
The History of Ireland
Revolutionaries, rich traditions, religious conflicts and more will guide this historical tour across Ireland
Learn about places and spaces of authority in Irish history, and examine how Irish women have shaped political and social developments since the beginning of its recorded history. We'll explore the iconic settings and rich traditions of Ireland and experience contemporary Irish life. This GSP will help students to explore various aspects of Irish history through direct experience in the culture.
In an interdisciplinary approach, employing tools from social and cultural history, theology, gender studies, and military history, for example, students will learn about Irish history first hand. The program’s itinerary is designed to maximize participants' exposure to important locations throughout Ireland, in and around Belfast, Derry, Roscommon, Cork, and Dublin. Students will find themselves immersed in a culturally dynamic experience through interactions with local experts, public memorials, cultural institutions, and ordinary people.
Key information
Application information
Student experience

Teaching on site
Jasmine Dack
Have questions?
For program information, please contact Dr. Glenn Wilkinson (grwilkin@ucalgary.ca) or Dr. Laurel Halladay (laurelh@athabascau.ca)
For application and registration support, please contact the Group Study Team at group.study@ucalgary.ca
Travel advisory for Ireland
Lonely Planet Guide for Ireland
Student Blog from 2022: Embracing Opportunity
Info Session
Info Session from Oct 20, 2023
Program details
Students must take both of the listed courses.
Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.
Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.
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Courses Offered
HTST 493.15: Special Topics in History: Women in Irish History (3 units)
HTST 493.58: Special Topics in History: Places and Spaces of Authority in Irish History (3 units) -
Prerequisites
Both courses require consent of the department for to enroll
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Pre-departure
Date TBD: Pre-departure orientation on campus
May 1 Pre-departure session SS 623, 10AM-12PM, 1-3PM
May 2 Pre-departure session SS 623, 10AM-12PM, 1-3PM
Attendance at the Pre-departure sessions is mandatory.
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In-field
May 3: Depart from Calgary to Belfast, via Dublin
May 4 - 7: Belfast
May 8 - 10: Derry
May 11 - 13: Roscommon
May 14 - 17: Cork
May 18 - 23: Dublin
May 24: Depart Dublin for Calgary or further travel
For a detailed itinerary, click here
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Post-field
Final assignments due.
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Costs
The estimated cost of The History of Ireland Group Study Program is $8,905. This includes tuition, airfare, field trips, local transportation, accommodations and meals.
For the full cost breakdown and payment deadlines, please see the program Student Cost Summary.
Important information regarding deposit payments: Deposits are non-refundable. Deposits secure your space in the program and allows payment for logistical arrangements to be made in advance.
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Funding
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Faculty of Arts Group Study Program (GSP) Scholarships (for GSP participants) and Faculty of Arts Student Study Abroad Scholarships (for other international programs) - up to 10 awards of $1000 each! Application not currently open. Details to come.
Student loans: If you qualify for student loans, your program should qualify. Please note that eligibility for student loans is determined by your loans provider.
Students will stay at safe, clean and student appropriate accommodations.
The places we're staying on this group study program are all 3 or 4-star hotels, and each includes a substantial full-Irish breakfast. The hotels are centrally located, owned by Irish companies and employing Irish people, and are known to be friendly, safe, and superlative accommodations.
This program is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing from all faculties.
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Program Specific Questions
All programs have general questions about how this program will meet your goals (academic reasons, personal interest, career prospects, etc.), how you plan to finance your program and coping skills. This program also has several questions from the professor that will need to be filled out.
Note: Because the online application will time out after one hour, we recommend that you copy the questions in advance to work on in Word to check for spelling, grammar and word count, and then paste it into the online application.
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Unofficial Transcript
- Download an unofficial transcript from your Student Centre. Click here for a step-by-step guide to access your unofficial transcript.
- Submit your transcript through your online application with your statement of purpose.
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Discussion with instructor
If your instructor has any further questions, they will contact you to clarify via email or in-person.
Once they have determined that you are a good fit for the program, your advisor will email you with a notification of your acceptance and your next steps.
Please ensure that you have read the Group Study Program General FAQs thoroughly before applying.
It was incredible to be surrounded by so much information all the time, whether through museums, professors, tour guides, road signs, books, or people we passed on the street. I truly learned something new every day.
Sabrina
Past Participant
Getting started
Program-Specific Info Sessions
Info sessions are scheduled for every Group Study Program. Attending an info session is not required to apply, but strongly recommended as it will give you an opportunity to meet the instructor and learn more about the travel experience.
We also recommend watching Global Learning 101 for general information.
Global Learning Advising
If you have questions about this program, you can meet with one of our Global Learning Advisors by emailing group.study@ucalgary.ca or booking an appointment through the link below.
1. Select "Advising"
2. Select “Study Abroad”
3. Select “Book by Appointment Type”
4. Select your program advisor to view available times.
Academic Advising
Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how a Group Study Program might align with your degree.
After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.