Five Quick Points About Ireland

• Dynamic, modern country with a young population
• Internationally recognised for being safe and friendly
• Huge emphasis on education and an increasingly popular location for English-language studies
• Technologically oriented economy
• Despite modern direction of recent years, respect for tradition continues

Geography and Regions

Ireland is an island in the Atlantic Ocean on the western fringe of Europe. The Republic of Ireland makes up five-sixths of the island (70,282 square kilometres). The northern part of the island – and the Republic of Ireland’s only land border – consists of Northern Ireland, which is officially part of the United Kingdom.

Ireland is known for its picturesque coastlines, hills and valleys, and dramatic mountains. The Information Ireland website explains that,

“The two great mountain systems of Europe, north of the Alps, converge westwards to meet and mingle in Ireland. The older (Caledonian) extends from Scandinavia through Scotland to the north and west of Ireland, where it gives rise to the rugged and mountainous landscapes of Counties Donegal, Mayo and Galway.”

Green grass covers much of the island, and on the western coast, strong winds have limited the growth of trees. While 27 species of mammals call Ireland home, the country has no large natural predators. Seals and whales may be seen in some coastal areas.

Southwest Ireland is known for its sandy beaches and lovely fishing villages. The county of Kerry is beautiful and offers a large number of prehistoric and ancient Celtic sites. Artists love West Cork for its relaxed atmosphere and gorgeous scenery. Popular attractions include the The Ring of Kerry and the Blarney Stone. Click here for more on Southwest Ireland.

The West of Ireland consists mostly of cliffs, mountains, and hills – but it also has gorgeous, safe beaches.It is also the home of the stunning Aran Islands. The West of Ireland is an important part of Irish history and some of its residents speak Gaelic as a first language. It includes the charming city of Galway, which has over 30 wonderful culture and music festivals each year.  Salthill in Galway is the centre-point of the Wild Atlantic Way, a 2,500 km of coastal road along the spectacular west coast. Western Island includes the charming city of Galway with its wonderful music and festivals, as well as County Clare, the home of Irish traditional music. Click here for more on Western Ireland.

The East Coast and Lowlands are covered with glacial deposits of clay and soil. Bogs, lakes and rolling pastures are also common. The River Shannon, the longest in Ireland, cuts through this part of the country. Some of Ireland’s most historic and sacred sites are in this region, including trails of Celtic crosses, Norman churches, and castles. Click here for more information on Ireland’s “Ancient East” coast.

Southeast Ireland is located on the Irish Sea, facing the United Kingdom. This area – which is often the warmest region in Ireland – is home to gentle hills, peaceful farms, medieval castles, and wild mountains. Popular cities in the area include well-known Waterfordand historic Kilkenny. Click here for more on Southeast Ireland.

Dublin is the capital of Ireland. Located on the Irish Sea in the east, Dublin is the nation’s political, economic, and cultural centre. Among European cities, Dublin is known for its great artistic, literary, and cultural history, and was recently named by UNESCO as the world’s fourth City of Literature. The city itself straddles the picturesque River Liffey and is filled with Georgian architecture, tranquil parks, sculptures, and cultural monuments. Its residents enjoy a high quality of life and a vibrant entrepreneurial culture. Hundreds of top global companies have their European head offices in Dublin. Voted the third friendliest city in the world, Dublin offers students a charming mix of cafés, bars, global restaurants, shops, cycling and walking trails, and the warmth and hospitality of a small city. Click here for more on Dublin.

Helpful Map: To help students find out which educational institutions and programmes are located in particular regions of Ireland, use the interactive map located on the Education Ireland website. 

Climate

Ireland’s weather is mild and lacks the temperature extremes of other countries located at the same latitude. The average temperature on land is 10°C.

During the spring months (February to April), the average highest temperatures range from 8 to 12°C, while in summer (May to July) the averages for highest temperatures are between 18 and 20°C. July and August receive about 18 hours of daylight and it generally gets dark only after 11 PM.

Winter temperatures average around 8°C. During the coolest months (January and February), the temperature occasionally drops below freezing. Snow is rare, except in the high hills and mountains, and long stretches of cold weather are infrequent. Ireland is known, however, for abundant rainfall, particularly in the winter months and in the western part of the country. Fog is also common in coastal areas.

When packing for studies in Ireland, students should think of the fact that they will often be dressing in layers: for example, with a t-shirt underneath and a sweater over top that can be taken off if the temperature changes, as it often does in Ireland. Even in the span of one day, it can feel warm or cool depending on what hour it is, so students need to be ready for anything. Sweaters can be necessary even in the summer. And very important: students should bring waterproof clothing and an umbrella for outdoor activities, as well as comfortable shoes for the great walks and hikes that are accessible all over Ireland.

For more detailed weather information, visit the Irish Meteorological Service online.

History and Population

Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years. Irish ancestry includes a mix of many peoples such as the Celts, Normans, Vikings, and Scots. Once part of the U.K., the country became increasingly sovereign over the 20th century, with the Republic of Ireland officially declared in 1949.

Historically, emigration was caused by politics, religious oppression and economic issues. Over 80 million Irish people and their descendants currently live in other countries. Since the 1990s, thanks to an agreement in 1998 ending civil strife as well as to economic expansion, this trend has been changing; more people are now moving to Ireland than leaving the country.

The total population of Ireland is around 5 million. English is the main language, with a minority using Irish as their mother tongue.

Society and Culture

Ireland consistently ranks among the friendliest countries in the world for newcomers and tourists. Ireland is predominantly Christian, and mainly Roman Catholic. English and Irish (Gaelic) are the official languages, although Gaelic is a minority language.

Myths and legends are an integral part of Irish culture. Traditions such as music, Irish dancing, social outings at the Irish pub, and wearing something green on St Patrick’s Day are a very important part of the culture. The Irish are well recognised for their love of storytelling, their wit and humour, and for a distinctive musical rhythm or lilt in their voice in conversation. At the same time, they have embraced modern culture, and international students will see both traditional and modern cultures side by side in Ireland.

Living Conditions and Cost of Living

The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) explains:

“Every year, estimates are published which give an indication of how much it costs to live as a student for one academic year (nine months) in Ireland. Recent figures for Dublin have ranged between €10,000 and €15,000, largely depending on the type of accommodation chosen. These estimates include rent, electricity, food, books, laundry and medicine, as well as travel passes and social expenses, but exclude tuition fees. Rents and prices for goods and services are generally cheaper for students living outside of Dublin.”

The ICOS provides a good deal more information on living costs, as well as how international students can make the most of their budget: https://www.internationalstudents.ie/info-and-advice/practical-information/cost-of-living.

Since joining the European Union (EU) in 1973, Ireland has transformed itself from a largely agricultural society into a modern, technologically advanced economy which is now ranked eighth in the world in terms of purchasing parity. Notably, the Republic of Ireland is ranked in the top 10 countries in the world on the Human Development Index, which registers the overall well-being and progress of a population. The economy is increasingly a “knowledge” economy with a focus on services and high-tech.

Ireland’s currency is the Euro (€).

Government

The Republic of Ireland is a parliamentary democracy with two houses of parliament: the upper house or the Senate (Seanad) and the lower house or the House of Representatives (Dail). The popularly elected president is the head of state and the prime minister is the leader of the national parliament. Local government takes place through elected county councils for each of the 26 counties.

Ireland’s Education System

Five Essential Points

• Ireland’s higher education system is among the best in the world, according to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook.
• Over 1 in 10 full-time higher education students in Ireland are international students. Of these, fully three-quarters are from outside the European Union, leading to a healthy diversity of cultures on Irish campuses.
• Eight Irish universities are in the QS World University Rankings 2021. Five of those can be found in the global top 500. Meanwhile, Ireland’s 11 Institutes of Technology, first-ever Technological University, and 15 private higher education institutions are a crucial force in fuelling Ireland’s innovative economy and are closely linked with industry.  
• Quality assurance lies at the heart of the Irish education system. Stringent reforms have led to the creation of an integrated quality assurance scheme and a transparent list of programmes meeting government quality assurance standards.
• With a range of recognised English-language schools across the country and as the only English-speaking nation in the EU after Brexit, Ireland is a leading destination for English-language learners, offering a wide variety of courses. Summer camp programmes are very popular, in addition to general English courses for adults and exam preparation courses.

As a member of the European Union (EU), Ireland recognises the educational qualifications of students who are EU citizens. EU students do not need a visa to study in Ireland, but non-EU citizens may need one, depending on their country of origin and length of stay.

Some helpful association resources for agents include:

• Quality and Qualifications Ireland maintains the National Framework of Qualifications, provides advice on recognition of foreign qualifications (including a free comparability statement for each country and for each qualification) in Ireland and on the recognition of Irish qualifications abroad, and reviews the effectiveness of quality assurance in further and higher education and training providers in Ireland.
• The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) is an independent, national network promoting good policy and high standards in international education in Ireland.
• Education in Ireland is administered by an Irish state agency (Enterprise Ireland) and promotes Irish higher education overseas. Their site includes a helpful programme search function for Irish higher education courses.
• Marketing English in Ireland (MEI) is the leading association of English-language schools in Ireland. Their site includes a programme search function for English-language courses in Ireland.
• The Irish Universities Association (IUA) is the representative body for Ireland’s seven universities.
• Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) is the representative body for the majority of Ireland’s Institutes of Technology.
• Higher Education Colleges Association represents independent higher level education in Ireland; its members include colleges specialising in areas such as business, computer training, physical training, etc.

 

Education System

Ireland has one of the best education systems in the world. In fact, many believe the education system is a major contributor to the country’s rapid economic growth in the last few decades. Responsibility for education lies within the Department of Education and Science, which administers all aspects of education policy.

There are three main sectors of formal education: primary (eight years), secondary (six years) and tertiary/higher education (universities, Institutes of Technology, colleges of education, NUI colleges, and independent colleges). In recent years a fourth sector, called further education, has been added to promote the concept of lifelong learning throughout a person’s career and life.

In terms of higher education, Ireland has 7 universities, 11 Institutes of Technology (IoTs), one Technological University, 15 private higher education institutions, and 7 colleges of education.

All government-approved academic awards in these institutions are internationally recognised. There is a wide range of technical and vocational training programmes available in Ireland. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, English-language programmes attracted roughly 120,000-130,000 students a year of all ages and nationalities.

Levels of Education

The graphic below outlines Ireland’s education system and pathway options.

Pre-Primary Education

Pre-primary education is optional in Ireland, yet nearly 40% of four-year-olds and virtually all five-year-olds are enrolled in “infant classes” in primary schools. Pre-primary options include crèches, play-school, Montessori schools, and naíonraí (Irish-language pre-schools).

Primary Education

Irish families have several types of school to choose from for primary education. State-funded primary schools are the most common option, but there are other types of primary school that may be relevant for families coming to Ireland for study abroad.  

The primary education sector spans eight years, and children study in this level from the age of six until they are 12 or 13. Within the primary sector are more than 3,000 schools, including state-funded primary schools, special schools (for students with disabilities), and private primary schools. Many – but not all – public primary schools have a religious and in most cases Catholic orientation. However, most of their teachers are non-religious in their focus and training.

Post-Primary Education

Within the post-primary education sector are secondary, vocational, community, and comprehensive schools. Over 350,000 students receive post-primary education in 450 secondary schools, 250 vocational, and about 100 other schools.

Secondary schools

These schools, also known as Voluntary Secondary Schools, are owned and operated by religious communities or private organisations; they enrol more than half of Irish high-school-aged students. Some secondary schools charge fees – sometimes quite substantial – and some do not.

Children generally begin secondary school at the age of 12 and leave by 17 or 18 years of age; please see the Post-Primary Schools section for information on the “cycles” within the secondary school programme as well as the examinations that lead to various post-secondary options for students.

Private day and boarding school options are available for those families that are interested. A full academic school year (two terms) runs from September to June.

Vocational schools, community colleges, and comprehensive schools

These schools are established by the state and administered by Education and Training Boards (ETBs). In addition to providing second-level education, they are designed to provide further education opportunities for school-leavers and adults in the various Irish communities. Just over a quarter of Irish high-school-aged students attend vocational schools.

Please see SECTION C for more on Ireland’s Secondary Schools.

Higher (Third-Level) Education

Third-level education in Ireland encompasses several sectors: the university sector, the Institutes of Technology, the developing Technological Universities sector, and the colleges of education, all of which receive most of their funding from the Irish government, as well as private higher education institutions.

In total, Ireland has 7 universities, 11 Institutes of Technology (IoTs), one Technological University, 15 private higher education institutions, and 7 colleges of education. A number of additional third-level institutions, some private, offer specialised education in areas such as art and design, medicine, business studies, law, etc.

Higher education semesters generally run as follows:

• The first semester runs from early September to December
• A one-month Christmas Break falls in December/January
• The second semester runs from late January to May
• Summer holidays run from May through early September

In terms of the qualifications offered, Ireland’s universities, private colleges, colleges of education, and IoTs offer the following according to Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), including the number of years each level of (full-time) education typically takes to complete.

Non-degree programmes:

• Level 6 Higher Certificate (offered by IoTs and Technological University Dublin only): Normally completed in 2 years, and those in possession of a Higher Certificate are generally exempted from the first year, or the first 2 years, of a bachelor’s programme)
• Level 8 Higher Diploma: Normally completed in 1 year
• Level 8 Graduate Diploma: Usually a 1-year course
• Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma: Normally completed in 1–2 years (one popular example of postgraduate diploma course is the 1-year teacher-training programme for the Higher Diploma in Education).

