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Summer
Dublin, Ireland
Resident
• Clear interest and commitment
• Demonstrated preparedness/maturity
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (flexible depending on specific circumstances)
• Good academic and disciplinary standing
• Completion of at least one semester of college-level study at the time the program begins
• Faculty approval
• Participation in orientation programming
• 2/21
Check the 'Costs' section under the Application tab.
Writing Retreat
The Irish Writing Program is a rigorous creative writing program requiring some talent, but most importantly, commitment and discipline. Its goal is to help aspiring writers become better at their craft. University of Iowa students and non-UI students are welcome to apply to the program.
Learn more about the Irish Writing Program from past students and the faculty director through our deep dive videos:
Participants in the Irish Writing Program enroll in two required courses:
This course is taught by a University of Iowa faculty member. Credit for this course can be applied to the University of Iowa’s Non-Fiction & Creative Writing area of the English major, and the Writing in Context focused elective for the Certificate in Writing.
The preliminary syllabus for the Summer 2022 session is provided below. A final syllabus will be available in early spring 2022.
Course Description
The workshops meet three times a week for the duration of the program. In addition to having their work critiqued in class, students will receive written analyses of class work. Emphasis is placed on how to read closely and how to get (and give) the best constructive criticism. Students will bring work-in-progress with them and also write new material during the program.
Students write assignments of varying lengths, both short (about one page) and long (about fifteen pages). Students must follow the page-length guidelines closely. In all, students produce about one hundred pages of new work during the writing program. Workshop schedules are organized to ensure that this is an easy goal to achieve.
Because student work is at the heart of the workshop, writing assignments are obligatory. Students must deliver assignments on time. Late work is not accepted.
Bridge in Dublin over the River Liffey
This course is made up of three components, each taught by Irish faculty. Credit for this course can be applied to the UI’s Transnational & Post-Colonial area of the English major.
The syllabus for the Summer 2019 session is provided below. A syllabus for the upcoming session will be available in early spring 2022.
Grafton Street
Course Description
An appreciation of Irish literature and culture is inextricably bound to a familiarity with Irish history. This interdisciplinary course will examine Irish literature, drama, visual arts, cinema, music, history, and culture. It will introduce students to a variety of Irish writers, ranging from the modernist authors, Joyce and Yeats, to contemporary poetry, prose, and drama.
The 20th century saw Ireland emerge as a free State in 1922, achieve the status of Republic in 1948, and join the EEC in 1970. Partition in 1926 resulted in Northern Ireland remaining part of Britain, including within its borders a sizeable nationalist minority. These political developments with their ensuing periods of violence created different conditions for writing north and south of the border. Over the last thirty years, the modernization of the Irish economy has led to conflict between church and state over national morality, and this conflict has led to a pronounced urban/rural divide, and a general feeling among women that the state has not always operated in their best interests. These political and social changes have given rise to rich, experimental works of literature that challenge the fundamental concepts of selfhood and identity along national, gender, and religious lines.
Irish theatre has emerged from specific cultural, social, and political contexts since the early part of this century when the Abbey Theatre housed J.M. Synge's The Playboy of the Western World and Sean O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock. Both of these plays provided the impetus and the extraordinary dramaturgical templates for most of the Irish playwrights that followed them. Irish theatre has never evaded the politics of nation. The emergence, relative stagnation, and the most recent advances of the Southern Irish State and the tensions and politics of the Northern Irish Troubles combine to make Irish theatre practices internationally respected.
Sample reading list (from a previous program- this will vary according to the tastes and interests of the instructors):
Blaine Greteman is a professor of English and the Director of the General Education Literature program at the University of Iowa. Before joining the faculty at Iowa he was stationed in London as a writer for TIME magazine, and he continues to write for popular publications including Slate, The New Republic, and The Week, on topics that have ranged from the Congolese civil war, to Iraqi exiles in England, to Gene Wilder’s super-fans. He has also written numerous scholarly articles and a book, The Poetics and Politics of Youth in Milton’s England (Cambridge, 20113).
Greteman was awarded a Stanford Humanities Fellowship to work on his most current book project, Networking English Print, and has received other honors that include a Rhodes Scholarship and being named a Dean’s Scholar by the Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Participants are awarded a University of Iowa transcript, and are graded using US letter grades.
Each course provides 3 semester hours (sh) or credit, for a total of 6 sh for the summer session.
