The City: Dublin, Ireland

As the capital and largest city in Ireland, the city of Dublin offers the amenities of a culturally rich city. However, a small population of 1.5 million, gives Dublin the welcoming atmosphere of a small town. The citizens of Dublin are renowned for their friendliness, and they are also young: One in twelve Dubliners is a student. As a result the city is abuzz with activity and visitors will be enthralled by the numerous restaurants, art galleries, museums, theaters, shops and music venues.

Heavener's Dublin Partner: FIE

FIE assists in coordinating the UF in Dublin custom program. With offices in Dublin and London, FIE is a non-profit international education organization that provides customized partnership programs for undergraduates. Since establishing in 1998, FIE has set high standards in delivering academic programs abroad. They are a forward-thinking organization with a mission that expresses their passionate belief in higher education. FIE’s specialized academic programs allow visiting students to maximize the value of their stay, gaining theoretical knowledge, practical skills, life experience and international perspective.

FIE also maintains a relationship with Dublin Business School. FIE Dublin offices are located within the student residence building in The Liberties, a vibrant and hip area on the west edge of central Dublin just south of the River Liffey, near the Guinness Storehouse and within walking distance to Dublin Business School. Classroom facilities are located both within the student residence and at Dublin Business School.

Program Benefits

• Take courses to meet UF degree requirements while experiencing an exciting new culture
• Gain professional experience through an internship placement
• Study & live alongside other UF students
• Participate in cultural activities & excursions
• Ease of applying Bright Futures, Florida Prepaid, & other financial aid to program costs

Program Eligibility

• Students must have a minimum 2.5 UF GPA and be in good standing.
• Students must have completed two full semesters at UF by program start. Students should avoid studying abroad in their final semester.
• By application deadline, students must have a passport that is valid through at least six months after program end date.
• After acceptance into program, students should be prepared to submit relevant documents for internship placement.
• Full vaccination against COVID-19 is strongly recommended by FIE, and boosters are also recommended, a position mirrored by the government/public health authorities in Ireland.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: April 1
• Spring: October 1
• Summer: March 1

Program applications are located on the UF International Center website. Students are not accepted into the program until they submit their application and non-refundable deposit to the UF International Center. Please note that the program operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, though the program rarely reaches full capacity prior to the application deadline.

Program Dates

All dates except arrival, departure, and UF dates are tentative.

Terms of Agreement

Students must withdraw from their study abroad program on or before the following dates to avoid fee liability:

• Fall: July 1
• Spring: November 1
• Summer: April 1

Students become financially obligated for the full cost of their study abroad program after these dates. Only in extreme circumstances (e.g., serious personal injury, family emergency, etc.) will a student be allowed to petition for withdrawal prior to the start of the program. Petitions will be reviewed by the Assistant Dean and Director of the Heavener School of Business.

Academic Structure

Program Costs

Program Fee

• Spring 2023: $17,000
• Summer 2023: $11,450
• Fall 2023: $17,400

Program fee includes all academic expenses (tuition/fees), orientations, co-curricular activities within Dublin, excursion(s) (two for fall/spring; one for summer), housing/utilities, LEAP card (public transportation; only provided for students whose internship location necessitates it), international travel medical insurance, and 24/7 emergency support. The $425 deposit paid at the time of application is included in the above figure.

Other Estimated Expenses

In addition to the Program Fee, which is billed by UFIC and due before the program begins, students can also expect to incur the following out-of-pocket incidentals at various stages before or during the program:

The above figures are general estimates. All incidentals, except the passport and INIS Registration, will vary between students depending on circumstances and preferences. Students are strongly encouraged to devise a budget for meals and other personal expenses in-country. The currency in Ireland is the Euro (€).

Refer to the Heavener International Programs COVID FAQs webpage to determine possible COVID-related expenses.

Internships

All students are guaranteed a non-paying internship as part of the program. The internships are designed to be holistic professional development experiences that equip students with skills necessary to compete in today’s globalized marketplace. Students do not source their own internships or choose the exact company/organization at which they will work. FIE oversees the internship placement process and provides the necessary support, services, and supervision to ensure that students succeed. To help facilitate the placement process, students submit a portfolio of documents – CV, Personal Statement, and Industry Area choices – after completing the UF in Dublin application and being accepted into the program.

A broad range of industry areas are available. Placements are almost always in start-ups, SMEs, or non-profits. The internship sites are located in the greater Dublin area, so students should expect to commute for any in-person aspects of the internship, as is typical in and around the city. Due to the workplace evolution spurred by the pandemic, modality may vary between or within internships. Internships may be fully in-person, hybrid, or possibly fully virtual, depending on the placement.

Placement information is typically provided approximately two weeks before the internship begins, with non-competitive interviews usually held with the company or organization around that time.

Students are encouraged to keep an open mind with respect to their placement. The most successful interns possess the following qualities:

• Adaptability, flexibility, & creativity
• Strong work ethic & communication skills
• High level of initiative & self-motivation
• Enthusiasm & commitment to ongoing learning

Check out FIE’s Dublin Internship webpage for more information.

Housing

Housing and utilities are included in the cost of the program. Students will live in shared apartment-style student residences. Residences are located at the Binary Hub, a newer, purpose-built student residence in The Liberties area of Dublin. FIE Dublin offices and some classrooms are in the same building.

FIE oversees the housing assignment process. To help facilitate that, students submit a housing/flatmate questionnaire after completing the UF in Dublin application and being accepted into the program. Students will be informed of their housing assignment approximately 30 days before arrival. Students arriving within the designated arrival window (to be provided during the pre-departure/preparation phase) will be met at Dublin Airport and transported to the student residence.

Students can expect the following from the residence:

• Single bedrooms
  • Apartments range in size but on average are 4- or 5-bed
  • Apartments may be co-ed
• En-suite bathrooms
• Living area & fully-equipped kitchen
• Laundry facilities
• Fitness room
• WiFi
• Security systems & live-in Residence Life Supervisors

Check out FIE’s Housing webpage for more information and photos.

Outside the Classroom

Dublin is a friendly, laid-back city with plenty of places to enjoy and explore. FIE provides many co-curricular and extracurricular activities around Dublin. Note that FIE staff also shares regular recommendations for activities and events with students. We encourage students to do some research, think about how best to spend their free time, and try to connect with locals whenever possible! Check out a few resources below:

• FIE Instagram
• Dublin Business School Instagram
• Visit Dublin & Timeout Dublin
• Tripadvisor Dublin

Pre-Departure Preparations

In addition to regular advising during the application process, Heavener International Programs hosts a series of sessions for program participants that are designed to offer support and manage student expectations:

• First Meeting: Typically held within a week of the study abroad application deadline, students meet others in the participant cohort and begin networking. Cultural resources are reviewed and further pre-departure tasks are clarified.
• Pre-Departure Session: Typically held two weeks prior to the end of UF classes the preceding semester, final preparations (e.g., packing, finances, phones, etc.) are reviewed. Arrival information, daily life, health & safety, and more are also addressed.
• Study Abroad Survival Session: Typically held the Reading Day of the preceding semester, students are led through a series of activities about cultural adjustment, global fluency, and comfort zones. Advisors also address any additional fears or concerns regarding travel or program elements.

Exact session dates and times are provided upon formal acceptance into the program. Students also complete an online Pre-Departure Module designed and overseen by the UF International Center, and receive regular communication from Heavener International Programs and FIE each step of the way. Lastly, students are provided with a Heavener International Program Pre-Departure Guide approximately 2-4 weeks before departure. Please email us if you would like to see samples of any pre-departure materials.