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Dublin Summer - Intensive Acting
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Academics
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.
Your program will begin with a 2-week, 2-credit workshop in Killarney, Ireland, hosted by the West End House - School of Arts, founded by Michael Fassbender in 2021. You will receive an introduction to comtemporary theatre-making, taught by the director of West End House, and attend a number of cultural events in Killarney. Learn more about your two weeks in Killarney with this video of the West End House School of Arts.
For the remaining 4 weeks, you will enroll in the following modules at the National Theatre School of Ireland (The Gaiety School of Acting) for a total of 4 credits:
- Acting: Establish a strong personal technique in an organic, intelligent, and imaginative engagement with text and process.
- Voice: Develop an intellectual and bodied understanding of the vocal instrument, cultivating tension-free support, control, articulation, resonance, range, and variation of tone—as well as unblocked access to the emotional apparatus.
- Irish Writers Seminar: Discover the historical and sociopolitical contexts of works by authors like Beckett, Yeats, and more through acting sessions and seminar/discussion class formats.
A core value espoused by the National Theatre School of Ireland (The Gaiety School of Acting) is ensemble. This program is physically and emotionally demanding, and all students participate fully in all aspects of the training process. At the end of the program, students participate in a showcase, where they present a selection of ensemble scenes rehearsed throughout the summer.
Watch a short clip of IES Abroad Dublin students sharing what they love about attending NTSI-GSA.
Courses
These courses are taught at the West End House - School of the Arts.
Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
TH 394 - Theater Workshop | Summer | English | 2 |
Field Trips & Events
Your adventure will start in Killarney and end in Dublin, and our day trip and course-related trips will help you explore these in-depth and discover other parts of Ireland. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad.
Causey Farm
1 day | Summer
Visit an open farm where you will have the chance to try Irish dancing, bake traditional Irish bread, learn to play an Irish drum called the bodhrán, and jump in a bog.
IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
Course-Related Trips
IES Abroad Dublin and the West End House, School of the Arts organize course-related trips that complement your academics and help you build your general knowledge of Irish culture and society. These trips include forest walks through Killarney National Park; boat trips on the lakes of Killarney, with a visit to the 6th century Innisfallen Monastery; walking tours of Dublin's significant architectural, literary, and political markers; and attendance at local performances.
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in Killarney and Dublin is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it’s the orientation program that prepares you for what’s ahead, your housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services.
Orientation
Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins at home with our virtual orientation to help you prepare for your IES Abroad experience. Our orientation introduces you to the IES Abroad Dublin staff, your fellow students, and the cities of Killarney and Dublin. Orientation continues throughout the summer term with activities focusing on academic and cultural adjustment. Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, health and safety, and other important topics are also covered.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We locate housing that will allow you to truly immerse yourself in local culture. Our goal is that when you leave Ireland, it will feel like home.
Killarney - You will live in a shared single-gender housing for your 2 weeks in Killarney.
Dublin - You will live in a private student residence with up to seven other IES Abroad students each having your own bedroom and bathroom within the apartment. No meals are provided, but you'll share a fully equipped kitchen, plus a living area. Mixed-gender and single-gender apartments are available.
The private student residence is completely furnished and has WiFi along with other amenities, including on-site laundry facilities and 24-hour reception and security. The residence hall is within walking distance or a short bus ride to the IES Abroad Center and a short walk from the Gaiety School of Acting. Residents are invited to attend a range of social events such as mindfulness workshops, movie nights, volunteer days, and more.
Get to Know Your New City
Take a Day Trip
Just a short train ride away are the towns of Howth, Dun Laoghaire and more. Let the explorer in you roam, and hike along the coast.
Catch a Live Performance
From traditional folk music to cutting-edge performance art, Dublin has it all. Venture to the theatre, or enjoy live music at your local pub.
Taste the Local Food
Irish stew, shepherd’s pie, boxty, and more—sink your teeth into the various fresh and delicious foods of Dublin.
Visit the Book of Kells
See this lavishly illuminated manuscript, located in the beautiful Library of Trinity College Dublin.
Explore the Neighborhoods
Walk along the River Liffey, and meander through the city. Be sure to stop at Fitzwilliam Square and Merrion Square to see the iconic painted doors.
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
Term | Tuition | Housing | Insurance | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer 2022 | $5,977 | $1,752 | $135 |
$7,864 |
Scholarships & Aid
Featured Scholarships
Summer Need-Based Financial Aid
Open to students who apply to and attend an IES Abroad or IES Internships summer program.
Criteria reviewed to determine award:
- Level of financial need as determined from infromation provided on the application. Priority is given to Pell Grant recipients.
- IES Abroad program location.
- IES Abroad membership status of home campus
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Our Center
The IES Abroad Dublin Center is a fully-renovated red-brick Victorian building that used to serve as a post office. Located just south of Dublin’s city center, our building is walking distance from Dublin Castle, St. Stephen’s Green, and Trinity College Dublin.
Our Center is your connection point for all things IES Abroad.
- Take your IES Abroad courses in the Center’s classrooms
- Meet with staff in their offices
- Study and plan trips in the library and travel planning space
- Meet up with friends in the student lounge
- Borrow one of four laptops or two desktops
Other features include: high-speed internet, printing facilities, photocopier and scanner access
Our Staff

Megan Markey
Center Director
Megan Markey earned an MBA in Education Management from the Institute of Education, University of London and a Masters in Sociology from University College Dublin. Employed by IES Abroad since 2004, Megan teaches our community-based learning seminar, Service Learning: Youth Engagement and Education in Ireland. She has also taught qualitative research for the Sociology Department at University College Dublin. Megan was the Assistant Director of the Dublin Center from 2010-2014 and became the Center Director in 2015.
IES Abroad Dublin Staff
Regina Fitzpatrick
Assistant Director
Julie Jennings
Programme Coordinator
Margaret Maj
Student Affairs and Wellness Coordinator
Stephen McMahon
Senior Writers Program Coordinator
Cristin O'Gorman
Internship Coordinator
Mairéad White
Accountant Assistant
Health & Safety
With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.
In response to COVID-19, enhanced safety guidelines will be implemented this year—such as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in on-site classes, in-country field trips and travel only, and apartment or residence hall housing (no homestays) that ensures proper space should self-quarantining be necessary.
How We Support You
We plan for "what if" so that you don't have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
Learn more about the support you can expect to receive on our programs, including:
- International health insurance through CISI in the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional
- 24/7 emergency support whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city
- Location-specific health and safety information presented at orienation by on-site staff
- TripTracker system allowing you to share independent travel plans in case you need to be contacted swiftly in a crisis
- A mandatory cell phone policy so that you can be contacted locally and receive any emergency updates via call or text
- Crisis drills so that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise
- And more!
Health & Safety Resources
You safety begins with being accurately informed from the moment you're considering study abroad through to the day you return home.
Take note of ways you can maintain your health and stay safe abroad while reviewing our resources, including:
- IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Management
- Study Abroad Safety Tips for Traveling
- IES Abroad Student Blogs on Safety and Mental Health
- And more!