; Mo-May-26 (Three Overnights)
Stay in Waterford (South Coast): Tu-May-27; We-May-28 (Two Overnights)
Stay in Wexford (East Coast): Th-May-29 through Fr-Jun-20 (Check Out that Morning)
Fly Back to the US: Friday, June 20, 2025
Cost
The Program Cost for Wexmester One of Summer 2025 is $5,200 (before any reduction due to scholarships and/or gifts)
Gifts & Scholarships
We anticipate being able to offer each accepted student a Program Cost reduction; however, the gift to enable that outcome has not yet been confirmed. Assuming that it is, we will post the information to this webpge. If you have questions about Study Abroad scholarships, contact Ms. Tina Parker, Administrative Specialist, Office of Global Engagement: tparker@georgiasouthern.edu.
Fundamentals
>> The Program Cost may be paid in installments per a straightforward schedule.
>> The initial payment is a non-refundable $500 deposit.
>> The program fills on a first-come, first served basis.
>> Any GS student may apply, regardless of year (e.g., freshman, senior, graduate).
>> A minimum GPA of 2.5 is preferred.
>> The Program Cost does not cover Georgia Southern tuition and fees; however, HOPE, PELL, and many other forms of financial assistance may be applied to courses delivered through the Wexford Campus.
>> Fewer university fees apply to the Wexford Campus than GS’s Georgia campuses.
The Program Cost for Summer Wexmester One (2025) Covers the Following Major Expenses
>> Transatlantic airfare, Savannah (SAV) to Dublin (DUB) outbound and DUB to SAV return (with one free checked suitcase in both directions). Note: Many study abroad programs do not include airfare in their quoted cost.
>> All accommodations in Ireland (Galway, Waterford, and Wexford), including a weekly change of bedlinen and towels for stays longer than four overnights.
>> All program-mandated travel within Ireland, such as group airport pick-ups and drop-offs and private-coach transportation for EFEXes (Educational Field Experiences).
>> All entrance, guide, and participation fees for sites visited and activities undertaken as part of the program’s official schedule.
>> A group welcome meal early in the program and a group farewell meal late in the program.
>> The health-insurance packet required by the University System of Georgia.
Some Medical Information
In Ireland in general, medical treatment through a hospital emergency department costs no more than €100 per visit, even if that visit results in hospitalization for one or more nights. In the above circumstances, the program pays the €100. In most cases, a program graduate assistant or faculty member accompanies the student to the emergency department, although the student is legally obliged to check themselves in at reception (assuming they are able to do so).
Courses & Professors
Choose Two 3-Credit Hour Courses
or Two 3-Credit Hour Courses & CORE 2000
¶ PHIL 2030 • Introduction to Ethics (Choice in Core C) \ 3 Credit Hours
¶ PHIL 3030 or PUBH 5000 (choose the designation that best suits you) • Philosophy of Punishment & Prison Abolition \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Paul Tubig
ptubig@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ WGSS 2100 • Introduction to Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies (Choice in Core E) \ 3 Credit Hours
¶ WGSS 3090 • Gender & Sex in the Irish City (Wexford & Dublin) \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Lisa Costello
lacostello@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ GEOG 1130 or SABR 2960 • World Regional Geography (Choice in Core B) or Study Abroad (Choice in Core B) (same course; different codes) \ 3 Credit Hours
¶ GEOG 4430 • Geography of Europe \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Robert (“Rob”) Yarbrough
ryarbrough@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ PUBH 5000 (Undergraduate) • Substance Abuse and Addiction \ 3 Credit Hours
¶ PUBH 4798 (Undergraduate) or PUBH 7790 (Master’s) • Public Health Undergraduate Internship in Ireland or Public Health Master’s Practicum in Ireland \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Jeffery (“Jeff”) Jones
jajones@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ PHIL 3030 • Philosophy of Music \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Daniel (“Dan”) Larkin
dlarkin@georgiasouthern.edu
Note: Some of this course is delivered asynchronously online. However, Dr. Larkin provides a number of mandatory in-person sessions during our time in Ireland. Some of those sessions may be in the evening, but advanced notice will be provided.
¶ CORE 2000 • Core Capstone: Making Connections (Mandatory in the Core) \ 1 Credit Hour
Dr. Howard Keeley
hkeeley@georgiasouthern.edu
Note: Much of this course is delivered asynchronously online.
¶ Program Director: Dr. Dan Larkin • Provost’s Faculty Fellow, Wexford Campus • Associate Professor, Philosophy
¶ Program Assistant Director: Dr. Howard Keeley • Director, Center for Irish Research & Teaching
¶ Field Expert: Dr. Jonathan Culleton, Associate Professor of Sociology, South East Technological University Ireland
¶ Graduate Assistant: Name to Be Announced
¶ General Inquiries: dlarkin@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ Ready to Apply? Click the button immediately below to submit the Initial Application form. It gathers essential data to ensure a smooth, safe Ireland experience for you. An automatic email reply will confirm that we have received your application. Soon after, you will receive a personalized email from Dr. Dan Larkin, the program director, welcoming you and explaining your next steps, in particular how to use the Global Portal.
