The educational history of Ireland is not just a very long one, but it is also very rich. A couple of years back in 2019, the UN acknowledged Ireland as the 16th happiest country in the entire world. Due to the thousands of companies that have situated their headquarters in the big cities of Ireland, the country’s economy is growing steadily. Specifically, in terms of competitiveness, the economy in Ireland is ranked 6th among the big countries.
The country takes its education very seriously. Over time, they have a significant amount of money and time bettering the educational infrastructure. They have become extremely well equipped with modern facilities, which is why students from 160+ countries come to Ireland to study. In number, over 35,000 international students benefit from the thorough education system of the country. Be it America or China, India or Malaysia, or even Saudi Arabia, there are students from everywhere. Among all the programs taught in Ireland, health-care-related programs are the top choice.
One of the wonderful parts about going to Ireland is the fact that their government lets international students stay in the country for one or two years post studies to find a job. This time duration is subjective, it is different from different courses. Other than that, Ireland is termed impeccably safe. In fact, generally, it is known as one of the safest countries for international students. Minorities face very few incidents of racial or ethnic violence.
While Dublin remains the most densely populated city with a majority of universities, it is also the most expensive one. Other cities with impressive universities are Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Maynooth.
Education in Ireland is not particularly simple to grasp. Colleges, Institutes of Technology, Universities together create higher education in the country.
The programs are rated in a scheme called NFQ, which stands for National Framework of Qualification. The quality of the courses is assured by the government of Ireland itself. All the courses under NFQ are professional courses that are internationally accepted and high in quality.
International students in the country are only allowed to go up on the National Framework of Qualification, they can not go lower. If the student decides to change the program, they can either change within the same level (which is very rare) or have to go higher up.
As one would expect, the largest chunk of money is the tuition fee. Depending on the course, whether undergrad, postgrad, or doctorate degree, the tuition fees vary from EUR 10,000 to EUR 35,000.
The other mandatory charges for international students go up to 3,000 EUR. This amount includes some school-related charges and student services. There is another registration charge of EUR 300 which is applicable when the student is planning to study in Ireland for more than 90 days.
It is suggested that students should carry on their own research on the cost of living before moving to Canada. There are many factors that can affect your cost of living in Canada, i.e. city, daily expenses, university costs, tuition fees, and so on. Every country has some institutions or schemes which help international students to save money. Make sure you are aware of such opportunities in Ireland.
Ireland accepts students in two major intakes. See the table below.
To cover the syllabus in Irish institutions use two semesters –
Students who want to study in Ireland generally start their preparation one year before the deadline. Different universities have different deadlines, but largely the admission gets completed by the month of June.
Top 10 Universities in The Ireland
Top 10 Scholarships in The Ireland
To prove the English proficiency of the student to assess whether they are proficient enough for academic courses, Irish institutions accept the following tests.
If you are an Undergrad applicant from EU/EEA, your application will be processed through the Central Application Office (CAO). All the colleges, as well as the courses, can be found at the official website of CAO –
The following documents are mandatory for studying in Ireland for undergraduate admissions –
The following documents are mandatory for studying in Ireland for postgraduate admissions
It takes a lot of time to apply for the visa, as much as eight weeks. It demands extreme care and attention to every detail –
The student must check out the official Irish website to check out the stepwise process.
Check out the list of all the documents needed to apply for a Visa
Approval in Principle Scheme
This is the scheme where Indian students who have applied for a study visa and also have been accepted to the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) approved course, are allowed to apply for the visa without having to pay the college fees in advance.
Once you reach Ireland, you need to get the residence permit registration done for the rest of the visa formalities. You are also required to submit a ‘Declaration’ stating that the student will be coming back to India after completing the programme. The fees for a single entry visa from India are worth 60 EUR, while the multiple entry visa after reaching Ireland costs 100 euros.
Checking on the status of Visa
Some common scholarships to study in Ireland include:
There are university-specific scholarships available as well. Other examples of scholarships to study in Ireland are mentioned below.
MSc Scholarships for International Students by Trinity College DublinClub MBA Leadership Scholarship.
Students who want to be independent choose self-catering rented accommodation. Students pay their rent monthly and in advance. At the beginning of a letting period, they pay a deposit of one month’s rent, which will be refunded when they leave (provided they have not caused any damage to the premises). The normal length of a lease is 9 or 12 months.
Some students choose to live with a host family in their home. This way, they have their independence but still have the home comforts (and some rules). Staying with a host family can be a great way for students to find their feet in a new country!
Health insurance is compulsory for an international student in Ireland. It costs around 20,000 EUR per year.
Law is one of the most rewarding fields in Ireland in terms of salary. Generally, starting salaries that fresh graduates get are between 20,000 EUR to 30,000 EUR. According to GradIreland 2019, some top-paying jobs and their starting salaries are mentioned below.
As a student in Ireland, one does not require a work permit to be employed for working 20 hours/week.
During the course, a student in Ireland can work for 40 hours/week during the vacation period (during June, July, August, and September and from 15th December to 15th January inclusive).
It is best if the student gets employed within Ireland’s university campus.
Working on campus cuts down the cost of traveling and makes more time available to be within the university.
International students enrolled for full-time courses that are recognized by the IDES do not require an additional work permit in Ireland.
If as a student, one has no prior experience, one can seek jobs in restaurants, bars, cafes, bookshops.
Students can also apply to help at entertainment events, call centers, and retail supermarkets. For those with good interpersonal skills, you can also apply for the post of secretary or assistant at corporate organizations.
It is advised to build a strong network with peers and seniors.
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