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Institute of Technology Carlow

4.75 Rating
This organization has been expired and its programs are no longer offered.

Why choose Institute of Technology Carlow?

IT Carlow is located in the centre of Ireland’s South Leinster region and is approximately one hour from Dublin. IT Carlow is the fourth-largest Institute out of 14 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) in the country with a student population of 7,000 students. Irish students have ranked IT Carlow in the top three of the 14 IoTs for our internationally recognized degree programs. IT Carlow also provides a range of postgraduate courses that progress all the way up to PhD level. We have a large international cohort of students drawn from all around the world including Canada, USA, Finland, China, Malaysia, India, Nigeria and Oman to name just a few countries.

In 2014 IT Carlow was named the Sunday Times Institute of Technology of the Year. The judges stated that the Institute was deserving of the title “off the back of a strong academic performance, a high completion rate and a good record in the graduate jobs market”.

Website
www.itcarlow.ie
Founded
1970
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Reviews

Default avatar
Harrison
32
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Study Abroad at Institute of Technology Carlow

Feel At Home At I.T. Carlow

Dec 15, 2015

The Institute of Technology Carlow has worked very hard to ensure that I feel at home at the institution. Studying abroad is about stepping outside of your comfort zone to achieve results and success that come with pushing yourself. In particular, the international and sports offices give me a sense of comfort that balances that challenge of studying abroad with a genuine sense of being at home within a program.

The course I am pursuing is different for me in the assessment of knowledge throughout the semester but the faculty and staff always available to help and guide when need be. The coursework is challenging but interactive and dynamic in the approach to effectively teach students.

I experienced a very sudden and tragic event from back home during my first few days at I.T. Carlow. The embrace and comfort shown by the entire staff was everything I could have asked for. They put my needs first, concentrating on my well being and helped me get back on track when I was ready. This relieved a great deal of stress and reinforced my interest in studying at the Institute of Technology Carlow.

What would you improve about this program?
I would change the assessment of the knowledge for the students. I believe that some knowledge should be assessed through exams and not just assignment based practice. This puts a lot of focus on research instead of knowledge and content of the subject being taught.
Default avatar
Patrick
33
Male
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Study Abroad at Institute of Technology Carlow

My Time at Carlow IT

Dec 15, 2015

I had an unforgettable experience at IT Carlow. I was exposed to a small authentic irish town, got the opportunity to continue to play basketball for the college, perform music at local pubs through the music society, and most importantly enhance my business skills and knowledge through the master's program. The small town vibe in a unique experience that you would not get in Dublin or Galway where it is very common to have tourists. After a year abroad I feel that my perspective on life in general has been altered. I'm not saying that I have personally changed a great deal, but I can be more empathetic to another way of life and variance of values. It helps with all aspects of life when you have to interact or do business with different types of people. I truly have grown up and feel that I am better off going to IT Carlow for my masters and upon my return it has been a key differentiator for job opportunities versus other domestic graduates.

What would you improve about this program?
The town is very small and if you come from a big city in the states, the repetition and lack of choices can be frustrating. I personally came from Philadelphia so I was used to a big city feel. It was for sure an adjustment.

Also, administrative tasks in general in Ireland take twice as long so patience is a virtue. Being a yank from the northeast, I had expectations of extremely high efficiency and found myself annoyed at the relaxed atmosphere when I was trying to get things done.
Default avatar
Katie
30
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Study Abroad at Institute of Technology Carlow

My time at IT Carlow

Dec 15, 2015

I'm currently in my third year of a program in IT Carlow, and I have enjoyed every minute of my experience here. While I never experienced college in America, I have had a wonderful time in my course, and at the college. Transitioning to college here was difficult as first, but the staff and fellow students in the college were more than willing to help in any way possible. All of the staff in the International office have been very helpful when it came to any issue or concern I have had in my 2 and a half years here. The smaller size of the college (compared to colleges in America), lead to smaller class sizes which really created a great learning environment, along with being able to really know your classmates and lecturers. The college offers so many activities for International students to be able to take advantage of the time here through traveling around Ireland and really experiencing the culture and lifestyle.

Default avatar
Caitlin
29
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Study Abroad at Institute of Technology Carlow

Study Abroad Experience from a US Student

Dec 13, 2015

Hi my name is Caitlin Cronin. I am from Chicago, IL and studied abroad in Carlow Fall of 2014. This experience changed my life. It was absolutely incredible. I had an amazing time learning about the Irish culture and getting an education in a completely different country. It was tough to transition at first but the staff was very helpful. I learned so much about myself and life in general while studying abroad. I do not have a favorite part about studying abroad because the entire time I was there was my favorite and I wish everyday that I could go back. Hopefully in the next few years I can go back!!

What would you improve about this program?
The way our schedules were handled was a little frustrating just because we were used to a completely different system then yours. This was no one's fault it was just a bit confusing for us at first.

Programs

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Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Donal McAlister

Program
Study Abroad at Institute of Technology Carlow
Job Title
International Affairs Manager

What position do you hold at ITC? What has been your career path so far?

I am the International Affairs Manager of the Institute of Technology, Carlow. I have been working at IT Carlow for 12 years now and enjoy working with students from over 40 countries who follow courses here. In the past I have worked in Customer Services for a Computer firm, Frozen Food Sales & Marketing and as the Marketing Manager for a large Mall in Dublin so it goes to show that opportunities can arise in your career that can take you in unexpected directions.

Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Yes, I studied in northern France for a year. It was always my ambition to go abroad, I think I was inspired by having a Spanish mother so I was pre-disposed to looking beyond my borders for opportunities. I can’t emphasise enough the the importance I place on spending some time abroad as a student. It opens up your mind to so many new experiences, cultures and perspectives that is so important for the increasingly globalised economies where many of us live.

What does the future hold for ITC - any exciting new programs to share?

The future of the Institute is very exciting indeed. We are in the process of growing our programs at Undergraduate, Masters and PhD level in all our discipline areas. The Institute is also undergoing a major expansion program with major new building projects both ongoing and in the pipeline. The Institute is in merger discussions at the moment to create a brand new Technological University which will become the biggest Institution of higher learning in the South East of Ireland.

Which study abroad destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

Actually I think Ireland is underrated as a Study Abroad destination. As we are a small country it is often difficult to get the message out to a wide audience about how good the standard of our education is. On top of that we tick all the boxes as a friendly, safe and relatively inexpensive country in which to study. The student experience in Ireland is often rated as being amongst the best in the world. In terms of being overrated, I would say that wherever a student choses to go will lead to a life enhancing experience often leading to lifelong friendships…so wherever you choose to go, make the most of it!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful study abroad office?

I think that most International Offices tick all the right boxes but fundamentally the student, and their parents, need to know that they can access information and assistance when they need it and that that any guidance that they receive is both timely and accurate. It is very important that students feel welcome into the International Office environment and that there is a genuine interest in their wellbeing and progression.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of the ITC team.

I am tremendously proud to be part of the IT Carlow family. I have enjoyed my career here to date and feel that the challenge of promoting both Carlow and Ireland is exciting and motivating. The support that the International office gets from all functions of the college is fantastic and makes the integration of international students much easier. The proudest I feel is when I see our students graduating with their degrees, having successfully completed their studies here.