Complete & Submit the Initial Application Form
Global Portal
One later step requires you to engage with the Global Portal, an interface overseen by the university’s Office of Global Engagement (OGE). Beyond the instructions contained in Dr. Larkin’s email, you can obtain help when using the portal by contacting OEG: globalengagement@georgiasouthern.edu (24/7); or 912-478-0332 (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday). A reminder: You do not register yourself for study-in-Ireland courses because OEG takes care of the registration process.
You will need to do the following in the Global Portal:
- Select your courses. You need at least two courses for a total of six credit hours, but you can choose a third course that yields either one credit hour or two credit hours.
- Sign an acceptance declaration and waiver of liability, required by the University System of Georgia.
- Sign a COVID-19 acknowledgment form. While students do not need to have a COVID-19 vaccine to travel to Ireland or participate in the program, this form releases Georgia Southern and the University System of Georgia from liability if you get COVID-19.
- Read a short article, “Important Information about Your Passport,” and then acknowledge that you need a valid passport to travel to Ireland. Acquiring or renewing a passport usually takes between 6-8 weeks.
- Pay a $500 deposit, using either a credit card or the ACH system (electronic funds transfer from a bank account).
Payment Schedule
Pay as Early as Possible to Secure your Spot
Payment #1 • Non-Refundable Deposit = $500 • Receipt Deadline: March 1, 2025
Payment #2 • $1,850 • Receipt Deadline: March 15, 2025
Refunds — Before 11:50 PM (East Coast Time) on March 22: Payment #2 refundable in full • Between 12:00 AM on March 23 and 11:59 PM on March 31: $850 of Payment #2 refundable • After 12:00 AM on April 1: Payment #2 not refundable
Payment #3 • $1,818 + $32 (Insurance) = $1,850 • Receipt Deadline: April 5, 2025
Refunds — Before 11:50 PM (East Coast Time) on April 12: Payment #3 refundable in full • Between 12:00 AM on April 13 and 11:59 PM on April 30: $850 of Payment #3 refundable • After 12:00 AM on May 1: Payment #3 not refundable
Payment #4 • $1,000 • Receipt Deadline: April 25 • Ideally, before this date, we will be able to provide each student with a donor gift of $1,000, making Payment #4 unnecessary. However, students should by no means count on this eventuality.
Before 11:50 PM (East Coast Time) on May 3: Payment #4 refundable in full • After 12:00 AM on May 4: Payment #4 not refundable
PLUS INITIAL APPLICATION FORM
Wexmester Two • Summer 2025
MAXIMUM OF 44 SLOTS
Overview
Earn six credit hours by choosing any two courses from our menu of nine three-credit-hour courses. Add two additional credit hours by also choosing KINS 1525, Wellness: Fitness Walking (a core requirement). Alternatively: Add an additional credit hour by also choosing CORE 2000.
As the “Dates” section (immediately below) indicates, Wexmester Two of Summer 2025 begins on Monday, June 23. Monday through Wednesday of that week are online, with Thursday free in preparation to fly to Ireland on Friday, June 27. The overnight transatlantic flight lands in Dublin on the morning of Saturday, June 28.
We spend our first three overseas nights in Galway City at the University of Galway on Ireland’s west coast. That stay allows us to acclimatize to the country, do team-building, and explore portions of the breathtaking Wild Atlantic Way.
Next, on Tuesday, July 1, we transfer to Ireland’s south coast for two nights in Waterford City, based at South East Technological University, Georgia Southern’s European research partner. Famous for Waterford Crystal, Waterford presents opportunities to learn about the influence upon Ireland of Vikings, the Catholic Church, and advanced STEM research.
From Thursday, July 3, through the end of Wexmester Two, our home is Wexford Town, location of Georgia Southern’s European Campus. The classroom sessions, EFEXes (Educational Field Experiences), support network, and lifestyle available there enrich you as a scholar and a person. The program also provides EFEXes beyond Wexford Town to such compelling destinations as the Dunbrody Emigration Experience Center in New Ross, County Wexford. The Center features a full-scale reproduction of the mid-nineteenth century barque (or three-mast sailing vessel) Dunbrody, which carried both goods and emigrants. Research by Georgia Southern students revealed that the original Dunbrody‘s maiden commercial voyage was non-stop from New Ross to Savannah.
Optional Additional Trips
Continental Europe
The program will offer one OPTIONAL, faculty-led weekend trip OUTSIDE Ireland, probably to Brussels, the capital city of Belgium. Ten student slots will be available, and details will be forthcoming. The trip will be packaged, with the cost covering airfare, ground transportation, accommodation, and trip-specific entrance fees (but not meals and incidentals). A participating student must pay the package cost in advance. Acceptance into the trip will be on a first-come, first-served basis for individuals who have paid the package cost in full by the deadline. For those who do not wish to avail of the Continental European trip, faculty member Dr. Jonathan Roberts will provide an optional Ireland-based leisure activity (such as a hike).
