There are many things to prepare for and organize before your departure from your home country to your study abroad location. Essential information will be communicated to you via email after you are accepted to FIE.
In addition to any home-school preparation students might have, pre-departure orientation sessions led by FIE staff take place online and sometimes on partner campuses to get you ready for your study abroad experience.
In the months prior to your arrival, you'll receive important information about your study abroad program through our 'Preparing for Dublin' email series. These communications will include important information on your programme such as immigration information, semester dates, accommodation details, what to pack, guidelines on health, safety and medication and much more.
You must check your email inbox (including your junk mail) regularly so that you don't miss any important communications. We also recommend that you add any @fie.org.uk emails to your safe senders list. Please also ensure that the email address that you provided on your application is correct.
US passport holders do not require a visa to study and/or intern in Ireland.
Full information on immigration requirements will be emailed to you after your acceptance to the FIE Dublin program.
Before Arrival in Ireland
Prepare for border control
You will need to prove that you have a valid reason for entering Ireland to an immigration officer at border control.
To do so you will need your passport (valid for 6 months post-program end-date), acceptance letter from Dublin Academic Institution (DBS, UCD, TCD) and further documents.
You must also prove that you can support yourself financially after you enter the country.
After Arrival in Ireland
Apply for permission to stay & register with immigration
After you enter the country, you must apply for permission to stay in Ireland and register with immigration before the date stamped on your passport at border control.
FIE Staff have made these appointments on your behalf. You will receive advice on what you need to attend the appointment.
Leaving & Returning to Ireland
If you plan to leave and come back to Ireland during your stay, you must prove to an immigration officer that you have a valid reason to enter Ireland every time you return.
Make sure you have any necessary documents with you for each return journey before you travel.
Before Arrival in Ireland
Prepare for border control: when you arrive in Ireland you will be asked for your passport or nationality identity card by an immigration officer at border control.
If you cannot satisfy the immigration officer, you will not be allowed into the country.
After Arrival in Ireland
Staying in Ireland for more than 90 days
You can stay in Ireland for any reason up to 90 days. You can continue to stay in Ireland after 90 days if you can support yourself (& your family, if appropriate) financially.
If a Visa is not needed
Please see information provided for US Passport Holders
If a Visa is needed
Please follow full information on the INIS website from the link above.
The following information is a general overview of the process.
Before Arrival in Ireland
Apply for a Student Visa
After you have paid for your course, you can apply for a long stay Study Visa.
You will not be allowed to come to Ireland without a visa.
Prepare for Border Control
You will need to prove that you have a valid reason for entering Ireland to an immigration officer at border control.
To do so you will need your passport (valid for 6 months post program end-date), visa, proof you have enrolled on a course (e.g. printed confirmation) and other documents.
If you cannot satisfy the immigration officer, you will not be allowed into Ireland.
After Arrival in Ireland
Apply for permission to stay and register with immigration
After you enter the country, you must apply for permission to stay in Ireland and register with immigration before the date stamped on your passport at border control.
FIE Staff have made these appointments on your behalf. You will receive advice on what you need to attend the appointment.
Travel to Northern Ireland and United Kingdom
You cannot travel to Northern Ireland using an Irish visa. You need a visa issued by the United Kingdom.
If you travel from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland and then wish to return to the Republic, you must have a Re-Entry Visa.
You must hold a valid Certificate of Registration (also called an 'Irish Residence Permit') to apply for a Re-entry Visa.
Leaving & Returning to Ireland
If you plan to leave and come back to Ireland during your stay, you must apply for a Re-Entry Visa. This can be done on arrival in Dublin.
You must hold a valid Certificate of Registration (also called an 'Irish Residence Permit') to apply for a Re-entry Visa.
US passport holders do not require a visa to study and/or intern in Ireland.
Full information on immigration requirements will be emailed to you after your acceptance to the FIE Dublin program.
Before Arrival in Ireland
Prepare for border control
You will need to prove that you have a valid reason for entering Ireland to an immigration officer at border control.
To do so you will need your passport (valid for 6 months post program end-date), program acceptance letter, and further documents.
