The Irish American Scholars Program (IAS) was created in 1994 by Presbyterians and Catholics in the US and Northern Ireland to help bring peace to a troubled part of the world.
U.S. colleges—Presbyterian, Catholic and Methodist—agreed to waive tuition to host students. Students wishing to participate in this exchange can choose to study at the following universities:
•Belfast Metropolitan College:
Belfast Metropolitan College specializes in educating students with strong career goals in vocational areas such as business, marketing, computing, communication and Irish studies.
•Queens University Belfast:
Queens University Belfast is one of the 20 top research-intensive institutions in the United Kingdom. While the university does not offer courses in all disciplines, most U.S. students will find appropriate subjects at Queens University.
•University of Ulster:
University of Ulster has a national and international reputation for excellence. With four distinct campuses across Northern Ireland, students are placed at a specific campus based on their field of study.
•St. Mary’s University College:
St. Mary’s University College specializes in liberal arts and teacher training, and is integrated into the larger Queen’s University system. In 2011, St. Mary’s was ranked third among all universities in the United Kingdom for student satisfaction with their overall university experience.
•Stranmillis University College:
Stranmillis University College is highly recognized for its teacher training curriculum, but also offers courses in early childhood and health and leisure studies. Stranmillis is a college within the system of Queen’s University Belfast.

Selection of the student will be based on:
• GPA - minimum 3.2
• Student Essay
• Interviews (when necessary)
• Other information, such as the student’s major and intent with the program
Selective applications for the IAS program can be found on this site. Once accepted, the student will work with his/her study abroad advisor in the CIE office to complete a separate application and paperwork for the Irish American Scholars Program. Deadlines for the IAS application are generally due by early-mid January.

Accepted students would attend either Fall OR Spring semester.