Dublin
During one weekend (not the Brussels weekend), the program will offer one OPTIONAL, faculty-led trip to Dublin, Ireland’s cosmopolitan capital city. For students who wish to enjoy the experience as a day trip, at least one faculty member will accompany them from Wexford Town to Dublin and back again. For students who wish to overnight, at least one faculty member will be available in Dublin throughout the weekend.
Dates
First Day of Class (Online): Monday, June 23, 2025
Fly to Ireland: Friday, June 27, 2025
Trip to Galway (West Coast): Sa-Jun-28; Su-Jun-29; Mo-Jun-30 (Three Overnights)
Stay in Waterford (South Coast): Tu-Jul-01; We-Jul-02 (Two Overnights)
Stay in Wexford (East Coast): Th-Jul-03 through Fr-Jul-25 (Check Out that Morning)
Fly Back to the US: Friday, July 25, 2025
Cost
The Program Cost for Wexmester Two of Summer 2025 is $5,200 (before any reduction due to scholarships and/or gifts).
Gifts & Scholarships
We anticipate being able to offer each accepted student a Program Cost reduction; however, the gift to enable that outcome has not yet been confirmed. Assuming that it is, we will post the information to this webpge. If you have questions about Study Abroad scholarships, contact Ms. Tina Parker, Administrative Specialist, Office of Global Engagement: tparker@georgiasouthern.edu.
Fundamentals
>> The Program Cost may be paid in installments per a straightforward schedule.
>> The initial payment is a non-refundable $500 deposit.
>> The program fills on a first-come, first served basis.
>> Any GS student may apply, regardless of year (e.g., freshman, senior, graduate).
>> A minimum GPA of 2.5 is preferred.
>> The Program Cost does not cover Georgia Southern tuition and fees; however, HOPE, PELL, and many other forms of financial assistance may be applied to courses delivered through the Wexford Campus.
>> Fewer university fees apply to the Wexford Campus than GS’s Georgia campuses.
The Program Cost for Summer Wexmester Two (2025) Covers the Following Major Expenses
>> Transatlantic airfare, Savannah (SAV) to Dublin (DUB) outbound and DUB to SAV return (with one free checked suitcase in both directions). Note: Many study abroad programs do not include airfare in their quoted cost.
>> All accommodations in Ireland (Galway, Waterford, and Wexford), including a weekly change of bedlinen and towels for stays longer than four overnights.
>> All program-mandated travel within Ireland, such as group airport pick-ups and drop-offs and private-coach transportation for EFEXes (Educational Field Experiences).
>> All entrance, guide, and participation fees for sites visited and activities undertaken as part of the program’s official schedule.
>> A group welcome meal early in the program and a group farewell meal late in the program.
>> The health-insurance packet required by the University System of Georgia.
Some Medical Information
In Ireland in general, medical treatment through a hospital emergency department costs no more than €100 per visit, even if that visit results in hospitalization for one or more nights. In the above circumstances, the program pays the €100. In most cases, a program graduate assistant or faculty member accompanies the student to the emergency department, although the student is legally obliged to check themselves in at reception (assuming they are able to do so).
Courses & Professors
Choose Two 3-Credit Hour Courses
or Two 3-Credit Hour Courses & CORE 2000
or Two 3-Credit Hour Courses & KINS 1525
¶ PSYC 4099 • Immersion in Ireland: Castles, Cultures & Cuisines \ 3 Credit Hours
¶ PSYC 4432 • Sensation & Perception \ 3 Credit Hours
¶ PSYC 3102 • Cognitive Psychology \ 3 Credit Hours
Note: While PSYC 4099 is a regular Wexmester Two course (June 23 through July 25), PSYC 4432 and 3102 are Summer Long Term courses. PSYC 4432 and 3102 are delivered asynchronously online except for our weeks in Ireland. Summer Long Term begins on May 19 and ends on July 21. To find out more, contact Dr. Roberts.
Dr. Jonathan Roberts
jeroberts@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ INTS 2130 • Introduction to International Studies (Choice in Core B) \ 3 Credit Hours
¶ POLS 4031 • Human Rights: Sports, Sustainable Development Goals & Ireland \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Christopher (“Chris”) Brown
cmbrown@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ KINS 1525 • Wellness: Fitness Walking (Core Requirement) \ 2 Credit Hours (Take in Addition to Two 3-Credit-Hour Courses)
¶ KINS 2535 • Introduction to Exercise Science \ 3 Credit Hours
¶ HSCF 3710 • Worksite Wellness \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Bridget Melton
bmelton@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ MGNT 4432 or SABR 2960 • Advanced Hospitality Management or Study Abroad (Choice in Core B) (same course, different codes) \ 3 Credit Hours
¶ BUSA 4130 • Strategic Management \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Charles Marvil III
cmarvil@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ PHIL 2030 • Introduction to Ethics (Choice in Core C) \ 3 Credit Hours
Dr. Daniel (“Dan”) Larkin
dlarkin@georgiasouthern.edu
Note: Most of this course is delivered asynchronously online. However, Dr. Larkin provides a number of mandatory in-person sessions during our time in Ireland. Some of those sessions may be in the evening, but advanced notice will be provided.
