Why Study in Ireland

About Ireland:

Ireland has a rich tradition and history along with excellent education facilities. Ireland is an English speaking country with close ties to the USA and UK. It has one of the youngest populations in the world as 40% of its population is below the age of 25 years. Ireland is a part of the EU and has thousands of students coming every year, from all across the globe to study here. Irish people are extremely friendly and hospitable thereby making international students feel welcome in Ireland. Post Brexit, Ireland is the only English speaking country remaining in the European Union and due to this; there are an increasing number of multinational companies that are setting up their base there. This has resulted in an increasing number of job opportunities in Ireland. As per the Global Peace Index of Ernst and Young Ireland is the 13th safest country in the world.

• Ireland is an emerging hub for international students.
• The Government of Ireland invests close to 800 million Euros every year in research capabilities in Ireland’s educational institutions thereby making these institutions world leaders in a number of areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and data science. Ireland is ranked 11th in the 2018 Global Innovation Index.
• Educational institutions in Ireland rank in the top 1% of world, with regards to research thereby enabling students to be a part of a variety of research programs which are at the epicenter of cutting edge innovations.
• Dublin, the capital of Ireland has its own silicon valley with almost all the international technology giants having their European headquarters located here. Companies such as Apple, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, PayPal, Uber, Airbnb, HP, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, EA, Adobe and many more have their offices here. Over a 1000 companies have their European headquarters in Ireland.
• There are over 100,000 people working in tech in Ireland at the moment and there is an ever increasing demand for tech talent.
• Students are allowed to work part time for 20 hours per week and for 40 hours during holidays, earning anywhere between 9-12 euros an hour. This can easily help to cover the student’s food as well as accommodation costs.
• Students are given a post study work visa of 2 years in Ireland.
• Ireland has 34 institutions for higher education offering over 5000 programs.
• Ireland has a 1 year masters’ program allowing a student to stay back for a period of 24 months after completing his or her education. A bachelor’s degree will allow a student to stay back for a period of 12 months.
• The cost of education is very low in Ireland with fees for a 1 year Masters’ program ranging from anywhere between 10,000 euros to 14,000 euros. This is almost 1/3 compared to countries such as the US and Australia.

Education System in Ireland

• Ireland offers a 1 year master’s program and it also accepts students for post-graduation with 15 years of education unlike the US.
• The Undergraduate degree has a length of 4 years in Ireland.
• Ireland is home to world class universities having incredible infrastructure, top class faculty and state of the art facilities.
• Most Irish Universities are spread over 100’s of acres. For example: University College Dublin has the largest urban campus in Dublin which is spread over 350 acres.
• The Irish education system is divided into Universities, Institute of Technologies and Colleges.

Universities: There are 7 Government-funded universities providing undergraduate, postgraduate & research degree programs.

Institute of Technologies: There are 14 government-funded institutes of technology. They offer a wide variety of programs which can be both academically and vocationally focused.

Colleges: Mostly private, they offer a range of programs including professional certificates, diplomas, undergraduate & postgraduate degrees in a diverse range of subjects.

Types of Degrees in Ireland

The following academic awards can be achieved at Irish institutions after you have completed your A Levels in India:

• Higher Certificate which is a two year full-time course.
• Bachelors’ Degree which is a three year full time course (NFQ Level 7).
• Honors Bachelors’ Degree which can be either a three or a four year course (NFQ Level 8).
• Graduate Diploma or Higher Diploma: It is designed for graduates seeking to learn a vocational course in order to add a certain skill set to their resume. It is usually a one year course (NFQ Level 8).
• Master’s degree is normally, a 1 year program (NFQ Level 9).
• Doctorate (PhD): It takes a minimum of three to four years complete (NFQ Level 10).

NFQ = National Framework of Qualifications

National Framework of Qualifications: All qualifications recognized through this system are quality assured which means you can have complete confidence that your course and college are constantly reviewed to ensure consistently high standards.

The NFQ is a system of ten levels with grades for all the courses from the beginner to the advance levels. It is based on standards of knowledge, skill and competence and it incorporates awards made for all kinds of learning, wherever it is gained.

Introduced in 2003, the NFQ is totally accessible and allows international students to easily match or contrast qualifications in order to plan their education, training and career progression. The system aids employers to ascertain qualifications for specific roles and suitable candidates by being able to use the NFQ to suit their needs.

The NFQ provides a way to compare qualifications and ensure that they are quality assured and recognized at home and abroad. The NFQ is used to compare Irish qualifications with foreign qualifications. International students travelling to Ireland with qualifications gained abroad can use the NFQ to get their home country qualifications recognized.

