Study in Ireland

Study in Ireland

ABOUT IRELAND

Separated from the great by the North Channel, the Irish Sea and St. George’s Channel, Ireland is the second largest country in the British Isles and the third largest country in Europe. Its cultural influence through the historic Irish culture can be well seen in the field of western literature, games, music and dance. It mostly experiences a mild and temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters. Although the capital of Dublin is one of its largest cities, students have often found themselves comfortable in Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway. Its traditional stance on maintaining neutrality in all forms of conflict has made it develop itself in one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The country contributes hugely through its role as a neutral state in multilateral organisations like the European Union and United Nations.

 

HIGHER EDUCATION STRUCTURE 

With the onset of the Bologna process, the Higher Education structure is now a culmination of three different cycles. They are:

The Bachelor’s or the first cycle: For students graduating fresh out of school, Ireland provides a variety of programs through a bachelor’s degree which include applied sciences, arts, business management, IT, engineering, hospitality, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, law, journalism, medicine and education. The degree might take upto 3-4 years to complete depending on the course.

Requirement to study Bachelor’s in Ireland: 

  • Successful completion of class 12 with 60% and above
  • IELTS academic score of 5 and above, a TOEFL PBT score of 500 and above, a TOEFL CBT score of 173 and above or a TOEFL iBT score of 61 and above

Master’s or the second cycle: After the successful completion of their bachelor’s degree, students may choose a variety of master’s courses that Ireland provides based on their subject of interest and career ahead. These include applied sciences, arts, business management, IT, engineering, hospitality, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, law, journalism, medicine and education. While the degree may take upto 1-2 years to complete depending on the course, students are often taught through seminars, exercises, practical workshops, field trips and research. These help them to not only prepare for a professional career but also an academic career if they choose to.

Requirement to study Master’s in Ireland: 

  • Successful completion of class 12 with 60% and above
  • Successful completion of bachelor’s with 60% and above

IELTS academic score of 5 and above, a TOEFL PBT score of 500 and above, a TOEFL CBT score of 173 and above or a TOEFL iBT score of 61 and above

Doctoral degree or the third cycle: After the successful completion of their master’s, international students in Ireland can also apply for a doctoral degree which all public and private universities offer in the country. Students are expected to conduct independent research under an academic supervision which is later subject to approval by a panel of experts appointed by the university. While the degree may take upto 3-4 years to complete, students are also given financial grants that will help them sustain themselves in the country.

Requirement to study PhD in Ireland: 

  • Successful completion of class 12 with 60% and above
  • Successful completion of bachelor’s with 60% and above
  • Successful completion of master’s with 60% and above
  • Independent research idea
  • IELTS academic score of 5 and above, a TOEFL PBT score of 500 and above, a TOEFL CBT score of 173 and above or a TOEFL iBT score of 61 and above.

 

Cost of studying in Ireland

The tuition fee for undergraduate courses may range between EUR 9850 – 55000 (around INR ) per year, while masters tuition fee range between EUR 9950 – 35000 (around INR) per year. The average cost of living in a city in Ireland for students usually ranges between EUR 550 – 1000 (around INR) per month. Cities like Dublin and Cork may go even go upto EUR 1800 (around INR) per month for students to incur.

 

WORK OPPORTUNITIES

International students are allowed to take up part time work opportunities 20 hours a week. Students may find employment opportunities mainly in the service sector which include, restaurants, cafes, hotels and even offices. Students may also apply for part time job positions in the university that they are studying. This will not only help contribute to their academic profile but also save time since they would be working in the university itself. However, students will need to apply for a work permit in order to be eligible for any opportunity in the country.

After successful completion of their graduation, students are allowed to stay in the country for another 24 months under Third Level Graduate Scheme Permission in order to find employment opportunities that suit them the best. Once they do find a job, students can only apply for a full-time work permit/green card which allow them to stay until their employment ends and work 40 hours a week.

 

VISA REQUIREMENT 

To obtain a student visa for Ireland, students are required to submit:

  • A valid passport that does not expire within 3 months beyond the planned stay
  • A letter of acceptance from the university
  • Proof of payment to the university
  • Proof of financial capability to sustain stay in the country
  • Proof of health insurance

 

SCHOLARSHIPS

While Universities have their own set of scholarships, the government provides financial assistance through very different ways for students to study in the country. Most notably, the Government of Ireland International Scholarships for students and the Erasmus Scholarship have been availed by many international students to finance their education in the country.