A Guide to Residential Accommodation

With Galway being the European Capital City of Culture 2020, we are more excited than ever to welcome you to come and study English with us, while making the most of all the events that the city will have to offer!

Once you have decided on the course you would like to study with us (you can see the range of courses we offer here), it is time to start thinking about where you would like to stay during this time!

Here at Galway Cultural Institute, we offer two types of accommodation:

• Host Family Accommodation
• Residential Apartments

How to pick the right student accommodation

Below are 5 reasons why you will love our residential apartments while you study. 

Reason 1: We make it easy for you to book the perfect accommodation

It could not be easier to book your accommodation in Galway- we will take care of everything for you. When you book your course with us, just select the type of accommodation you would like, and we take care of the rest! Booking accommodation really could not be easier! 

Please click here to begin the booking process.

Once you have booked and paid for your course, we will send the details of your new home directly to you- all of our apartments are close to the school and along bus routes. It is much easier this way than searching for private accommodation options online, contacting landlords, viewing properties and signing contracts. GCI takes pleasure in making the process as simple as we can, every step of the way. 

Reason 2: You will meet lots of new friends from all over the world!

One benefit of studying at Galway Cultural Institute is that our mix of nationalities is very varied- each class is unique, hosting a variety of students from many different countries, including Mexico, Switzerland, Korea, Brazil, Spain, Turkey and many, many more! This variety of nationalities gives the opportunity for students to share different perspectives and have interesting conversations.

However, practicing your English does not stop in the classroom! We have many residential apartments located in the city centre and in Salthill. Here, you will share a common living area to relax in in the evenings with students just like you, who are here to make the most out of the language immersion experience! Using your newly learned language skills in natural conversation at home is one of the best ways to put into practice what you are learning in the classroom and feel more confident with your improved language skills. It is a great way to meet new friends, to share ideas and enjoy the experience with like-minded people!

Living independently in GCI Residential Accommodation offers opportunities to plan activities together, such as the ones on our GCI Activity programme.  Or to venture out together to explore the city with a new companion who is sharing a similar experience to you.

Reason 3: GCI Apartments are cost effective- all utility bills are taken care of already! 

Renting residential accommodation through GCI means that your weekly fee covers not only your rent but also the additional bills. High speed WiFi is available free of charge in all the apartments, as well as the electricity and heating bills and bin charges. Additionally, the common living areas are cleaned extensively on a weekly basis (typically on Saturdays). This means the only extra cost to be covered is your food, which you can store in the fridge, freezer and cupboards provided for you.

It can be a great idea to talk to your housemates and plan a meal night, where you can cook and share dishes together from your home countries! Doing this is both cost effective and great fun! This means that budgeting for your stay is even easier- you just need to think about your transport, food and socialising costs, with no surprise bills popping up unexpectedly.

It is important to bear in mind that with these fees already covered, GCI residence options can be more cost effective than private options, once you consider all the fees together. 

Reason 4: All Mod Cons and Basic Living Equipment included

A huge bonus of choosing to stay in residential accommodation through GCI is that all our apartments are full equipped with everything you could need to live comfortably in Galway while you study English! This means you do not have spend more money on unforeseen and hidden costs. To read a list of all the amenities that are offered in our apartments, please click here.

Reason 5: Location, location, location!

We offer a range of residential apartments which are within walking distance to the school- many are in Salthill, ranging from a 5 minute walk to a 15 minute walk, with some of them even overlooking the famous Salthill Promenade and Atlantic Ocean. It is difficult to imagine a more beautiful view than that. Salthill Village offers many restaurants, bars and coffee shops, giving it a very relaxing vibe. We recommend that all students go for a leisurely stroll along the Prom at least once during their stay with us- it is one of the most famous features in Galway.

If you prefer to be closer to the hustle and bustle of the City Centre, we also offer apartments there, which are within 15 minutes’ walking distance to the school and also along the 410 bus route which will get you to class in 10 minutes! Living in the City Centre has the benefit of being close to the shops, pubs, restaurants and job options. 

Choose GCI accommodation with confidence

Renting accommodation from Galway Cultural Institute gives you peace of mind. If you experience any problems with your apartment, or need something to be repaired or replaced, you can tell us 24/7. You can report this in person, by email or phone-call to our Accommodation Manager at the Reception Desk between 08.00am and 17.30pm Monday to Friday, or on our GCI Emergency Phone which can be contacted any time outside of these hours- 00 353 872478128. 

Whether you are locked out of your apartment, or something has broken, you are always welcomed to let us know and we will do our best to fix the problem as soon as possible- that is our speciality!

If you have any more questions about starting your English language journey with us, or about our accommodation options, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us.