Degree programmes:

• Level 7 Bachelor’s Degree: Normally completed in 3 years (Note: Bachelor’s programmes in medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, and architecture are of 5–6-year duration)
• Level 8 Honours Bachelor’s Degree: Normally completed in 3–4 years (Note: Often higher admission requirements and more demanding examinations than ordinary bachelor’s degree programmes)
• Level 9 Master’s Degree: Normally completed in 1 year or sometimes 2 years (Note: the 1-year master’s is very attractive to many international students)
• Level 10 Doctoral Degree (PhD) or Post-Doctoral Degree: Usually requiring at least 3 years of research, then a dissertation.

For more information on each kind of qualification, please visit the Irish National Framework for Qualifications website.

What Is the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)?

The Irish (NFQ) measures and compares learning achievements at each Irish education institution, and it governs the transfer process between institutions. The NFQ levels have a correspondence with those within the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), which allows Irish credentials to be recognised and accepted outside of Ireland. It is also aligned with the Bologna Process, another scheme that promotes comparability across the EU in the standards and quality of higher-education qualifications. Both Irish universities and Irish Institutes of Technology (IoTs) – as well as the HECA private colleges – offer third-level qualifications on the NFQ.

How do National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Levels 7–10 offered by Irish IoTs and Universities translate to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)?

NFQ level 10 > EQF Level 8
NFQ level 9 > EQF Level 7
NFQ level 8 > EQF Level 6
NFQ level 7 > EQF Level 6

What Is Important for Agents to Know: The Irish Higher Education system, through the NFQ, is in accordance with European Qualifications Framework (EQF), allowing students’ third-level qualifications obtained in Ireland to be easily recognisable across the EU.

Universities

Ireland’s 7 universities are autonomous and self-governing, and they offer degree programmes at the foundation, bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels. Between them, they host tens of thousands of international students and have dedicated international offices to help foreign students adjust to Irish academics and culture and to encourage their participation in campus clubs and societies. All 7 Irish universities are ranked in the top 3% of institutions worldwide.

The 7 universities are:

• The National University of Ireland (NUI) which is an umbrella university that covers the University College Dublin (UCD); National University of Ireland, Galway; University College Cork; and National University of Ireland Maynooth (MU).
• The University of Dublin, which is generally known as Trinity College Dublin (TCD).
• The University of Limerick (UL).
• Dublin City University (DCU).

Please see SECTION F for detailed information on universities.

Institutes of Technology (IoTs)

Ireland’s 11 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and Technological University Dublin are a major success story in Irish education. Located across the country, they allow students to progress from 2-year associate’s degree programmes to degree programmes including bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes.

IoTs enable students to develop skills in critical analysis, decision-making and entrepreneurship, and to emerge as graduates who are ready for careers in business, technology, and other fields.

The certificate and degree programmes offered by Ireland’s IoTs focus on areas such as business, science, engineering, linguistics, and music.

The Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) measures and compares learning achievements at each institution, and it governs the transfer process between institutions. The NFQ falls within the European Qualifications Framework, which allows Irish credentials to be recognised and accepted outside of Ireland.

The Institutes of Technology as well as Technological Universities are:

• In the Dublin area: Dun Laoghaire Institute of art, design and technology and TU Dublin (Technological University Dublin)
• Outside Dublin: Cork, Waterford, Tralee, Dundalk, Athlone, Galway and Mayo, Sligo, Letterkenny, Limerick, and Carlow.

Please see SECTION E for more on Institutes of Technology.

Colleges of Education

These colleges – many of which are affiliated with universities – provide specialised training for primary school teachers, offering a 3-year Bachelor of Education degree and an 18-month postgraduate diploma. Post-primary teachers generally do a primary degree (e.g., a Bachelor of Education), followed by a postgraduate diploma.

Ireland’s Colleges of Education are:

• Church of Ireland College of Education (CICE)
• Froebel College of Education
• Mary Immaculate College (MIC)
• St Patrick’s College of Education
• Mater Dei Institute of Education
• The Marino Institute of Education (MIE)
• St Angela’s College

Private Colleges

There are many reputable private colleges in Ireland, many of which offer specialised education in fields such as business, law, hospitality and hotel management, art and design, and many other particular fields of study. International students who know exactly which kind of industry they want to work in and who want to obtain the qualifications needed for this goal are good candidates for private colleges.

Many private colleges in Ireland are accredited by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Across the private college sector, international students can find programmes that result in higher certificates, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees at QQI Levels 6, 7, 8 and 9, and because these qualifications are QQI-accredited, they are easily recognisable to employers and transferable to schools across Europe.

However, not all private colleges are QQI-accredited. These may be accredited by another organisation, and students and agents should be very sure to ask as many questions and check as many sources as possible to be confident that these colleges have a good reputation.

An important source of information on private colleges in Ireland is HECA, the Higher Education Colleges Association that works to ensure standards in the sector. There are currently 15 private college members in HECA (visit this page to see the list), and all of these are QQI-accredited.

The members of HECA are as follows:

CCT College Dublin   
Dorset College Dublin
Dublin Business School
Galway Business School 
Griffith College
Hibernia College 
Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences
IICP College
Open Training College
Setanta College
SQT Training Ltd
St. Nicholas Montessori College Ireland

Industry Funding and Oversight

The HEA

The statutory planning and development body for higher education and research in Ireland is called the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The HEA is the funding authority for Ireland’s universities, Institutes of Technology, and other designated higher education institutions. A full list of recognised third-level providers is available from the Department of Education and Skills.

QQI

In recent years, Ireland has taken great steps to strengthening quality assurance in the education sector. QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) is the state agency responsible for quality assurance of further and higher education institutions in Ireland. Through various processes including regular review of providers, the agency ensures that students attending Irish institutions receive educational services of a high and consistent standard. The QQI is also responsible for maintaining the Irish NFQ (National Framework of Qualifications) and facilitates the recognition of foreign qualifications. One important service the QQI offers is free comparability statements for each country and for each qualification. For any qualification not listed or for any query the QQI responds to questions swiftly through an online ticketing system. Please see this very helpful webpage.

ILEP

The Department of Justice oversees the ILEP list (Interim List of Eligible Programmes), which includes schools that comply with immigration regulations. This is a very important list for agents to consult, only courses that are on the ILEP qualify for the issue of study visas for non-EU students. The ILEP list is updated every 4 months and agents should familiarize themselves with it and check regularly for the most updated list.

English Language Training (ELT)

English is the language of instruction in third-level (higher) education, so mastering the language is an important step for international students looking to pursue higher study in Ireland. For younger students, particularly at the post-primary level, short-term summer programmes can help establish a strong foundation in English. English-language study may be combined with holiday programmes, cultural exchanges, and volunteer work opportunities.

According to Education Ireland, there are currently more than 90 quality-assured English-language teaching providers located all across the country. Students have the option of studying English in a centre associated with a public university or institute, or through private providers. Schools are located in major cities as well as smaller towns and cities. Schools offer courses such as General English for adults and juniors, Business English, English for Academic and Professional Purposes, English with Work Placement, or customised programmes. Short-term summer programmes have grown in popularity in recent years.

Resources for Agents Placing Students in English-language Programmes in Ireland

• QQI, through its Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services (ACELS) function, provides quality assurance for English-language services in Ireland. ACELS manages and operates an Inspection/Recognition Scheme for ELT organisations and an Accreditation Scheme for English Language teacher training providers. All recognised ELT providers are listed on the ACELS website.
• Marketing English in Ireland (MEI) is the leading member-based association of language schools in Ireland. The association offers a range of events aimed at familiarising agents with the Irish English-language sector.

Ireland’s Secondary Schools

Five Essential Points

• Irish secondary schools (also known as post-primary schools) offer a very high standard of education. The secondary school completion rate in Ireland is among the best in Europe, and more than half of school leavers go on to university.
• Irish secondary education is free to students from the EU – although some schools will charge an administration fee for EU – as well as all other – international students. Students from outside the EU, however, will receive a visa only if they study in fee-paying (i.e., private) Irish secondary schools (which will be covered later in this section). In Ireland, the visa system is very simple; secondary school-aged students require the regular long-term D visa.
• Once students – including international students – have passed Irish secondary school exams, they can use their exam outcomes to apply not only to Irish universities, but to universities in the UK as well. This pathway is very attractive to many international students.
• Students receive a broad-based education, taking 9 to 11 subjects in the Junior Cycle stage of the system and 6 to 8 subjects in the Senior Cycle stage. An exciting opportunity exists in the form of the first year of the Senior Cycle, which is called the Transition Year. The objective of the Transition Year is to promote the personal, social, educational and vocational development of pupils, and it combines life-skills programmes with a core academic curriculum.
• The Irish people are world-renowned for being friendly, and international students will find welcoming host families to live with when they come to study. Not only will they receive a welcoming and supportive environment in which to live and study, they – and their parents – will have the comfort of knowing every host family in Ireland must be vetted and approved through a police check.

Overview

Most Irish secondary schools fall under the guidance of the Department of Education and Skills but are operated by religious orders or private owners. They do not generally recruit international students directly and rely on local guardianship organisations to recruit for them and to provide non-school services such as accommodation. All international students in secondary schools must have a guardianship provider.

There are two types of secondary school in Ireland: the first is non-fee-paying (i.e., national or public) and the second is fee-paying (i.e., private). Both types offer an excellent quality of education. Only EU students are able to attend non-fee-paying secondary schools, while those outside that area will receive a visa that permits them to attend only fee-paying schools. Most international students in secondary schools in Ireland are from within the EU area, and there are relatively few international students: approximately 1,000.

The visa for international students studying at the secondary school level in Ireland is the long-term D visa.

Students begin secondary school at the age of 12 and enter the Junior Cycle (lower secondary). When they are roughly 15 years of age, they progress to the 2–3-year Senior Cycle. The length of the Senior Cycle depends on whether the students take what is called a Transition Year, which the Irish government says is “designed to act as a bridge between the Junior and Senior Cycles.” The government offers the following information about this year:

• It is available to all second-level schools and currently some 550 schools offer the programme.
• Transition Year may be optional or mandatory for students depending on the school’s policy.
• Each school designs its own Transition Year programme, within set guidelines, to suit the needs and interests of its students.

The Transition Year, which adds one year to the Senior Cycle, is composed of four “layers:” (1) the academic curriculum (e.g., English and math instruction), (2) exposure to subjects of particular interest (e.g., engineering), (3) a self-development layer (e.g., taking a driver’s education course), and a layer in which students obtain work experience and training.

In the Junior Cycle, students take a core curriculum of English, mathematics, science, history/geography, and a modern European language, and up to 5 other optional subjects. Each school offers between 15 and 18 optional subjects – and each school will have its own list of options.

In the Senior Cycle, students take 6 or 7 subjects from a wide range, and all subjects are taught at two levels (e.g., Lower and Higher). Students must take least 6 subjects to be eligible for university entrance.

Each school will have its own policies regarding whether or not a student must take Irish as a compulsory subject. International students may be permitted to take another subject in place of Irish. Agents and students’ families should check with the school for the school’s policies on this matter.

You can find a list of post-primary schools, including schools in each county, right here: http://www.education.ie/en/find-a-school

The School Year

There are three terms (sessions) in the Irish primary/secondary school year:

1. September to December;
2. Early January to March/April (Easter);
3. After Easter to first week of June.

Students applying to boarding schools should apply in early April for a September start date, and in early May for other secondary schools.

IMPORTANT: International secondary school-aged students can rarely study for just one term (this is an option only once schools have completed recruitment of full-year students) and this is seldom available in Irish boarding schools.

At the beginning of the school year, the school will publish a list of dates on which it will be closed, including holidays. International students will be living either with host families (i.e., homestay) or at boarding schools and should talk to their families/boarding school administrators about provisions for these school closures.

Exams and Certificates

Secondary-school students sit for the Junior Certificate examination after three years, where they demonstrate their knowledge of the broad Junior Cycle curriculum. They enter the Senior Cycle stream at the age of 15, and take a Leaving Certificate examination two or three years later. Students who want to continue on to third-level (i.e., higher) education aim to get good marks in their best 6 subjects tested by this examination as it directly impacts their chances of admission at Irish or British universities and Institutes of Technology.

Individual universities and programmes will have their own criteria for how they assess the points (i.e., scores) students achieve on their Leaving Certificate examinations. If an international student has a specific university they want to attend after finishing secondary school in Ireland, they should check as early as possible at the university for its admission guidelines.

IMPORTANT: Graduates of Irish secondary schools are eligible for admission to British universities through UCAS, depending on their results on the Leaving Certificate Examination.

Aside from these two major examinations, students are also assessed throughout the school year by teachers, who will send reports to parents to indicate students’ progress and areas of strengths and weaknesses.

Fee-paying and Non-fee-paying Secondary Schools

The Irish government funds both fee-paying (aka private) schools and non-fee-paying (aka national or state) schools, but private schools get less funding than non-fee-paying schools and therefore charge students fees to support the operation of the school. Both types of school offer a high quality of education.

