Summer High School Program

Unfortunately, we can only accept students who will be turning 16 before the start date of the program.  However, you will be eligible to attend the program the summer before your senior year, and we would love to welcome you then! 

There is no college credit awarded for the completion of the UCD High School Summer Program, though you will receive a certificate upon completion.

The program fees do not include airfare to/from Dublin. Students will need to arrange and pay for their own flights from the US to Dublin, to arrive in time for the start of the program.

The UCD High School Program staff will be stationed in the Dublin Airport on the first day and will meet you in the Arrivals area just beyond baggage claim.  Our program staff will then escort you directly to UCD’s campus.  We’ll be wearing UCD shirts and carrying a UCD banner, but we’ll also make sure to circulate our photos ahead of time so you know who to look for. 

We will also accompany you back to Dublin Airport on the last day, leaving UCD’s campus in plenty of time for you to check in and go through security and customs before your flight departs to the United States.

Students may be dropped off at and/or picked up from UCD directly on the first and/or final days of the program. All students must be signed in and out by a parent or designated guardian.  We’ll provide exact times and locations as the program start/end dates approach.

You will be living in one of ouron-campus residences, which are within a 5-10 minute walk of just about everything you’ll be doing on campus. You will have a private room with a bed and desk (bedclothes and a towel are provided), and you will share kitchen and bathroom facilities with the other students in your apartment. Each student will be allocated to a room on arrival.

A typical day will begin with breakfast at 8.30, followed by a number of different activities.

These different activities can include Irish history and culture lectures, workshops with our academic Colleges, and/or a cultural activity around the city.

There will also be several excursions from UCD to sites of cultural/historical significance. Evenings will either be a fun cultural activity or designated free time to rest and recharge for the next day. We’ll send out a more detailed itinerary closer to the program start date.

You will be doing a few group projects that will require some outside research, so if you have a laptop, please bring it with you. However, if you do not have a laptop, you are not required to purchase one for this program.

Because you will be in Ireland for a short time, there is no need for you to purchase an Irish phone. However, we do ask that you bring a working phone with you so that our program staff can contact you in case of emergency. Please check with your phone provider to ensure that you will have service while in Ireland; many American providers have inexpensive supplemental plans for international travel.

There is free wireless internet throughout UCD’s campus and in the residences, so if you have a laptop, iPad or smartphone, you will be able to message, Skype and FaceTime to your heart’s content!

We will also provide your parents with our Program mobile phone number (for emergencies), in case they need to contact you or the Program staff.

Our campus cafeteria can accommodate most food sensitivities (dairy, gluten, nuts, vegan, etc.) and also provides vegetarian/vegan options at every meal.

You must let us know ahead of time if you have an allergies or dietary restriction so we can make provisions for you. If we are not made aware of any dietary requirements or preferences ahead of time, it will be more difficult to make accommodations for you. 

While we certainly hope that this won’t happen, there are many services available if you require medical attention while participating in our program.

We ask that you bring any medications (prescription and non-prescription) that you take frequently with you from home; however, if you need to buy over-the-counter medication you can do so at the UCD Pharmacy on campus.

For non-emergency illnesses and injuries, there are two clinics very close to campus that one of our staff members will be glad to accompany you to if needed. Saint Vincent’s University Hospital is also less than 10 minutes away if an emergency arises.

Please note that all medical expenses are your responsibility to pay for, and that you are required to have insurance that will cover you during your stay in Ireland.

I have friends/family in Ireland.  Am I allowed to visit them?

Students are required to attend ALL program activities throughout the duration of the program, and no student is to leave UCD’s campus unaccompanied at any time. If you would like to visit a family member or family friend, you may only do so during designated personal time with express written permission by a parent. Program deviations are limited to 2 instances and require 72 hours notice to be approved by the Program Manager. Overnight program deviations will not be permitted. 

Due to health and safety regulations pertaining to students under the age of 18, students will not be permitted to swim in the ocean at any time.

There is a 50 metre, Olympic-sized pool on UCD’s campus which our Program Managers can arrange for you to visit.

The High School Summer Program is run entirely in English. 

In Ireland, both Irish and English are the official languages and though you will not need to know Irish to take part in the program or to travel around Ireland, it is a wonderful and fascinating language. You should take time before the program starts to explore and learn a bit of Irish to get to know Irish culture.

No visitors are permitted in your UCD Residence, and no individuals that are not a part of the Program can stay overnight in your Residence.