Unless UI Study Abroad has an approval on file for the courses you take abroad to be applied toward a specific major, minor, certificate, or general education requirement, you will receive general elective credit for your course.
If you plan to apply the credit you receive for your program course to a major, minor, certificate, or general education requirement, contact your UI study abroad advisor for details on the process.
Howth Coast
A welcome meal and farewell dinner will be provided as part of the course fee, and the program allows for a variety of opportunities to get acquainted with Dublin and its environs. Excursions are typically offered as part of the course work.
Students can plan to have 2-3 weekends free to get to know the city and the rest of Ireland. During their free time, participants are free to travel outside of Dublin and its suburbs.
Dublin serves as the perfect hub for travel around Ireland and the rest of Western Europe. Day tour options include: an introductory tour of the capital city focusing on important areas of cultural and historic interest, tours of the James Joyce Museum, the Joyce Tower in nearby Sandycove, and the Book of Kells at the Trinity College Library. Longer weekend trips to Western Ireland, Galway, Belfast, London, Edinburgh, and many other regional cities are possible- or even farther if you’re feeling adventurous!
Program dates vary by session. Dates for future sessions are expected to be similar to previous sessions, and will be finalized be early spring.
Dates for the Summer 2022 session are: June 9 - July 23.
Study Abroad
1111 University Capitol Centre
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: 319-335-0353
Email: study-abroad@uiowa.edu
Dublin is a vibrant, European capital city of historical and cultural importance. From its many theaters to its beautiful parks to its friendly, cozy pubs, Dublin is an excellent place to be educated and entertained.
Dublin Street Scene
Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean. The country of Ireland (properly referred to as the Republic of Ireland) shares the island with Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is an independent country that is a member of the European Union. Northern Ireland is the name of the other country on Ireland, and is a member of the United Kingdom along with Scotland, Wales, and England.
Ireland is a nation of about 4.5 million people. Ireland’s friendly population, gorgeous natural environment, unique culture, and rich history make it a fantastic place to study. Ireland’s contribution to literature written in English and indeed other languages is immense, and so the country is an ideal destination for students who want to make the exploration of literature and language the focus of their time abroad.
CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts
Historical Walking Tours of Dublin
The 1916 Rebellion
Kilmainham Goal
Irish Culture & Customs
The Irish Language
The Irish Traditional Music Archive
Lonely Planet: Ireland
Rick Steves' Ireland
Discover Ireland
Street Sign in Dublin
The US Department of State provides safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you.
Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to help decide whether traveling to any given country is right for you. Non-US citizen travelers may also wish to seek guidance from the embassy of their country of citizenship. The UI International Travel Policy for Students addresses restrictions on student travel to high-risk locations and engagement in high-risk activities abroad.
Student accommodation lobby
Accommodations are arranged by our partners in Dublin prior to departure. Amenities vary by session, but typically include a fully furnished apartment with private bedrooms, and a shared kitchen and living area. The accommodations include wireless internet service and paid washing machines. Students are expected to keep their apartments clean and in the order they were during move-in. Any damage will be assessed at the end of the program.
Accommodations are provided for the duration of the program only. It is not possible to get into the apartments before the official start of the program. Students wishing to arrive a few days early may request recommendations for economical hotels and hostels in Dublin.
Student bedroom
All students need a valid passport to participate in this program. You can find details about applying for a passport on the UI Study Abroad Travel Documentation website.
Student accommodation kitchen
UI Study Abroad will designate a suggested group flight by early spring. Participants will make their own travel arrangements to Dublin with guidance from UI Study Abroad and are advised to take part in this suggested itinerary.
The cost of travel is not included in the course fee.
Those who participate in the suggested flight will be met at the Dublin airport by program staff and transported by shuttle to the program site. Alternative arrangements for transportation from the airport to the program site for students who do not participate in the suggested flight can be made with guidance from UI Study Abroad.
Do not purchase plane tickets until you have received instructions on how to do so from UI Study Abroad.
If you need advice on making travel arrangements, contact your UI study abroad advisor.
Dublin has an excellent public transportation system comprised of buses and a light rail. A transportation pass for each student is included in the program fee. Dublin's modern, international airport provides a hub to all major European capital cities.
For courses traveling abroad, participating students and faculty will be required to follow host country laws and procedures regarding COVID-19. Requirements of each host country are subject to change with little notice. Requirements may include COVID-19 testing, proof of vaccination, or quarantine/isolation to enter the country or to access certain facilitates and services.
