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Your Identity in Ireland

Below you will find information that may help you in planning for your Education Abroad experience. We know it’s not possible to encompass all of your intersecting identities into one page, but we hope the resources listed can serve as a helpful starting point. You are your own best expert. We invite you to meet with your Program Manager or contact our Access and Inclusion Coordinator at inclusionabroad@colorado.edu to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

 

Disability Accommodations

Individuals with disabilities can and do participate in Education Abroad programs, but you may find accessibility and accommodation in different locations to be very different from the United States. For example, in Ireland, anticipate being a pedestrian and/or taking public transport more frequently than you may be accustomed to at CU. Public transport is fully accessible, though city buses accommodate only one wheelchair user at a time. Students may find that sidewalks are narrow and uneven, and cobblestone streets make access difficult in some areas. In general, provisions are in place to assist with accessibility for those with physical disabilities and Ireland has made good progress in this regard in recent decades. While every student’s experience is unique, check out our Disability or Different Abilities while Abroad page for general information, questions to consider, and next steps for studying abroad with a disability and click through the list below for resources relevant to Ireland and your host university. 
 

Resources for Ireland

External Resources

 

University College Dublin Resources
UCD's Disability Support: Students with a disability or significant ongoing illness have the opportunity to receive relevant reasonable accommodations or supports. Documentation confirming the disability or significant ongoing illness is required in order to receive supports. These supports are related to the student's needs and may include academic supports such as awareness supports for your lecturers and/or exam supports such as extra time for exams (10 minutes per hour). To receive these supports students must provide documentation and attend a short meeting called Needs Assessment with UCD Access & Lifelong Learning.
  • Before You Leave: 
    • In order that arrangements can be determined and organized, submit the Health & Wellness Worksheet on your MyCUAbroad checklist and a get letter from CU’s Disability Services that documents your condition and needs and the support that they provide for you.
    • Follow UCD's steps for receiving support:
      • Ensure you have the correct supporting documentation which confirms your disability or diagnosis. Required documents are listed on our UCD Evidence of Disability Form 2023. If you have multiple disabilities, please gather appropriate documentation for each disability.
      • Make an appointment by emailing disability@ucd.ie. You will then be asked to complete a short form on SISWeb and securely upload your documents there. 
      • Attend your Needs Assessment appointment to discuss and confirm your supports.

Gender & Gender Identity

You may find that the level of acceptance differs between Ireland and the United States. In Ireland, students can expect Irish people to be welcoming and respectful of their gender identity in general. Irish legislation is amongst the most progressive in the world with the 2015 Gender Recognition Act allowing those over 18 be recognized by the State as their self-identified true gender.

It's essential to seek local resources and support networks that cater to your specific needs and location. Check out our Gender & Gender Identity resource page, which provides a list of questions, tips, and general resources. Additionally, you can find specific resources related to Ireland and your host university by clicking through the list below.
 

Resources for Ireland

External Resources
 
University College Dublin Resources

Sexual Orientation & Sexuality

Acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community can vary by culture, and you may find your host culture more or less welcoming of your sexual orientation than what you experience in the U.S. Ireland became the first country to legalize gay marriage by a popular vote and in 2018 became one of a handful of countries to have an openly gay head of government. Ireland is an inclusive society where all sexualities are accepted. While everyone’s experience is unique to them, check out our Sexual Orientation & Sexuality resource page for a list of questions, tips, and general resources to explore. Click through the list below for resources specific to Ireland.

 

Resources for Ireland

External Resources

University College Dublin Resources

Racial & Ethnic Identity

Students of different ethnic and racial backgrounds may encounter unique challenges transitioning from life in the U.S. to life as a student living abroad. This experience can vary based on your race/ethnicity as well as your host community. Irish people like to see themselves as welcoming to visitors and are prone to viewing racism as a problem occurring elsewhere in the Anglosphere. Aggressions, both violent and non-violent, with a racial motivation, do occur, as in many cities, but are rare. Victims are rarely international students, more often New Irish. Similarly, Ireland's only indigenous ethnic minority, Irish travelers, are disrespected, ostracized, and isolated by large sections of Irish society. Ireland has historically viewed itself as being downtrodden and disrespected by external powers and Irish people identify closely with other groups. This can be challenging for some students who may not expect to find such an outlook in an overwhelmingly white, relatively advantaged society.

While everyone has different experiences, our Racial & Ethnic Identities Abroad page provides general resources to help you prepare for your time abroad. Check it out in addition to the resources below, specific to studying in Ireland.


Resources for Ireland

External Resources

University College Dublin Resources

Socioeconomic Status

U.S. students are generally perceived as coming from wealth, which is due to how Americans are typically portrayed in media. If you do not feel that this perception matches your identity, this may be a jarring experience at first. How you address this may depend on your budget and/or interest in engaging. A good resource for you will be friends & local program staff who can help you navigate this process and provide tips on the typical cost of goods where you are studying. See the Budgeting page of our Accepted Student Guide for tips on lowering your personal expenses while abroad.

Resources for Ireland

Resources for Families

Do your parents, family, or support systems have concerns about you studying abroad? Have them contact our office to speak to a Program Manager, who can provide further information, address concerns, connect them with additional resources, and refer them to our Diversity & Identity Abroad page.

Education Abroad is committed to serving a culturally diverse community of students and is dedicated to providing inclusive international experiences for students from all backgrounds. Please contact our Access and Inclusion Coordinator at inclusionabroad@colorado.edu with any questions or concerns. Thanks to the CIEE and IES Abroad for many of these tips and resources

Last Updated December 2023