Skill Building Internship Program

What’s It All About?

The Irish Gap Year Skill Building Internship Program will develop your independence, responsibility and the real-world skills to succeed in your next chapter, all while living alongside a close-knit community of peers on Ireland’s beautiful west coast. Through the combined experience of living, working and travelling in Ireland, every part of the program has been intentionally designed to help you become a more capable, confident and independent young adult.

Over eleven weeks, you’ll live with fellow gappers in Bundoran, County Donegal, work four days a week in a carefully selected Irish host company, and learn to navigate the responsibilities of adult life – from commuting to work and managing your own household to developing professional workplace skills and building lasting friendships. Your workplace becomes a place to develop professionalism, your shared home becomes a place to practise independent living, and Ireland itself becomes the setting for growth, exploration and cultural immersion.

Along the way, you’ll become part of the local community through everyday life and work, regularly explore the northwest of Ireland with the wider Irish Gap Year community, and travel on overnight trips that bring the entire cohort together for fun, friendship and unforgettable shared experiences.

This developmental journey culminates in two final weeks designed to bring together everything you’ve gained throughout the semester. You’ll put your growing independence, confidence and practical skills into action during the Irish Gap Year Amazing Race Challenge, while also taking time to reflect on your workplace experience and translate what you’ve learned into something you can carry forward. With support from the IGY team, you’ll update your professional résumé and learn how to tell the story of your experience in Ireland to future employers, colleges and other opportunities.

By the end of the program, you’ll leave Ireland with meaningful workplace experience, lifelong friendships and, most importantly, the confidence and capability to thrive in whatever comes next.

Workplace Experience

Our internship placements are designed to develop the habits, confidence and professionalism that employers value most. Rather than focusing on a single career path or technical skill, the workplace becomes the classroom – giving you the opportunity to develop responsibility, communication, teamwork, time management and problem-solving through real-world experience.

Working alongside Irish colleagues and interacting with the public every day, you’ll gain meaningful workplace experience while becoming more capable, employable and prepared for whatever comes next.

Life Beyond the Workplace: Your Home in Ireland

Independent living is at the heart of the program. Living in our student housing with fellow Irish Gap Year students, you’ll gradually take ownership of the everyday responsibilities that come with adulthood while being supported by the IGY team along the way.

From planning meals, budgeting for groceries and cooking together to keeping your home running smoothly and sharing responsibilities with your housemates, you’ll develop the practical life skills and confidence that can only be learned by doing.

Community, Culture and Travel

Home for the semester is one of our four neighbouring student houses in Bundoran, where you’ll live alongside students from our Adventure & Leadership and Irish Arts & Culture programs, creating a fun, welcoming and supportive community. With a choice of single, twin or triple rooms, each house becomes a genuine home base where you’ll settle in, build lasting friendships and experience everyday life together throughout the semester.

Just 200 metres from the Atlantic Ocean and connected to Bundoran by a safe coastal footpath, your home is within easy walking distance of cafés, shops, the cinema, a gym and the town centre. Surrounded by beaches, coastal trails and the Wild Atlantic Way, there’s always somewhere to explore with friends when the workday is done.

This is far more than an internship abroad – it’s a highly immersive experience that invites you to become part of Irish life. Through your workplace, your shared home and the wider Bundoran community, you’ll build genuine connections with local people while experiencing everyday life in one of Ireland’s most welcoming coastal towns. At the same time, you’ll become part of the wider Irish Gap Year community, sharing the semester with students from our Adventure & Leadership and Irish Arts & Culture programs.

Throughout the program, you’ll regularly explore Ireland together through day trips, Friday adventures and unforgettable overnight experiences. The semester begins with a group adventure to Galway and the Aran Islands before continuing with a mid-program journey to Dublin.

During the final two weeks, the Amazing Race Challenge brings the entire experience together, giving students the opportunity to put their independence, teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills into action through one final shared adventure.

Support & Coaching

One of the things that makes this program unique is that you’re never simply left to figure things out fully on your own. Instead, our team provides the guidance, coaching and encouragement you need while gradually stepping back as your confidence and independence grow throughout the semester.

The first two weeks of the program are dedicated to preparing you for success. Before your placement begins, you’ll take part in workplace readiness workshops covering everything from professional expectations and workplace communication to appropriate attire, punctuality and navigating your commute using public transport. By the time you walk through the door on your first day, you’ll know what to expect and feel ready to succeed.