You must also prove that you can support yourself financially after you enter the country.
After Arrival in Ireland
Leaving & returning to Ireland
If you plan to leave and come back to Ireland during your stay, you must prove to an immigration officer that you have a valid reason to enter Ireland every time you return.
Make sure you have any necessary documents with you for each return journey before you travel.
Before Arrival in Ireland
Prepare for border control: when you arrive in Ireland you will be asked for your passport or national identity card by an immigration officer
If you cannot satisfy the immigration officer, you will not be allowed into the country.
After Arrival in Ireland
Staying in Ireland for more than 90 days
You can stay in Ireland for any reason up to 90 days. You can continue to stay in Ireland after 90 days if you can support yourself (& your family, if appropriate) financially.
If a Visa is not needed
Please see information provided for US Passport Holders
If a Visa is needed
Please follow full information on the INIS website from the link above.
The following information is a general overview of the process.
Before Arrival in Ireland
Apply for a Tourist Visa
After you have paid for your program, you can apply for a Visit (Tourist) Visa.
You will not be allowed to come to Ireland without a visa.
If you plan to travel during your program, you should apply for a Multi-Entry Visa.
Prepare for Border Control
You will need to prove that you have a valid reason for entering Ireland to an immigration officer at border control.
To do so you will need your passport (valid for 6 months post-program end-date), visa, proof you have enrolled on a course (e.g. printed confirmation) and other documents.
If you cannot satisfy the immigration officer, you will not be allowed into Ireland.
After you Arrive
Travel to Northern Ireland and United Kingdom
You cannot travel to Northern Ireland using an Irish visa. You need a visa issued by the United Kingdom.
If you travel from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland and then wish to return to the Republic, you must enter Ireland with a Multi-Entry Visa.
At FIE, your safety and security is our primary concern. In addition to the regularly scheduled safety and security information, you will receive as part of your countdown emails and orientation, we wanted to pass on some tips and guidance now that will help you as you get ready for life abroad:
As always, it is best to be proactive about things like these – if you have questions about your health and safety while preparing for your time in Dublin, please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Study abroad students of all backgrounds face unique challenges in adjusting to their host country and cultural nuances. FIE encourages students to reflect that as a study abroad student, you bring more than just physical belongings with you to the host country, but also your personal culture, background, experience, values, interests, and identity.
FIE seeks to support students with their adjustment process as much as possible. As you are preparing to apply for your FIE study abroad program, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, concerns, and support needs around aspects related to your identities, such as diversity, background, LGBTQ+, religion and faith, first-generation, disabilities, veteran or any other aspects related to your own self.
If you are interested in setting up a time to talk with an FIE staff member about these concerns, please email our Diversity & Inclusivity Leads at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
There are many things to prepare for and organize before your departure from your home country to your study abroad location. Essential information will be communicated to you through your student portal and email after you are accepted to FIE.
In addition to any home-school preparation students might have, pre-departure orientations on partner campuses are often conducted by a visiting FIE staff member. You will also be emailed pre-departure guides to help them with their preparation.
Preparing for london emails
Prior to your arrival, you will receive important information about your program through our 'Preparing for London' email series. Please check your Inbox and Junk regularly! Please ensure that the email address that you provided on your application is correct.
You will receive the following communications:
In this email from the Administration Team ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), you’ll receive information about the FIE Kensington Campus, details on registering for the US State Department STEP service and reminders to complete questionnaires and materials through the STEP Registration.
In this email from the Experiential Education Team (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), you’ll receive information about your FIE Internship Mentor, your Internship and Interview Schedule, what to pack for your internship, and a reminder about your Internship Seminars and the required text.
In this email from the Academic Team (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), you’ll receive information about Courses and Syllabi, textbooks and reading packs, academic accommodations, Writing Support Tutors, mental health, and guidance if you’re bringing medications to the UK.
In this email from the Residence Life Team, you’ll receive information about our team of Residence Life Supervisors, the residence where you’ll be living, your mailing address, the local area, arriving in London, and details of where and when to check-in.
