Applications forms are available to download in the 2011 Application Forms section of this website. If you have difficulty in downloading the Application Form please contact the Programme Director.

You will receive acknowledgement of your application from the relevant Programme Director via e-mail.

The AUA selection committee will evaluate your application; successful applicants will be informed by email. The selection process will take approximately three to five weeks to complete following the closing date for application.

Only students who have submitted all required documentation will be considered for a place on the programme. If transcripts are not submitted, your application will not be reviewed by the selection committee.

Once a place on a programme is offered, partial payment of the programme fee will have to be paid to the AUA or the NUI Galway Admissions Office (in the case of the Diploma/Degree programmes in Science and Technology Studies). Details of this will be provided with your offer of a place on the programme.

If you have a specific disability or learning difficulty, you are encouraged to indicate this on the Application Form.  The AUA can provide learning support for students with specific learning difficulties.  You may be assured that the disclosure of a disability or specific learning difficulty is designed solely to enable AUA to support access by students with a disability or specific learning difficulty.  Disclosure will not adversely affect your application or your legal rights in any way.

Students from outside of Ireland whose first language is not English must provide evidence that their English language ability meets the required standard for admission.  The required standard is based on results from an acceptable English language proficiency test such as the TOEFL or IELTS. This evidence must be submitted with your application.
 
 
Minimum Requirements
TOEFL 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or
IELTS overall score of 6.0
 
Either test must have been undertaken no more than two years prior to the commencement of your particular programme.  Please contact the Programme Coordinator if you have any queries on the English language requirement.

As a general rule, when you request an exam transcript from your graduating University/ Institute of Technology, you will be given a complete transcript of your academic record (i.e. all years of study).  The complete transcript must be included with your application.

In order to satisfy Academic Records Rules and Regulations, the following must be forwarded in their original form: birth certificates, examination transcripts.

Once a place on a programme is offered, partial payment of the programme fee will have to be paid to the AUA or NUI Galway Admissions Office. Details of this will be provided with your offer of a course place.
 
The first installment of fees for all programmes is payable on or before the end of August 2011 with the second installment payable in January 2012. Those who do not pay the fee by these dates will be charged a Late Payment Penalty.
 
You should note that once registered, you are liable for full course fees regardless as to whether you complete/attend the course.  For further information see http://www.nuigalway.ie/student_fees/fees/regulations.html.
 
Check the fees section of this website for specific programme fees for the year you are applying for the programme.

Once a student has registered for a specific course, there is no obligation on the AUA to refund fees. However, in exceptional cases of extreme hardship or on medical grounds, you may appeal directly (in writing), to the Fees Office for a refund of fees paid (minus deposit). Appeals are considered on a case-by-case basis. It is in this regard that applicants are requested to inform themselves of the various requirements of the programme and to contact the Programme Coordinator for guidance on programme suitability.

Undergraduates make their fees payable to NUI Galway. Postgraduates make their fees payable to Atlantic University Alliance.

Like many adults, you probably lead a busy life. You may have a job, a family and other responsibilities. It is generally advised that students allocate a minimum of 20 hours per week for their programme. This can vary from course to course. Naturally enough students undertaking a Masters or Postgraduate Diploma have a greater workload than those doing a Specialist Diploma. Programmes which have a Thesis/Project will require additional time allocation.
 
Students are expected to attend the in-house workshops that are held once a month during the weekend. Students must notify tutors in advance if they are unable to attend these workshops.

On-line learning is different to learning in a traditional classroom setting. It requires you to think differently about how you communicate with the Programme Director, interact with other students, complete assignments and tests, and most importantly, study. To be successful as an on-line student you should be able to answer "yes" to the following questions:
 
(a) Do you possess strong time management skills?
You will be responsible for completing assignments and participating in on-line threaded discussions. Blended learning classes are flexible and self-paced, but there are established timelines for submitting assignments and for class participation.
 
(b) Do you possess strong organisational skills?
In most cases, there are no established times during the week that you will have to be on-line or when to study. You will be given the how and the what, but the when will be up to you. Your ability to effectively organise your time will be crucial to your success.
 
(c) Are you self-motivated?
Due to the flexibility and convenience of blended learning it is often easy to put off class work until the last minute. Self-motivation is key to staying current on assignments and completing class work in a timely manner. In the blended learning format it is very difficult to catch up once you have fallen behind.
 
(d) Do you enjoy working independently?
While there are opportunities to work with other students, the majority of work will be completed on your own. There are a number of face-to-face workshops with module tutors and other students, however blended learning requires a greater than average self-discipline to be successful.
 
(e) Are you comfortable working with technology?
All assignments and correspondence with tutors and other students are conducted on-line. The ability to correspond via e-mail; send, receive and view documents; participate in threaded discussions; and have access to a reliable Internet connection is mandatory.
 
You can expect to spend a minimum of 15 - 20 hours of study time per week. This interaction is not done in any set time as each student studies on their own time - many students study in the evenings and at weekends.  This time commitment includes reviewing course materials, participating in online learning activities, preparing course assignments and studying for examinations.

As you work your way through the programme, you will be supported by university staff and on-line education professionals who are committed to your success. The on-line learning environment will occur in a collaborative environment that will offer every assistance in achieving your educational objectives and professional goals.
 
You will get the opportunity to meet with students and staff of the programme at the monthly Seminars.

Yes it is possible to study two subjects on a modular basis provided you meet the entry requirements specified for the programme from which your selected modules are taken.

Yes it is possible to study two subjects from different programmes on a modular basis provided you meet the entry requirements for the particular programme from which your module is taken.

In-house workshops are generally held once per month.

Workshops for postgraduate courses will be held on a revolving basis between NUI Galway, UL and UCC. Workshops for undergraduate courses (Specialist Diplomas and B.Sc) will be held in NUI Galway and UL only.

Yes you have access to the library at the University in which you register at. Students may request guest access to the other AUA libraries at which they are not registered.

You will be issued with your Student Card/I.D on commencement of the programme. This will give you access to the University gym, Club/societies, Careers Development Centre and all other University services available at your chosen institution.

Yes. There is a detailed orientation session conducted during the commencement of each AUA programme.