Student Life
As an international College we believe that studying abroad is an incomparable
experience. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to live the life of another
country, learn the customs of another culture and adapt to new surroundings.
The success of a student’s experience depends to a large extent
upon their own efforts to acclimatise to living and studying in a foreign
country.
Ballyvaughan has a population of 400, which increases considerably
during the summer months. Life here for students is unlike that of city
college campuses. At BCA students fully integrate with village life,
becoming recognised members of the local community and often forging
strong bonds and friendships that last beyond graduation. Students coming
from large cities may be struck by the stillness and unhurried pace
of the area. It can be amazing how much of one’s life is taken
up in traffic, noise, bustle. At B.C.A. it takes 5 minutes to get from
housing to your studio - allowing for an undisturbed creative environment.
Read more on Ballyvaughan
Download a copy of our Student
Handbook
Going out in Ballyvaughan
Clare is the home of traditional Irish music and most social activities
in the area revolve around music or the outdoors. Music sessions are
held weekly in the village and the College maintains a diary of local
social and cultural events that students may wish to attend. Hill-walking,
rock-climbing, horse-riding, swimming and surfing are all available
locally, with some of the finest beaches in Clare located close to the
College. The VEC Outdoor Pursuit Centre in nearby Carron offers courses
in rock climbing, orienteering, pot holing and canoeing. The College
is located on the Burren Way, the main walking route in north clare
and walking tours are available locally.
Weather
Ireland, influenced by the Gulf Stream, enjoys a temperate climate
with temperatures ranging from 0-26ºC. Average temperatures in
fall ranges from 12-15º, in winter they dip to 4-10ºC while
in summer it varies between 14-26º.
If anything can be said for the Irish climate, it is unpredictable.
The saying "all the seasons in one day" is particularly applicable
to the West of Ireland; so don't be fooled if you wake up to blue skies
in the morning - by lunchtime you could be in the middle of a rainstorm.
One thing you can count on, however, is that it will rain and the only
safe prediction would be to make sure you have a good waterproof jacket,
leggings and waterproof gear for cycling. Wearing layers of clothing
is the best idea, especially if you plan to spend the day out-of-doors.
A pair of tough walking/hiking boots is essential for trekking around
the Burren
Laundry
All student housing comes complete with full laundry facilities. There
is also a local laundrette also situated in the Ballyvaughan village.
Aran Islands
There are daily trips to the Aran Islands (weather permitting) between
April and September. This short trip from Doolin takes just 25 minutes.
Further information on the Aran Islands is available from www.visitaranislands.com
Independent Travel
Students are encouraged to use Ireland as a gateway to Europe, and
the advent of low-cost airlines has made this ever more possible. If
you do intend to travel, it would be difficult to over-emphasise the
value of the ISIC card International
Student Identity Card
To assist students in getting to know Ireland, the College organises
a number of optional trips at weekends. The student liaison officer
will discuss this at the beginning of the Semester and will give you
a guideline of pricing.
