Academic calendar
Semester 2 2026 runs Jan 12, 2026 – Aug 14, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Semester 2 2026Relevant now
- Semester 1 2026
- Semester 2 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 23 of 23 terms
A
- ALIVE
- The university's official student volunteering program and recognition award.
C
- CÉIM
- A peer-led academic support program specifically for first-year students.
- Corrib
- Corrib Village, the original on-campus student accommodation complex.
- Cuirt
- Cúirt na Coiribe, a privately-owned student apartment complex frequently used by undergraduates.
D
- Donegal Tuesday
- A major unofficial social event during RAG Week where students traditionally wear Donegal GAA jerseys.
- Dramsoc
- The university's Drama Society, which hosts regular productions in the O'Donoghue Centre.
- Dunlin
- Dunlin Village, the newest on-campus student residence hall.
F
- Friars
- A café located in the Cairnes Building (Business and Economics).
G
- Goldcrest
- Goldcrest Village, a modern on-campus apartment complex for students.
- Gort
- Gort na Coiribe, a popular privately-owned student housing estate near campus.
- GUM
- Galway University Musical Society, one of the most active performing arts groups.
R
- RAG Week
- Raise and Give Week, a week of high-energy charity fundraising and social events.
S
- Smokey's
- Smokey Joe's, a popular café and meeting spot on the Arts Science concourse.
- Socs
- Short for Societies, the 100+ student-run interest groups on campus.
- SU
- Students' Union, the representative body for all students providing services and advocacy.
- Sult
- The main campus bar and restaurant, located in Áras na Mac Léinn.
T
- The Arch
- The Spanish Arch, a historic site in the city where students traditionally gather in good weather.
- The Bialann
- The primary large student canteen located in the Arts Science Building.
- The Big Yellow Thing
- The 'Galway Yellow' sculpture by Brian King, a common meeting point outside the library.
- The Concourse
- The long central hallway in the Arts Science building that serves as the main social artery of campus.
- The Pods
- Individual, enclosed study booths located in the James Hardiman Library.
- The Reading Room
- The 24-hour study space located adjacent to the main library.
Z
- Zinc
- A café and deli located within the Clinical Science Institute.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Alice Perry
- The Engineering Building, named after the first female engineering graduate in Ireland.
- Arts Sci
- The Arts, Science and Commerce Building, the largest academic building on campus.
- Canvas
- The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) used for course materials, assignments, and grades.
- Cárta
- The official Student ID card required for library access, printing, and exams.
- CÉIM
- A peer-led academic support program for first-year students in specific subject areas.
- Leap Card
- The discounted smart card used for student fares on Galway city buses (404, 405).
- O'Donoghue
- The O'Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance.
- Student Desk
- The primary administrative point in the Bailey Allen Hall for registration and document queries.
- Student Hub
- The primary service desk for administrative queries, located in the Arts Science Building.
- The Concourse
- The long central indoor thoroughfare running through the Arts Science Building.
- The Hub
- The student activity center in Áras na Mac Léinn for society meetings and events.
- The IT
- The Information Technology Building, located on the north campus near the river.
- The JEH
- The James Hardiman Library, the main university library building.
- The Link
- The indoor walkway connecting the Arts Science building to the newer library and research wings.
- The Quad
- The historic 19th-century Quadrangle building, the iconic heart of the university.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Semester 2 2026 runs Jan 12, 2026 – Aug 14, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 23 approved campus terms and 15 local details are included in full.
- Are all approved campus terms included?
- Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
- Where does this guide come from?
- Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.