Most EU students who attend Irish secondary schools enrol in non-fee-paying schools and live with host families. Non-fee-paying schools are not options for non-EU international students.

International students from anywhere – in Europe or outside of it – can apply to an Irish private school, and most of them – approximately 60% – choose a boarding school option. The rest choose day schools and live with host families (also known as homestay).

In general, there are considerable variations in the way secondary schools operate in Ireland. Differences can be found in such areas as exams, sports, the arts, religion, languages, and practical skills acquisition. It is crucial for agents and families to talk to school representatives to make sure a school’s orientation is right for an individual student. In addition, there can be waiting lists at some schools, so inquiring early is the best approach. For a list of post-primary schools, including schools in each county, please click here.

IMPORTANT: International students pay the same tuition as Irish nationals to attend secondary school in Ireland, although some schools charge an overseas “administration” fee for all international students.

Fee-Paying Schools

The tuition and fees for these schools varies substantially and the total cost will depend on whether international students are staying with a host family or choosing a boarding school package. It can cost anywhere from €13,000 to €30,000 including tuition, fees, boarding/homestay, and guardianship for an international student to attend a fee-paying secondary school in Ireland. For an example of what some prestigious secondary schools in Ireland cost, please see this article in the Irish Mirror (but please note, quoted costs may have changed since this article was published).

Generally, a school’s location will influence how much it charges (e.g., schools in Dublin often charge more than those in other areas). But in general, compared to what it costs to attend private secondary schools in other major English-speaking destinations, it is relatively inexpensive for international students to attend private schools in Ireland.

Boarding School

Ireland’s 27 boarding schools, most of which are in or close to Dublin, cost between €12,000 and €17,000 depending on the type of accommodation they offer. Many offer residential accommodation on their own campuses, some use host families – who are chosen and overseen by the schools – for some portion of the week/month, and some rely entirely on host families.

Not all boarding school packages are the same. Some schools offer 7-day boarding, while others offer 5-day or 12-day boarding. At five-day boarding schools, students spend every weekend with a host family. At 12-day boarding schools, students spend every second weekend with a family. Some seven-day boarding schools may close one weekend in every month, in addition to mid-term breaks in the first and second terms when students live with host families.

With all this variation, it is important to check with individual boarding schools about the exact accommodation being offered and what is included in the fees.

Host Families and Guardianship Providers

Many international students stay with host families (also known as “homestay”) while they study in Ireland. These families have been vetted and approved by the Irish police department, which provides a welcome sense of safety and security for the families of international students, and are inspected by a guardianship provider (see below). In general, students will receive their own room, study facilities, meals, and emotional/social supports from the host family.

Living with host families offers students cultural immersion and the opportunity to perfect conversational English skills. Students are generally included in family activities, further enriching their immersive experiences.

Guardianship providers

What does a guardianship provider do? Guardianship providers are responsible for providing pastoral and academic care, ensuring the well-being and safety of students while studying in Ireland. Guardianship providers inspect and manage their host families and some have come together to create The Association of Guardianship Providers (AGPI), which is devoted to ensuring guardianship providers meet top standards in child protection and service – including host family placements – for international students. AGPI appoints an established charity focused on protecting children to regularly inspect guardianship companies to make sure they meet the following criteria, among other stringent legal, operating, and management criteria:

• Being legally based in Ireland;
• Having a 24/7 emergency phone service;
• Having undergone child protection training.

Ireland’s English-language Training Schools

Five Essential Points

• Over the past five years, Ireland has grown dramatically in popularity among international students looking for English-language teaching (ELT); enrolments have been growing by roughly 10% since 2014, and much of that growth is attributable to the rise in the number of Junior students. Irish ELT is very popular among Italian, Spanish, and French students and more than three-quarters of English-language students were from outside the EU. Outside of the EU, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea are significant sources of students. As of 2016, 119,000 international students were enrolled in Ireland’s English-language schools.
• Ireland will be the only English-speaking country in the EU after Brexit, and it has a rich English-language literature tradition. As such, it is a natural – and relatively affordable – choice for international students wanting to learn or improve their English-language proficiency.
• Students have many opportunities to practise English outside of the classroom, and the Irish are known worldwide for their friendliness, not to mention their open-mindedness and progressive attitudes. Ireland is a small, beautiful country with scenic landscape that is easy to explore.
• Non-EU international students can work part-time while they are studying in ELT progammes on the ILEP. Working while studying helps to make studying in Ireland affordable and allows students to immerse themselves in Irish society. The fact that Ireland serves as the headquarters for many of the world’s foremost multinational pharmaceutical and technology companies is a great attraction.
• Ireland is one of the safest and most pleasant places to learn English, with welcoming host families ready to provide international students with comfortable accommodation. Host families must go through a rigorous process to be approved to accept international students, which will be covered later in this module of the course.

Overview

Close to 90 English-language teaching organisations (ELTOS) are integrated into Ireland’s education system, with the Department of Education and Skills responsible for ensuring their quality and operations. Schools are located both in Dublin – for a big-city experience – and in smaller cities like Cork, Galway, and Limerick and in smaller towns throughout the country. Most schools are family-run and often accompanied by exciting recreational and sports opportunities.

Most (65) ELTOS are members of MEI (Marketing English in Ireland) and as such agree to rigorous inspections by Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services (ACELS), through the service of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). These organisations oversee the credentials and professionalism of the English-language teachers at the schools. Together they ensure due diligence and high standards of care for students’ well-being.

Please note: Changes to the accreditation and oversight structure are anticipated as part of the implementation of the Ireland’s new international education strategy. Agents will be advised as any such changes take place.

Schools outside the MEI umbrella will have their own quality assurance and student protection policies, and it is the responsibility of the agent to investigate these policies at each school under consideration.

While most English-language schools in Ireland are privately owned, many higher education institutions offer foundation English courses for students who wish to study a third-level programme but do not yet have the English-language proficiency for direct entry. These courses sometimes include modules that focus on the subject area students wish to study. Agents can inquire with individual third-level institutions to find out about which foundation programmes they offer.

Language schools in Ireland generally offer packages that include tuition, accommodation, and some extra-curricular activities (with supplementary activities also available but for a fee outside of the package).

The benefits of studying English in Ireland include:

• Programmes that provide direct pathways to higher education – in Ireland as well as the UK (for EU students);
• Learning in a country where English has a deep historical tradition and that has produced some of the most famous English writers in the world;
• The friendliness of the Irish people, which offers a wonderful opportunity to practise English outside the classroom;
• A variety of programme start dates and levels;
• The chance to meet students from around the world;
• Instructors specifically qualified to teach international students;
• Integrated cultural, social, and sporting activities that enrich the learning experience;
• Opportunities to combine studies with internships and/or to work while studying English;
• Welcoming homestay families.

Types of English-language Study

There are a variety of English-language programmes for international students to choose from – the ideal selection will depend on such factors as:

• How old the student is;
• Whether they want a city or rural experience;
• A programme’s duration (from a couple of weeks to several months);
• Which recreational, professional, or sports activities/focuses are attached to the programme.

Some typical programme types include:

• General English for adults;
• Business English for adults;
• English for Exams (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge Exams);
• English + activities (e.g., sports, music, literature);
• English for kids and teenagers (most programmes – known as Junior programmes – occur during the summer months);
• English for school groups (known as Stage programmes, held during school breaks for short periods of time);
• English for seniors (aged 50+);
• English for families (where adults come to Ireland with their children and both the adults and children learn English in separate programmes);
• English for internships (students over the age of 18 can do an internship in a chosen industry after completing an English-language programme).

An interactive map of Ireland’s English-language schools can be found on the ACELS (The Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services) website.

Immigration Rules for Non-EU Students

Ireland’s Department of Immigration has introduced a list – the ILEP (Interim List of Eligible Programmes) – that includes only those schools that have been determined to meet Ireland’s student immigration policy. Non-EU students will only be able to receive a visa to attend an English-language school in Ireland if the school is on the ILEP.  

A school cannot make it onto the ILEP unless it provides student protection measures for non-EU students – for example, policies that guarantee that if a programme is cancelled, the student will either receive a refund or be transferred to another school/programme to continue their studies. In addition, ILEP-listed programmes have a maximum class size of 15 students and must have demonstrated that all teachers are fully qualified to teach English to international students.

Here are additional criteria ILEP-listed schools must meet, according to the Irish government:

“Have public documented policies in place, systems in place for the following:

• Refund of student fees and other payments in the case of refused visas;
• Punctuality and attendance, including recording of attendance;
• Absenteeism and expulsion;
• Student sick leave;
• Holidays and breaks;
• End-of-course exam entry and recording of grades/scores received. Students must be registered for exams.

The immigration permission to attend a 25-week English-language course is for 8 months. New students attending language courses may be granted permission for a maximum of 3 language courses. This amounts to a total immigration permission of 2 years (3 x 8 months).

Students can arrange their own timetable with the school. This must be scheduled at the beginning of the course so the timetable can be sent to immigration officials, and cannot be changed once it has been presented to the GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) at the point of registration.

The visa required for each term of study is the immigration Stamp 2.

Education in Ireland explains the following immigration rules for non-EU students coming to study English in Ireland:

• The maximum time a student may stay in Ireland for the purpose of attending courses at language/non-degree level is limited to 2 years;
• The conditions below must be complied with:
  • Students must have a Letter of Acceptance from the college, confirming they have been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time day-time education involving a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime tuition each week between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm.
  • They must have proof that fees have been paid to the college. Where their fees are below €6,000, the full amount of the fees must be paid in advance.
  • They must have access to €3,000 at first registration. This is in addition to their course fees.
  • They must comply with Medical Insurance requirements.

Once students are enrolled, immigration service (INIS) requires students to achieve 85% attendance if they wish to renew their immigration permission.

Students must NEVER pay for courses in cash, and if a school requests this, they should be reported to the INIS.

Schools must notify prospective students about all fees that will be associated with a course before the students enrol, and students should not be asked to pay additional fees that were not set out before the start of the course.

Accomodation and Work

Most English-language students stay with host families in Ireland, especially if they are teenagers. All families hosting English-language students are vetted by the Irish police, a service arranged by the Marketing English in Ireland office. In addition – and as an example of Ireland’s general high prioritisation of child welfare – TUSLA – a statutory body under the Irish Government Department of Children & Youth Affairs – works at safeguarding and police vetting for anyone who has organised contact with children – international students as well as Irish students – under the age of 18 years. It is empowered to visit organisations and inspect their vetting procedures and practices.

Adults tend to choose either to stay with a host family or in short-term apartment rentals. Many schools offer both school residential accommodation or house-share options for their students.

If a student wishes to organise their own independent accommodation, this is also possible.  Education in Ireland recommends that students wanting to rent an apartment search on websites such as daft.ie or MyHome.ie for rental properties.

EU students are permitted the same work concessions (known as work rights in other countries) in Ireland as they are in their own countries. Non-EU students holding a valid immigration Stamp 2 may work for 20 hours a week during the course of the normal school year, and 40 hours per week in:

• The summer months of June, July, August, and September;
• From 15 December to 15 January inclusive.   

Once the Stamp 2 immigration permission has expired, students cannot work in Ireland.

Summer Camps

Junior Programmes

Ireland is one of the world’s top destinations for Junior Programmes for children and teenagers under the age of 17 – and summer camps are extremely popular, especially for families across the EU. These short-term camps – running for periods from one week to four weeks – are plentiful, offered through stand-alone businesses and universities and schools alike. Many well-established language schools utilise university and college campuses which are unoccupied in the summer months, giving juniors and young adults a glimpse of campus and college life.

Some summer camps offer a mix of English-language training and cultural/recreational activities, and others are purely activity-focused. Some integrate international students with Irish children, and some are designed specifically for international students. All are carefully planned to take into account the different needs of children/teens at different ages.  

Activities that have been offered/are offered at Junior summer camps around Ireland include:

• Filmmaking
• Cooking
• Sports
• Stem
• Music/Acting
• Archaeology

Because of the young age of students, accommodation is usually provided in one of two ways: (1) through residential accommodations attached to the school/programme itself or (2) with a host family (as detailed in other sections, homestays are vetted by the police to make sure they meet safety and welfare standards).

The costs of camp vary, and are dependent upon a range of factors including duration, accommodation, and activities/excursions provided. 

Airport transfers are usually part of the package, as are meals. Agents should be rigorous in their questions and understanding of what is provided and taught when it comes to Junior summer camps, given the young age of the children who will be attending. This is especially important when it comes to camps for children under the age of 12, as Ireland’s regulatory framework (QQI) covers children only from the ages of 12 and up.

Families can feel confident knowing that it is a statutory/legal requirement in Ireland that everybody in contact with students under the age of 18 must undergo Garda (police) vetting. All host family members over the age of 16, academic staff, admin staff, activities staff, bus drivers, etc. must be vetted by the ELT organisation hosting the students. MEI arranges  police and the school providers and processes the vetting applications which are then forwarded to the police.  

Adult Summer Camps

Summer camps are no longer just for kids! Adult summer camps are increasingly popular in Ireland. Again, these can be English + an activity or oriented exclusively around English or an activity.
Some examples of summer camps for adults include:

• Painting
• Photography
• Creative Writing
• Cooking
• Music
• Golf

Adult summer camps can be delivered through universities and schools or through a stand-alone business. Agents must again be rigorous in their questions and research (e.g., about accommodations, travel, meals, extra feeds, etc.) given that summer camps are not standardised – they come in a range of shapes, sizes, and quality.

