Undergraduate Individual Study Abroad

Location

Where is Burren College of Art located?

Our campus is located just outside of the small village of Ballyvaughan, in North Clare, on the south shore of Galway Bay.  The year-round population of the village is around 250, though it is also a big tourist destination during the Summer months, so the temporary population becomes quite large between May and September.  Ballyvaughan has very basic amenities, including a small market, post office, medical centre, church and a few cafes, restaurants and pubs.   

We do take students on regular shopping trips to larger towns and cities to be able to access a larger variety of shops and services, however, these are generally scheduled every two weeks or as needed. The majority of students order supplies online from Irish companies, and deliveries are usually sent within a day or two of ordering.

The majority of the area surrounding the College and the housing is farmland or national park, and the main road in and out of the village does not have sidewalks or streetlights.  We provide students with hi-visibility vests to wear on the road to ensure safety and being seen by cars.  The village is a 30 minute walk from the campus housing.

 

Travel

Do I need a visa to come to Ireland?

Students coming from the US, Canada or the EU do not need an entry visa to come to Ireland.

If you are a citizen of any of the following countries listed HERE, you will need to apply for an entry visa through your local Irish embassy. As the GES Summer School is less than 90 days, you will be able to enter on a normal tourist passport stamp.

When you arrive at the airport, Passport Control will give you a tourist stamp in your passport, which allows you to be in the country for up to 90 days.  As the semester is 15 weeks, during Orientation Week, we will take students to the Immigration office in Shannon to get their Student Visa, which will allow you to be in the country for educational purposes for the duration of the semester.  There is a €300 registration fee for the student visa, payable at Immigration with a credit or debit card.   You do not need to apply for a Student Visa before arriving in Ireland.

Which airport should I arrive into?

We advise all students to arrive into Shannon Airport on the morning of Friday, January 3, 2025 for those enrolled in the upcoming Spring semester. We will then arrange for one pick-up by private bus, which will bring the students to accommodation in the Burren. If you are travelling independently, and arriving in Ireland before or after the semester, please contact us for information on getting to Ballyvaughan from other locations in Ireland. For information about flights and departure cities, please visit Shannon Airport’s website HERE. 

Accommodation and Studios

Where will I be staying?

The Burren College of Art has three housing facilities: the lodge and bungalow (located within ten minutes walk from campus) and Newtown house (located right on campus). Generally, our Study Abroad students stay in our larger Lodge accommodation.

What is provided in the housing?

All bedding is provided and all accommodation options have a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. Towels are not provided, so please bring your own.

Will I have my own room or share?

Our campus rooms are twin capacity, so most likely you will share your room with one other person. If any single rooms are available, you will be notified.  Once you are accepted on to the Study Abroad program, we will send you a Housing Form. Taking into account your interests, habits and any specific accommodation requirements, a shared room will be assigned to you.  If there is another student on the program who you would like to share a room with, you can list them on this housing form.

How do I get from my accommodation to the college?

The College campus is a 15 minute walk from the Lodge. We also provide a campus shuttle Monday to Friday at 9 am and again at 5 pm to bring you from the housing to the College. Outside of these times, walking will be your best option to get to and from the College and to explore the area.

Will I have my own studio?

Studios are generally shared between two undergraduate students, but they provide plenty of wall and desk space. You will have 24/7 access to your studio and several other facilities on campus.

Classes and Registration

When do I get my class schedule?

You will receive your class schedule during Orientation week, which is the first week of the semester.

What are the classes like?  Are they taught individually or as a group?

Our courses are delivered both in-studio, on a tutorial basis or as group courses. Tutorial courses are taught through scheduled 1-to-1 contact in a students own studio, supplemented by regular scheduled group presentations, discussions and critiques. Group courses are taught as a unified class, with all students present with the tutor at the same time, along with individual advising sessions.

We also offer skill-based workshops throughout the semester, based on availability and student interest.  These have included workshops in wood and stone carving, plaster casting, mineral inks, and a number of printmaking techniques.

How many credits will I earn and are they transferable?

Students generally enrol in 5 classes, each worth 3 credits.  Our credits meet NASAD standards of accreditation in the US, and are fully transferable back to your home college or university.

What grading system does BCA use?

We use a letter grading system (A-F) that is transferable to grading equivalencies in the US and other countries.

