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High School Trimester – AFS PEACE Program in Ireland

Experience ‘The Land of a Thousand Welcomes’ through this unique trimester program in Ireland that includes EFIL’s end-of-program PEACE Camp in Belgium.

Study Abroad in Ireland

During this unique trimester program, you’ll spend approximately three months abroad on the “The Emerald Isle” with its glorious scenery and friendly, welcoming people! Ireland offers a wealth of things to see and do, from stunning coastal views and ancient monuments to lively towns and cities. Become immersed in Irish culture while gaining maturity, independence, and confidence!

While studying abroad at a high school in Ireland, you’ll become thoroughly familiar with the Irish way of life by living with a carefully selected host family and attending school in your host community.

You’ll quickly recognize that the Irish know how to have great craic (the Irish word for fun)! Music is central to Irish life and is usually at the heart of each community. Sport is a prominent feature of Irish life, too. Hurling and Gaelic football, Ireland’s two national sports, are the most popular of all.

AFS PEACE Program

The PEACE (Peace through Exchange and Active Citizenship Education) Program is a shared experience offered in several European countries and facilitated by the European Federation for Intercultural Learning (EFIL). Midway through your time in Ireland, you’ll attend an online webinar to prepare for the five-day end-of-stay PEACE Camp and meet fellow participants participating in the program across Europe.

After concluding your experience in Ireland, you’ll travel to Belgium for the PEACE Camp — an end-of-stay orientation and international gathering of AFSers. There, you’ll join AFS students from other countries who also participated in the PEACE Program, coming together for activities and workshops that explore your intercultural journey and support your growth as an active global citizen.

What's included in your experience

  • 70 Years Experience

Scholarships and Aid

We believe in the power of intercultural experiences and the potential of our students! That’s why AFS-USA is committed to making studying abroad more attainable. To be considered, you must complete the scholarship application by the deadline corresponding to your program’s departure. Learn more and view all deadlines below!

Learn More View Deadlines

Eligibility

Graduates Eligible? No, high school graduates are not eligible to participate.
Minimum GPA 2.5
Age Range (at program start) 15 years and 6 months to 17 years and 9 months at start of program
Language Skills No language requirement

Based on differences in culture, strict government regulation of medications, and other local customs, it has been our experience that not all of our international AFS partners are able to support students with certain diagnoses, including but not limited to, severe allergies, strict dietary restrictions, ADD/ADHD, and those currently taking or who have taken psychotropic medications and/or received counseling for mental/psychological issues within the past year. If this applies to you, please get in touch with an AFS Study Abroad Specialist early so that we can determine the right experience for you.

Your Journey to Ireland

Visa Information
AFS will provide visa guidance and support documents (if applicable). Visa processes can be lengthy and complex; you may be required to travel long distances to apply for the visa if there is not an embassy, consulate, etc. close to your home. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond a return date from your host country. We urge you to apply for or renew your passport as soon as possible if applying to an AFS program. We recommend not taking any trips (domestically or internationally) within two months prior to your AFS program as it may interfere with the visa application process and result in a late program start date.

Travel & Orientation
In the months before your departure, AFSers have the opportunity to participate in various preparatory activities, including an online Student Learning Journey, which is an interactive course that brings AFSers from around the world together to learn how to develop essential global skills, intercultural communication techniques, and practice social impact, maximizing the outcomes of the AFS learning experience.

Also during this time, AFS-USA will coordinate and share your international travel with you. You will need to coordinate your own travel to the point of international departure. From there, your journey in Ireland will begin when you land, where you’ll be met by staff and volunteers…as well as your fellow AFSers from around the world! Shortly after arrival, you will attend an arrival orientation and get a crash course on Irish culture, living with a host family, safety, and support structures.

High School Trimester – AFS PEACE Program in Ireland

Housing and Meals

Students may be placed all over Ireland, but you’ll most likely find yourself living in a rural area. Ireland is world-famous for its use of the potato in dishes such as Irish stew, shepherd’s pie, bacon and cabbage (with potatoes), boxty, coddle, and colcannon! Expect your Irish dining experiences to be easygoing and informal, with quality homegrown produce and wholesome ingredients. Plus, Irish cuisine is constantly evolving with wonderful new recipes emerging from its top cooking schools and Michelin star chefs, so you’ll receive an appetizing blend of traditional and modern Irish cuisine!

Unlike many other destinations where host families volunteer their time, host families in Ireland are typically compensated for providing room and board. This reflects the local norm in Ireland — virtually all schools and host-family networks there include payment arrangements for families hosting international secondary-school students.

High School Trimester – AFS PEACE Program in Ireland (1)

Your High School in Ireland

The Irish school system varies significantly from the U.S. school system. Students are typically placed in the equivalent of the U.S. Junior or Senior year, the placement for which is subject to the determination and availability of your host school and cannot be guaranteed. While Junior year typically focuses on project-based learning, Senior year usually emphasizes earning certificates. Both tracks provide an exceptional and immersive learning experience.

Visa Info

Do I need a visa/residence permit for Greece? YES. Visa + Residence Permit
How do I apply for the visa? (By mail, In-person, In host country) In host country
Visa/Residence Permit Process Difficulty Level (Easy, Average, Complex) Average
Estimated Visa/Residence Permit Expenses
($ – $$$)		 $
Frequently Asked Visa Questions Visit our general visa FAQ page for more information.

What's Included

What’s Included

  • 75+ years of experience delivering high-quality programs through a worldwide network of 30,000 dedicated volunteers 
  • Accommodations with a vetted host family 
  • Round-trip international airfare for the designated program dates 
  • School enrollment fees 
  • Worldwide, 24-hour emergency assistance 
  • Access to an in-country support team and network, as well as our Participant Support Department based here in the U.S. 
  • Orientations and intercultural education before and during your program
  • International secondary medical travel coverage
  • Visa support and guidance
  • Inclusion in a worldwide returnee and alumni network of over 1,000,000 people
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Returning Home

“Life-changing” is hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad. “Transformed” is another one. When you return home from your study abroad in Ireland, you’ll bring with you a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. You’ll have gained maturity and independence, discovered new passions, and developed the confidence and resilience to accomplish anything you set out to do.

That transformation isn’t only visible to you, though – others see it as well. AFSers gain critical skills for college and careers. Second language fluency, intercultural competence, creativity, and critical reasoning will help you succeed, whatever path you take. “Life-changing” means it’s only the beginning. It’s not just an adventure abroad; it’s a whole new reality. The perspectives and personal connections you gained will stay with you and likely draw you back to the second home you found in Ireland.

In fact, our alumni reviews have made AFS one of the top-rated organizations in the study abroad industry.