For a list of summer camps being offered right now, please use CourseFinders.com and search “Ireland Summer Camp.”

Resources

Agents may also want to register for www.irelandscontentpool.com to receive free access to high-quality video and photo content promoting Ireland.

• Network of English language schools: www.mei.ie
• ACELS, the accreditation body for the English-language training sector: http://acels.ie/
• The Irish tourism site: http://www.ireland.com
• Network of ELT teachers: http://www.elt-ireland.com/
• Irish Council for International Students (the body dedicated to looking after the needs of international students): http://www.icosirl.ie/

Ireland’s Institutes of Technology

Five Essential Points

• Irish Institutes of Technology (IoTs) – whose representative body is THEA – emphasise innovation and skills acquisition for the fast-changing global economy. They operate in close cooperation with the many multinational companies based in Ireland. Industry leaders are involved in the design of courses, facilitate work placements and research for students, and they also recruit graduates from Irish IoTs. Students learn in applied research environments and work on projects stemming directly from industry opportunities and challenges. They gain the ability to work with cutting-edge technologies, and emerge with work-ready skills.
• IoTs offer awards from Level 6 (advanced certificate and higher certificate) all the way to Level 10 (doctoral degree and higher doctorate), with undergraduate and master’s degrees the most popular among international students. Their awards – at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels – are aligned with the Bologna Framework. The Bologna Framework has made European higher education systems more compatible than ever before, and this means that graduates from Irish IoTs can use their qualifications to apply for a job or a course in other European countries.
• Some IoTs are now amalgamating to form a new type of higher education institution known as a Technological University. The first of these – Technological Institute Dublin (TU Dublin) – has already been established. The mission and focus of Technological Universities is aligned with those of Ireland’s IoTs (i.e., to provide students with a practice-based environment informed by the latest research and enabled by technological advances). Their emphasis is on programmes at levels 6 (advanced certificate) to 8 (honours bachelors). 
• IoTs offer excellent student-to-professor ratios as well as strong supports for international students. The focus is on the individual student and optimising their experience of higher education. Class sizes are relatively small, producing a close-knit and comfortable environment for international students travelling far from their homes. 

The tuition charged by IoTs is lower than the tuition charged by universities, ranging from €10,000–€12,000 for an academic year.

Overview

Ireland’s Institutes of Technology (IoTs) are a major success story in Irish higher education. Today nearly half of Irish secondary school students going on to third-level education in Ireland choose to study at an IoT. These institutes currently cater to 88,000 higher-level students. Like Irish universities, IoTs are sometimes referred to as “colleges.” This term does not mean “vocational” but rather is used generally to refer to higher education institutions in Ireland.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in these institutes’ global engagement – a direction that is fully supported by the Irish government. Many foreign students – studying at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and from both the EU and from outside of the region – are on IoT campuses today and international research collaborations are a priority.

Technological Universities

Recently, a new kind of institution has been introduced to the Irish higher education system: Technological Universities. THEA notes that:

“A Technological University will be distinguished by a mission and ethos that is aligned and consistent with the current mission and focus of institutes of technology with an emphasis on programmes at levels 6 to 8 … The Technological Universities will add to the existing diversity evident within an already strong technological sector. It is expected that ten of the 14 IoTs will choose this pathway in the coming years, working together to form Technological Universities in Dublin, the Southeast, the Southwest and the West.”

In early 2019, the first Technological University was established: Technological University Dublin. The university was formed by the amalgamation of three existing institutes of technology in the Dublin area – Dublin Institute of Technology; Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown; and Institute of Technology, Tallaght. This first Technological University is the second-largest third-level institution in Ireland according to student population. For more on the mission of Technological Universities, please see this link: http://www.thea.ie/events/ireland-s-first-technological-university-given-go-ahead/

Credentials and focuses of IoTs

The credentials awarded by the Institutes of Technology fall within the National Framework of Qualifications and run from advanced certificates to doctorates. Many programmes are STEM-based (i.e., oriented around Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math subjects), but there are also programmes in the humanities and business. All IoT programmes develop self-management, critical analysis, decision-making, and entrepreneurship skills among students. They are centres of innovation and applied research tied to the knowledge-based Irish and global economy.

Close industry collaboration

Nimble, dynamic institutes that create and adapt curricula based on the needs of the fast-changing global economy, Ireland’s IoTs are well-placed to understand which skills and fields are increasingly in demand thanks to the presence of roughly one thousand multinational companies based in Ireland. Many of those companies work closely with IoTs. Their leaders are involved in course design, serve on institutes’ boards of governors, facilitate work placements, and recruit from IoTs. These partnerships are a cornerstone of the Irish government’s commitment to boosting Ireland’s already impressive commitment to innovation in the economy.

On all IoT campuses are Incubation Centres run in cooperation with Enterprise Ireland, the largest start-up programme in Ireland (a “start-up” is a new company or company in development responding to an emerging problem or opportunity). Within every Incubation Centre are business supports and research and development expertise for students wanting to start their own companies, products, or projects. These centres are further evidence of the strong industry linkages that help to define IoTs.

Opportunities to work

International students from IoTs who graduate with honours bachelor’s degrees or higher diplomas (Level 8) can also make use of the Third Level Graduate Scheme that allows students to “stay back” (that is, remain in Ireland) for 12 months once they have graduated to seek employment. Those with masters or postgraduate degrees are eligible to remain for up to 24 months. After securing employment, students may then be eligible to apply for a Green Card. 

Pursuing a Course of Study at an IoT

Access to education for all kinds of students is a founding philosophy of the institutes, and admissions officers at IoTs will look not only at students’ past educational achievements but also at their work experience as they evaluate applications. For full admission guidelines, agents and students should contact individual Institutes of Technology.

There is a range of study options for international students at IoTs that align with Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications (see SECTION B for more on this framework):

• Higher Certificate (Level 6)
• Bachelor’s Degree (Level 7)
• Honours Bachelor’s Degree (Level 8)
• Higher Diploma (Level 8)
• Master’s degree (Level 9)
• Postgraduate diploma (Level 9)
• Doctoral Degree and Higher Doctorate (Level 10)

As students progress in their programmes, they begin to work on applied research (i.e., practical and oriented to a specific problem) projects. This is just one way IoTs function to graduate people with work-ready expertise.

In their third year of studying, students often secure work placements (i.e., internships) in the industry aligned with their studies, and frequently they use their fourth and final year to work on a project stemming from the work placement. This valuable experience is open to all students, domestic and international alike, and there are many internships available in a wide range of fields.

Overview of Individual IoTs

There are 11 IoTs in Ireland and one new Technological University (TU Dublin). Most offer programmes at the higher certificate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels, and some offer programmes at the doctoral level. Each of the IoTs have individual requirements regarding minimum English-language proficiency scores for admission into programmes; please check with each institution for these scores.

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
Location: Dublin, with Grangegorman, Blanchardstown, and Tallaght campuses.
Fun fact: TU Dublin is Ireland’s first Technological University, and it was formed out of the amalgamation of three IoTs in the Dublin area (Dublin Institute of Technology; Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown; and Institute of Technology, Tallaght). Enrolling nearly 30,000 students, TU Dublin is the second-largest higher education institution in Ireland, with a large international student population.
Research centres: TU Dublin’s centres of research excellence include Arts & Tourism, Business, Engineering & Built Environment and Sciences & Health.
Information specific to international students: https://www.tudublin.ie/study/international-students
For more information: https://www.tudublin.ie

Institute of Technology, Carlow (ITC)
Location: Carlow (one hour south of Dublin).
Fun fact: Multimillion-dollar investments have led to the introduction of two new state-of-the-art Teaching and Research buildings over the past three years; several more exciting projects are rolling out soon.
Programmes include: Science and Computing, Engineering, and Business and Humanities. For a full listing please visit http://www.itcarlow.ie/courses.htm.
Information specific to international students: http://international.cit.ie/
For more information: www.itcarlow.ie
 
Cork Institute of Technology (CIT)
Location: Cork, Ireland’s second largest city,
Fun fact: CIT has a strong reputation for its Science and Engineering disciplines in which two-thirds of its students are enrolled; the institute also has three main strategic research clusters: Biopharmchem, Network Embedded Systems, and Photonics.
Programmes include: Engineering, Science, Business and Humanities, National Maritime College of Ireland, CIT Crawford College of Art & Design (including media communications), CIT Cork School of Music (including dance and drama). For a full listing please visit http://www.cit.ie/study_at_CIT.
Information specific to international students: http://international.cit.ie/
For more information: www.cit.ie

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT)
Location: Dundalk, halfway between Dublin and Belfast.
Fun fact: Dundalk has a rich history complete with myths and legends and is situated in a beautiful, natural area while still having modern new campus facilities and on-campus accommodation.
Research centres: Ageing and Health, Entrepreneurship Research, Informatics and Creative Media, Sustainable Energy and Environment.
Programmes include: Finance, Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Art & Design, Music, Computing. For a full listing please visit https://www.dkit.ie/home-page/study-dkit/courses-dkit.
For more information: www.dkit.ie

Dunlaoghaire Institute of Art, Design, and Technology (IADT)
Location: Dunlaoghaire, a major town in south Dublin.
Fun fact: IADT hosts a National Film School which is a centre of excellence for film, animation, broadcasting, and digital media.
Programmes include: Broadcast Production for Radio and Television; Cultural Event Management; Cyberpsychology; Digital Media; Public Culture Studies; Screenwriting; and Visual Arts; Entrepreneurship, Production, and Technology in the Arts. For a full listing please visit http://www.iadt.ie/courses
Information specific to international students: http://www.iadt.ie/study/international-students
For more information: www.iadt.ie

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT)
Location: GMIT is a multi-campus institute located in the West of Ireland with campuses in Galway, Mayo, Letterfrack & Mountbellew.
Fun fact: Galway has been named European Capital of Culture 2020 and is home to some of Ireland’s most popular festivals including the annual Galway International Arts Festival, the Galway Food Festival, and Galway Race Week.
Research centres: Marine and Freshwater Studies, Biomedical Engineering, ICT and Telecommunications.
Programmes include: Software Development, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Medical Science, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science, Forensic Science, Public Health Nutrition, Hotel Management, International Tourism Management, Business, Accounting, Business Information Systems, Finance & Economics, Design, Contemporary Art, Film & Documentary. For a full listing please visit http://www.gmit.ie/courses/all-courses.
Information specific to international students: http://www.gmit.ie/international/studying-gmit
For more information: www.gmit.ie

Letterkenney Institute of Technology (LYIT)
Location: Co Donegal (in Ireland’s North West), with one location in Letterkenny and another in Killybegs.
Fun fact: There are over 30 clubs and societies international students can join – and a new wind energy centre has recently been opened on the Killybegs campus.
Research centres: Biotechnology, Wireless censors, and Electronics, Production, and Innovation Technology.
Programmes include: Business, Administrative Management, Sport Development and Coaching Law, Graphic Design, Product Design, Digital Media, Tourism, Culinary Arts, Architectural Technology, Electronic/Computer/Civil Engineering, Computer Games Development, Computer Security and Digital Forsenics, Early Childcare, Veterinary Nursing. For a full listing please visit: http://www.lyit.ie/full-timecourses/.
Information specific to international students: http://www.lyit.ie/admissions/internationalapplicants/
For more information: www.lyit.ie

Atlantic Technological University Sligo (ATU Sligo)
Location: Sligo Town in the North West of Ireland.
Fun fact: As of April 2022, the former Institute of Technology Sligo was formally dissolved and became part of the Atlantic Technological University.
Programmes include: Environmental Health and Sustainability, Analytical and Bioanalytical Science, Archaeological Science, Geotechnical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computing and IT, and Humanities and the Social Sciences. For a full listing please visit https://www.itsligo.ie/
Information specific to international students: https://www.itsligo.ie/study-at-it-sligo/international-students/contact-the-international-office/
For more information: www.itsligo.ie

Institute of Technology, Tralee (ITT)
Location: County Kerry in the South-West of Ireland.
Fun fact: The campus offers state-of-the-art technology and resources, world-class sporting facilities and easy access to some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes
Research centres: Hospitality & Tourism, Biotechnology, Mechatronics, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Physical Education and Recreation
Programmes include: Creative Media and Information Technology, Business, Humanities and Social Science, Hotel Culinary and Tourism, Agricultural and Manufacturing Engineering, Civil Engineering and Construction Studies, Renewable Energy, Computing and Mathematics, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science, Health Studies, Nursing and Health Care Studies. For a full listing please visit http://www.ittralee.ie/en/#.
Information specific to international students: http://www.ittralee.ie/en/InformationFor/International/
For more information: www.ittralee.ie

Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS)
Fun fact: As of 1 October 2021, Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) and Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) were merged to form the newly designated TUS: Midlands Midwest.
Programmes include: a wide range of undergraduate and post-graduate options: https://lit.ie
Information specific to international students: https://lit.ie/international-study

Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT)
Location: Waterford, in the South-East of Ireland.
Fun fact: WIT has over 60 campus clubs and societies and a state-of-the-art dedicated Sports Campus.
Research centres: WIT has over 30 Research Centres across a diverse range of discipline areas.
Programmes include: Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Management, Marketing, Tourism, Finance and International Business, Change Management, Applied Arts, Languages, Engineering, Computing and Physics, Science, Nursing, Education, Information Technology, Field and Laboratory Sciences, Business, Art, Design, Music, Health Promotion, Hospitality, Tourism, Arts, Psychology, Nursing, Culinary Arts, Architecture, Agriculture, Social Care, Law, Languages. For a full list please visit https://www.wit.ie/courses
For information specific to international students: https://www.wit.ie/international
For more information: www.wit.ie

How to Apply

Please note: Meeting application deadlines and taking required tests is essential for international students, and additional documents and tests may be required for certain courses (e.g., medicine). Missing documents and skipped deadlines may cause a student who would otherwise have been accepted into a programme to miss the opportunity.