To review current entry requirements, please refer to the U.S. Embassy COVID-19 Country-specific Information page for your destination.
The Irish Writing Program is open to students attending US institutions, and who fulfill the following requirements:
In addition to the requirements above, preference is given to applicants who:
Students who attend institutions other than the University of Iowa must also contact their home school study abroad office to review any additional study abroad requirements.
Students will be responsible for paying many of their program costs through their University of Iowa U-Bill, while other costs will be out-of-pocket costs paid by the student directly to vendors before and after going abroad. Refer to the cost sheets below for details on the costs associated with this program.
The cost sheets outline the total estimated costs associated with participating in this program and can be used for financial aid purposes. They include fees charged on students’ U-Bill as well as out-of-pocket expenses. Actual out-of-pocket expenses will vary from individual to individual. Quoted estimates are conservatively high, yet realistic.
Costs for future sessions are usually similar to the current session, however students can expect a modest increase in overall costs each session. Final cost sheets for future sessions are typically available early in the semester before the session begins.
The following cost sheets apply to the Summer 2022 session.
Cost Sheet- Irish Writing Program- Summer 2022- UI Students
Cost Sheet- Irish Writing Program- Summer 2022- Non-UI Students
The cost sheets are based on the fees described below:
Cost sheets do not include the following optional costs:
Costs for personal travel are not included in the cost estimates provided on the cost sheet. If you plan to travel outside of your host city or country during or after your study abroad program, you will need to budget for additional funds to cover the cost of your personal travel.
The cost of personal travel depends entirely on each student’s individual travel plans and spending habits. Estimates for personal travel costs provided by past students on this program vary significantly from $800 to as much as $6,000 or more per session.
You can find information about options for funding your study abroad experience, including financial aid, scholarships, grants, etc, on UI Study Abroad’s Funding Website.
The University of Iowa’s English department also offers scholarships that English majors can apply to this program. You can find more information about these options on the UI’s Scholarship Portal website.
If you are accepted to the program, you will be asked to commit to participating in your program by submitting the University of Iowa Confirmation of Participation form by mid-March.
After you have formally confirmed your plans to participate, you will work both with UI Study Abroad and IES Abroad. Follow instructions from both. Later in the semester, your UI study abroad advisor will contact you regarding orientation sessions, registration, and other required UI procedures and documentation.
The application deadline for the Summer 2022 program is February 21, 2022.
Confirmation materials will be posted after the program application deadline.
All students preparing to study abroad should review the following:
Iowa Regents CISI Health Insurance Information
Students are also encouraged to complete the Health Preparation Guide for International Travelform with their medical practitioner. This document is intended to help you plan for your medical needs abroad. Please DO NOT turn this form in to UI Study Abroad.
All program participants are required to complete immigration requirements to enter and study in your host country. UI Study Abroad and your program provider/host institution abroad will provide you with immigration instructions prior to departure.
Note that permission to enter and study in your host country is provided exclusively by the host country’s government based on that country's immigration requirements. Your host country’s immigration requirements may include considerations related to specific national origin, national heritage, criminal background status, and similar issues that can make it impossible to receive permission to enter the country in some cases. Contact your UI study abroad advisor for more information.
It is essential that you thoroughly review all of your immigration materials before you leave for your host country to ensure that they are absolutely complete and accurate. It is entirely your responsibility to ensure that all of your immigration materials are in order and fully accurate before you leave for your host country. If any of your immigration materials contain inaccurate information of any kind, contact your UI study abroad advisor immediately to discuss your options.
Do not take steps to complete your host country’s immigration requirements until you receive more information from UI Study Abroad.
Review the UI Study Abroad Travel Documentation website for further guidance on the immigration/visa process.
In order to prepare for your time abroad, you are required by the University of Iowa to complete two orientations. These may be in addition to orientations provided by your on-site provider. See below for more information.
You are required to complete the International Programs ICON course "Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation" prior to departure. This orientation is mandatory for all students going abroad under the auspices of the University of Iowa. It covers many practical matters about living overseas, such as health and safety, communication, money, goals, and much more. You will be enrolled in this course by International Programs and an email will be sent to you once enrolled. If you have any questions, you can email safety-abroad@uiowa.edu.
This orientation will be facilitated by your study abroad advisor and will cover content specific to your program and host country. It could be conducted in a group setting or one-on-one depending on your type of planned activity abroad. Your study abroad advisor will send you more information about this mandatory in-person session.