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Study Abroad | Maynooth
Fall 2023: Academics

Man standing on the cliffs in Maynooth, Ireland.

Select Your Program Option:

  • Fall 2023

  • Spring 2024

  • Fall 2024

  • Spring 2025

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AcadEmics Overview

AIFS Abroad offers a unique global educational experience for students on this program, with the following academic options available:

As part of this program, students have access to a large catalog of courses. The below are examples of available courses, but not an exhaustive list. For a full listing of courses, please visit https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/international/what-can-i-study.

Program Options

Program Name Early Start Available Credits Notes
Full Curriculum
Early Start Available: No Credits: Up to 18

The International Program at Maynooth University gives visiting students the opportunity to take a wide variety of courses (subject to prerequisites) studying alongside local students. Students typically take 4 courses per semester from across 34 university departments. Students may choose up to 6 3-credit courses but, to ensure a manageable workload, we recommend a maximum of 5.  

Irish Cultural Heritage Certificate Program:
Students choose either ID 001 (3) Introducing Irish Cultural Heritage or ID 012 (3) Introducing Settlement and Society in Early Ireland and then select three additional courses from a predetermined list. 

Certificate in International Business Program:
Students choose 2 courses from a predetermined list plus 2 further courses from within the business modules at Maynooth University. This certificate is designed for students who have completed one year of a business degree or liberal arts majors with business as a core subject.
 

Eligibility Notes

Rising sophomores are not eligible; at least 2 semesters of grades must be listed on transcript.

Accounting

Anthropology

Biology

Business

Computer Science

Criminal Justice

Ecology

Economics

English

Film Studies

Finance

Geography

History

International Relations

Law

Multidisciplinary

Music

Political Science

Psychology

Sociology

Two students in Maynooth, Ireland.

Courses Taught by Other Institutions

Students studying at Maynooth University will also have the option of studying Theology Modules through St Patrick’s College which is located on the beautiful South campus with its stunning gothic buildings. St Patrick’s College opened as an educational institution in 1795 and specializes in the teaching of philosophy and theology. Courses offered in the past have included:

Christianity and World Religions
Faith and Practice in Everyday Living
History of Early Christianity
Introduction to the Bible and its Worlds
Philosophy of Religion and Secular Thought
The Celebrating Church.

Academic Credit & Transcripts

Credit Transfer

As a part of the AIFS application for semester programs, you will complete a Course Approval Form, which will be signed off by your study abroad office staff and/or faculty at your university.

For J Term/Summer programs, no such approval form is needed; however, students are still responsible for ensuring credit can be brought back from their overseas program.
In any case, we recommend getting additional courses approved in case you need to change courses while abroad.

Overseas universities do not use the credit system employed by American institutions. AIFS students must make special arrangements to transfer credits, but since AIFS courses are given at recognized universities or the AIFS Centers (which are transcripted by Fairfield University), there usually is no difficulty in arranging transfer credit toward U.S. degrees provided the proper procedure is followed.

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

Many of the European institutions that AIFS works with award credits under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). ECTS enables cooperating institutions to measure and compare a student’s performance and facilitates the transfer of credits from the European institution to the U.S institution.

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

Language levels are defined according to the CEFR and will be listed on your transcript on completion of the program. CEFR organizes language proficiency into six levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) which can be regrouped into three broad levels according to the needs of the local institution: Beginner: A1, A2/U.S. Level 100; Intermediate: B1, B2/U.S. Level 200-300; Advanced: C1, C2/U.S. Level 400

Transcripts

When you complete your program, an official transcript is sent to your home institution directly from AIFS Abroad or the host university. Another official transcript may be retained by AIFS Abroad in Stamford, but this is not the case for all programs. Please contact transcripts@aifs.com to find out how to request additional transcripts. 
 
Generally, your school should receive your transcript 60 days after completion of the program. (Cannes Semester programs, Perth, Sydney, Dublin, Limerick, and Wellington Programs exception: Transcripts issued and retained by the host universities. Transcripts for the Cannes Semester programs are issued by Chapman University.)
 
Transcripts may come without an English-language translation, so participants will need to organize translations with their home university.

Academic Records

Credit assessment methods in overseas universities may not be comparable to those in U.S. universities. Grading may involve exams, papers, individual projects, class discussion or some combination of these. Although academic institutions abroad may grade on a variety of scales, admissions counselors and registrars at U.S. institutions are familiar with international grading systems and can convert grades.

Course Selection

AIFS Program Advisors are available to assist you in the process. The following procedure is recommended:

Read course descriptions for the selected program and select courses. Obtain approval from your academic or study abroad advisor for the preliminary courses selected. Final approval of credit transfer for completed courses is at the discretion of the Registrar or appropriate official at the home institution. Students must ascertain that courses taken meet their individual academic program requirements. Recommended credits in this catalog are based on 15 classroom hours per semester credit.

I would absolutely recommend this program. The trip has been such a positive experience. Wonderful program!

AIFS has a lot to offer. The more I talked to American students from other programs, the more I realized that AIFS was clearly the best choice

This program opened my eyes to a culture and society I knew very little about. I made great friends and had a fabulous time during the process. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

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