¶ CORE 2000 • Core Capstone: Making Connections (Mandatory in the Core) \ 1 Credit Hour
Dr. Howard Keeley
hkeeley@georgiasouthern.edu
Note: Much of this course is delivered asynchronously online.
¶ Program Director: Dr. Dan Larkin • Provost’s Faculty Fellow, Wexford Campus • Associate Professor, Philosophy
¶ Program Assistant Director: Dr. Howard Keeley • Director, Center for Irish Research & Teaching
¶ Field Expert: Dr. Jonathan Culleton, Associate Professor of Sociology, South East Technological University Ireland
¶ Graduate Assistant: Name to Be Announced
¶ General Inquiries: dlarkin@georgiasouthern.edu
¶ Ready to Apply? Click the button immediately below to submit the Initial Application form. It gathers essential data to ensure a smooth, safe Ireland experience for you. An automatic email reply will confirm that we have received your application. Soon after, you will receive a personalized email from Dr. Dan Larkin, the program director, welcoming you and explaining your next steps, in particular how to use the Global Portal.
Complete & Submit the Initial Application Form
Global Portal
One later step requires you to engage with the Global Portal, an interface overseen by the university’s Office of Global Engagement (OGE). Beyond the instructions contained in Dr. Larkin’s email, you can obtain help when using the portal by contacting OEG: globalengagement@georgiasouthern.edu (24/7); or 912-478-0332 (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday). A reminder: You do not register yourself for study-in-Ireland courses because OEG takes care of the registration process.
You will need to do the following in the Global Portal:
- Select your courses. You need at least two courses for a total of six credit hours, but you can choose a third course that yields either one credit hour or two credit hours.
- Sign an acceptance declaration and waiver of liability, required by the University System of Georgia.
- Sign a COVID-19 acknowledgment form. While students do not need to have a COVID-19 vaccine to travel to Ireland or participate in the program, this form releases Georgia Southern and the University System of Georgia from liability if you get COVID-19.
- Read a short article, “Important Information about Your Passport,” and then acknowledge that you need a valid passport to travel to Ireland. Acquiring or renewing a passport usually takes between 6-8 weeks.
- Pay a $500 deposit, using either a credit card or the ACH system (electronic funds transfer from a bank account).
Payment Schedule
Pay as Early as Possible to Secure your Spot
Payment #1 • Non-Refundable Deposit = $500 • Receipt Deadline: April 1, 2025
Payment #2 • $1,850 • Receipt Deadline: April 15, 2025
Refunds — Before 11:50 PM (East Coast Time) on April 22: Payment #2 refundable in full • Between 12:00 AM on April 23 and 11:59 PM on April 31: $850 of Payment #2 refundable • After 12:00 AM on May 1: Payment #2 not refundable
Payment #3 • $1,818 + $32 (Insurance) = $1,850 • Receipt Deadline: May 5, 2025
Refunds — Before 11:50 PM (East Coast Time) on May 12: Payment #3 refundable in full • Between 12:00 AM on May 13 and 11:59 PM on May 30: $850 of Payment #3 refundable • After 12:00 AM on May 31: Payment #3 not refundable
Payment #4 • $1,000 • Receipt Deadline: May 25 • Ideally, before this date, we will be able to provide each student with a donor gift of $1,000, making Payment #4 unnecessary. However, students should by no means count on this eventuality.
Refunds — Before 11:50 PM (East Coast Time) on June 3: Payment #4 refundable in full • After 12:00 AM on June 4: Payment #4 not refundable
About Wexford: Georgia Southern in Europe
Viking & Norman Town
Wexford is a town in the “Sunny Southeast” of Ireland, 100 miles down the east coast from Dublin. Around the year 800, Norwegian Vikings established Wexford Town, where the Slaney River (“river of health”) flows into the Irish Sea. Imagine: you will walk on narrow, ninth-century Viking streets — and along the town’s early-thirteenth-century Norman wall — on your way to classes at Georgia Southern’s Learning Center, part of our university’s emerging European Campus in Wexford Town.
Strawberries, Anyone?
Wexford Town gives its name to County Wexford, often known by its nickname, “The Model County,” due to the excellence of its farms, which produce the best barley for distilling Irish whiskey and a certain beverage called Guinness! And folks say that you haven’t really tasted a strawberry until you’ve popped a Wexford one in your mouth! In Ireland, meats, dairy, and produce come from family farms that do not use hormones or similar interventions to accelerate growth and/or yield. Thus, food is healthier than in the United States. Prices are comparable or even cheaper.