Application Procedure for Ireland

The application procedure for Ireland requires the following steps:

• Step 1- Research: The students should do their research on the universities or the colleges that they wish to apply to along with the programs that they are interested in applying for.

We at AM Consulting counsel you to understand your careers goals and aspirations and accordingly design a custom roadmap for you. We will then help you in shortlisting of the courses and the universities that you should apply to, based on a number of factors such as your test score, your academic credentials, your work experience, your budget as well as your areas of interest.

• Step 2 – Taking the Required Tests: Each program in Ireland will require you to give an English proficiency test in order to be considered for admission. Ireland only requires you to take the IELTS exam and submit the score to your choice of Universities for a small fee. An ideal score required on the IELTS for Ireland, is an overall score 6.5 with no band less than 6.0

• Step 3 – Preparing the Documents: Next the students need to put together the following documents for the application process:

a) Transcripts: Transcripts are mark sheets presented in a certain format. A student will need to apply at their respective schools or colleges for getting their transcripts issued. Each transcript will be stamped & signed, and then sealed in an envelope which also needs to be stamped and signed.

b) Statement of Purpose: Some Irish universities will require you to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) as part of the application. MBA applicants might have to answer 2-3 university specific essay questions. An SOP can make or break a student’s application and is one of the most important parts of the application process. A crisp and well-crafted SOP can make up for a low GRE or GMAT score or even low academics.

We at AM Consulting specialize in drafting brilliant SOP’s which have helped our students secure admits into some of the top universities in Ireland. You can contact us here to know about our SOP packages.

c) Letters of Recommendation (LORs): Universities require you to submit a minimum of two letters of recommendation (LOR) as a part of your application. One is a professional one and the other is an academic one. You need to nominate your manager at your workplace and a professor at your college for writing these letters for you. These LORs are also one of the most important parts of your application wherein your referees make a case for your selection to that particular university. You need to nominate referees who know your well and under whom you have grown professionally or academically.

We at AM Consulting provide assistance in drafting LOR’s for our students. You can contact us here to know more about our LOR packages.

d) Resume: The students need to prepare a professional looking resume which is no more than 2 pages, as part of their application. The resume should contain the student’s academic as well as professional information.

e) Proof of Work Experience/Internships/Social Work: In order to strengthen the application, a student can submit additional documents such as an offer letter, internship experience letter or a certificate for completion of social work done at a local non-governmental organization (NGO).

f) Other Documents: A student will also need to submit their passport copies, 2-3 photos and the university application form.

• Step 4 – Application to the Universities: AM Consulting, will apply to universities in Ireland for you and keep you updated on the status of your applications. We will forward you the offers as and when received and help you in selecting the best university for you.

• Step 5 – Visa: Upon accepting an offer from a particular university, the next step is to apply for the student visa at the Irish Consulate in or around your city. AM Consulting will help you in visa application process. Ideally you should apply for your student visa, at least 8 weeks in advance. You will need to have an unconditional offer letter and also pay a minimum deposit of 6000 euros.

As part of the visa application process, you will need to show funds in your account that will be enough to cover your tuition fees as well as your living expenses while studying in Ireland Alternatively if your parents are funding the education then, then you need to submit an affidavit of support signed by your parents and on a stamp paper.

GARDA Registration:

Initially you will get a visa for 30-90 days. Post this once you arrive in Ireland, you will need to register yourself at the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
The below documents are required for GARDA registration.
• Passport
• Student ID card (provided by the school/university in Ireland).
• A letter from the Registrar’s office of the school/university stating that student is a registered student and stating the start date and completion date of his/her course.•
• The student is required to show a part of his/her living expenses i.e. a minimum of €3000 to the visa office in his/her Irish bank statement.•
• A €300 fee (credit/debit card ‐ no cash accepted).

Document Checklist for Application:
• Transcripts and Degree Certificate
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose/Essays
• A minimum of 2 letters of recommendation
• Work Offer Letter or any other Certificates
• IELTS Score
• Application Form

Irish universities offer generous scholarships and hence it is advisable to apply at the earliest and also since the batch sizes are smaller, the courses shut admissions very fast. For a September intake, it is advisable to apply between November-December.

Tests Required

For Ireland, you only require to give the IELTS test in order to show your English language proficiency.

IELTS: (International English Language Testing System): The IELTS is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council and IDP in India. There are two types of IELTS exams.