Undergraduate

Undergraduate students may be able to apply directly to an individual Institute of Technology; if not, they can visit the Central Admissions Office (CAO) website. The CAO processes applications for undergraduate courses; however, each individual higher education institution makes decisions on admissions and then instructs the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. The CAO also publishes an annual handbook for the most current application procedures, which can be found here.

It is important for agents and students to be in close contact with the Institute of Technology they wish to apply to before they begin the application process, and to be aware of minimum academic and language scores required for admission. Each institution will also have its own fees that it charges for international students, and it will be able to advise students on how many of their credits will transfer in cases where this is relevant to the student. In some cases, students may receive advanced standing in recognition of their credits from post-secondary institutions outside of Ireland.

To explore financing and scholarship information, agents and students should again contact the individual institution and they can also visit www.studentfinance.ie or www.susi.ie.

Some courses will be “restricted,” which means that they are open only to students showing a specific set of qualifications above and beyond normal requirements. Students often must present more proof of suitability (e.g., a portfolio) for such courses, and they should be in close contact with the Institute of Technology to know what is required.

Masters, Postgraduate, and Doctoral

There is also a central processing office for students pursuing studies at NFQ Level 9 or 10: http://www.pac.ie/. In addition, it may be possible for students to apply directly to the IoT in question for master’s, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees.

Internships

Students can intern in Ireland as part of an IoT degree programme, and should follow the instructions applicable to the IOT they are attending. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For comprehensive information on Irish IoTs, please refer to the website of The Technological Higher Education Association (THEA): http://www.thea.ie/facts-and-stats.

Ireland’s Universities

Five Essential Points

• Ireland’s 7 universities and one Technological University (please see Section E for Technological for information on Technological University Dublin) are all ranked within the top 3% of universities worldwide, and host thousands of international students from all over the globe. Their qualifications are aligned with the Bologna Framework, which means that international students graduating from Irish universities can use their qualifications to easily apply for a job or a course in other European countries.
• The universities are characterised by a strong focus on comprehensive, intensive research, and they are responsible for 90% of Ireland’s PhD graduates. International partnerships are ever-more common across university disciplines, and Irish universities are thus beneficiaries of substantial European research funding.
• Irish university campuses are rich with energy and innovation. They boast state-of-the-art facilities and technologies and they include cutting-edge supports for budding entrepreneurs through such models as the Blackstone Launchpad.
• International students have the unique advantage of having many huge multinational companies situated in Ireland. These companies regularly offer internship opportunities to international students and chances at permanent employment upon graduation if students stay in Ireland on the Third Level Graduate Scheme.
• The International Student Barometer has found that international students rate Irish universities above the global average in terms of satisfaction – 91% rated Irish universities highly in this regard.

Overview

More than 32,000 international students are pursuing degrees – from bachelor’s all the way to PhDs and other postgraduate work – in the Irish higher education system, and many of these are enrolled at Ireland’s seven universities.

International students come to the universities from every corner of the planet – from the EU but also many other countries – attracted by Ireland’s solid reputation for academic and research excellence as well as by the opportunity to gain valuable work experience at one of the many multinational companies operating in Ireland.

There is always a diverse range of cutting-edge research projects being spearheaded by the universities, and many of these projects have an international dimension to them and international funding to bolster their quality and scope.

Irish universities offer a comprehensive range of degrees from Level 7 to Level 10 in the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). This scope means the following credentials are awarded by the universities: higher diploma, bachelor’s degree, honours bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, postgraduate diploma, doctoral degree, higher doctorate. Universities graduate 90% of the PhDs emerging from Irish higher education institutions.

The universities are highly internationalised, with strong student supports in the areas of academics, social life, language, and resumé building. There is an international feel throughout Irish university campuses. 

In terms of the learning culture, Irish universities value creativity and innovation, and in keeping with these values, each campus has at least one Technology Centre. Technology Centres are a great success story in Ireland, and they are partly funded by Enterprise Ireland, the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. In a Technology Centre, top faculty and students at Irish universities and certain other institutions undertake strategic research projects requested by and led by industry leaders. For more on these centres, please visit Enterprise Ireland. To find out which centres are located on individual Irish university campuses, agents should contact the institution.

Pursuing a Course of Study at an Irish University

Irish universities offer the following degrees: ordinary bachelor’s degrees (L7 on the NFQ), honours bachelor’s degrees and higher diplomas (L8), master’s degrees and postgraduate diplomas (L9), and doctoral degrees and post-doctoral degrees (L10). They also offer certificates and diplomas.

International students should know that there are quality assurance policies and practices in place at all Irish universities. These have been externally evaluated by independent experts on the basis of the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. In addition, the universities conduct regular quality assurance reviews that evaluate all academic units, teaching programmes, and projects.

Because Ireland’s universities are so research intensive, students will notice buildings and infrastructure in place to support the particular research focuses of each university. Irish university facilities are often greatly enhanced by significant research funding from European organisations such as Horizon 2020.

Information on the research going on in the seven universities can be accessed by visiting these sites:

Dublin City University: https://www.dcu.ie/research

NUI Galway: http://www.nuigalway.ie/our-research/

Maynooth University: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/

Trinity College Dublin: http://www.tcd.ie/research/

University College Cork: http://www.ucc.ie/research/rio/

University College Dublin: http://www.ucd.ie/research/

University of Limerick:  www.ul.ie/research

International students coming to an Irish university for the first time may not have a full idea of what to expect – or of what is expected of them, academically. For this reason, it is essential that students:

1. Attend the sessions organised for new students during Orientation Week (the week before formal classes begin);
2. Read the all materials provided by their department/programme;
3. Meet with their designated academic advisor and teaching assistant to learn all about best study practices and which assessment methods will be used;
4. Visit the International Office to find out which supports (e.g., tutoring) are available to them.

Overview of Irish Universities

Ireland’s 7 universities, which all place in the top 3% in world rankings, are Dublin City University, NUI Galway, Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin, and University of Limerick. There is also a new Technological University with three campuses in the Dublin area – please see Section E for information on Technological University Dublin). The following provides a little information on each and a link to their websites. For more information, please visit http://www.iua.ie/the-irish-universities/university-fast-facts/.

Dublin City University
Location: Dublin, ten minutes from the city.
Student population: Just over 17,000, of which 22% are international students. Spread across 5 campuses: 3 academic, 1 sport, and 1 innovation.
Fun fact: 92% of graduates were either in full-time employment or further studies 6 months after graduation.
Programmes and research specialisations: 60 undergraduate and 70 postgraduate programmes across 5 faculties: Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Health, Engineering and Computing, DCU Business School (AACSB accredited), and the DCU Institute of Education.
Information specific to international students: https://www.dcu.ie/global
For more information: https://www.dcu.ie/

NUI Galway
Location: Galway, (considered by the New York Times as one of the world’s most “charming” cities).
Student population: Just over 17,000, with roughly 2,000 international students.
Fun fact: 96% of graduates were working or in further study 6 months after graduating, and NUI Galway is ranked “Among Top 200 Most International Universities in the World” by the European Commission.
Programmes and research specialisations: Biomedical Science and Engineering, Marine Science, Human Rights, Applied Social Sciences and Public Policy, Humanities, in particular literature, theatre and Irish studies, Web Science, Energy & Environmental Science.
Information specific to international students: http://www.nuigalway.ie/international-students/
For more information: http://www.nuigalway.ie/

University College Dublin
Location: Belfield, Dublin 4 (4km south of Dublin city centre).
Student population: Over 34,000 students including more than7,000 international students.
Fun fact: UCD is Ireland’s leader in postgraduate education with more than 8,600 postgraduate students and more than 1,500 PhD students. Over 50% of UCD undergraduates progress to postgraduate studies.
Programmes and research specialisations: UCD has four major research themes which build on the university’s established or emerging research strengths: Earth Sciences, Energy and the Environment; Health and Healthcare Delivery; Information, Computation and Communication; Global Ireland.
Information specific to international students: http://www.ucd.ie/international/
For more information: http://www.ucd.ie/

Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin
Location: The historic campus is located in the heart of Dublin city centre.
Student population: In 2015/16 there were 17,511 students enrolled.
Fun fact: Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin is Ireland’s oldest and highest ranked university. Alumni of note include Oscar Wilde, and former Presidents of Ireland Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese.
Programmes and research specialisations: The three main faculties are Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Engineering, Mathematics and Science; and Health Sciences. TCD’s pursues major research in areas such as neuroscience, globalisation, immunology, and molecular medicine. The Trinity Long Room Hub for the arts and humanities are firmly established among the international leaders in their fields.
Information specific to international students: https://www.tcd.ie/study/non-eu/
For more information: https://www.tcd.ie/

University College Cork
Location: UCC is located in the western part of Cork city, 1 km from the city centre. The main parts of UCC’s campus are between Western Road and College Road.
Student population: UCC has 21,000 full-time students, over 3,000 of whom are international.
Fun fact: In 1910, Cork was the first Irish college to appoint a female professor, Mary Ryan, Professor of Romance Languages.
Programmes and research areas: UCC offers over 120 degree and professional programmes in the Humanities, Business, Law, Architecture, Science, Food and Nutritional Sciences, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing and the Clinical Therapies. The University’s research centres include the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, the Analytical and Biological Chemistry Research FacilityBioSciences Institute, the Boole Centre for Research in Informatics, Cork Constraint Computation Centre, Environmental Research Institute, Tyndall National Institute, Oral Health Services Research Centre.
Information specific to international students: http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/
For more information: http://www.ucc.ie/en/

University of Limerick
Location: The University is situated on a superb riverside campus of over 133 hectares with the River Shannon as a unifying focal point. UL campus is located 5km from Limerick City and 20km from Shannon International Airport.
Student population: Just over 15,000.
Fun fact: As part of their degree programme all students, regardless of discipline, undertake relevant work experience of 6–8 months’ duration across UL’s network of 1700+ employers spanning 25 countries. About 25% of these placements are international.
Programmes and research specialisations: UL offers a range of programmes up to doctoral and post-doctoral levels in the disciplines of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Business, Education and Health Sciences; and Science and Engineering. UL’s Research Priority Areas include Materials and Surface Science; Information & Communication Technologies; Bioengineering & Biosciences; Culture, Diversity and Social Change; Energy & Sustainable Environment; Applied Mathematics.
Information specific to international students: http://www.ul.ie/international/
For more information: http://www.ul.ie/

Maynooth University
Location: Situated 25km west of Dublin, the campus is located in Ireland’s only university town, Maynooth.
Student population: More than 11,000, with over 1,500 international students.
Fun fact: Maynooth University counts two Nobel Peace Prize winners among its 40,000 alumni and current academics.
Programmes and research specialisations: Maynooth University offers a wide variety of degree programmes, including specialised subjects such as Immunology, Climatology, Product Design, Music Technology, and the only Anthropology department in the Republic of Ireland. The university has seven cutting‐edge research institutes on campus, one of the best graduate employment records of any Irish university and has a strong track record in terms of research income per academic and for commercialisation of research.
Information specific to international students: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/international
For more information: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/

How to Apply

Please note: Meeting application deadlines and taking required tests is essential for international students, and additional documents and tests may be required for certain courses (e.g., medicine). Missing documents and skipped deadlines may cause a student who would otherwise have been accepted into a programme to miss the opportunity.

As first steps in preparation of applying to an Irish university, the Irish Council of International Students advises agents and students to find out:

• “The level of education needed for admission and which of the student’s qualifications will be recognised;
• The level of English required and any language certificates the student will need to present;
• Whether any work/voluntary experience is also required;
• If they will need to present a portfolio of work;
• The minimum age for admission to the course;
• Whether the course is full-time or part-time (non-EU students are only eligible to study full-time in Ireland).

This information will be readily available via the International Office at each university.

The application process is different for EU students and non-EU students.

For undergraduate programmes, EU students can apply through the Central Application Office. For postgraduate programmes, they would apply directly to the university or, in some cases, via the Postgraduate Applications Centre.

To apply under EU status, students will need to meet the following conditions, according to the Irish Universities Association.

• “They are a national of an EU member state and are residing in an EU member state for three of the five years prior to the commencement of the programme.
• They are a national of an EU member state and have received all their post-primary education within an EU member state.
• They have been in full-time employment in an EU member state for three of the last five years prior to the commencement of the first year of the course. This applies to candidates over the age of 23.
• They have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for three of the five years prior to the commencement of the programme and their parents have been in full-time employment in an EU member state for three of the five years prior to the commencement of the programme. This applies to candidates under the age of 23.”

