Fall or Spring Semester

Sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Each year during fall and spring semester, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University and Greenmount College of Agriculture and Horticulture exchange students for an individual experience in international education.

Situated just outside of Antrim, Northern Ireland, the Greenmount College Estate campus is comprised of several farms and units that are combined to form three Agriculture Development Centres and a Horticulture Development Centre.  The Walled Garden, grounds, and recreational areas combine to form the Amenity Horticulture Centre.  With its farms, nature trails, ponds and woodland areas, the Estate fully demonstrates the principles and practices of efficient food production and good countryside management.

What can I study?

Students will be required to enroll in the equivalent of 12 MSU credits per semester at Greenmount.  Course offerings include (but are not limited to):

• animal science
• equine management
• food science
• food systems
• economics management
• horticulture

All coursework must be pre-approved by individual departments for transfer of credit upon the student’s return from Northern Ireland.

Students will attend regular courses with Irish students. 

This is a co-sponsored program. Credit may be awarded for certain courses as regular MSU credit rather than transfer credit.  These courses will be listed on your official MSU transcript and will include the title of the course abroad, the number of credits and the grade earned. For further details about this policy, visit the student webpage.

To find out what courses other students have taken on the program and what MSU courses they might replace, visit Transfer MSU and Office of the Reigistrar - Co-Sponsored Study Abroad Programs. Courses listed may not be offered every semester, and additional courses may be available during the semester you plan to participate.

What are the requirements?

MSU students majoring in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will be considered for this program. 

All students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least a 2.5 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Additionally, students must also submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program and meet with Professor Crackel prior to applying.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will be housed in residence halls.

Who can tell me more about this program?

John Shelle
Department of Animal Science
1250 Anthony Hall
Phone: (517) 355-8391

Rhonda Crackel
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
121 Agriculture Hall
Phone:  (517) 353-8873

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport to enter other countries.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

See the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook for further health information and recommendations.

How much does it cost?

Funds paid directly by the student include:

• transportation to Northern Ireland
• accommodations
• meals
• books
• MSU tuition and fees*
• passport application fee
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visit
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $4,000.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

An application fee of $100 is required and includes pre-departure orientation and requisite accident and sickness insurance.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

NOTE:  All CANR majors are eligible to receive a scholarship from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  See Rhonda Crackel for details.

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are March 1st for fall semester programs and October 15th for spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources also offers its students special study abroad scholarships.  Check with Rhonda Crackel for further details.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester participation and by March 1st for fall semester participation.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to these deadlines. 

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. 

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records.

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.