You are here
Dublin - Writers Program
$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.
We offer unique courses that explore creative writing and literature through an in-depth and handson approach. Our world-class professors enhance your academic experiences and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
You enroll in 15-19 credits per semester, and all courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified. Choose five to six courses per semester; all courses at IES Abroad are offered both fall and spring semesters unless otherwise noted.
Create your own academic experience by selecting from the following options:
- Writers Program Courses (optional, 3 credits each, except for CW 270 Homespun Sails which is 1 credit)
- Courses from our Irish Studies Program (optional, 3 credits each)
- Courses from our Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology Program (optional, 3 credits each)
- Internship placement and seminar (optional, 3 credits)
- Service Learning placement and seminar (optional, 3 credits)
Courses
This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account.
NOTE: IES Abroad reserves the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or circumstances beyond our control.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO/AN 320 - Irish Communal Identity | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CM/BS 348 - Negotiations | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CM/BS 348 - Negotiations | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| CM/MK 345 - Digital Marketing & Communication | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CU 250 - Introduction to Irish Language and Culture | Fall | English | 3 |
| FS/CU 260 - Irish Culture Through Film | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CU 270 - Celtic Myth and Legend in Early Ireland | Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CW 270 - "Homespun Sails": Anthology Production Workshop | Fall, Spring | English | 1 |
| LT/CW 348 - Irish Playwriting: A Creative Introduction | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CW 350 - Photo/Graphic: Shaping Visual Narratives | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CW 356 - The Shadows We Cast: Writing the Irish Short Story | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CW 358 - Write Here, Write Now: An Introduction to Immersion Writing | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CW 456 - The Shadows We Cast: Writing the Irish Short Story | Spring, Fall | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ET 334 - Globalisation & Entrepreneurship | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS/CU 260 - Irish Culture Through Film | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS 340 - History of Ireland 1798-1922 | Spring | English | 3 |
| PO/HS 360 - Northern Irish Troubles: 1969-1999 | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN 395 - Leading Across Cultures: Internship Seminar | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT 342 - Exploring Gothic Ireland: Fact, Fiction and Film | Fall | English | 3 |
| LT 354 - The Finest Music – The Craft of Irish Poetry | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CU 270 - Celtic Myth and Legend in Early Ireland | Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CW 348 - Irish Playwriting: A Creative Introduction | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CW 350 - Photo/Graphic: Shaping Visual Narratives | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CW 356 - The Shadows We Cast: Writing the Irish Short Story | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CW 358 - Write Here, Write Now: An Introduction to Immersion Writing | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT/CW 456 - The Shadows We Cast: Writing the Irish Short Story | Spring, Fall | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CM/MK 345 - Digital Marketing & Communication | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO/HS 360 - Northern Irish Troubles: 1969-1999 | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO/SL 395 - Youth Engagement and Education in Ireland: A Service Learning Perspective | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO/AN 320 - Irish Communal Identity | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| SO/SL 395 - Youth Engagement and Education in Ireland: A Service Learning Perspective | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
Service Learning
Participating in a service learning experience in Dublin is one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s culture and society. Working alongside local people towards a common goal, you experience first-hand some of the social issues that affect Dublin, while contributing your skills towards a community-driven solution.
A service learning experience consists of time spent with a local organization, accompanied by a weekly academic, for-credit service learning seminar (SO/SL 395). Through the seminar, you have structured time for reflection and discussion, and even research, about the issues of your host community.
Possible placements may include organizations focusing on:
- Work with a local afterschool club where you’ll assist children with their homework and lead fun activities
- Assist in administrative duties at creative writing workshops and camps
Internships
Interning while you study in Dublin gives you a rewarding job experience with a wealth of long-lasting career benefits. You will:
- Gain a better understanding of the real-life, everyday culture of your host country
- Add global work experience and skills to your résumé or your application for graduate school
- Improve your confidence
All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship.
Personalized Placements
Once you indicate your interest in an internship, we work with you to find the ideal internship placement that fulfills your academic and career goals. We’ve placed students with a wide variety of organizations and businesses. If we don’t currently work with a business or organization in your field of interest, we will search for a placement that’s right for you.
Placement Examples
Past students have interned in the following fields. Don’t see your field listed here? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—we are always seeking out new opportunities for our students.
