High School Semester in Dublin
Spend a semester abroad in Dublin, Ireland’s lively city of stories, stone towers, and rain-soaked charm.
Step into Dublin, a city where cobblestone streets glisten in the rain, music spills from cozy pubs, and medieval castles rise over the River Liffey. Live with a host family, connect with your cohort, and immerse yourself in Irish culture while studying.
You’ll begin your semester in London, spending the first three weeks with fellow students in CIEE’s Global Gateway Academy. Prepare for a successful semester by forming lasting friendships, building strong intercultural communication skills, and connecting with the local community through impactful service projects.
In Dublin, you'll take in-person classes like Environmental Science, Mixed Media Arts, and Scottish literature and mythology alongside online courses through ASU Prep Global. Classes are small and collaborative, and weekly activities take learning beyond the classroom—into green paces, museums, and beyond, turning your lessons into lived experiences.
Every day is full of Dublin immersion: exploring colorful shops and cozy pubs, trying Gaelic sports, or sharing a meal with your host family. Weekend excursions bring you to Howth’s seaside cliffs and the medieval city of Kilkenny. By semester’s end, you’ll carry home new friendships, fresh perspectives, and confidence that shapes your future.
Why Choose This Program?
Independence & Resilience
Experiencing life abroad shifts how you see the world—and yourself. You’ll return home with a broader perspective that shapes how you approach challenges and opportunities.
College Readiness
Studying abroad gives you the kinds of life skills that can’t be learned in a classroom — and shows college admissions reps that you’re already one step ahead in terms of initiative, maturity, and independence.
Global Citizenship
After immersing yourself in unfamiliar practices and customs, you’ll become better equipped to interact with people from other cultures — in school, on the job, or in your personal life.
93%
said their experience made them more aware of global issues.
79%
said their experience with CIEE helped shape their college applications.
96%
said they regularly use the knowledge and skills they acquired while abroad with CIEE.
The Destination
Welcome to Dublin—a lyrical capital where history, literature, and lively streets flow together.
Perched on Ireland’s east coast, Dublin is home to about a third of the country’s population, yet its streets and squares often carry the charm of a village. Writers like James Joyce and Oscar Wilde immortalized the darkly comic, ironic, mystical spirit of a city marked by resilience, resistance, and revolution.
The River Liffey divides the city into north and south, with bridges linking neighborhoods that are easy to explore on foot or by bicycle. You’ll quickly slip into the rhythm of daily life—studying in a café near Trinity College, pausing in the garden of St. Stephen’s Green, or wandering Temple Bar with its galleries, shops, and folk music spilling into the streets. Take in history at Dublin Castle, a reminder of English rule that lasted more than seven centuries.
The flavor of Dublin is as hearty as its spirit: meat stews, warm soda bread, and evenings in the pub. Oscar Wilde wrote, “Life is too important to be taken seriously”—and nowhere does that ring truer than in Dublin, a city where history, creativity, and good humor make every moment feel playful and alive.
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Sample Itinerary
Top Rated Activities
Ireland’s landscapes and traditions turn learning into adventure. One week you might pick up a hurley for a match, another you’ll find yourself walking among ruins in the mountains. In Dublin, you’ll foster lifelong friendships while strolling historic streets and immersing yourself in a city brimming with culture and creativity.
Gaelic Sports
Step onto the pitch and try Ireland’s national games: Gaelic football and hurling. Gaelic football blends the kicking and passing of soccer with the tackling of rugby—you’ll dribble, punt, and hand-pass the ball as your team drives it toward the posts. Hurling is even faster: with a wooden stick called a hurley, you’ll sprint across the field, striking a small ball, the sliotar, in a game often compared to lacrosse for its speed and intensity. Both sports are exhilarating, physical, and unforgettable.
Glendalough
Hike into the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough, a 6th-century monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin. Misty forests and glacial lakes surround stone churches and Celtic crosses, creating an atmosphere rich with legend. As you wander the valley, you’ll imagine the monks who once studied and prayed here while taking in some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery.
Please note this list of activities is based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to both adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback.
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Eligibility
- Be between the ages of 15 and 17 when the program starts and cannot turn 18 while on program.
- Be in the 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th year of schooling.
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
- Demonstrate, through the application process, flexibility, maturity, adaptability, and readiness to face the challenges of living in a new culture.
Dates & Fees
Priority deadline discount: Apply to a fall semester or academic year by February 15 and get a $400 discount. Apply to a spring semester by July 15 and get a $400 discount. Discounts are deducted from final balance.
High school abroad participants are NOT authorized to volunteer, take jobs, or seek employment during their stay.
Additional information about insurance can be found on the FAQ page.
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
*Dates for this program are tentative. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Program Balance | $18,500 |
| Total Fees | $18,500 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Program Balance | $18,500 |
| Total Fees | $18,500 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Ready to change your life?
Staff
Enda O’Connell
Center Director
Enda is responsible for overall management of CIEE Dublin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Primary Education Teaching from Dublin City University and the equivalent of a Master’s degree in...