Friendly & Safe
Nowadays, safety is a high priority. Friendly, relaxed Ireland is the third safest county on earth. In fact, members of Ireland’s national police force do not have to carry guns. Some have characterized Wexford Town as the perfect Goldilocks town: not overwhelmingly big but cosmopolitan enough to offer a rich café, pub, and restaurant scene, as well as plenty of theater, concerts, and seisiúin (live traditional music sessions in pubs). We get to tour a signature building on Wexford Town’s skyline: the Irish National Opera House, the site (each October and November) of the Wexford Festival Opera, one of Europe’s premier opera festivals.
EXEXes • Travel • Buddy System
While studying, you travel lots! Regards of your courses, the program emphasizes EFEXes: Educational Field Experiences. By private, WiFi-equipped coach, we take you to sites in and beyond County Wexford that are either “must see” for visitors to the region or are directly relevant to your area/s of study. Bonus: These activities expose you to some of Europe’s most Instagrammable locations! EFEXes are mandatory, for they are integral to the program and its courses. We attempt to keep weekends free; and to allow you to pre-plan independent weekend travel, we distribute a detailed class-and-activities calendar well in advance of departure. Please be aware that University System of Georgia regulations demand that “independent travel” — and all other activities — be undertaken under the “buddy system,” meaning that no fewer than two (and preferably three or more) students travel, walk, or go out together.
Connect to Dublin, Ireland’s Capital
The Spring Honors program features EFEXes (Educational Field Experiences) in Dublin, and each of the Summer Wexmester programs offer an option to participate in a group trip to Dublin. However, in addition, you and a buddy or buddies can easily — and at low cost — travel independently to Dublin via Wexford Bus or Expressway Bus (services every 30 minutes) or via Irish Rail. Many consider the views from the Wexford Town-to-Dublin train some of the loveliest among world rail journeys.
Your Instagram Feed
After the Vikings, Ireland was invaded by the Normans. Yes: those medieval knights in shining armor! Sailing to Ireland from Wales, the Normans first landed in Ireland in County Wexford, which has an east and a south coast. No part of Ireland boasts a deeper Norman heritage, some of it due to William Marshal, “the greatest knight who ever lived.” In 1200, he built Tintern of the Vow Abbey, which we visit. And a highlight: you climb to the top of Marshal’s Hook Lighthouse: the oldest intact continuously operating lighthouse in the world. That’s a wow!
Ideal Landing Spot
With summer temperatures averaging in the high 60s to low 70s, County Wexford is hard to beat for a full lived experience. Students quickly feel at home as they familiarize themselves with its vibrant culture, exciting sports, and gorgeous landscapes. Did we mention the beaches? One of Europe’s finest sandy strands, the seven-mile-long, blue-flag (i.e., ultra-clean) Curracloe Beach — ideal for swimming and sea kayaking — is just minutes away from our campus in Wexford Town! Heading to the north of the county, the Blackstairs Mountains remind us why Ireland is called the Emerald Isle.
Ireland & US • Wexford & Savannah
Love for America
County Wexford loves the USA! During the American War of Independence, George Washington appointed Wexford native John Barry to the post of Commodore, meaning that he is known as “Father the United States Navy.” A statue of Barry in Wexford Town complements memorials to him in Philadelphia, PA; Annapolis, MA; and Washington, DC. America’s independence struggle inspired the United Irish Rebellion of 1798, whose most intense fighting occurred in County Wexford.
An Ongoing Relationship
In 1845, Frederick Douglass declared, “I am your brother,” as he delivered two anti-slavery speeches to full-house audiences in Wexford Town. In 1963, US President John F. Kennedy said, “I am proud to be here,” as he made an official visit to the Model County, his ancestral home. Today, Atlanta-based Coca Cola maintains a highly secret flavorings and formulas research center in Wexford Town. Nearby, Massachusetts-based Waters Technology develops and manufactures early-disease-detection screening devices that have saved the lives of tens of thousands of newborn infants worldwide.
Why Such a Warm Welcome?
Ireland is proud of its reputation as the “land of a hundred thousand welcomes.” One of our 2023 participants, Ben Dasher, reflected, “The Irish are the friendliest bunch of people ever!” Going over and above, however, County Wexford holds a special place in its heart for Georgia Southern students. Councilor George Lawlor, the Mayor of Wexford Town, has put the situation this way: “Welcoming the students and faculty from Georgia Southern is a case of welcoming our cousins back home.” The simple reason for the affection is that between 1848 and 1853, when Savannah’s Irish-born population doubled, 56.1% of direct arrivals originated in County Wexford. Family names common in Savannah — Corish, Kehoe, Rossiter, Stafford, and more — are seen in Ireland as Wexford names.
Wexford & Savannah: A Unique History
Almost 180 years ago, a direct trade route emerged between County Wexford, Ireland, and Savannah, Georgia. Sailing vessels from Wexford Town in the county’s east and New Ross in its west made the 40-day non-stop trip across the North Atlantic Ocean, seeking oak and pine that had been harvested along the Ogeechee River and brought to Savannah’s wharfs. Soon after, hundreds of Wexfordians took advantage of the route and emigrated to Savannah, the Hostess City. Savannah is certainly the “most Wexford” city in the United States.
From the Past into the Future
The historical connection — plus Ireland’s highly advanced modern economy — made Wexford the smart choice when Georgia Southern decided to become the first American public university to establish a bricks-and-mortar presence in Ireland. (Such major American private universities as Notre Dame and Boston College have long had campuses in Ireland.) Parallel to the education track (which embraces teaching, research, and internships), the Savannah Economic Development Authority co-directs an initiative called TradeBridge, which fosters trade and investment between Savannah-Coastal Georgia and Wexford-Southeast Ireland. On March 16, 2022, the City of Savannah and the County of Wexford signed a Partner Communities agreement. On August 8, 2024, the $5 million super-pub, Wexford: Savannah’s Irish Pub, opened in Savannah’s City Market. And on August 30, 2024, Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister) cut the ribbon on the $832,600 upgrade to the permanent exhibition, Savannah Landing, at the Dunbrody Emigration Center in New Ross, County Wexford.
Where You Study: The GS Learning Center
Learning Center: Heritage Building
The first cohort of Georgia Southern students studied on the Wexford Campus in 2022, enjoying its well-equipped, boldly decorated classrooms, which occupy a structure known as the Learning Center. Since then, we have added a variety of modern furniture, some of it café-style, to allow different rooms to serve different educational purposes, such as group-project work, brainstorming, and conventional lecturing. Technology in some classrooms permits real-time connectivity to classrooms on the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses. Constructed in 1812 (but with fast WiFi), the Learning Center is the oldest building in our university’s real-estate portfolio. Beautiful stained-glass pieces and other antique elements render the place a special learning environment. Student April Trepagnier remarked, “The campus complex took my breath away: just beautiful!”
Gatehouse
An ideal venue for photos commemorating your time in Ireland, a castle-style gatehouse constitutes the entrance to the Learning Center. A stylized rendition of the gatehouse serves as the official symbol of Georgia Southern’s Wexford Campus. (Our medium-term plan is to refurbish the structure as a Research Center, and we are actively seeking donors to help fund that project.) The gatehouse leads to the main building, which locals often call Old County Hall, for it was once Wexford County Council’s headquarters. Later, its principal room became a courtroom, which now serves as the “Courtroom Classroom,” a superior location for lectures, performances, and other gatherings.
Community Engagement
During breaks, when Georgia Southern is not using the Learning Center, we sometimes make it available to friends, Community Engagement being one of our university’s five strategic pillars. For example: When, between August 4 and 11, 2024, Wexford Town hosted Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, a traditional music festival and competition (and Europe’s largest music festival), the Learning Center served as a strategic command center, playing a vital role in overseeing logistics as 650,000 attendees made Wexford Town their home for a week. When Georgia Southern is present, multiple professionals accept our invitation to present to our students at the Learning Center. A partial summary includes the Chairperson of the County Wexford Gaelic Athletic Association (speaking on initiatives to include autistic people in sports); a senior Vice President of Microsoft (speaking on Ireland’s attractiveness to global tech companies); and the Director of Healthy Wexford (speaking how her unit responds to data when designing health solutions for specific communities). The list goes on.
Kafé Konnect
Within the grounds of the Learning Center, Kafé Konnect has indoor and covered outdoor seating areas. Open between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, it serves the biggest, best-value Irish breakfast in Wexford Town, as well as barista coffees. Overall, its breakfast, lunch, and snack choices are excellence, made form locally produced meats, vegetables, and fruits. The menu includes soups, toasties, paninis, savory pastries, scones, and cakes. All idea for a break between classes!
Next Up: Residential Center
When in Wexford, you receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the next ambitious, student-centered project to which Georgia Southern has committed as it develops its European Campus. To complement the Learning Center, the university is sensitively remodeling a remarkable edifice, a former convent, into a 50-bedroom Residential Center. A woman, Mary (“the Builder”) O’Connor, oversaw the convent’s construction in 1886. The university’s president, Dr. Kyle Marrero, commented, “The building is like Hogwarts. It has a Harry Potter feel!” Many Georgia Southern students — including building construction and interior design majors — are gaining valuable professional skills by contributing to this exciting endeavor. The goal is an April 2026 opening.
Take a Video Tour of the Learning Center & the Future Residential Center
Where You Live: Talbot Suites
Our Living Quarters
For Summer 2025 in Ireland, the Wexmester One and Wexmester Two programs open with three overnights in student accommodation at the University of Galway in Galway City (west coast), followed by two overnights in student accommodation at South East Technological University in Waterford City (south coast). During the remainder of each program, students and faculty members reside at Talbot Suites at Stonebridge, a modern complex of fully equipped, self-catering apartments situated on Paul Quay (“key’) by the harbor in Wexford Town. Talbot Suites is also the principal accommodation center for the Spring 2025 Honors College Global Scholars program.