- Arts & Culture
- Business
- Communications
- Education Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- Event Management
- Film
- Hospitality
- Human Resources
- Law
- Marketing
- Media
- Non-Profit
- Politics
- Public Relations
- Psychology
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Social Outreach
- Technology
- Theater
Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in Dublin, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad. Here are a few possible destinations.
Writers Retreat
4 days | Fall and Spring
Embark on a journey to a secret destination, and spend four days focused exclusively on your writing in an environment conducive to reflection, renewal, and inquiry.
The West of Ireland
3 days | Fall and Spring
Take a guided tour of the 2020 European Capital of Culture to explore the 800 year-old city of Galway and discover the stunning landscapes and castles of Connemara.
Causey Farm
1 Day | Fall and Spring
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.
Celtic Origins of Halloween
1 Day | Fall only
Join a guided tour of historic sites around County Meath where the festival of Samhain (more commonly known today as Halloween) originated more than 2,000 years ago.
IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
Course-Related Trips
IES Abroad Dublin organizes course-related excursions that complement your courses and help you build your general knowledge of Irish culture and society.
Examples of possible course-related excursions trips include:
- W.B. Yeats exhibit at National Library
- Irish Writer's Center
- James Joyce's Tower
- Abbey Theatre
- The Gate Theatre
- Story Slam - an open mic night
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in 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. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
Orientation
The program begins with an orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Dublin staff, your fellow students, and the city of Dublin.
Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins right when you arrive and continues through the semester 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.
You also take guided tours around the Center and areas of interest in Dublin as part of your orientation.
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 do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Dublin, it will feel like home.
Private Student Residence - You live in a private student residence with your own bedroom and bathroom within a four or five-bedroom apartment. Live with other IES Abroad students and share a fully-equipped kitchen and living area. Mixed-gender and single-gender apartments are available. The private student residence is completely furnished and has WiFi along with other amenities. No meals are included.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
Take advantage of the cultural events we organize in Dublin, such as the following:
- Experience Gaelic Games
- Traditional Irish Cultural Activity
IES Abroad Dublin organizes volunteer opportunities that complement our courses and contribute to a general knowledge of Irish culture and society. Volunteer experiences include the following:
- Work with a local afterschool club where you’ll assist children with their homework and lead fun activities
- Assist in administrative duties at creative writing workshops and camps. Volunteering is done on ad hoc basis
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 theatre, 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 illustrated manuscript, located in the beautiful Trinity College Library.
Explore the Neighborhoods
Walk along the River Liffey, and meander through the city. Be sure to stop at Fitzwilliam Square and Merrion Square for the famous colorful 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.
Scholarships & Aid
Program-Specific Scholarships
John Gearen Need-Based Dublin or Developing Regions Scholarship
John Gearen, a member of the IES Abroad Board of Directors for many years and past chair of the Board for six years, is a leading real estate attorney and Rhodes Scholar who is involved in numerous philanthropic causes. Mr. Gearen has generously established this scholarship to support students who have an interest in studying on an IES Abroad Center in a developing region of the world (Argentina, Chile, China, Ecuador, Ireland, Morocco, or South Africa).
Dr. William Louis Gaines Need-Based History or International Relations Scholarship
This scholarship is named in honor of Dr. William Louis Gaines, President of IES Abroad from 1974-1992. Dr. Gaines was dedicated to strengthening IES Abroad's academic framework, broadening the scope of IES Abroad locations, and securing the financial foundation of the organization.
Open to students majoring in History or International Relations.
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Our Center
While in Dublin, we want to ensure you have every opportunity to immerse yourself in new experiences. That’s why our IES Abroad Dublin Center staff is committed to providing outstanding academic and student support services. We take care of the details, so you can soak up every moment of your Dublin experience.
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 service 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
Shane Fitzgerald
Internship Coordinator
Andrew Diviney
Student Affairs 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.
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!
Summer 2020 & Fall 2020 Refund Policy
A core philosophy of our health & safety procedures is that we plan for the what ifs so that you don't have to. That includes the development of our refund policy for Summer 2020 and Fall 2020, which allows you to still plan to study abroad or intern, knowing that if for some reason you cannot participate, your money will be fully refunded.
Don't put your dreams on hold just because the world is unknown.
Latest from Dublin
Contact a Past Student
From budgeting tips to housing insight, IES Abroad Ambassadors volunteer their study abroad and internship experiences and advice.
