Despite its northern latitude, the Gulf Stream moderates Ireland's climate. The temperature only drops below freezing intermittently during the winter. Summers are comfortable as the temperature rarely hits 85 and it stays light until around 11 pm. Whatever the time of year, be prepared for rain because Ireland is wet. At the University level there are four institutions in the Republic of Ireland and two in Northern Ireland.
Students specialize in a field and pursue all of their courses in only a couple of departments.
For example, at the University of Ulster, a three-year institution, it is safe to say that first year courses will be equivalent to sophomore level coursework in the U.S. You will find that learning at Irish universities is much different than American institutions in that more responsibility is place upon the student for learning the material. Teaching methods and assessment vary from institution to institution, but in general academic life in Ireland consists of large lectures followed by more intimate tutorials and labs where the information is studied in detail. On a whole, Ireland is as safe a destination as you could expect. Friendly people, small cities, and an abhorrence for violence, make this a worry-free study abroad destination. But, as pointed out in many guidebooks, you always face more danger from erratic drivers than from the Troubles.