Talbot Suites, Wexford Town: Security; Quality
Talbot Suites is a beautiful, secure property that uses keycards to regulate access. Front-door access is available only to residents, and individual-apartment access is available only to that apartment’s occupants. Each extended-stay apartment (“suite”) is finished to the highest standards and includes-floor-to ceiling windows, TVs in all living areas and bedrooms, and complimentary WiFi.
Kitchen
The kitchen in each apartment contains: an electric oven (hit the large red wall switch to begin); an electric or gas hob; a microwave; a refrigerator; a freezer; a dishwasher; an electric tea kettle; a pod coffeemaker; and plenty of cutlery and crockery, pots and pans, casserole dishes, and cooking utensils. Two good-value supermarkets — Adli and a huge Tesco — are a few minutes’ walk away, so to save money, we encourage you to self-cater most of your meals rather than eat out. Garbage collection is available daily: Using tied garbage bags, just leave your general trash and recyclables outside your apartment’s front door any time between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Laundry Equipment; Cleaning Supplies; Electrical Items
Another budget-friendly aspect of Talbot Suites is that each apartment comes with a clothes washer and dryer, plus a drying rack, an iron, and an ironing board. Thus, you can avoid time- and money-consuming trips to the laundromat! Also supplied as standard: a vacuum cleaner; a mop and bucket; a long-handled brush; a dustpan-brush set; and a hair dryer. As Irish electrical circuits carry 240 volts (versus 120 volts in the US), do not bring small US electrical appliances, such as hairdryers and curling irons. They could easily go on fire. Tesco sells inexpensive but adequate models. A laptop computer is a “must-bring” item, and all types are capable of handing 240 volts. (Well in advance of leaving for Ireland, contact the program director if you do not own or do not have the use of a laptop.) To connect American plugs into Irish sockets, purchase at least two US-to-Ireland (or US-to-UK) travel-plug adapters, known as Type G adapters.
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
>> Most apartments consist of two bedrooms, with each bedroom containing two beds and having its own full bathroom. Typically, two students share a bedroom and bathroom.
>> Please be aware that a few two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments feature a one-bed bedroom and a two-bed bedroom. For one-bed bedrooms, we must give preference to students with demonstrable special needs that have been communicated to the program director well in advance of leaving for Ireland. Otherwise, roommates with a total of three beds in their apartment decide among themselves the allocation of beds.
>> In general, we are able to honor roommate requests.
>> So long as a bed is completely free of any personal possessions (clothing, bags, etc.), the Talbot Suites housekeepers change the bedsheets weekly. At the same time, they place a full set of fresh towels in each bathroom. If an apartment needs extra towels, communicate that fact directly to the program director. Note: Europeans tend not to use 8.5″ X 8.5″ facecloths, so you may want to pack some in your luggage.
Working Out
During your time at Talbot Suites, your program package gives you full, no-cost access to Talbot Fitness, the gym in the next-door Talbot Hotel. It features life-fitness equipment, cardio machines, a cable machine, a Smyth machine, a squat rack, free weights, machine weights, and more. In addition, you can avail of a 15-meter swimming pool (swim hats required). Gym hours: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Monday through Friday (last entry 8:25 PM) • 7:30 AM through 6:45 PM, Saturday (last entry 6:15 PM) • 9:00 AM through 6:45 PM, Sunday (last entry 6:15 PM).
Talbot Suite Personnel
In Ireland, respect for and politeness towards all workers is a guiding social value. As our Georgia Southern culture espouses the same ethos, we anticipate a cordial relationship between our students and faculty members on the one hand and the Talbot Suites reception, housekeeping, and maintenance teams on the other. For our program, keeping rooms in a clean, tidy condition at all times is a top priority. We reserve the right to charge roommates a fee if extra cleaning and tidying is required in a given apartment. Should anything not function or function in a subpar manner, communicate the details to the program director, who will engage the maintenance crew.
Basic House Procedures
>> With the exception of a visiting parent (or another individual pre-approved by the program director), under no circumstances may a student bring an outside guest into their apartment or the greater Talbot Suites complex. Violation of the “no guests” policy may result in the offending individual’s being sent home at their own expense. The safety of all students is the program’s paramount focus.
>> Should you lose your keycard, report the loss to the Talbot Suites reception desk (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, 7 days/week). After hours: Report the loss to the reception desk at the next-door Talbot Hotel (24/7). A new keycard can be coded for you.
