Your 529 Plan & Irish Gap Year
Did you know that you can use your 529 Plan to pay for your Irish Gap Year program and earn up to 16 college credits while you gap? We are an accredited Gap Year provider with the Gap Year Association (GYA). The GYA offers college credits through Portland State University to students attending GYA-accredited programs which operate internationally. Students can therefore, attend one of our programs while also taking courses for college credit.
Follow the 9 steps below to avail of college credits during your Gap Year Program.
Steps to Using Your 529 Account with Irish Gap Year
| Step 1 | Register here with Irish Gap Year and start your application for one of our gap year programs |
|---|---|
| Step 2 | Interview and get accepted into your Irish Gap Year program of choice |
| Step 3 | Choose the PSU course(s) you want to take for credit while on your Irish Gap Year program |
| Step 4 | Confirm which course(s) you wish to take with Irish Gap Year directly at info@irishgapyear.com |
| Step 5 | Your PSU Instructor of Record will then get in touch with you directly with your course assignments, next steps and work with you throughout your Irish Gap Year program. |
| Step 6 | Submit all course work, journals and papers directly to the Gap Year Association following your program with Irish Gap Year. This process will be detailed by your Instructor of Record at PSU. |
| Step 7 | Wait for official grading report by GYA Grading Instructors |
| Step 8 | Approve final transcript with GYA Grading Instructor & wait 2-6 weeks for PSU Registrar to create official PSU transcript |
| Step 9 | Receive your official transript from you PSU Instructor of Record |
College Credit Courses Available
Up to a full semester (16 Credit Hours / 4 Credits per Course) of college credits are available for transfer. Taking one or more courses allows you to pay for your entire Irish Gap Year Program fees through your 529 plan.
In most cases, a daily journal (one per semester, not one per course) is required, as well as papers to be written once you’ve returned home. A reading list and presentation may also be included in the full course descriptions, with reading lists available for amendment, upon approval from your Instructor of Record.
Please visit the frequently asked questions page here for more details on the college credits process.
Listed below are the courses available for college credit. Learn more about the course descriptions on Gap Year Association page here.
| ANTH299 – 4 Credits | PEOPLE AND PLACES – HOW LOCATION AFFECTS CULTURE |
|---|---|
| GEOG299 – 4 Credits | GEOGRAPHY OF GLOBAL ISSUES |
| PHE299 – 4 Credits | HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS AND THE AFFECTED |
| PHL299 – 4 Credits | INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL / RELIGIOUS STUDIES & THEIR ROLES IN CULTURE |
| PSYCH299 – 4 Credits | CULTURE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE WAYS PEOPLE OPERATE |
| SOC199 – 4 Credits | SELF AND COMMUNITY – CULTURE, COHORT, SELF |
| MGMT299 – 4 Credits | PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS; INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS |
| HIST199 – 4 Credits | COLONIALIZATION AND WESTERN INFLUENCES |
| INTL199 – 4 Credits | GLOBALIZATION AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| INTL299 – 4 Credits | LEADERSHIP ACROSS BORDERS |
| ESM101 – 4 Credits | ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY |
| ESM102 – 4 Credits | GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES |
| ESM199 – 4 Credits | CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS |