Welcome, Céad míle fáilte! The Foundation for International Education (FIE) is excited to offer University of Miami freshman students the opportunity to enrol as full-time college students for the fall 2025 semester at Dublin Business School (DBS).
The country of Ireland is one of Europe’s most popular travel destinations, filled with beautiful music, historic literature and culture, breathtaking landscapes, and friendly locals. Ireland’s largest city and the country’s capital, Dublin is located on the east coast and is often described as the historical and cultural center of the country.
Famous as a literary capital, Dublin is known for producing such notable writers as Nobel laureate William Butler Yeats, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and Jonathan Swift with endless opportunities for learning, culture, sports, arts, and recreation. Below you will find more information of this amazing opportunity being offered to University of Miami students to experience their freshman fall 2025 semester in this unique and life changing environment.
Want to know more? Read on for further details or visit the University of Miami Start Abroad webpage.
APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2025 NOW OPEN!
About the Program
Who Are We?
Founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit international educational institution, FIE provides customized partnership programs and individual student enrolment programs in London, Dublin, Barcelona, Madrid, and Amman for undergraduate students. Students from over 50 US colleges and universities attend our study abroad programs. We offer full range of semester and summer programs. Students can study a variety of academic subjects while abroad including Art, Business, Communications, History, Literature, Politics, and Theater. FIE supports students not only academically, but with our dedicated Student Life, Residence Life, and Administration teams who provide guidance and assistance on day-to-day matters while abroad.
Program Overview
Prior to the start of your UM academic career in January 2026, the University of Miami welcomes spring starters to participate in Start Abroad in Dublin program, partnering with FIE and Dublin Business School (DBS) for the fall 2025 semester. In doing so students will earn credits with UM equivalences which, upon achieving the equivalent of a C grade or higher, may be transferable towards their full degree program at UM. During the semester in Dublin students will be enriched by the unique cultural and social opportunities and will fine-tune interests and skills as they navigate their first semester abroad. As a student on the Start Abroad in Dublin program, they will:
- Spend their first semester in the beautiful city of Dublin
- Live in an English-speaking city with classes taught in English
- Earn 12-15 semester credits
- Receive a transcript from DBS and from FIE’s School of Record, Marist University
- Experience immersion in Irish culture
- Grow personally, academically and culturally
- Expand your network and form lifelong friends
- Live in guaranteed housing in comfortable apartments
Key Dates
May 1, 2025: Submit your $500 nonrefundable enrollment deposit to confirm your enrollment at University of Miami for the Spring 2026 semester
May 4, 2025: Start Abroad applications due by 11:59 p.m. EDT
May 16, 2025: Students will be notified of admission to the Start Abroad program
Throughout the summer: Attend a mandatory virtual pre-departure orientation and info session. Dates and links will be provided to students as they are assigned.
September 10, 2025: Arrival in Dublin and move in to housing
October 27 to 31, 2025: Reading Week
December 20, 2025: Program ends / housing check-out
Eligibility
Spring-admitted first-year students who deposit by May 1st to UM will be eligible to apply. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please note, completion of the application does not guarantee acceptance into the program and final admissions confirmation to this program will be subject to meeting FIE admissions requirements. More information please visit FIE's Admissions Policy & Procedure.
For questions about admission to the Start Abroad program, please contact the
STUDYING IN DUBLIN
Dublin Business School
DBS is Ireland's largest independent college. With over 9,000 students, DBS provides a comprehensive range of full-time and part-time undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and executive education programmes. A mere two minute walk from St. Stephens Green, the Luas and all main bus routes, DBS is truly in the heart of Dublin city. The educational sites in the prime city centre locations of Aungier Street and George's Street are within a few minutes walking distance of each other and provide students with access to all of the infrastructure capabilities of a vibrant modern capital city.
Over the past 40 years, Dublin Business School (DBS) has developed a strong reputation for its student-centered approach to teaching and for providing a level of academic innovation not usually found in the more traditional Irish universities. You can study more than numbers here. DBS offers a broad range of courses and social opportunities, and its relatively small student population allows for close interaction between students and staff. Study facilities at DBS include the Undergraduate Library and the Postgraduate / Law Library. You have access to all of their up-to-date print and electronic resources including over 50,000 books, 194 print journals, over 750 e-book titles, 45,000 full-text electronic journals and an extensive portfolio of online databases. The libraries provide modern, state-of-the-art facilities for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
With Dublin as your campus where there is always something going on. DBS will provide you with an outstanding study experience that enables strong academic outcomes by promoting a community and culture that is focussed on your well-being and success. DBS sports clubs are student-run and student-led with over 30 clubs there are a huge range of opportunities to train, play and compete in sport, no matter what your passion, ability or level. DBS also has more than 40 student societies, from FinTech and Data Analytics to Fashion, Photography and Debating, there's something for everyone!
Fall Semester Coursework
During the fall semester at DBS, students enrol in 12-15 college credits in full-time status. While DBS has “business school” in its name, it offers a broad array of coursework that is appropriate and relevant for most majors. Elective courses offered will include business, communications, humanities, and social sciences.
