Ireland

About

Ireland, a neighboring country of the United Kingdom, is one of the wealthiest countries in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Ireland is a safe, student-friendly nation with English being the native language. The culture is similar to that of the UK. Ireland offers excellent education and is also known for innovation and creativity.
Education isn’t a preparation for your life – it's an indistinguishable part of life itself. And nowhere is this truer than in Ireland, where time spent in the classroom is just the starting point of a journey towards a fuller, rounder and more interesting individual.
Ireland offers a very diverse range of higher education options. Listed below are a few features of Ireland that make it student-friendly

Land of the welcomes

The Irish have always prided themselves on the warmth of their welcome and are rightly famed for making visitors to their shores feel at home. And as one of the safest counties in the world, Ireland provides an environment where security is taken as read. All their universities have formal integration programs in place, making sure that all our Study Abroad guests settle in quickly and easily.

English as the main language

It's hugely comforting to know that Ireland is one of the very few English-speaking countries in Europe, so settling in and making the most of the stay is super-easy. Whether it's dealing with lecturers or simply asking for directions, there’s no danger of anything getting lost in translation.

Variety

From Humanities to Engineering, there’s an Irish institution that can match each curriculum to perfection. So, no matter what the chosen subject of students may be, studying in Ireland increases the options of where they would like to write the next chapter of their learning story.

Study with an element of fun

Whenever the Irish speak about ‘craic’ (pronounced as crack), they’re referring to a uniquely Irish trait of looking to enjoy every moment to its fullest. It’s a constant background to Irish life and the young, multicultural population revel in living in one of the most dynamic and forward-looking counties in Europe. Today’s new Ireland vibrates with a sense of curiosity that powers its economy and shapes its society, giving rise to one of the most dynamic of European countries in the arts, music, culture and emerging technologies.

Mix of Diversity

It's a huge understatement to say that travel broadens the mind. Studying and living in a foreign environment will challenge the worldview of students, and introduce them to new people, a new culture, and a whole new world of diverse sights and spectacles. No matter how short the stay in Ireland maybe, one is guaranteed to leave the shores with stories, experiences, and memories that will last a lifetime.

The right blend of past and future

The romantic image of Ireland is still very much alive and well. But side-by-side with it sits a modern European nation that is a magnet for both financial services and Information Technology, with most of the big companies/brands in the world having their European headquarters here. With one of the youngest and best-educated workforces in the world, Ireland is also a major innovation hub and a breeding ground for new start-ups and Research & Development.

The education system in Ireland is divided into four main parts, primary education, secondary education, further education, and higher education. Irish higher education institutions offer degrees at ordinary and Honours Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate levels and undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas over a full range of disciplines. Ireland has a variety of higher education opportunities.
Erasmus - the EU's flagship education program enables a huge number of students to study abroad each year. Students from the EU, EEA, and Turkey have a straightforward route to spend between three and twelve months studying in an Irish higher education institution as part of their course. Successful applicants for the exchange program receive a study grant toward the costs and do not pay fees at their chosen institution. Courses undertaken in Ireland are recognized within the student's final degree award under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Institutions in 31 countries participate in the program and there are variations in the applications process between them. Students should contact their college's International Office for advice. Erasmus can also support students who want to spend periods on work placement in Ireland.

Higher education in Ireland

Many universities in Ireland are made up of colleges that are dedicated to a specific subject matter. While the colleges are still governed by the university, each college has autonomy from each other as well as the university itself. The students either need to apply directly to the college of the subject they want to study. In Ireland, the emphasis is more on the depth of the subject, which enables the students to have a thorough understanding of the chosen subject.
The top universities of Ireland are Maynooth University, Cork Institute of Technology, University College of Dublin, Dublin Business School and so on. Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in Dublin followed by Galway, Cork and so on.

The qualifying exams vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Besides, there will be a minimum academic performance record as stipulated by the universities to qualify for admission.

General Exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue an MBA or business or management-related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical and reasoning skills.

GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue an MA or MS. Also, many business schools accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.

Students need to check on the qualifying exams as stipulated by the universities and accordingly apply for the same.

Language Exam

TOEFL – It is the most popular English proficiency exam accepted by a majority of the universities. The TOEFL tests the students’ usage and understanding of the English language as it is used in communicating in college and university settings. Students can appear for this exam any number of times. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the test and sets the test paper.

IELTS – International English Language Testing System is a standardized language test that needs to be cleared for admission in different universities in Ireland.

Students are advised to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to and then take up the exams accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exams, students should check the university requirements.

Application Requirements

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, there are other requirements for applying to educational institutes in Ireland.

Letter of recommendation – (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third-party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student for recommendation to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third party could be a professor, direct manager, etc.

Statement of Purpose – A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the introduction of the student to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect the student’s personality as well.

Essay:Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.

Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, students applying to undergraduate courses should have completed 10+2. Also, those who are applying to graduate courses must have completed 16 years of education. In addition to all these, students also need to show proof of the finances to the universities to secure admission.

Cut-off for Exams

All the major universities and colleges also set cut-off for various exams which students need to obtain for securing admission. Before applying to their preferred universities, aspirants should check the cut off marks for GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and then start preparing for the exams accordingly.

The tuition fee for International students varies according to different universities, courses, and the city that the students choose to live in. Living expenses like accommodation, food, travel, etc are as per the choice of the student. Costs will vary depending on the lifestyle, place of residence and socializing of the students. But compared to studying in the US or Australia, Ireland can work out to be a much reasonable study abroad destination with the best quality education.

Medicine, Business Management, Computer Science, Finance and Accounting, Economics, Pharmacy, Communications/Media are popular courses that Indian students pursue in Ireland. The location of the accommodation plays an important role in the costing for the students. A student residing in the metropolitan city will be spending more on accommodation as compared to a student who resides in the suburban part of the city.
Student visas are issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a country is to pursue education. Although getting admission in the university is extremely important, these legal documents for obtaining visas are of utmost importance. Every country has its own immigration rules. The documents can range from education-related ones to different proof of funds acceptable and so on to enable the students to study in that country. These are specified on the official website. Students can check on the same and accordingly apply for their visa. There are some common factors in all student visa applications.

The students need to know the entire process of applying and obtaining the student visas to study abroad. Studying abroad requires meticulous planning. Students are advised to plan their admission/ application process as per the university deadlines and should accordingly work backward. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policies and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute delays. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should start a couple of months earlier than the regular applicants for the process of application and approval of the same.