Ireland attracts a large number of
foreign students each year due to its excellent reputation for education and
welcoming culture. Ireland being part of the EU which also helps to make it
easily accessible for many students from inside the EU. A further reason for
Ireland's popularity is naturally that the language of instruction is English,
making it highly accessible to students from all over the world.
Education system in Ireland
Irish institutions are classified into
three categories: private independent colleges, universities and institute of
technologies. Irish universities are autonomous but funded by the state
government. The universities have a range of undergraduate and postgraduate
courses on offer. There are 7 universities in Ireland.
There are 14 Institute of Technologies,
and they have diploma, certificate and degree programmes in areas like
business, linguistics, science and engineering on offer.
Private independent colleges have
certificate, degree and vocational programmes on offer in fields like art &
design, rural development, business studies and law.
Ireland accepts students with 15 years
of education for postgraduate studies. It’s a young country and has over
200,000 international students. Irish universities are well-known for their
research capabilities, and chances are high that your credentials will be recognized
almost anywhere in the world. You might choose to study in Ireland for only a
semester, a year, or longer. However long you pursue your education there, you
are likely to find your credits will transfer to many other universities around
the world, possibly even in your home country, where you can finish your
degree.
Study options
The primary academic intakes begin in
September at most colleges and universities in Ireland, though a few
institutions offer intakes in February.
Undergraduate degree programmes usually
last for 3 to 4 years (full-time study), which might vary depending on each
institution. Postgraduate qualifications awarded could be postgraduate diploma
or PhD. Both taught and research postgraduate courses are on offer at Irish
institutions. A typical postgraduate lasts for 1–2 years of full-time study and
a PhD.
Education and stay is affordable
Ireland is one of the best value for
money overseas education destination. Fee for many programmes is inclusive of
tuition, housing, insurance, and various cultural activities and educational
tours. Tuition rates, living costs, and other recurring costs are largely
lesser than those in the US and the UK. In addition, most programmes are only a
year-long rather than two, reducing the cost of earning a degree to almost
half.
Scholarships for international students
- The Republic of Ireland has an outstanding
scholarship program for international students. Each scholarship is based
on specific criteria for eligibility laid down by individual institutions
in Ireland.
- For example, Dublin Institute of Technology offers a Centenary Scholarship Programme for all international students pursuing a Master's degree at the institution. Similarly, the National University of Ireland in Galway offers several scholarships specifically for Indian students, such as the Max Arthur Macauliffe Special Merit Scholarship, and the Sir Peter Freyer Special Merit Scholarship.
Safe country with friendly people
Ireland has the reputation of being a
safe and welcoming country to live in and study. The Global Peace Index ranked
it as the 12th "most peaceful country" in 2009 and 2013. The leading
travel site Lonely Planet voted it as the friendliest country in the world in
2008 and 2010. It named Dublin as the third best city in the world to visit in
2016. Irish people are renowned for their friendliness. Though they might sound
a bit reserved initially, just make sure to meet them over a game of football
or over a glass of Guinness.
It’s home to many of the world’s leading companies
Leading global MNCs call Ireland their
home. In fact, globally, Ireland is the second most attractive country for FDI
after Singapore. Apart from tech giants like Google, Facebook, IBM, Apple, and
Twitter, 9 of the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies have their main
office for European operations in Ireland. This means no shortage of jobs after
you complete your programme.
Work-Permit
One of the major benefits of studying
in Ireland is the post-study visa. This makes it easier for students to look
for job opportunities in the country after they graduate and, once they have
found employment, they are then eligible to apply for a green card/work permit.
The good news is that Ireland announces
24-month “stay back option” for students completing masters or doctoral qualifications.
This provision means international students completing advanced degrees in
Ireland can now stay for up to 24 months in Ireland to find a job and apply for
further work permit.