an international first year start will be a game changer for your admissions model
We specialize in building stimulating first semester and first year programs in Ireland. An alternative start in Dublin will differentiate your school and supercharge your admissions strategy.
A partnership with Big Pond will strengthen the appeal of your school in an increasingly competitive environment.
Additionally, by developing a unique, Dublin-based first year program you will engage students in an initiative designed to appeal to Gen Z - who will go on to infuse your campus with perspectives acquired in an enriching, diverse city.
We work with you to provide a seamless experience for your Start Abroad participants, from the consideration stage through pre-departure to arrival.
Revamp your enrollment management strategy. Offer a semester 2 enrollment point to a select group of your applicants, on condition they complete your alternative start in Ireland program.
Even for colleges & universities with a better than average first-year retention rate, there are too many empty seats beyond the first semester.
Meanwhile, the total number of applications across Higher Ed. grows.
Many applicants choose elsewhere because they have either been rejected or don't have a compelling reason to commit to your college.
Setting your institution's offering apart is more vital now than ever.
The 2020s are being shaped by the demands of demographic change, technological progress and an increasingly values-driven student.
Consider offering an alternative start option in Dublin for your incoming, matriculating students to provide you with an additional differentiator in your Admission and Recruitment teams' toolkit.
The courses available through the Big Pond Start Abroad Program come from a variety of subject areas, and provide a fascinating entry point for your students’ first experience in a university environment. They have been selected to provide the highest chance of mapping against your own first semester/year.
Our core courses include a number of community-based learning opportunities specifically designed for the first year international learner. Our optional offerings are drawn from a comprehensive portfolio of accredited courses, around which we build your unique program. These span disciplines such as business, humanities, liberal arts and computing.
We recognize you may want to send faculty to teach at least one of your own courses. Our model is designed to accommodate that, and we work closely with your visiting staff to support the pastoral needs of your students, as well as the staff themselves.
Customize your Start Abroad Program so it truly reflects your institution’s ethos, academic and non-academic goals. We have experience of working with schools who have incorporated the following in their program:
Our Start Abroad Program has been built with the personal and academic growth of your students in mind.
In partnering with Big Pond, your students will benefit from a number of inclusive, unique enhancements. They have all been inspired by our vision of what a sustainable, resilience-building education abroad program should be.