First-year Dublin students are required to take the Irish Life and Cultures and *Writing for College courses. Students then select two or three additional courses from DBS’s course offerings. These courses are eligible for transfer to UM as transfer credits. All courses are taught by local professors; instruction is in English. On returning to campus, courses successfully completed with a grade equivalent of a “C” or higher will be eligible for transfer credit. Courses will appear on students’ University of Miami academic records as transfer credit but will not be calculated into their UM Grade Point Average.
*Please note that the University of Miami has confirmed that Writing for College is part of the core curriculum overseas and will transfer back as WRS 105 to ensure that students are on track for their spring semester at the University of Miami.
Electives
The following courses are open to University of Miami students:
DBS Course |
UM Equivalent |
Drama & Theater - A6GA103 |
A&H Cognate |
Film, Cinema, & Screen - A6FM107 |
CCA 206 |
Foundations in Social Psychology - A6PS104 |
P&S Cognate |
History & Politics - A6HC102 |
A&H or P&S Cognate |
Intro to Philosophy - A6PP182 |
A&H Cognate |
Psychological Foundations - A6PS100 |
P&S Cognate |
Marketing Essentials - B6MK117 |
MKT 201 |
Media & Identity - A6FM123 |
STC 290 |
New Media Writing - A6FM103 |
STC 290 |
Literature & Film - A6HC100 |
A&H Cognate |
Literature in the Modern World - A6GA101 |
A&H Cognate |
The Moving Image - A6FM122 |
CCA 103 |
War & Peace in 20th Century - A6GA102 |
A&H or P&S Cognate |
*You are advised to take History & Politics, OR, War & Peace. Not both.
First Year Forward
First Year Forward (FYF) is FIE’s signature first-year, zero-credit academic enhancement program in Dublin. It is grounded in High Impact Education Practices. Each of the sessions within the program have been specifically designed to be grounded in FIE’s values: Sustainability, Ethics and Human Rights and Inclusivity. Recent sessions have included guest speakers from the refugee council and local community tours.
LIVING in Ireland
Immigration
Students with a US passport, or who are not from the European Economic Area (EEA), and are staying in Ireland for more than 90 days to study will need to register with the Irish Immigration Service. The registration fee for this is €300. FIE will assist students with the process once you have arrived in country.
Housing
All FIE student accommodation in located in central Dublin and well served by all of the necessary amenities necessary for the semester experience. Although residences vary, the standard of accommodation will be common throughout with accommodation based on single or twin occupancy bedrooms with a private bathroom.
Please note that whilst many FIE students will be housed at the Binary Hub residence, it is not the only residence used by FIE throughout the year and other residences are used dependent on the semester. Other residences will be of a similar standard to the Binary Hub, with accommodation based on either single or twin bedrooms with their own private bathroom and varying facilities dependent on the residence. Students will be notified of their housing assignment within 30 days of the program start date.
Binary Hub is a purpose-built student residence just south of the River Liffey in central Dublin and FIE's primary student residence as well as the location of the FIE Dublin office. Close to the famous Guinness Storehouse and a multitude of shops and pubs, Binary Hub is a 20-minute walk to Dublin Business School (DBS). Students are typically housed in single or twin rooms with ensuite bathrooms, within 4, 5 or 6 bed apartments – sharing kitchen and common area space with other FIE students. Rooms are provided with a single set of bedlinen and a small towel for each student. Students are responsible for cleaning their own room and communal areas of the apartment, and their laundry. Residents of Binary Hub can access the following on site amenities:
- Wireless internet
- Closet/clothing storage space
- Communal kitchen and dining space in each apartment
- Cookware and kitchen supplies
- Laundry facilities
- Fitness room
- Study lounge
The residence has a 24/7 staffed Reception Desk for any building related enquiries such as maintenance or mail collection. The FIE Dublin Residence Life Supervisors (RLS) live in the building and provide support outside of office hours and throughout the weekend as well as organising community events during the semester. Bedrooms are typically single occupancy but some students may be in twin rooms. Roommate requests are accepted but not guaranteed. Students will only be able to request one student who they would like to share their apartment with (will not be able to make requests to fill the entire apartment). Students will be housed with at least one other UM in Dublin student (subject to change based on the program’s gender balance).
Health and Safety
The health, safety, and well-being of students is of the utmost importance to us here at FIE. Through preparation, orientation, and an open-door office, we ensure that everyone is fully supported throughout the entire study abroad experience. Visit our dedicated Dublin Health and Safety webpage for more information on local support and resources.
In addition to being covered by comprehensive, easy-to-utilize international travel insurance, FIE students also have access to professional counseling services if needed. You can find more detailed information regarding travel insurance, our mental health provision, and our disability policy on the FIE website.
Our Before You Go pages have additional information about what you can do before you travel to ensure you begin your study abroad experience positively and safely.
Transportation
Dublin public transportation is easily accessible and consists of buses and trains conveniently located across the city. Many destinations are within walking distance in the city of Dublin.
Money and Banking
Ireland uses the Euro as its official currency. Once you arrive in Ireland, you'll have access to ATMs to cover your immediate needs. Some places will accept card as a form of payment; however, smaller businesses, some taxis, and local markets still use cash only. It is important for students to notify their bank and creditors that they will be studying in Ireland prior to their arrival to ensure that the bank does not enact fraud procedures and deactivate or lock a student’s bank cards. Students may also want to check with their bank to see what kinds of foreign transaction fees may apply.