Study Abroad Program

Programs to Ireland are classed as study abroad programs. This means that your host family will be paid a stipend to cover your basic living expenses. Program rules and expectations remain the same as on a WEP student exchange program.

School

The schooling day in Ireland runs from 9.00am to 4.00pm. On Wednesdays, school  typically finishes at 1.00pm and students have the afternoons to themselves. Afternoons are dedicated to sports in most Irish schools.

Subjects include Irish, English, mathematics, science, a European language and a subject from either the social, political or environmental stream. The majority of schools are single-sex schools with obligatory school uniforms

Language

Both Irish and English are the official languages of Ireland, with English being the predominant first language. Irish is spoken as a first language by a small minority of the population of Ireland, however many can speak Irish as a second language.

How hard is it to learn Irish in Australia? MEDIUM. 44 weeks OR 1,110 class hours are required to become proficient in Irish.  Fast-track your language studies on exchange!

Climate/Time

The climate in Ireland can be described as mild and humid.  The warmest months are from May to mid-September, with temperatures usually remaining between 15°C to 20°C.  The days in winter can be drizzly, cold and are shorter, with the sun setting around 4pm.

Depending on daylight saving, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are between nine to 10 hours ahead of Ireland.

Specific Requirements

None. Limited spaces available.