Non-EU students, meanwhile, apply directly to their chosen Irish university for undergraduate programmes; for postgraduate programmes, they may be asked to apply directly to the university or via the Postgraduate Applications Centre. Each university has their own application procedures. Therefore, direct contact with the International Office of the university is mandatory to ensure students’ applications are complete and meet deadlines.

Helpful Tip: At the bottom of this Irish Universities Association page are the logos of each Irish university – these link to the admissions information pages of the universities.

Internships

Students can intern in Ireland as part of a university degree programme as described in this section, and should follow the instructions applicable to the university they are attending. 

English-language Requirements

Education in Ireland notes the following minimum scores that must be achieved as proof of sufficient English-language proficiency, and cautions that “All English-language certificates must have been issued within two years of the expected commencement date of the student’s course.”

Examination	Level Required
Irish Leaving Certificate in English	Ordinary level grade D
GCSE English Language	Grade C
GCE O-Level English Language	Grade C
University of Cambridge	Pass in Use of English Examination
IELTS	Composite score of 6.0–6.5 with not less than 6.0 in any one component
Cambridge Proficiency	Grade C
Cambridge Advanced	Grade A
ARELS oral examinations	Pass
ETAPP	Grade C1
PTE Academic	Minimum score of 36

Please note that a university may have slightly different minimum scores so it is essential to check with the International Office to be sure.

Foundation/Pathway Programmes

Please see SECTION J for information on English-language requirements as they relate to obtaining study visas.

Some international students will not have the English language proficiency and/or academic qualifications to gain direct admission to an Irish university. These students may be given “Conditional Admission” – guaranteed admission that is dependent on the student first completing an assigned foundation/pathway programme designed to prepare them for success in their desired degree programme.

In other words, the student is accepted into a foundation programme attached to a degree programme that – once completed successfully – gives them direct entry to the degree programme. Foundation programmes range in duration. They cost on average €10,000 per year, and housing is organised by the pathway provider in most cases.

Foundation programmes provide English-language training, and they may also involve study skills and/or academic preparation. Some programmes also deliver some of the course material of the first year of the degree itself, and they count towards students’ completion of the degree. This has the benefit of lessening students’ course load in the first year of study in their degree. There are foundation programmes available at the undergraduate, master’s, and postgraduate levels.

Some programmes are delivered by private pathway providers such as Studygroup.com, and some are offered within the universities themselves.

The following links are to the foundation programmes provided by/attached to each university:

Dublin City University: https://www.dcu.ie/international/foundation.shtml

University College Dublin: http://www.ucd.ie/international/study-at-ucd-ir/what-can-i-study/international-foundation-year/

University of Galway: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/

Trinity College Dublin: https://www.tcd.ie/study/international/foundation-programme/index.php

University College Cork: https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/transition-in

University of Limerick: http://ulsites.ul.ie/languagecentre/international-foundation-programme

FOR MORE INFORMATION
For comprehensive information on opportunities for international students at Irish universities, please visit the Irish Universities Association (IUA) website at www.iua.ie.

 Ireland’s Internship Opportunities

The Irish Education Department’s most recent international education strategy recognises internships as an important part of the educational experience. This is well timed, as there is increased demand among students for in-field work experience under supervision to be included as part of an international education progression.

Internships enhance the educational process by helping students to:

• Complement their academic qualifications with in-field training in their area of study;
• Apply their theoretical knowledge in a professional or vocational environment;
• Learn new transferable business and technical skills;
• Clarify their career choices;
• Enhance their employability;
• Improve and develop confidence and interpersonal skills;
• Experience team work;
• Be proactive;
• Develop international contacts and experience;
• Broaden their perspectives through cultural immersion;
• Develop ‘soft skills’ such as prioritising workload, problem solving, presentation skills etc.

Ireland’s vibrant international business environment together with its welcoming people and policies are making it a great place for students to do an internship.

Ireland’s increased prominence as an internship destination is based on such factors as:

• Its position as a modern, dynamic, forward-looking country in which to do business;
• The presence of global business/technology leaders such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Microsoft,and Ebay;
• Its family-oriented society that is welcoming, safe, and friendly;
• Its distinction as the only native English-speaking nation in the EU (after Brexit);
• Its rich literary heritage including Joyce, Beckett, Yeats, Heaney, George Bernard Shaw.

Accommodation

Most international interns live in homestays with a host family that is registered with and supervised by the programme provider.

In addition to the safety and security provided by host families, homestays provide more complete immersion opportunities.

Erasmus Plus

Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport. Aimed at boosting skills and employability Erasmus+ will fund 650,000 vocational training students and apprentices/interns over its 7-year timeframe. Agencies interested in sending students on Erasmus+-funded internships should contact their national agency at: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/contact_en.

Types of Internship

There are many opportunities for international students to intern in Ireland and gain valuable industry/professional experience they require. They include:

• Stand-alone internship programmes
• Internship + ELT programmes
• Internship as part of a practicum element of a university degree programme or IoT programme

Independent or stand-alone short-term internship programmes:

The pre-requisites for an internship are:

• It must be part of an educational programme;
• It must be related to students’ course of study;
• It must be unpaid (i.e., students cannot make money through an internship).

Most stand-alone internship programmes are provided through education programme providers offering matching and placement services assuring that placements are consistent with the student’s field of study and academic preparation, together with support services that can include:

• Detailed application process to assess student needs and abilities
• Meet and greet services
• Orientation services
• Monitoring and supervision of placement companies
• Mentoring and monitoring of student progress
• Accommodation
• 24/7 emergency helpline support
• Peer group activities

Application Process

All prospective internship candidates and their sending organisations must go through the following process:

Start of the Process:

• At least 6 weeks prior to the start of the programme, a Curriculum Vitae, Letter of Motivation and an Application Form should be submitted.
• The prospective participant/candidate will be required to specify which work sectors are relevant to their field and course of study, giving three choices of placement sector in order of preference.
• Full disclosure of any specific requirements of any internship programme must be made at this stage in the process, including a clear statement of any specific tasks and experiences to be gained by the participant. It is the responsibility of the participant, and any agent acting on their behalf, to give a clear statement of what is required of the programme.
• All health issues, disabilities either physical or psychological, all prescribed medication, and anything that could impact on a participant’s ability to fully take part in an internship programme must be disclosed in the Application Form.
• It is the responsibility of the sending organisation (agent, university, college, school, institution etc.) to ascertain the seriousness of the applicant, and to fully brief the potential participant of the requirements of the programme.

Before Arrival:

Participant’s requirements are matched with appropriate Host Company. Skype/telephone interviews may be required. Accommodation, transport and other services are organised. Full details of Host Company placement, accommodation, and other services are sent to the participant, college, and agent.

On Arrival:

Students are brought to their accommodation (optional). They participate in an orientation session before the start of the internship which covers living and working in Ireland and social/cultural/tourist information.

In Ireland:

Students receive mentoring and monitoring for the duration of the programme – including assistance with required paperwork – and participate in social and cultural events.

Visa rules for independent/stand-alone internship programmes

EU citizens do not require a visa to intern in Ireland.

Visa regulations for non-EU citizen interns depend on the length of the internship:

Internships less than 90 days

• Short-term students in internship programmes are viewed by the Irish government as “educational tourists,” and the following conditions apply to them:
• The stated reason for the student’s visit must be credible;
• The student must have a return flight and must leave at the end of their stay;
• They must be able to support themselves while in Ireland;
• They must obey the law;
• They must not engage in paid work;
• They must be covered by private medical insurance AND internship insurance.

Internships longer than 90 days:

Non-EU students on independent stand-alone internships longer than 90 days must obtain an intern visa. Please visit these sites: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Internship and http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/visa-long-internship.

Non-EU students on internships longer than 90 days in conjunction with a language programme or higher education programme should follow the visa instructions for their course of study.

The Higher Education Environment

Five Essential Points

• All Irish universities and Institutes of Technology (IoT) have secure learner protections offered by the QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland), which is the quality assurance body responsible for all institutions whose qualifications are in alignment with the NFQ (National Quality Framework) 10-level system. However, not all private colleges offer secure learner protection; this ICOS (Irish Council for International Students) webpage includes important information for students thinking of attending private colleges.
• The school year is divided into two semesters (beginning in September and January, respectively), with study week breaks within semesters and a formal holiday breaks in December–January. There are generally examination periods at the end of each semester. The summer holiday period begins in May.
• Tuition ranges greatly depending on whether a student is studying at a university or an Institute of Technology and depending on what programme the student is enrolled in. Students should be aware not only of tuition costs but also additional fees that may be charged by the institution or programme for various reasons. Scholarships and grants are also available for eligible international students.
• Because of the huge range of programmes offered by Irish universities and IoTs, there is a great range of teaching and evaluation methods used to measure students’ progress and success. That said, there is a common emphasis across institutions and programmes to graduate students who are adaptable and possessed of work-ready skills/capabilities. Internships are widely available and ever-more regarded as an important component of the higher education learning experience.
• The International Office at each institution will have a comprehensive support system in place to ensure international students are well taken care of in terms of academic and social supports.

Academic Expectations

International students, like Irish students, will be expected to attend classes regularly and to participate actively. International students may experience more difficulty than Irish students in such areas as language and written essays and cultural adaptation, and for this reason all universities will have special supports built in to help them overcome these challenges. The institution’s International Office will have staff and systems in place such as tutors, academic support centres, and language labs.

Students will be expected to be independent learners. In other words, they are expected to govern their own behaviour in class and in studying for tests and exams – and when they are encountering difficulty, it is their responsibility to speak to their professor or academic advisor to seek help.

They will also learn to be critical thinkers. Broadly, this means they should question what they hear and read and evaluate it according to solid evidence. Their critical thinking will inform their work in class and it will help them to prepare convincing arguments and ideas. Critical thinking is an essential part of good research, and it is in high demand by the most successful companies and employers.

Student should never plagiarise. If a student presents other people’s ideas and words as if they were their own, without noting the source of the information (e.g., through citation or other attribution), they are plagiarising. Each institution will have its own policies regarding how students are penalised for plagiarism, but in general, plagiarism is regarded as a serious academic offense because it represents academic dishonesty.

Cultural Expectations

For students coming from outside the EU in particular, it may take some time to adjust to Irish culture and to the campus environment. It is normal to experience some culture shock for a period of time, and students should be sure to contact the International Office if their symptoms persist for too long or feel too severe. The staff there will be able to refer them to a counsellor or doctor if required.

The good news is that Irish higher education institutions are incredibly supportive of international students and will have excellent systems in place to ensure international students feel at home and at ease as soon as possible. International students are considered as essential to the overall campus environment as Irish students are, and the institution will provide many events and recreational opportunities to ensure that they feel included.

International students, for their part, will be expected to treat their fellow students as well as staff and professors with respect. Irish campuses are among the safest and most inclusive in the world, and international students are expected to uphold that reputation by being tolerant, open-minded, and kind, regardless of others’ gender, religion, political orientation, way of dressing or speaking, or any other difference.

The Academic Calendar

The first term of the school year begins in September or early October and ends in mid-to-late December, with a study/rest break (with no scheduled classes) around the middle of the semester. There is then a break at the end of December and classes resume in mid-to-late January (semester two). This second semester ends in April, with another break, after which classes resume. At the end of the second semester, there are usually examinations again. The summer holidays begin in May.

The academic calendar will be slightly different across institutions and it should be posted publicly in advance of the school year so students can plan their year out properly.

Student Protection Policies

All universities and IoTs have publicly stated learner protection schemes, which agents should be well aware of and which they should make sure students understand before applying.

If non-EU students choose to study at a private college, they must make sure it is on the ILEP (Interim List of Eligible Programmes). To be included on this list, colleges must have publicly documented policies and systems in place for the following, according to Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS):

• “Refund of student fees and other payments in the case of refused visas
• Punctuality and attendance, including recording of attendance
• Absenteeism and expulsion
• Student sick leave
• Holidays and breaks
• End of course exam entry and recording of grades/scores received.”

In addition, ICOS states its view on the learner protection schemes agents and students should be looking for if they are considering a private college:

“There are three main kinds of learner protection for courses with private colleges that ICOS believes are of value:

• Protection provided through QQI for the further and higher education programmes it accredits (formerly FETAC and HETAC).
• Protection provided by groups of colleges – MEI for some English language schools and HECA for some private Higher Education providers.
• An enrolled learner protection bond (this is a special type of insurance policy which can be issued to individual students by some private colleges. Cover will require an additional payment unless it is included in the course fee. In all cases, a student can expect to receive a personal policy document as confirmation.”

Refunds and Policies Regarding Course Withdrawals, Deferrals, and Failed Examinations

There are sometimes circumstances where a student (a) must withdraw from a programme they have already been accepted into and paid for because of unforeseen circumstances or (b) must withdraw from the programme while already enrolled and studying. There are also cases where a student cannot attend the programme on the start date they had originally applied for but wishes to attend it later, in other words, who wishes to defer their enrolment in the course. And finally, sometimes students fail examinations and wonder if they can re-take their examination to achieve a passing grade.

For all these circumstances and more, agents and students should find out from the institution what its policies are before enrolling in the course. There are often visa rules associated with such circumstances and the International Office of the institution should provide accurate guidance to students to make sure they do not breach the conditions of their visa.

Evaluation Methods

Depending on the course, student assessments may include quizzes, tests, laboratory reports, group projects, written essays, and final examinations. Students should ask about assessment methods before enrolling in a course.