In this email from the Student Life Team ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), you’ll receive information about activities, counseling & mental health, medical services, travel insurance, gyms & fitness facilities, as well as some preliminary information on orientations and arriving in London.
IMMIGRATION INFORMATION
Please see the following information to determine the type of visa you require. You will get the password to access our immigration guides once you have received an offer to study with us.
Internship, Service Internship, and Service Learning programs:
For most students, the steps to obtain a visa are usually as follows:
Step 1: Complete a visa application online by using the supporting information provided by FIE (which you will receive once you have completed your application and received an offer)
Step 2: Pay for your application and attend a biometric appointment near you
Step 3: Mail your documents (passport, etc.) to ‘UK Visas & Immigration’ in New York City (if you are currently residing in the US)
Step 4: Within 6-8 weeks (timeframe may be subject to change) - receive your passport back with a visa vignette (sticker) inside
Please note:
Study only programs
Visa nationals and non-visa nationals: check this webpage for more information- Appendix 2 / Visa nationals list): if your country is not listed, you are a non-visa national
If you have questions about your visa and whether you can volunteer, please contact FIE’s Immigration and Compliance Officer
STAYING SAFE AND CONNECTED
At FIE, your safety and security is our primary concern. Expect regular communication from FIE during your program, with guidance on how to stay safe in London and further afield. Before your arrive, read through our personal safety, health and emergency incidents webpages, and prepare the following:
You must have a working and accessible cell phone and provide your phone number to FIE. You can submit your cell phone number via the ‘Contact Number While Abroad’ questionnaire on the application portal. If your phone number changes upon arrival or during your time in London, you must update your number via this portal – you can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any issues using the site.
On the Student Life FAQ page, you’ll find guidance on buying a UK cell phone, SIM card, or phone plan along with a local area map which shows our nearest phone stores.
FIE offers 24 hour support, 7 days a week. If you need urgent support while studying abroad with us, you can contact our emergency number on: +44 (0) 207 808 0131. An alternate line is also available as a back-up: +44 (0) 207 589 0728. We advise you to save both of these numbers to your phone in advance of your arrival in London.
Please be aware that the number for the UK emergency services is 999.
If you are a U.S citizen or U.S national, register with the U.S. State Department's free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This will enable you to receive security messages, as well as make it easier for your nearest U.S Embassy or Consulate to locate you with information and support should an emergency arise. Please note that the US Embassy London is located at 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US.
If you are a non U.S citizen or national, check with your embassy, consulate or high commission in the UK to see if there is a similar registration program – a full list, along with addresses and contact details, can be found here on the UK government website.
You will be covered by FIE’s Endsleigh Travel Insurance group policy, unless this coverage has been waived by your home institution. Please visit our insurance page and read through all the information and policy documents carefully before your depart.
Whether you are covered by FIE’s group policy with Endsleigh or with another insurer, we advise you to save both the policy documents and the insurer’s emergency numbers to your phone, so that you can easily access these in case of an emergency.
WHAT TO PACK & OTHER ARRIVAL FAQS
It can be hard to know what to bring with you for your study abroad program in London. For a helpful list of what to pack and for answers to other frequently asked questions, visit our Arrival FAQ page.
DIVERSITY INQUIRIES
Study abroad students of all backgrounds face unique challenges in adjusting to their host country and cultural nuances. FIE encourages students to reflect that as a study abroad student, you bring more than just physical belongings with you to the host country, but also your personal culture, background, experience, values, interests, and identity.
FIE seeks to support students with their adjustment process as much as possible. As you are preparing to apply for your FIE study abroad programme, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, concerns and support needs around aspects related to your identity, such as diversity, background, LGBTQ+, religion and faith, first generation, disabilities, veteran or any other aspects related to your own self.
If you are interested in setting up a time to talk with an FIE staff member about these concerns, please email our Diversity & Inclusivity Leads at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Residence Life Supervisors (RLS) are situated in all FIE residences. They are available to assist you with various residence life questions and concerns outside of Foundation House office hours. They're also a great source of info about London life, including places to get discounts, find specific types of food, nightlife, and travel! Unlike many US universities, FIE RLS are not undergraduate students. We are proud to have an elite team of academics pursuing postgraduate study or employed in the education sector in London.
