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Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
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University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose University of Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at University of Galway is all about here.
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About University of Galway
About University of Galway
Since 1845, University of Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
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Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
University of Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
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Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
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Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
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Alumni & Friends
Alumni & Friends
There are 128,000 University of Galway alumni worldwide. Stay connected to your alumni community! Join our social networks and update your details online.
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Teaching & Learning
University of Galway is committed to meaningful education around the SDGs across the university, relevant and applicable to all students. We recognise the importance of increasing sustainability knowledge among all campus users, including students, staff and community partners. We are working towards an internationally-acclaimed sustainability curriculum that is relevant to the needs of society and responsive to change.
The University of Galway Strategic Plan 2020-2025, Shared Vision, Shaped by Values contains a firm commitment to embed sustainability across our learning, research and the student experience so that our entire campus community can gain the necessary knowledge and skills to become sustainability role models and leaders. The University of Galway Sustainability Strategy commits to the integration of sustainability across all educational programmes in the University.
Photo by Prof Chaosheng Zhang
Your Quick Guide to SDGs in our Prospectus
If you have a passion for sustainability, then grow it in Galway. University of Galway offers a wide range of courses – at undergraduate and postgraduate levels – with a specific focus on sustainable development.
Click here to find a Quick Guide to the SDGs in our Prospectus
University of Galway embedding sustainability across the curriculum
The University has set a target that sustainability will be embedded in all programmes. As programmes are built from their constituent modules, to gain a snapshot of progress to date, we first assessed the extent to which sustainability is covered in modules. A keyword scanning method was used to identify whether a module potentially covered sustainability (the method and its limitations are detailed below).
A sample of approximately one-third of University modules with learning outcomes was extracted from Akari, the curriculum management system. Following the keyword scan, three members of the sustainability team reviewed the flagged modules and agreed a final list of ‘sustainability modules’. We classified 226 of the modules as ‘sustainability modules’. Further data collection and analysis is currently underway to provide a performance indicator for the full set of modules and degree programmes offered by the University. This will be complemented by new visualisation tools for sustainability in the curriculum.
- Excel Sheet 1: SDG Keyword Database
- Excel Sheet 2: Curriculum Metadata
Introduction to Sustainability Module
In Academic Year 2020/2021 University of Galway introduced a new module entitled 'Introduction to Sustainability' to provide students with a broad overview of key topics relating to environmental, social and economic sustainability. The module is a collaboration across disciplines, schools and colleges and explores the interconnectedness of the SDGs in addressing global challenges. The Introduction to Sustainability module is now available across all 4 colleges with inperson and online option for uptake, the plan is that the module will eventually become an Institution wide module.
Dedicated programmes on sustainability and the SDGs
At University of Galway, we have many undergraduate and postgraduate programmes dedicated to sustainability and the SDGs. Here is just a few of them:
AgriFood Sustainability & Technology (MSc)
Biodiversity & Land-Use Planning (MSc)
Climate Change, Agriculture & Food Security (MSc)
Coastal & Marine Environments (MSc)
Energy Systems Engineering (ME)
Environment, Society, & Development (MA)
Environmental Leadership (MSc)
International Development Practice (MA)
Management and Sustainability (MSc)
Marine and Freshwater Resources: Management (MSc)
Sustainable Environments (MSc)
Sustainability Leadership (MSc)
Sustainable Resource Management (MSc)
University of Galway also offers microcredentials on sustainability.
Sustainability literacy (Sulitest)
We use Sulitest to measure and track students' sustainability literacy. Since 2020, Sulitest has been incoporated in several sustainability courses, including Introduction to Sustainability, Green Labs: Principles and Practices, BSc Environmental Sciene, BSc Applied Social Sciences, MSc Sustainable Environments and MSc Environmental Leadership. 1,287 University of Galway students have taken Sulitest to date and will repeat it at the end of their four-year programmes. An Irish module of Sulitest is currently in developed and, on completion, this will be rolled out to all University of Galway first year students at the beginning and end of their studies.
Education for the SDGs in the wider community
We provide education and outreach on the SDGs for alumni, local communities and the wider public through our communications channels, annual SDG Week events, annual Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week events and much more. See here.