As a means of thanking our U.S. colleges and universities for hosting Study USA (BEI) students, the Northern Ireland institutions offer a limited number of study places on the Irish American Scholars Program each year. This program enables a limited number of American students from Study USA-supporting colleges to spend one or two semesters at a university or college in Northern Ireland.
Each fall, the Association representative for your college will write to U.S. college presidents, inviting up to three applications from students who have a GPA of 3.2 or above. The students will be considered for a place at a Northern Ireland institution.
Participating Schools
Queens University Belfast is one of the 20 top research-intensive institutions in the United Kingdom. While the university does not offer courses in all disciplines, most U.S. students will find appropriate subjects at Queens University.
University of Ulster has a national and international reputation for excellence. With four distinct campuses across Northern Ireland, students are placed at a specific campus based on their field of study.
St. Mary’s University College specializes in liberal arts and teacher training, and is integrated into the larger Queen’s University system. In 2011, St. Mary’s was ranked third among all universities in the United Kingdom for student satisfaction with their overall university experience.
Stranmillis University College is highly recognized for its teacher training curriculum, but also offers courses in early childhood and health and leisure studies. Stranmillis is a college within the system of Queen’s University Belfast.
Belfast Metropolitan College specializes in educating students with strong career goals in vocational areas such as business, marketing, computing, performing arts, communication and Irish studies.
The programs and faculty at these institutions are of high quality and U.S. students can expect a fulfilling year in Northern Ireland through placement at any of these schools.