Generally, the following are the grades that students may achieve in a given programme:

• A (Excellent) – 70% or above.
• B (Very good, with few errors) – 60% to 69%
• C (Good, with some errors) – 50% to 59%
• D (Satisfactory, with many errors) – 45% to 49%
• E (Sufficient) The minimum passing grade (usually 40% to 44%).

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is used in many Irish higher education institutions to ensure students’ credentials are easily recognised in other European countries. It is:

“An academic credit system based on the estimated student workload required to achieve the objectives and learning outcomes of a module or programme of study. It is designed to enable academic recognition for periods of study, to facilitate student mobility and credit accumulation and transfer. The ECTS is the recommended credit system for higher education in Ireland and across the European Higher Education Area.”

Those universities and IOTS using ECTS will publish their course catalogues online, and these catalogues will have comprehensive information on study programmes and course descriptions, including what students will be expected to know and do at the end of a course/programme and what the workload associated with the course is, and how many hours of work are required to earn a credit.

ECTS ensures the ready recognition of students’ higher education credits across Europe. Comprehensive information explaining the system is available here.

In some cases, admissions officers will look at international students’ transcripts and prior learning qualifications (that is, any qualifications they have achieved in other countries) and decide that a student can be given credit towards their programme in Ireland. In other words, their prior learning will count towards their Irish degrees or diplomas. For more information, please visit this webpage.

Erasmus Mobility

As a member of the student mobility scheme Erasmus, Ireland welcomes students from institutions in more than 30 Erasmus countries to come study at an Irish university for between 3 and 12 months. The courses Erasmus students take in Ireland count towards their final degrees under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and Erasmus can also help students who want to pursue work placements in Ireland (please see SECTION G for more on internships). Application processes tend to vary across different Erasmus countries so EU students should contact the International Office at their current college for complete details.

Tuition

For EU Students

EU students who meet certain criteria do not have to pay undergraduate tuition fees in Ireland if they are pursuing a course of at least two years’ duration (this is known as the Free Fees Initiative; please note, however, that students who are eligible for the Free Fees Scheme are required to pay a student contribution charge of €3,000).

Certain other student groups (e.g., those with official refugee status and students who have held long-term residency in the EU prior to coming to Ireland) may also not have to pay undergraduate fees. There are several rules attached to the Free Fees Initiative; these can be found here.

NOTE: It is essential that agents are fully briefed on all the conditions around fees contained in the link above in order to advise students accurately.

There are always tuition fees attached to postgraduate courses, regardless of where international students are coming from, though EU students will pay less than non-EU students.

For Non-EU Students

Tuition fees will vary across Irish higher education institutions, but Education in Ireland provides the following average ranges for non-EU students. Two important points:

• Tuition ranges will be lower at Institutes of Technology than at universities, with most programmes costing under €13,000 per year; the minimum cost of university programmes will be €12,000;
• Education in Ireland cautions: “Tuition costs do not remain static, so it is important to double-check fees with the Institution(s) you are considering applying to.”

Undergraduate

Medicine and related: €45,000 – €52,000
Engineering: €9,750 – €23,000
Science & Technology: €9,750 – €22,000
Arts & Humanities: €9,750 – €20,000
Business: €9,750 – €18,000

Postgraduate

Medicine and related: €4,000 – €31,000
Engineering: €9,250 – €24,000
Science & Technology: €9,250 – €45,000
Arts & Humanities: €9,250 – €22,000
Business: €9,250 – €34,500

Scholarships

Every year, talented international students receive scholarships at Irish universities and IoTs, whether it is a Government of Ireland Scholarship, a scholarship awarded by an individual institution, or a scholarship awarded by another organisation. There are scholarships available at most levels of study, from undergraduate to postgraduate. Find out which scholarships are available at this Education in Ireland webpage as well as the websites of individual institutions.

Please see this link for information on current Erasmus+ programming.

Students from the EU and Switzerland, as well as certain other students under strict conditions, may be eligible for a grant to study at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Ireland. For more information, please visit this Citizens’ Information page.

Internships

Ever more, there is an understanding within Irish universities and IoTs that student work placements are a key part of the educational experience, allowing students to extend their learning into practical applications and to pave the way towards their eventual careers. Internships can lead to students receiving excellent references for their resumes and to professional networks that last long after they have graduated.

Education in Ireland notes the following rules about international students interested in internships as part of their study abroad programmes:

“Students enrolled in degree courses are allowed to undertake an internship where this forms part of their programme. This is subject to the following rules.

• The internship or work placement part of the programme cannot exceed 50% of the duration of the programme (e.g., a four-year programme would permit two years of work placement. In addition, the employment cannot be in a self-employed capacity).
• Work placements as part of an academic programme must form an integral part of the programme which contributes to the final award.
• Educational facilities must also ensure that the placements are suited to the programme being pursued.”

For more information on internships in general, please see Section K. For more information on internship opportunities within individual programmes and schools, please contact the Irish universities themselves. This Education in Ireland page includes links to all 7 Irish universities.

Work Concessions for International Students

International graduates of Irish universities may wish to try to find work in Ireland after they complete their degrees. For this reason, Ireland has the Third Level Graduate Scheme, which allows international graduates who have completed bachelor’s degrees to remain in Ireland for 6 months, graduates of honours bachelor’s degrees to remain in Ireland for 12 months, and graduates with masters and postgraduate degrees to stay back for 24 months to seek employment. After securing employment, students may then be eligible to apply for a Green Card.

Please see SECTION J for more on visa requirements, and Section K for more on work opportunities for international students

Resources

The INIS page linking to the latest ILEP list of eligible programmes for non-EU students.

The Education in Ireland page on the Third Level Graduate Scheme.

Information on rules governing changing courses and seeking visa extensions in the event of failed examinations.

The Irish Universities Association (IUA) webpage.

The Technological Higher Education Association of Ireland (THEA) webpage.

Living in Ireland

Five Essential Points

• Students should make sure they have the documentation necessary to study in Ireland. Information on what visa applications procedures are available here. Information on medical insurance is available here and it will be addressed in this unit as well.
• Students should make sure investigate accommodation options they come to Ireland to study. On-campus housing is available for as many first-year university students as possible, but it can be highly competitive to get into on-campus housing. Rented apartments and homestays are also options for international students.
• As well as the costs of tuition, international students will have to budget for both “one-off” costs (that is, costs that will only be incurred once, such as the visa application fee) and ongoing costs such as accommodation, food, and recreation.
• Students should open a bank account as soon as possible after arriving in Ireland, and they must have at least basic medical insurance when they arrive in Ireland.
• An excellent bus service that stops in all major Irish towns as well as a rail service make it easy for international students to travel around Ireland, and there are also affordable flights and ferries within Ireland and to other European destinations.

Prior to Departure

While this sounds obvious, students should officially accept the offer of admission to the school they have chosen by referencing the exact instructions detailed on the offer letter.

They should also:

• Pay the deposit/tuition fee;
• Purchase medical insurance;
• Prepare and contain in a safe place all documents required by Ireland’s immigration authorities;
• Make travel arrangements;
• Arrange accommodation (Please note: accommodation is very competitive and university students should apply for on-campus accommodation 4–6 months before their course start date).

Packing for Ireland

Ireland does not have extreme weather, but it does have wet weather sometimes and it can feel cold as a result. Students should pack rain-resistant clothes and boots and a few sweaters. In the summertime, shorts and t-shirts (and for women, sundresses if they like) will often be the outfit of choice.

It is essential that students bring the right documents to allow them to enter and remain in Ireland. These include:

• Passport;
• Student visa;
• Acceptance letter from the Irish education institution;
• Official academic transcripts from schools the student has previously attended;
• Official language score;
• Immunization and medical records;
• International driver’s license and/or valid driver’s license from home country (if the student has a driver’s license);
• Medical insurance;
• Credit card(s): (Visa and Mastercard are the most commonly accepted types);
• A bit of money (not too much, as travelling with too much money is not safe).

Upon arrival, students will also need to register with the GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) and pay for a GNIB card; this will be covered in the next section.

Study Abroad has a good, general post on what to pack that is a nice resource to share with students.

Getting to Ireland

How students get to Ireland will depend on where they are coming from. If they are from far away, they will be coming by air, and into one of the four international airports in Ireland:

• In the East: Dublin Airport (the largest airport, with flights coming from and to the US, Canada, Middle East, the UK and Europe).
• In the West: Shannon Airport (with flights from and to many of the same places as Dublin Airport) and Ireland West Airport Knock (with flights mainly focused on the UK and Europe)
• In the South: Cork Airport (with flights mainly focused on the UK and Europe).

There are also regional airports in Ireland offering domestic and UK flights, and if students are coming from the UK before getting to Ireland, they often fly into regional airports. Students coming from the UK and some countries in Europe can also travel by bus or by ferry; details on how to do so can be found here.

Please Note: Non-EU students who are travelling to Ireland must take flights arriving directly to Ireland. Many nationalities also require a UK transit visa if travelling through UK. For example – a Pakistani student having an Irish student visa cannot travel to Ireland via UK. Please see more on transit visas here.

Once in Ireland, students may also purchase a Student Leap Card which gives them discounted fares on many bus and rail services operating throughout Ireland.  

Arriving in Ireland

If they are arriving at night, international students may choose to stay at a hotel for one night before they embark on their journey to their new school. Here are some intriguing options as profiled in The Guardian and of course students can consult Trip Advisor as well. They must reserve a room well ahead of their arrival date in order to ensure they have a good, safe place to stay on their first night. Many hotels provide free shuttle bus trips to and from the airport, so students should enquire about this when they book their hotel prior to leaving for Ireland.

Otherwise, and depending upon their accommodation choice, they may do one of the following (and must know/have confirmed details in advance):

• Phone their homestay providers upon arrival for pick-up and/or to let their family know they have arrived and to expect them shortly;
• Look for a campus orientation/international student liaison who will take them to where they are staying (if this has been arranged);
• Take a taxi or bus to the homestay, dormitory, of off-campus housing.

Once they are settled in their accommodations and registered with their institution, non-EU students must make an appointment at the GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) and then register in person. They must pay a €300 fee to be issued a mandatory residence permit/GNIB card. The office is located in Dublin:

Garda National Immigration Bureau
13-14 Burgh Quay,
Dublin 2,
Ireland
Tel: +353 1 666 9130 / 01

Accomodation

Before we look at the various accommodation options available to international students, we will note that virtually all Irish education institutions will have an Accommodation Officer on staff to advise international students on how to find suitable housing while they study in Ireland. Agents and students should ask to speak to this officer before leaving their home country in order to get accommodation sorted out early enough and, in the case of private rented apartments and houses, to make sure students find quality housing run by good landlords.

On-campus housing

All Irish universities have on-campus accommodation for students and some Institutes of Technology do as well. Every effort is made to provide first-year international students with on-campus accommodation if they are interested in it, but not all students will get in; for the best chance of success, students should apply 4–6 months in advance of their start date for accommodation. Spaces become even more competitive in subsequent years, but international students often prefer to find off-campus housing after their first year, because they are more familiar with their Irish town/city.

On-campus residence halls generally accommodate 4–8 students per apartment. Each student typically gets a private bedroom and then shares other facilities such as the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Education in Ireland notes:

“On-campus accommodation must be paid in 2 installments, in September and in February. In most campus accommodation, it is not possible to pay your rent on a monthly basis. You will usually have to pay a deposit of one month’s rent in advance, refunded when you leave. Utilities such as heating are usually extra, although several halls of residence include heat and electricity in their initial charge and deduct payment for usage in excess of the average allowed for from the deposit when you leave. Universities and colleges will have further details about their accommodation and how to apply.”

This article provides an indication of what on-campus housing costs at different Irish education institutions. Please note, however, that prices may have changed since the publication of the article.

Off-campus accommodation options

Homestay (also known as “digs” by the Irish)

In this situation, students live with an Irish family for a fee. They get their own room and space to study in the house while sharing the rest of the space with the family. Students enrolled in language courses often choose homestay arrangements, as do some students attending universities and IoTs. Two meals (breakfast and dinner most commonly) are provided as part of the fee, leaving students to pay only for their third meal of the day – but there are different arrangements as well, and students must understand exactly what is provided before arriving at a homestay. Utilities such as heat and light are included in the cost, and some other services (e.g., laundry) may also be included. Homestay arrangements are becoming ever-more common due to a tight and often costly rental market in Ireland, and they are very well regulated, including inspections from the Garda (the Irish police).

Private rented accommodation

Here the options are either (1) an apartment rented by the student by himself/ herself or when it is large enough, by more than one student) or (2) a house rented by several students.

Apartments will differ greatly in terms of layout, cost, and quality, but the following are October 2017 averages. PLEASE NOTE: These costs are likely to be higher than reported here given the general trend of rising rental rates – some estimates peg 1-bedroom apartments closer to €2,000.

• 1-bedroom apartment in a city centre: €1,146
• 1-bedroom apartment outside a city centre: €932.72
• 3-bedroom apartment in a city centre: €1,890.86
• 3-bedroom apartment outside a city centre: €1,498.22

Rent must be paid every month and in advance of the first day of the month. Students will be required to pay a security deposit of one-month’s rent to secure a lease, and the normal duration of a lease is 9 to 12 months. The deposit will be returned to the student unless the student has damaged the property or otherwise broken the terms of the lease. (NB: A lease is the legal agreement signed by the student renter and the landlord and it spells out the obligations of both the renter and the landlord (owner) of the property).

