University College Dublin
At UCD, Holy Cross students join Irish students and other international students in classes across three colleges: Arts & Humanities; Sciences; and Social Sciences. Located in Belfield, a quiet residential area outside of city centre, the campus boasts multiple bus stops which students can use to easily access downtown Dublin within about 30 minutes. UCD is a great fit for extremely independent and adaptable students who want to experience university life just as the Irish do. Students who do well at UCD tend to be self-motivated and enjoy on-campus activities. Plan to get involved in at least one of the many clubs and societies available on campus- UCD is your oyster, the experience will be what you make it! This program is competitive- spaces are limited and will be awarded to the students with the highest GPAs (3.0 minimum).
Fall 2024 PROGRAM DATES
Official Move-In: August 29th-September 1st
International Student Orientation: September 2nd-6th 2024
Last day of exams: December 21st
Official Move-Out: TBA
All study abroad students must plan to stay until the end of the exam period, as they cannot arrange to take exams at a time other than the one assigned for the class. See the Student Contract for the policy.
Getting There
You will purchase a flight to Dublin Airport from your 'home airport'- wherever that may be! Once you land in Dublin, we recommend taking a taxi to your UCD dorm. You can either exit the airport and walk to the taxi stand, or use the Free Now taxi app to order a taxi. Even when you don't use the app, most taxi drivers accept payment via credit card.
Discover Dublin.
With a population of more than one million people, Dublin is vibrant city whose streets were once roamed by the likes of Joyce, Wilde, and Beckett amongst many other historical figures (Think Eamon Devalera, Michael Collins, & James Connolly!). Today, it is a multicultural capital city that immigrants from all over the world call home. Stroll down Grafton Street to hear world-class buskers or check out the night life and explore Dublin’s traditional music scene. Take the D.A.R.T train south to Bray and Greystones or north to Howth for scenic cliff walks along the sparkling Irish sea.
Study Abroad Ambassadors
"I took [study abroad] as an opportunity to develop my resilience and independence. I set up my own phone plan, learned to navigate the public transit systems in several major cities, coordinated day trips and weekend trips, travelled to a new city on my own, and experimented with new ways of thinking academically. I was surprised but proud to learn how independent I can be when I don’t use my parents, brother, and professors as crutches. Based on my own experiences, I truly believe that study abroad is a great chance for young people to take that leap of faith and learn what it means to be independent before they graduate and enter the real world"
-Grace Bromage, class of 2024