Residence Life Supervisors operate an on-call system and there is always one available during weeknights and weekends. If you require their assistance or support, contact the Facilities Support Desk at Metrogate House who will then send out the RLS on-call:
+44 (0)207 808 0130
+44 (0)207 808 0131 (Emergency Number)
General queries regarding Residence Life can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
General queries regarding Facilities and Housekeeping can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (remember, you can report non-urgent maintenance issues using our online form)
The RLS seek to foster a truly communal living and learning experience for our students, with a focus on providing diverse, inclusive, and welcoming safe spaces. You'll see them around the halls as well as in Foundation House as many of them hold other positions at FIE such as in the Student Life Team or working as Writing Support Tutors. We hope you get to know our RLS team and utilize their knowledge and talents!
As you prepare to study abroad, you are undoubtedly feeling a variety of emotions: excitement, curiosity, anxiety or even bewilderment. Generally speaking, American students going to English-speaking countries, such as England or Ireland, do not anticipate feeling culture shock because they speak the same language. Students and travelers going to non-English speaking countries are often better prepared to experience difficulties in communication and interpreting cultural clues because of the language barrier. Students studying in English-speaking countries are faced with subtle, more disguised differences that can take them by surprise.
Be prepared to undergo some culture shock. There are lots of adjustments that you will need to make in your habits and attitude, but keep an open mind and take it in stride. Moving to any new country is a real challenge, but it is also a very exciting opportunity to learn.
Culture shock affects everyone differently - some people feel the impact in the first few days because of all the changes, while others find themselves feeling homesick weeks later after the novelty of the new place has worn off. Remember you're all going through this together and everyone experiences some form of it.
A feeling of confusion, doubt, or nervousness caused by being in a place (such as a foreign country) that is very different from what you are used to. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
STAGE 1: THE HONEYMOON STAGE |
STAGE 2: THE HOSTILITY STAGE |
STAGE 3: THE HUMOR STAGE |
STAGE 4: THE HOME STAGE |
Characterized by exhilaration, anticipation and excitement. The individual is fascinated with everything that is new. An individual in this stage will often demonstrate an eagerness to please, a spirit of cooperation, and an active interest in new things. They will gloss over misunderstandings and frustration. When these emotions build, they often enter stage 2. | Characterized by frustration, anger, anxiety, and sometimes depression. Following the initial excitement is a frustration with the bureaucracy. Sleeping and eating patterns may be disrupted. Sometimes individuals react to this frustration by rejecting the new environment in which they feel discomfort. The internal reasoning might be, “If I feel bad, it’s because of them,” thus blaming the external environment for the bad internal feelings. | When the individual of another culture begins to relax in a new situation and begins to laugh at minor mistakes and misunderstandings that previously would have caused major headaches. This more relaxed stage occurs after the individual has made some friends and is able to manage the complexity of the new environment, understand the work, and experience successes. | Occurs when the individual not only retains allegiance to his or her home culture, but also ‘feels at home’ in his or her newly acquired one. This student has successfully adjusted to the norms and standards of the new environment and should be commended for the ability to live successfully in two cultures. |
If you find yourself feeling a little culture shocked or homesick, it helps if you set goals:
Resources available:
Additionally, familiarize yourself with current events and pop culture in your new city. Read local papers and magazines; watch local television and listen to local radio stations. Contact the Student Life Team in London or the FIE Dublin Team with any concerns or questions you have about culture shock. Before you know it, you'll find that your new city feels like home.
Once you've grown accustomed to life in London or Dublin, the time will come to return home. You may find that you have changed and grown with your experiences abroad and that it is difficult to assimilate back into life in your home country. Read more about Reverse Culture Shock after leaving your study abroad program in the When You Get Back - Reverse Culture Shock page.
Telephone UK: + 44 (0) 20 7591 7750
Telephone USA: +1 800 856 4358
Telephone IE: + 353 1 679 8171
General inquiries: studyabroad@fie.org.uk
Admissions inquiries: info@fie.org.uk
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