IELTS Academic: This is taken by students who wish to apply for higher education in countries all around the world. IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand academic institutions, by over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and by various professional organizations across the world.

Recommended IELTS score to study in Ireland:

To study Bachelors in Ireland – An overall IELTS score of a minimum of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5

To study Masters in Ireland – An overall IELTS score of a minimum of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0

The test is administered by the British Council and IDP in India. The cost of taking the exam is Rs 12,650. It can be taken in either the computer delivered or the paper delivered format.

You can register for the exam either through the British council website (https://www.britishcouncil.in/exam/ielts) or the IDP website. (https://www.ieltsidpindia.com/)

Costs

Tuition Costs: The tuition costs vary depending on the course, the university and also on whether the student is an EU resident or a Non-EU resident.

Average fees for Undergraduate Courses:

Medicine and related          €45,000 – €54,135
Engineering                         €9,950 – €24,958
Science & Technology         €9,750 – €24,958
Arts & Humanities               €9,750 – €22,000
Business                               €9,750 – €20,000

Average fees for Graduate Courses:

Medicine and related          €4,000 – €48,000
Engineering                         €9,250 – €24,000
Science & Technology         €9,250 – €45,000
Arts & Humanities               €9,250 – €22,000
Business                               €9,250 – €35,000

Living Expenses:

Cost                                       Monthly (€)                    Annual (€)
Rent                                       €427                               €3,843
Utilities                                  €28                                 €252
Food                                      €167                               €1,503
Travel                                     €135                               €1,215
Books & Class materials      €70                                 €630
Clothes/Medical                    €41                                 €369
Mobile                                   €31                                 €279
Social life                               €75                                 €675

On an average, the student will end up spending anything between €7,000 and €12,000 per year. This figure can vary vastly depending on the lifestyle of the student.

Scholarships in Ireland

There are numerous scholarships available for international students from a wide variety of sources such as the Government of Ireland, the Irish higher education institutions as well as other independent organizations. The scholarships are awarded based on the student’s academic performance, the IELTS score as well as the overall profile. Irish universities offer generous scholarships but one needs to apply at the earliest to avail of it.

Post Study Work Visa for Ireland

Ireland has a Third Level Graduate Scheme Permission which allows non EU students graduating from Irish educational institutions to stay back in Ireland for up to 24 months in order to seek employment or be employed. The purpose of the permission to remain under this scheme is to seek employment and gain a Green Card or Work Permit.

The period for the Graduate Employment Scheme is 2years for students whose degree is at a minimum of level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Students on level 8 will be offered the 12 months scheme and those on level 7 will be offered the 6 months scheme.

Job Opportunities in Ireland

• Ireland is the European hub to over 1,000 leading multinational companies. These companies need a highly skilled, educated and capable workforce to drive their success in Ireland.
• Ireland is a hot bed of technological innovation. It is home to all the top technology companies of the world. Hence there are plenty of job opportunities in Ireland.
• Due to Ireland’s low corporate tax structure, its location and its policies a number of companies including technology companies such as Facebook, Apple, Google, Uber, Microsoft, Airbnb, LinkedIn, Twitter, Amazon and Pharmaceutical majors such as GSK and Pfizer too have set up their European headquarters here post Brexit. This has resulted in a huge demand resulting in multiple job offers for good talent.
• Ireland continues to attract a huge amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) and is the second most attractive country globally for FDI.
• Half of the medical technology companies in Ireland are Irish and there is a vibrant software sector exporting mainly to the UK and the US.
• Ireland also has exciting homegrown industries. Companies competing on the world stage include CRH, Smurfit Kappa, DCC, Glen Dimplex, Greencore, Kingspan, NTR and Paddy Power.

List of Universities in Ireland

List of Universities, Institute of Technologies and Colleges in Ireland:

1. Trinity College Dublin
2. University College Dublin, Dublin
3. The National University of Ireland, Galway
4. University College Cork, Cork
5. Dublin City University, Dublin
6. University of Limerick
7. Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin
8. Athlone Institute of Technology, Westmeath (AIT)
9. Maynooth University, Maynooth
10. Institute of Technology, Carlow (IT Carlow)
11. National College of Ireland
12. Limerick Institute of Technology
13. Dublin Business School, Dublin
14. Griffith College, Dublin
15. Shannon College of Hotel Management, A college of NUI Galway
16. International University of Applied Sciences – IUBH, Dublin
17. Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT)
18. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT)
19. Cork Institute of Technology (CIT)
20. Institute of Technology, Tralee (IT Tralee)