The Dublin STEM program offers upper-division undergraduate students the opportunity to directly enroll at Dublin City University (DCU) for the fall or spring semester. Students enroll in courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics offered by DCU, and they enroll in one of the elective courses offered by the BU Dublin Center. During their time in Ireland, students will be housed in modern student apartments on the DCU campus, located about 5 miles north of Dublin city center, and they will commute to classes. They have access to DCU facilities, services, and student activities. Students have the opportunity to attend excursions and field trips as their class schedule allows.
BU Abroad: Hands-on in <span>Dublin</span>
BU Abroad: Hands-on in <span>Dublin</span>
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- DCU’s admission criteria require Study Abroad students to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Students with a GPA below a 3.0 may be considered on a case-by-case basis and should contact BU Study Abroad before applying.
- Boston University Engineering students must have junior standing at the time of participation and must follow the College of Engineering’s instructions for juniors applying to study abroad
- Admissions requirements for all programs
- Non-US citizens are strongly encouraged to apply early in order to allow sufficient time to secure a visa. Obtaining visas may not be possible for applications received within 14 weeks of the program start date. Non-US citizens may contact BU Study Abroad prior to submitting an application to determine if they require a visa for Ireland.
Curriculum
Students enroll in three or four STEM courses directly at Dublin City University (DCU) and enroll in one elective course (4 credits) taught at the BU Dublin Center. In total, students should be enrolled in a minimum of 16 BU credits during their semester in Dublin. Please see information below regarding selecting courses and credit equivalency.
STEM Courses at DCU
At DCU, courses are called modules and their credits are called ECTS. Students on this program are required to take a minimum of 20 ECTS.
Students on the program receive the following BU credit:
- 3 BU credits for any 5 ECTS course
- 4 BU credits for any 7.5 ECTS course
- 5 BU credits for any 10 ECTS course
Visit DCU's module catalog for a list of modules divided by colleges/streams within DCU. Students are able to select from two colleges/streams within DCU. Students can either select from "Engineering and Computing” (ECSAO) or "Science & Health” (SHSAO). Students must choose one college/stream—students cannot take classes from both colleges/streams. Within each college/stream you will find:
- List of Modules
- List of Electives.
Students are only allowed to take 1 course from the list of electives and this is optional. Most students select all their courses from the List of Modules as they are more major specific. Please note that “semester 1” refers to fall and “semester 2” refers to spring.
BU Dublin Center Elective Courses
Students are required to choose one of the below courses.
- CAS EN 392 Modern Irish Literature (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- This course will introduce students to key writers in modern Irish Literature concentrating on the cultural, political and historical contexts of each of the works we examine. We will explore prose, poetry, drama and the short story. Students will be introduced to the discipline-specific terms of Literary Studies and will employ analytical and interpretive skills in evaluating the literary and the socio/historical significance of these works.
- Syllabus
- CFA AR 340 The Arts in Ireland (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- Offers students the opportunity to study and experience the most vibrant aspects of visual art and music in Ireland. The music strand provides an introduction to the structure, characteristics, scope, and history of Irish traditional music. The areas of rhythm and melody and the methods by which Irish music is taught will be covered in the practical workshop section of each class. For part two of the course, students study visual arts, which affords students an opportunity to study and experience the most vibrant aspects of the visual arts in Ireland. Padhraic Egan (Music), Caoimhghin O Croidheain (Visual Arts).
- Syllabus
Housing & Student Services
University Dormitory
- Board is not included in this program. Students are responsible for budgeting their own cost of meals.
- Dublin City University (DCU) does have limited dining hall facilities, but it is at the student’s own expense. There are ample grocery stores in the immediate area surrounding the campus.
- Coin-operated laundry facilities are located in the neighboring building to the accommodations on campus. Cost of laundry is not included in the program fee.
- Students have access to all student services provided by Dublin City University, including libraries, the gym, and the Student Health Centre. Students are encouraged to join a DCU Club, Society, or Sports team while studying here.
Program Dates
- Fall Semester: early September to late December
- Spring Semester: early January to early May
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Fall Semester
- Applications Open December 15
- Applications Deadline March 15
Spring Semester
- Applications Open June 1*
- Applications Deadline October 1
This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.
Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.
Cost & Financial Considerations