Additional Expenses

What is provided in the program and what should I plan for?

The tuition covers the cost of the program itself, including field trips, travel to and from Shannon Airport.  The accommodation fees are separate and vary depending on whether you have a single or shared room.  All other expenses are not covered in the tuition or fees and remain the responsibility of the student, including:

• Travel to and from Ireland
• Food and entertainment
• Medical expenses and insurance
• Art materials
• €300 Student Visa registration fees

Estimated Cost of Attendance (15 weeks):

Tuition: €8850

Programme Fee €550

Activity Fee €225

Student Visa registration fee: €300

Accommodation: Single room €3,300, Twin room €2,470

Optional Faculty-Led Trip to Berlin: €720

Food/Groceries: est. €950

Art Materials (varies depending on media): est. €300-€500

Entertainment/in-country travel: €300-€400

Travel to Ireland (varies depending on flight prices) €800-€1500

Misc: €350

 

What is the optional Faculty-Led field trip?

In the Fall semester, we offer an optional Faculty-Led field trip to London, and to Berlin in the Spring semester.  This is a 4-5 day field trip that gives you the opportunity to visit contemporary and historical art galleries and museums with our College faculty in one of the major art hubs in Europe.  Outside of the gallery and museums visits, you will have time to explore the city on your own or with other students.  The fee for the field trip is around €720, and includes your flights and accommodation for the duration of the trip.  Food and entertainment expenses are not included in the fee.

Please note that the optional field trip will not affect your academics, though is an opportunity to experience other parts of Europe.

What about food and groceries?

On the Sunday of your arrival, a grocery shopping stop will be arranged and you will have the opportunity to stock up on supplies at larger supermarkets in nearby towns or cities.  We will take students on additional shopping trips throughout the semester, usually every two weeks, or as needed. Ballyvaughan also has a smaller supermarket open every day and it caters to a wide variety of dietary requirements.

Groceries can also be ordered online from Tesco, SuperValu and Dunnes and there are also pubs and cafes in Ballyvaughan which serve food.

Our cafe on campus offers delicious homemade food at very reasonable prices and caters for most dietary requirements. We do offer a meal plan for students which pre-pays for lunches for 14 weeks of the semester, 4 days a week. For lunch, students can choose to have the hot dish of the day, soup, filled bagels, wraps or salads. The cafe is open on weekdays from 9 am – 2 pm.

Is there an art shop on campus or do I bring my own supplies?

Although we do have a very small art shop on campus, it only caters for very basic items, therefore we recommend that students either bring their own materials or order online from Irish suppliers such as Cork Art Supplies or Cregal Art, which usually deliver within a day or two. The best method is to self- address your order and have it shipped to:

Your name
Burren College of Art
Newtown Castle
Ballyvaughan
Co Clare
H91 H299

NOTE: If you are shipping personal belongings to yourself from outside of Ireland, please follow the instructions on the Revenue website HERE to avoid paying customs charges as a student.

For details on what equipment we have in our campus labs, please visit our Facilities Page HERE.

What clothes should I bring?

The weather in Ireland is very unpredictable even during the summer months and we recommend that you bring clothes for both warm and cool weather, but definitely pack a rainproof jacket, good hiking boots and comfortable clothes. As the program is based in the Burren, it is very likely that you will be walking through uneven, rugged terrain and it is important that you have appropriate footware and clothes. Sun cream and a flashlight are also essential.

More information on what to bring will be found in the Student Handbook, which you will receive once accepted to the program.

 

Accessibility and Support Services

While we endeavour to support the needs of all our students, access to some resources may prove more difficult, given the rural location and small size of the College. For any medical or counselling services we can help you arrange an appointment at the Medical Centre in Ballyvaughan or with our student counsellor. In case of emergency, the closest hospital is in Galway, located at an hour driving distance by taxi or bus.

Please contact our Student affairs advisor, Julia Long at julia@burrencollege.ie, if you wish to discuss any concerns you may have with regard to your health or ability to participate in the Summer School program.

Covid Information

While there are currently no restrictions on travel related to covid, it is still prevalent globally and in Ireland.  For your own safety and those on campus, we recommend that students wear masks while travelling and in crowded public areas to minimize the risk of covid.

Should you have any questions, please contact Lisa Newman at lisa@burrencollege.ie or +353 65 7077200.