Throughout your placement the Irish Gap Year team remains closely involved, offering workplace support whenever it’s needed. Each weekend, you’ll meet with program leaders to reflect on the week, celebrate successes, work through challenges and identify practical lessons to carry into the week ahead. As the semester draws to a close, we’ll help you translate your experience into an updated professional résumé and a cover letter framework that clearly communicates the skills, responsibilities and personal growth you’ve developed during your time in Ireland. Where appropriate, we’ll also coach you on how to ask your host supervisor for a professional reference or recommendation.

Our Philosophy on Internships

We believe independence isn’t taught through lectures – it’s developed through experience. That’s why The Irish Gap Year Skill Building Internship Program gradually hands students increasing responsibility while providing the coaching, support and encouragement they need to succeed. Rather than solving problems for students, we help them develop the confidence and judgement to solve them themselves.

Program Structures

Over eleven weeks, the program gradually bonds your cohort while building your confidence, independence and professional skills. Each stage has a different focus, allowing you to develop new abilities before putting them into practice as your responsibility grows throughout the semester.

How Internship Placements Work

Step 1 | Let’s Meet
The first step is simply getting to know one another. Schedule a phone or Zoom call with Ryan to learn more about the program, ask questions and discuss your interests, goals and what you’re hoping to gain from your gap year. It’s also an opportunity for us to ensure the program is the right fit for you.

Step 2 | Complete Your Application
Once you’ve decided to move forward, you’ll complete our online application, answer a few short questions, upload your résumé and select your top three preferred internship placements from our current list of host companies. Don’t worry if this is your first résumé – we’ll provide a short video guide and practical tips to help you prepare it.

Step 3 | Secure Your Place
After your application has been reviewed, we’ll send your onboarding materials and ask you to confirm your place with a 10% deposit. From there, we’ll guide you through everything you need to prepare for your semester in Ireland.

Step 4 | Meet Your Host Company
We’ll carefully match you with one of our Irish host companies and arrange an online introduction before the program begins. This is an opportunity to meet your supervisor, learn more about your placement and ask any questions before arriving in Ireland.

Step 5 | Final Preparation
The remaining program balance is due 90 days before the program begins. Around three weeks before arrival, the entire group comes together for an online Meet & Greet, giving everyone the opportunity to meet their fellow students and start building friendships before setting foot in Ireland.

Optional College Credits & 529 Compatibility

Students participating in the Dublin Gateway Program have the option to earn academic credit through the University of Montana, Irish Gap Year’s official School of Record. This credit option allows eligible families to use their 529 College Savings Plan to fund the entire experience.

There is no online coursework or academic component required during the program. Instead, students keep a reflective journal throughout their time with us, documenting their experiences, lessons learned, and personal growth. After the program concludes, students have five weeks to complete a written essay that draws on a recommended reading and their experience on the ground.
Both the journal and essay are assessed by the University of Montana, and successful students receive an official university transcript.
For full details on how the college credit option and 529 eligibility work, please visit our 529 College Plan page here.

What’s Included

• Accommodation for the full eleven weeks in our shared student houses in Bundoran, Co. Donegal
• Choice of single, twin or triple room (subject to availability)
• Bed linens, towels, Wi-Fi and full laundry facilities
• Weekly groceries for shared meals, with students planning, shopping and cooking together as part of the independent living experience
• A carefully matched internship placement with one of our Irish host companies
• Workplace preparation during the first two weeks of the program, including workplace readiness workshops and public transport orientation
• Ongoing workplace coaching, weekly mentoring and support from the Irish Gap Year team throughout the semester
• Weekly reflection sessions and post-placement résumé and cover letter coaching
• All transportation associated with the program, including public transport to and from internship placements
• All overnight trips, road trips and travel throughout Ireland included in the program
• All activities, admissions and equipment required for scheduled program experiences and the Amazing Race Challenge
• Airport transfers on the designated arrival and departure days
• 24/7 support from experienced Irish Gap Year staff, including assistance accessing local medical care and support services if required
• Membership of the wider Irish Gap Year community, sharing experiences with students across our Adventure & Leadership and Irish Arts & Culture programs

What’s Not Included

• International flights to and from Ireland
• Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
• Personal spending money (we recommend budgeting up to €100 per week for cafés, social activities, souvenirs and other personal expenses)