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+
BComm (International Experience) Advisory Session January 2016
Dr Gerard Turley
BComm
Programme
Director Ms Angela Teahan
Placement Manager
Dr Deirdre Curran
Academic Co‐ordinator
BComm
International Experience Year Dr Ann Torres
Vice Dean Internationalisation
+ Global Learning and Work Experience
 Internationalisation is now a key priority for the School of Business & Economics
 BComm
International Experience
 Study abroad
 Possible to combine with work placement/internship
 Summer School Programmes in other countries J.E. Cairnes School of
Business & Economics
 Important opportunity to gain a competitive edge
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
+ Fees
+ Eligibility
 The normal university fees are payable
 Competitive process
 To be considered, students must have a minimum average of 50% in their first year commerce and second year semester one commerce examination results to apply, but places are not guaranteed
 Students must pass all modules on first attempt in second year commerce J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
 There is a tuition waiver with our partner host institutions abroad; i.e., no tuition is payable abroad
 Students who are eligible for grant support for third level education will continue to receive those grants  The NUI Galway Fees Office will facilitate you in the processing of grant payments where the student is abroad and cannot sign for the grant if you made contact with them once you have been accepted for transfer to the four year BComm (International Experience) Degree Programme
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
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+ Options
+ Work placements & International Study  Currently 28
students are participating in the International Experience year
 Option A
 Study abroad for both semesters at a
partner university
 Option B
 Semester 1: Apply to seek a work placement  Semester 2: Pursue international study in the USA, Hong Kong, Europe or Australia at a partner university
 We plan to accommodate 35‐45 students
in 2016/2017
 When you go to work as an intern in a business environment in Ireland and/or travel to study at a university in another country, you will act as an ambassador for the BComm programme, the School of Business and Economics, NUIG, and Ireland
 You are bound by NUIG’s code of conduct, even when studying abroad
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
+ Placement Opportunities
 Students apply for a place as an intern J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
+ Placement Opportunities Host Companies
 Most internships are paid but some are unpaid  An opportunity to …
 work in the area which is relevant to your degree programme  develop and expand your skills  build your CV  differentiate yourself in the competitive graduate market place J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
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+ Placement Opportunities Host Companies
+ Assessment: Work Placement
1.
Complete a weekly workplace learning journal 2.
CV (required to attend CV & Interview workshops)
3.
Attend a debriefing session towards the end of your placement & present to your peers and Business School staff
4.
Complete a written placement report highlighting skills developed
5.
Must pass to progress to final year. Student assessment is on a pass/fail basis.
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
+ Application Process
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
+ International Study: Modules 1.
Acceptance of offers: Feb 2016
2.
Work closely with the School
3.
Placement opportunities are circulated as they become available
4.
Indicate expression of interest and send on CV/application form
5.
Applications/CVs forwarded to employers
6.
Employers shortlist for interview
7.
Attend for interview
8.
If offered the placement position, you must accept
 Study business modules through English in one of our partner academic institutions
 There are no prescribed modules, but you must
have your list of modules approved by:  International Year BComm
Co‐ordinator
Dr Deirdre Curran deirdre.curran@nuigalway.ie
 We advise you to choose modules of interest to you, J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
and ensure you are not taking modules that will be part of your final year specialism when you return to NUI Galway to complete your degree studies J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
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+ Opportunity to Study Abroad Exclusive to BComm
+ International Study: Our Policy and Practice Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA (Scholarship)
University of California (Competitive)
 Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Competitive/Semester 2 only )
 University of Technology, Sydney, Australia (Competitive)
 Uppsala Universitet, Sweden
 University of Groningen, Faculty of Economics and Business, Netherlands
 University of Applied Sciences, Steyr, Austria
 Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
 ESC Rennes, France  University of Graz, Austria ‐ New for 2016 – Pending
 University of Lille 2, France ‐ New for 2016 – Pending
 Aarhus University, Denmark ‐ New for 2016 – Pending
 Troyes University, France ‐ New for 2016 – Pending

 Where possible we endeavour to send a minimum of two students to the same international study destination so they can support each other  We aim to send no more than four students to the same destination, to encourage students to engage with local and other international students so you may optimise the cultural experience 
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
+ Opportunity to Study Abroad Shared with BIS & BComm
 If the BIS does not use all of its places, then it
may be possible to study at: University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA (Competitive)
 Lehigh University College of Bus & Econ, Bethlehem, PA, USA (Competitive)
 Kogod School of Business, American University, WA DC, USA (Competitive)
 Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA (Competitive)
 Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA (Competitive)
 University of Hertfordshire, England  University of Lichtenstein ‐ New for 2016 – Pending
 ESC La Rochelle, France ‐ New for 2016 – Pending

J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
+ Opportunity to Study Abroad Shared
with BComm Accounting & B Comm
If the BComm
Accounting does not use all of its places, then it may be possible to study at: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Competitive/ Semester 1 only)
 SUNY (State University New York), Albany, NY, USA (Competitive)
 Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, USA (Competitive)
 Concordia College, Minnesota, USA (Competitive)
 Curtin University, Perth, Australia (Competitive) New for 2016 –
Pending
 ESC Dijon, Burgondy, France
 EBS Business School, Rheingau, Wiesbaden, Germany 
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+ Other Opportunities to Study Abroad Business Summer Schools
 Some partner Universities offer 1‐2 week summer schools on occasion:  University of Applied Sciences, Steyr, Austria
 ESC Rennes, Rennes, France

We will advise you of these opportunities as they become available
+ Funding and Scholarship
 For studying in Europe
there is Erasmus funding, which has been in the region of €800 per semester, but may differ due budgetary considerations; see:
 http://www.nuigalway.ie/erasmus/outgoing/appl
ication.html
 Villanova Scholarship, is a highly prestigious award requiring an additional interview with the Villanova co‐ordinator
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
+ Progression to Final Year BComm
 You must pass your Internship placement
 You must take and pass a minimum number of modules during the period of study abroad to be agreed with the
 International Year BComm
Co‐ordinator
Dr Deirdre Curran deirdre.curran@nuigalway.ie
 You will NOT
be allowed to progress to your final year of commerce studies until you have successfully completed both semesters of the International Experience year
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
+ Application Process 1  Application
closing date is in 5th February 2016
 Applications are reviewed to create a short list of eligible candidates. Applications are on Blackboard and when completed must be uploaded onto Bb. It requires your CV, a list of your exam results and a personal statement (CDC is offering a drop‐in centre for the week starting the 1st of Feb –
Pamela Devins)
 Eligible candidates are interviewed to assess their suitability for placement/international study
 Interviews will take place in the week of the 15th of Feb 2016
 Provisional offers of acceptance to transfer to the BComm (International Experience) Degree are made at end February, with acceptance due by first week of March 2016
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+ Application Process 2  Offers to progress to the BComm (International Experience) is conditional on passing all second year commerce examinations at the first sitting and achieving an overall minimum average grade of 50% in second year commerce +
To Learn More
 Discuss with the BComm International Experience team:
 Those who are accepted for the internship/international study model will need to make themselves available for interviews in Summer 2016 to secure a placement. If not, they lose priority, and a possible place on the programme. Although students can organise their own placement (vetted by staff) if a student has not secured a work placement by mid August, they will be transferred back to final BComm.

Some employers require students to start their placement in the summer
 Dr Deirdre Curran: deirdre.curran@nuigalway.ie
 Dr Gerard Turley: gerard.turley@nuigalway.ie
 Dr Ann Torres: ann.torres@nuigalway.ie
 Ms Angela Teahan: angela.teahan@nuigalway.ie
 Ms Mary Lyons & Ms Miriam Moylan, International Affairs Office: international@nuigalway.ie
 When there is a call for expressions of interest for a specific placement, consider carefully before you submit your CV as J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
placement offers must be accepted
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