Jump to Content

Orientation

Orientation – September 2026

Céad Míle Fáilte to University of Galway!

A hundred thousand welcomes from the West of Ireland!

We’re delighted that you have chosen to begin your studies with us at the University of Galway. Our university is located on the beautiful west coast of Ireland, close to the Atlantic Ocean and right in the centre of Galway city — one of the friendliest and most lively places in Ireland.

Whether you’ve travelled just a few hours or halfway around the world, we’re excited to welcome you to our university community. Here, you’ll find world-class learning, lasting friendships, and plenty of opportunities to explore Irish culture, language, and the warm Galway atmosphere.

To help you settle in, we’ve lined up a week of orientation and welcome events specifically for you — a mix of helpful information, campus tours, cultural activities, and opportunities to meet fellow students from Ireland and around the globe.

Undergraduate

Undergraduate orientation will occur on Thursday, 3 to Friday, 4 September. For full details, click here.

Postgraduate

Orientation will take place on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, in the Bailey Allen Hall at 9:30 am sharp.

Visiting Students/Erasmus

Erasmus

Erasmus orientation information can be found here.

Visiting Students

Visiting students' orientation information can be found here.

Events

Take part in the big Scavenger Hunt challenge on Saturday, 5 September

The Scavenger Hunting challenge will involve finding a list of quirky and unique locations around campus and Galway City, while taking photo evidence to prove it. This will be a super fun way to meet other international students, explore the local area and get active!

Register here

Campus Challenge

Kick-start your University of Galway experience with Campus Craic - a fun, interactive challenge that combines teamwork, exploration and some friendly competition. Join other new international students to discover the campus, meet new people and find out where everything is before classes begin on the 7th.

There are great prizes to be won, including Fastest Team, Best Team Name, Best Team Photo and more. Places are limited, so don't forget to register in advance!

Register here

Sult Events (see below):