Secondary School in Ireland

The Secondary School Programme to Ireland is open to international students between the ages 15 and 17 who already have a reasonable level of English. Students gain a thorough understanding of Irish culture through living as a temporary member of a carefully selected host family while continuing their education at a local secondary school. Participants applications are screened and placed in one of 13 host communities dotted around the country. Each community has an appointed local coordinator who is a part of the EIL team and mentors and supports the student and the host family for the duration of the programme. Students must show a flexible attitude and be prepared to be located anywhere in Ireland including rural locations.

Students can choose from programme lengths of 15, 22, 26 or 40 weeks with start dates at the end of August and start of January each year.

Mira at school: A photo of Mira from Germany who spent a full academic year going to school in Clonmel.

Details
Photos/Videos
Blogs/Comments
How to apply

Details

What is included in the programme

An on-arrival orientation covering programme issues, cultural introduction to life in Ireland, living in a host family, culture shock.
Full board and lodging with a host family for the duration of the academic semester or year. All families will be interviewed and selected on the basis of their interest in educational exchange and their ability to provide a positive home environment. Host families in Ireland are paid a hospitality allowance.
Enrollment in a local Secondary School
Return transfers from the recommended arrival airport to the host community.
Support and counseling services by the local EIL representative and/or EIL staff member.
24 hour emergency telephone support from the EIL office in Cork.

What is not included in the programme

Flights
Independent travel costs for any day trip away from the host family.
Supplies for school (stationery, pens, school bag etc.), uniform and text books. Students will be advised regarding their purchase on arrival.
Pocket money (approx. €200 per month recommended) for personal use on items such as clothing, cinema, cosmetics and all phone calls and internet use.
Costs for any school trips or excursions, transition year programme costs
Cost of transportation from host family to school.
Insurance can be provided and arranged at an additional cost.

Further information

For students interested in applying please contact us and we would be happy to inform you which of our regional partners are located closest to you.

For overseas partners looking to establish a link to Ireland please contact us for a copy of our partners agreement and more complete information about all aspects of the programme.

Photos/Videos

Blogs/Comments

My Irish Life by Amelie Robrecht

9 Mar 2010 - 4:08pm

Amelie Robrecht participated in EIL's Secondary School Programme in Ireland in 2009/10 academic year for 26 weeks. She lived in Ballybunion, Co. Kerry with her host family, The Ferriter Family, and attended St. Joseph's (Mercy) Secondary School. Here is an essay she wrote about her experiences here in Ireland:

6 Months in Ireland by Kathrin Schneider

2 Mar 2010 - 11:58am

Kathrin Schneider spent from August 2009 to the end of February 2010 in Ireland as a student of EIL and Experiment's Secondary School Programme in Ireland. Kathrin was in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and lived with an Irish host family, the Phelan Family of Lisronagh. Below is a reflection on her experiences here in Ireland:

My life in Ireland

25 Feb 2010 - 11:18am

Hun Bin 'Jackson' Lee is a current exchange student on EIL's Secondary School Programme in Ireland. Originally from Korean, Jackson has been living with a host family and going to school in Colaiste Dun Iascaigh in Cahir since August 2009 and will stay to complete the academic year in June 2010. Here are his reflections on his time spent in Ireland:

Exchange Students in Co. Tipperary have Community Reunion

16 Feb 2010 - 2:21pm

On Saturday, 24th January, 2010 students of the Clonmel/ Cashel/ Cahir host community had a get-together at their local coordinator's home. Susan Phelan hosted the event so that the international students of the community could gather and socialise with one another. As many of them attend different schools and live in different areas, they do not get the opportunity to mix and meet all that often. Also, Susan wanted to welcome and introduce to the group two new exchange students who arrived in early January.

Students Get into the Festive Spirit

11 Feb 2010 - 10:56am

EIL's very own Gorey host community secondary school students were featured before Christmas in an article in the Wexford Echo Newspaper. Avril Brady is the Gorey Local Coordinator, and also runs an English language school. She invited both her English students and her long term international students to a multicultural Christmas bash to celebrate the season:

Study Abroad Can Evoke Strong Emotions

8 Feb 2010 - 1:08pm

I was delighted to have a case study that I wrote about an EIL academic field trip published as a guest blog on the US based website Facultyled.com. Facultyled.com is the leading website for faculty and study abroad professionals interested in developing, marketing, and maintaining faculty-led study abroad. It provides information and resources about study abroad and international travel.

Secondary Exchange Students outing to Cork

13 Oct 2009 - 2:21pm

On Saturday the 10th of October 2009 The Tipperary EIL group had their First of many to come Group Outings. The day was bright and fresh as the International bus departed for Cobh to visit and explore the Cobh heritage centre. All aboard the Bus were in high spirits and excited to be together in a group as many of the students had not met since the official orientation. On arrival to the Heritage centre all students were full of anticipation and curiosity. Here all had the opportunity to explore and absorb some very interesting facts and parts of Irish History.

Homestay day trip in the Comeragh Mountains

21 Aug 2009 - 8:37am

Margaret Walsh, EIL Local Coordinator in Tramore talks about a day trip she organised for 3 particpants currently in Ireland on a homesaty programme in her community. Margaret met up with Paul and Thomas from France and Cornelia from Germany and they set off to explore Mahon falls in the heart of the Comeragh mountains

Comments from past students who have studied in Ireland

16 Mar 2009 - 10:38am

"I really enjoyed my stay in Ireland. In the beginning it was a bit hard for me to get used to all the new things and i sometimes wished to be able to go home. But now, at the end of the programme, I feel really sad to leave my friends and family. It was a great experience to see what life in another country is like and to live with the people from this country." Nora from Germany who spent 5 months in County Meath.

How to apply

Please submit the following documents along with our application form to your local EIL partner organisation. The application form is obtained from the EIL partner organisation in your country.

A "dear host family" letter
A signed copy of our rules and regulations
A medical report
School progress reports
Recommendation letter from your school
Recommendation letter from your English language teacher (if applicable)
3 passport photos