The Neighborhood: Waterfront
The Talbot Suites complex sits on Paul Quay, a quay (“key”) or waterfront street, alongside Wexford Harbor. By crossing that street, you access a fully pedestrianized, 0.4-mile-long esplanade that is popular with walkers and joggers. Watch oyster-fishing boats come and go as you exercise. To treat yourself, visit one of the food pop-ups on the esplanade. Adored by Georgia Southern students, Scúp Gelato sells Wexford-made ice cream, winner of the 2022 Golden Fork award as the best ice cream in Britain and Ireland. Also enthusiastically reviewed: Cheeky Cod, which serves fresh, Wexford-caught fish and hand-cut chips (i.e. French fries). If a morning coffee and pastry is your vibe, Trough on Crescent Quay (next to Paul Quay) will be your “go to.” Nearby, The Bank bar and restaurant presents satisfying plates with polished service.
The Neighborhood: Main Street
One block west from Talbot Suites, you walk onto a portion of Wexford Town’s Main Street. Much of the long, relatively narrow street is pedestrianized, and the place buzzes with shoppers enjoying retail stores and boutiques, not to mention friends meeting in Continental-European-style cafés and traditional, unmistakably Irish pubs. Main Street restaurant favorites close to Talbot Suites include: the full Irish breakfasts at Staple Diet; the artisan pizzas at Crust; the curries at Holy Ground Indian; and the fish & chips and rissoles (fried potato cakes) at Premier. Among the fine neighborhood pubs, live music regularly features at The John Barry and The Sky & the Ground. A brief walk uphill to a parallel street delivers you to Ireland’s National Opera House, whose offerings span opera, light opera, musicals, pop music, folk music, theater, ballet, and stand-up comedy.
Getting to the Learning Center
From Talbot Suites to the Learning Center requires only a 10- to 12-minute walk, either along Main Street or the waterfront. A third route, by the Arts Center, the Norman wall, and Selskar Abbey is also pleasant. Allow yourself time to grab a coffee or tea on the way, perhaps at Wexford Coffee Roasters. Within a day or two, you will settle into a healthy rhythm, burning some carbs as you set forth to grow your knowledge!
Individual Apartments May Vary
Future Employability
Plenty of Fun — and That’s a Good Thing!
Study in Ireland is fun! In a safe, structured, and positive environment, you get to make new, like-minded friends; experience a lively, deep-rooted culture; and see gorgeous, diverse landscapes and compelling structures, from ancient to medieval to Georgian to cutting-edge modern. Will Hastings, a 2023 participant, said, “I’d never studied abroad before, but I’m 100% sure nothing beats Georgia Southern Wexford.” On the plane back to the US, you may feel more knowledgeable about Ireland than your home state!
Personal & Professional Outcomes
Many great personal outcomes result from study in Ireland. In addition, however, choosing one of our highly respected offerings constitutes a very smart investment in your future. When hiring, employers increasingly give major credit to candidates who can demonstrate that they studied overseas in a well-designed program. Many hiring managers report that they weigh international study and the transferrable skills that it yields ahead of GPA.
The authoritative QS Employer Insights Report (2022) indicates that when hiring, a massive 80% of companies “actively seek graduates with overseas study experiences.” Furthermore, 25% of companies deem such experiences “a top priority for hiring.” Engaged study in Ireland, through the Wexford Campus, provides true experiential learning, carefully aligned with your area/s of concentration.
Engaged study through the Wexford Campus empowers you with evidence of having developed five key attributes privileged by employers, graduate schools, and professional programs: (1) self-confidence and networking proficiency; (2) international & intercultural competence; (3) problem-solving and relational/teamwork skills; (4) flexibility and adaptability; (5) creative thinking in real-world conditions.
Engaged study through the Wexford Campus builds your employability by providing opportunities to interact with Irish (and other European) systems and perspectives, academics and professionals. Discussing these experiences in your cover letter and then your job interview makes you stand out as a desirable hire. According to the Institute of International Education (2019), half of employees who highlighted study abroad in their interview credit it with securing the job offer.
Economic Success
Ireland boasts one of earth’s most successful small-country economies, so having Ireland-based study on your résumé impresses employers, graduate schools, and professional programs. The “Why Ireland?” proposition rests on four matters: (1) a stable, secure, pro-business economy; (2) a skilled, flexible, productive workforce, with 62.3% of young (under 34-year-old) workers having college degrees; (3) an energy-abundant, growth-forward, resilient infrastructure; (4) work-life balance in an open, diverse, multicultural society.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
For a major-footprint location — sometimes even their EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) headquarters — multiple international companies have chosen Ireland. Ireland hosts 16 of the top 20 information technology companies; the top 3 enterprise software providers; and 14 of the top 15 med-tech companies. The country is earth’s third-largest exporter of pharmaceuticals, products worth over USD $126 billion annually. Examples of big FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) commitments to Ireland include: (1) Alphabet (Google), Intel, and Microsoft in technology; (2) Abbevie, Gilead, and Pfizer in biopharma; (3) Bausch + Lomb, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic in med-tech; (4) Accenture, Concentrix, and Convergys in business services; and (5) Abbot, Honeywell, and United Technologies in engineering. The green economy, financial services, and media are other areas In which Ireland punches strong.
