Overview 

This six-week summer study abroad program will be based at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology in Northwest Ireland. Students will take courses in Scriptwriting and Documentary studies with an emphasis on Irish literature, culture and history. Students on this program will attend the  Galway Film Fleadh  (festival) in Galway, meet Irish filmmakers who will screen and discuss their work, and visit Dublin and Belfast.

Good to know

• This program can take a maximum of 12 students and recruits early!
• Admission to this program is on a rolling basis, with applications reviewed by the program director as they are received. Early application is strongly recommend.
• Students will meet 6 – 8 times prior to departure to receive the academic background for the coursework, such as researching and writing a prospectus on a documentary topic while still in Athens.
• Once in Ireland, students will work in teams of two and go out into the city of Letterkenny and the surrounding area to do further research and conduct interviews that will be used in their screenplays. 

Living Arrangements 

Students will be housed at  Ballyraine Estates  in 3-bedroom apartments which have kitchen facilities. These accommodations are a 10-minute walk to the Letterkenny Institute of Technology where classes will be held. Several meals will be provided on excursions but students will be responsible for providing their own daily meals. 

Program Dates 

Check back for updated program dates, coming soon.

This program is offered annually and typically opens for application by the beginning of October.

Study Away and COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, participation in study away and abroad involves real and potential personal, financial, and academic risk. The CDC advises that you should delay travel until you are vaccinated. Note that entry to some countries and participation in local program and free-time activities, including in the U.S., may be severely restricted or potentially unavailable to unvaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated travelers should additionally expect to incur extra expenses and onsite logistical challenges due to onsite testing requirements. For further information, contact ogoriskmanagement@ohio.edu. 

Academics  

Students will choose from three of the following four courses to earn a total of 9 credit hours. 

• MDIA 2201 Short Form Scriptwriting (3 cr. hours) 
• MDIA 3600 Producing for Video (3 cr. hours) 
• MDIA 4901 Special Topics: Irish Culture Through Media (3 cr. hours) 
• MDIA 4904 SpecialTopics: Advanced Screenwriting in Ireland (3 cr. hours) 

Cost  

The program fee for this program includes: Student accommodations, excursions, welcome dinner and international medical health insurance. 

In addition to the program fee, students should plan for 9 credit hours of tuition*, administrative fee, and out-of-pocket costs. Below is the student budget worksheet for this program, which outlines these costs.  

An itemized Student Budget Worksheet will be published when the next travel dates are available.

Items that are not related to the program (ie. additional entertainment, souvenirs, extra travel, contingency funds) are not included in the cost estimates provided and should be budgeted for separately.  

*Note: 

• Non-resident surcharge waived for the credit hours associated with this program. 
• If you are nominated to this program, you will be required to pay a deposit to confirm your participation. The deposit is a down payment on the total costs to be billed by OHIO and is determined by the total cost of the program. 

Looking for Funding Opportunities? 

More information on financial aid and scholarships can be found on our funding pages.

*School of Media Arts & Studies students may apply for an internal scholarship through the  Ralph J. Bitzer MDIA Opportunities Scholarship.

Eligibility and Requirements 

This program is open to all Ohio University students, No scriptwriting or production experience is necessary..

The minimum GPA for admission consideration is 2.5 for undergrads and 3.0 for graduate students. Admission to the program will be based on academic performance and an interview. No letters of recommendation are required.

Students who will be on probation at any point during the program for a conduct offense that took place less than a calendar year from the program start date may not study abroad.  Click here to read the entire conduct policy.

This program accepts NON-OHIO students. For more information about this process visit the Non-OHIO student page.   

Participants must have a at least a high school diploma or the equivalent (e.g. GED) by the start date of the program to be considered for eligibility.  Students enrolled in College Credit Plus (CC+) are not eligible for study away programs.

Entry and Exit Requirements 

U.S. citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport when traveling outside of the United States. If you plan to study or travel abroad in the next year,  apply for your passport  now. Some countries also require a visa to legally enter or reside in the country. 

U.S. citizens  will not  need a visa or other special document to enter the country for the length of this program. Please also note that visa requirements may vary if you plan to stay in the country longer than the program dates or travel to other countries during or after the program. Please familiarize yourself with these recommendations and requirements prior to applying to this program. 

For more specific visa related information, please visit OGO’s  Visa Information Page 

Information for  Non-U.S. citizens  can be found  here. 

Resources 

• Health and Safety
• Additional Information on Country 
• Accessibility Requests and Accommodations 

Reviews from Past Participants

"I was set in the country of what my work was going to be based on, I was able to experience a new culture, meet new people, build professional relationships and get professional advice in the field I will be going to." - Past participant on the advantages of taking classes in the host country.

"I had a great time. The work I produced was challenging, but I am proud of what I submitted. I became very close with the other students on the trip and formed relationships/knowledge that you can't get in Ohio." - Past participant on their study abroad experience.

Check out previous participants' blogs to see participants' experiences on the program.