UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION Study Abroad LIMERICK FALL 2017 Program Guide TABLE OF CONTENTS Packing Tips ........................................................... 12 Weather ............................................................. 12 General Information ................................................. 2 What to Pack...................................................... 12 The Program ......................................................... 2 Appliances .......................................................... 12 The Location ......................................................... 2 Getting To Ireland .................................................. 12 The University ....................................................... 2 Travel Arrangements ......................................... 12 Academic Calendar ............................................... 2 Buying a Changeable Ticket ............................... 12 Academics ................................................................. 3 Customs/Immigration ........................................ 13 Program Prerequisites .......................................... 3 Getting to Limerick ............................................ 13 Pre-departure Planning ........................................ 3 Settling In ............................................................... 13 Course Equivalencies ............................................ 3 Orientation ........................................................ 13 Registration at University of Limerick .................. 4 Residence Hall Descriptions ............................... 14 Reporting Your Registration ................................. 4 What's Provided for My Room? ........................ 15 Class Attendance .................................................. 4 Laundry .............................................................. 15 Credits and Course Load ....................................... 4 Meals ................................................................. 15 Grades................................................................... 5 Other Campus Services ...................................... 16 Transcripts & Graduation ..................................... 5 Student Life ........................................................ 16 Irish Academic System .......................................... 5 Activities/Events ................................................ 17 Money Matters ......................................................... 9 Volunteer ........................................................... 17 Housing Costs ....................................................... 9 Communication ..................................................... 17 Personal Travel ..................................................... 9 Time Difference ................................................. 17 Currency Exchange ............................................... 9 Telephone Information ...................................... 17 Credit Cards and ATMs ......................................... 9 Computer Access/Email ..................................... 17 Travelers Checks ................................................. 10 Snail Mail ........................................................... 18 Health & Safety ....................................................... 10 Travel While Abroad .............................................. 18 STIs at UL ............................................................ 10 Organized Travel ................................................ 18 Campus Medical Services ................................... 10 Past Participant Suggested Travel ..................... 18 Emergency Contacts ........................................... 10 Bus & Train Travel .............................................. 18 911 Equivalent in Republic of Ireland ................. 10 Contact Information .............................................. 19 Safety in Ireland .................................................. 10 WEB RESOURCES: IRELAND ........................ 20 Required Documents .............................................. 10 University/City ..................................................... 20 Visa ..................................................................... 10 Culture .................................................................. 20 Entry Requirements for Ireland .......................... 11 Country ................................................................. 20 Visas for Travel to Other Countries .................... 11 Congratulations on being accepted to the UW-Eau Claire (UWEC) study abroad program with the University of Limerick in Ireland. Living and studying in a foreign culture is both an exciting and a challenging experience. Past participants of study abroad report that the many advantages of international study include: Gaining new perspectives on a chosen academic field Increasing understanding of different cultures Enhancing personal development Developing different perspectives on U.S. culture Gaining self-confidence and independence Learning skills for the future international job market It is up to you to determine how you can best benefit from these possible advantages. This is your adventure! This program guide is to be used together with the general Study Abroad (SA) Handbook. The SA Handbook has information that is valid for all study abroad programs. This guide will provide you with specific information for the Limerick study abroad program. It is designed to complement the Handbook, study abroad orientation, and your individual pre-departure preparations. Please realize that although this guide contains all of the information available at the time of publication, it is impossible for any single resource to answer all of your questions. Your Peer Adviser will email additional information throughout the semester. Please contact the Center for International Education (CIE) staff, your Peer Adviser, and past program participants with your specific questions. You should also make use of the additional written and web resources listed towards the end of this guide. Basic questions only you can answer include: 1) What are YOUR goals for this experience? Common objectives of student travelers include advancement in a future profession, desire to expand personal and academic horizons, need for a change, and wish to challenge oneself with immersion in a new culture. 2) Given the way the program is set up; how can you best prepare to meet your goals? For example, if one of your goals is truly being immersed in Irish culture, yet you are going with a group of UW-Eau Claire students, how can you insure that you do not spend too much time with other Americans? The information in this guide was current at the time of publication, though changes may occur at any time. 1 innovation in the design and delivery of its GENERAL courses. Additionally, UL was regarded for its INFORMATION excellent academic standards and relevance to the needs of the developing Irish economy, The Program In this program, UW-Eau Claire participants particularly in the area of advanced technology become regular students at the University of and in the context of Ireland's membership in Limerick (UL) in Ireland. You will enroll the European Union. The University has directly in classes with Irish students, be taught become a focus for a wide range of artistic by UL instructors, and live in one of five activity and is home to some fine collections of residential villages at UL. Irish art, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and the Irish World Music Centre. The Location With breathtaking beauty and a long, dramatic The compact nature of the campus and the history, the island of Ireland is home to 5 University's size foster a close sense of million people and 8 million sheep. The people community. The University believes strongly of Ireland combine a keen sense of tradition that the creation of a friendly, caring, and with the skills and flexibility required to cooperative atmosphere is an important factor in function in an open economy. Ireland's the successful pursuit of a program of study. influence in the world far exceeds its size or The activities of 70 clubs and societies receive population because of the renowned creativity official support from the University. The range of the Irish in literature, film, and popular of sport/recreation programs and facilities music. Education is the cornerstone of all places emphasis on achieving a balance between economic and cultural activity. academic imperatives and a healthy lifestyle. Limerick is a vibrant city of historic and literary Study abroad students are fully integrated, interest, lies in the heart of the Shannon Region taking the same courses, seminars, tutorials, and in Ireland's Midwest. This a region offers tests as Irish and other international students. spectacular landscapes, heritage attractions, Students may select and combine courses from leisure activities, and cultural pursuits. Founded all six colleges: Business, Education, as a Viking fortress in the 10th century, it is Engineering, Humanities, Informatics & Ireland's oldest chartered city. An ambitious Electronics, and Science. program of restoration and urban renewal has been implemented in recent years, restoring Academic Calendar King John's Castle and St. Mary's Cathedral and Below is a tentative fall 2017 calendar for the successfully blending new buildings with old. University of Limerick. The dates are currently