The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) provides the following advice to international students looking for off-campus accommodations in Ireland:

• “Start searching early. International students who need to get familiar with a city should allow as much time as they possibly can.
• Make full use of any accommodation support offered by your college or students’ union, though these services will themselves be under pressure.
• Fully check out the area(s) you are considering renting in, on foot as well as online. If there are people in the city you know and trust and ask them for recommendations for where to look.
• Thoroughly investigate public transport connections between where you will study and where you might live. Some areas can look quite close to your college on a map, but they may not make for easy travel by bus or tram. Make sure you know how much time you will need to commit to travelling and what it will cost.
• Do not rush and simply take the first place available even if you feel under pressure.
• Insist on viewing premises and testing keys before parting with any deposit or rent money. Always be on your guard for scams. Check this advice on keeping safe.”

Here are some other important tips for students:

• When renting accommodation, deal directly with the landlord and pay the damage deposit directly to him or her. If possible, pay rent with a cheque, as it is easier to provide proof of payment, and always ask for a receipt.
• Do not let people into apartment buildings or buzz them in if you do not know them. If a repairman, delivery person, or salesperson wants access to the building and you are not expecting them, refer them to the building manager.
• Meet and know your neighbours. Keep doors locked, even when home.
• Avoid sending money through an email bank transfer or in the mail without viewing the accommodation and meeting the landlord first.
• Ask the landlord whether your belongings are covered under their home insurance. If not, consider obtaining renter’s insurance, which is an affordable means of protecting belongings in case of theft, fire, flood, and other situations.

Living Costs

The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) cites recent statistics indicating that it costs between €10,000 and €20,000 a year to live in Dublin “including rent, electricity, food, books and laundry and medicine as well as travel passes and social expenses, but excluding tuition fees.” Accommodation is the major variable determining whether the costs of living will be on the low or high end of the scale. As in most countries, it costs more to live in a large city such as Dublin than in a smaller city.

ICOS also provides a good deal more information on living costs, as well as how international students can make the most of their budget.

Please Note: Living costs will change slightly from year to year in Ireland. Some typical living costs are covered here but these will change frequently.

Money Matters

The official currency is the euro, and there are 100 cents in one euro. Bank notes come in the following denominations: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. Coins are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2. Students should always carry a little cash (not too much) because smaller shops – especially in smaller towns – may not accept credit cards or debit cards.

Most retail outlets will not accept bank notes higher than €50.

Students should open a bank account as soon as possible after arriving in Ireland, and they should “shop around” because different banks will charge different rates; some will offer student rates and some will offer banking at no charge.

To get a bank account the student must have secured accommodation and provide either a utility bill with their name on it, or a rent book with their name on it from their landlord.

This is a link to a list of the various banks in Ireland.

Credit Cards: The most commonly accepted credit cards are Visa and Mastercard/Eurocard.

Debit Cards: Trip Advisor notes: “Irish Laser Cards, Maestro, Visa Debit and Mastercard debit are widely accepted. Other debit cards, not carrying the Maestro, Visa Debit or Mastercard logos are not accepted. Check with your card issuer that your card is acceptable abroad before you travel.”

And further, Trip Advisor advises: “In general, if you are travelling to Europe, it is advisable to ask your bank if they can issue a chip and PIN card.”

Taxes: A tax of 21% is applied to most goods and services in Ireland; the tax is included in the price marked on the item.

For more on banking issues in Ireland, agents and students can visit this Trip Advisor link.

Transportation

There are all sorts of ways to get around Ireland. Many people walk and cycle around their towns or cities; in Dublin, there is an operation called Dublin City Council’s dublinbikes that involves 40 public bike stations spread around the city so the public can rent one of 450 bikes for specific amounts of time.

Biking is also an increasingly popular recreational activity in general in Ireland; there are all sorts of beautiful routes students can explore – see here for an example.

There are also taxi services available for getting around within (and sometimes between) Irish cities and towns. Taxi drivers must charge only the metered fare (that is, they cannot tell passengers what the fare is up front or charge extra fees for any reason), and they must provide passengers with written receipts.

Train

All trains are operated by Irish Rail, and this mode of transportation is a nice way to see various parts of Ireland, with many scenic routes available. In some cases, train trips are faster than bus trips or driving for getting to and from destinations (e.g., between Dublin and Cork and Dublin and Tralee). Cheaper fares are available for students, as well: please visit this webpage.

Bus

There is an extensive bus service running through Ireland, and taking the bus is often less expensive than taking the train. Service is quite frequent in Dublin and Ireland’s bigger cities, and less frequent in rural areas. Bus Éireann is the largest bus company and can be found at this webpage.

Ferries

Ferries are a popular way of experiencing Ireland and the Irish often use them to reduce their travel time by crossing rivers as they move around the country. Trip Advisor notes popular ferry routes here. Ferries also take passengers to the UK and Europe, which is helpful for international students interested in seeing more of Europe than Ireland alone.

Driving

In Ireland, all cars in Ireland are right-hand-drive. For those used to the steering wheel on the left, it can take some time to get used to the switch, so such drivers should take plenty of time to practice on quiet roads and parking lots to get accustomed to the new arrangement. Some roads in Ireland are very narrow, so it’s a good idea to feel very at ease with a new driving situation.

It can be helpful for students who don’t know their area very well at first to use a GPS system (a radio-navigation system) to help them get to and from destinations by car.

All occupants in cars are legally required to wear seat belts, both in the front and the back.

Drivers must not drink and drive: drivers who are found to be above the legal blood/alcohol limit will be heavily fined and the police can ask drivers to take breath tests at any time.

To rent a car, drivers must be at least 25 years of age. For more on how to rent a car in Ireland please visit this Trip Advisor webpage.

Medical Insurance

Students from the EU are entitled to medical services but must provide Irish health officials with documents to prove they are entitled. Before they arrive in Ireland, they should have obtained the required form (Form E.109) from their Health Authority to show to health officials in Ireland.

Education in Ireland provides the following guidance regarding medical insurance for non-EU international students:

“Under immigration law, all non-EU students must have their own private medical insurance to get into Ireland. As well as accident and illness, the insurance should cover students for a stay in hospital.”

Proof

Students need to have proof of their private medical insurance when registering with the immigration authorities.

• If they are part of a group insurance scheme operated by their college, a letter of enrolment mentioning this will be adequate proof for the authorities.
• If they are not part of such a scheme, they must secure their own medical insurance from Ireland.
• For newly arrived first-year students, Irish travel insurance will be proof enough if it covers them for one full year or where they are staying for the duration.
• Proof will be required of insurance coverage of a minimum of €25,000 for accident and €25,000 for disease, and as stated, for any stays in hospital.
• After the first year, travel insurance is no longer valid and students must source private medical insurance for any subsequent years.
• For registration in second or later years, all non-EU students can show they are in receipt of private medical insurance from Ireland by way of a letter of renewal.
• It’s extremely important to note that the cancellation of medical insurance following registration is a breach of immigration conditions. Also Immigration Authorities do not have to register you if you fail to obtain proof of insurance in English.“

Non-EU students are strongly urged to purchase PRIVATE medical insurance that ensures choice of hospital, doctor, and hospital accommodation in the event of illness. For more information please see this Education in Ireland link. 

Education in Ireland lists these health insurance providers as options for non-EU international students:

Aviva Health Insurance
VHI Healthcare
Irish Life Health

It is important to note that private health insurance purchased in Ireland may not begin immediately (it may take several weeks) so students should have travel/health insurance that covers them until the private insurance begins.

It is essential that students/agents:

1. Speak directly with the education institution about medical insurance options and rules;
2. Clearly understand the immigration rules around medical insurance.
3. Read all medical insurance policies very carefully to understand which medical services are covered and which are not, deadline and renewal requirements, and all applicable fees.

Safety

Ireland is one of the safest countries in the world (currently ranked 12th, ahead of the UK, Australia, and Germany), but of course general advice for how to remain safe apply in Ireland as they do in any country. Here’s a list of safety tips:

• Call 999 or 112 in an emergency (e.g., if students are in trouble or witness to a crime). This is a central number for police, fire and, ambulances throughout Ireland.
• If robbed, students should not argue or fight. If they are assaulted, they should shout or blow a whistle to draw attention to their situation. They should call 999 immediately.
• If they are a victim of a crime, no matter how small, they should report it to the police.
• Students should be aware of who and what is going on around them, and trust their instincts and leave uncomfortable situations.
• Some areas of cities may have higher crime rates than others. Students should advice for the best routes to take when going out.
• At night students should walk on well-lit, busy streets. If possible, they should travel with a friend and avoid isolated areas, such as parks or alleys.
• Most universities will have campus security. This can take several forms, including patrol cars, 24-hour telephone lines, and well-lit areas where students can contact the campus security office.
• Students should not hitchhike.
• When biking, students should wear a helmet. At night, bikers should use front and rear bike lights and wear reflective clothing.
• Students should arrange a ride home beforehand if they plan to drink alcohol. They should not accept a ride home from a stranger in a bar. They should NEVER drink and drive. Doing so is not only dangerous and irresponsible; it is a serious criminal offence. They should not accept drinks from strangers or leave their drink out of sight.

Communications

Irish phone companies offer two types of contracts for mobile phone usage: pay-as-you go and monthly. For more information please visit this webpage.

To make long-distance calls, students may use either a call centre (found in Internet cafés and operated according to a rate-per-minute) or an international phone card as these options can be less expensive than calling from a mobile phone. The Irish Council for International Students provides this advice regarding phone cards:

“These come in different values and are sold widely in newsagents. Call prices per minute can seem very low but it is important to check the small print for connection charges. Cards are best used from a landline phone as they are usually more expensive when used from a public telephone box.”

Skype is also an affordable option for to staying in touch with parents and friends back home.

The calling code for Ireland is +353, and Ireland is on the GMT time zone.

Internet

Ireland has some of the fastest Internet in the world, especially in cities such as Dublin. The Commission for Communications Regulation has a helpful page where students can compare both broadband and mobile phone packages.

Recreational Opportunities

Tourism is one of the biggest contributors to the Irish economy. In 2015, more than 9.3 million people visited Ireland, which represents the highest number of tourists Ireland has ever received. There are many reasons Ireland has become such an attractive tourist destination; many of these have to do with Ireland’s beauty and topography, and many have to do with Ireland’s rich cultural traditions. Like tourists, international students studying in Ireland have the opportunity to experience the recreational side of Ireland when they are not studying for their courses. Study abroad is, after all, about students immersing themselves in a new culture and learning about the world beyond their own borders in addition to pursuing degrees and other credentials.

Cycling

Cycling is a very popular activity in Ireland, not just to get from one destination to the next, but also for exercise and to take in Irish scenery. Ireland offers both mountainous terrain for advanced cyclers and gentle hills for beginners. There are numerous cycling tours available throughout Ireland.

Fishing

Ireland is an island, and is therefore surrounded by ocean water; rivers and streams are also plentiful in Ireland. The species that may be fished include trout, salmon, cod, and pike. To learn more about fishing in Ireland, students can visit this webpage.

Hiking

As with cycling, Ireland’s topography offers hiking opportunities for all levels of athlete from beginner to advanced, and the country’s mild climate means that hiking can happen all year round. This website features some of the most well liked walking routes in Ireland.

Dining and entertainment

If there is one word to describe food in Ireland, it is “fresh.” Ireland is a farming country and so offers delicious meats, dairy products, breads, and vegetables – but it is also the home to a vibrant fishing community and freshly-caught freshwater and ocean fish are always available.

The culture of tea-drinking is alive and well in Ireland, and lovely shops and restaurants selling tea and baked goods are to be found across the country. The Irish have been found to be second-only to Turkish people in the quantity of tea they drink every year!

Students will find all sorts of dining options, from the pubs Ireland is famous for worldwide to contemporary bistros specialising in the latest trends in global cuisine using the excellent produce available to them. The custom is to tip 10% to 12% on restaurant bills if the service is satisfactory.

Live music is an important part of Irish culture and again, a wide range of options is characteristic of the music and nightlife scene, from traditional Irish folk music in smaller venues to modern music and dancing in fashionable clubs.

Sports

The most widely played and followed sports in Ireland are football and rugby. But there is also something known as Gaelic football – which is like soccer except that players carry the ball in their hands – and hurling, a fast game where players use a long wooden stick to score goals that is somewhat similar to field hockey and a little bit like rugby, too!

Golf is another popular sport in Ireland; many tourists come specifically to golf at one of Ireland’s more than 300 golf courses, some of which are situated right by the sea. And because of the sea and Ireland’s many rivers, water sports such as swimming, canoeing, and kayaking are activities international students can experience as well.

On university campuses, there are all sorts of ways for international students to get involved in sports. One of Ireland’s major student newspapers, University Times, notes:

“The range of sports you can get involved in is enormous, from ultimate frisbee to soccer, pool to powerlifting, and American football to GAA the choice appears neverending. Joining sports clubs, competing in intervarsity competitions, going to see your college team play, among a myriad of other related activities, is a part of life in Irish universities. And if you don’t feel up to the competition of the big leagues just yet, there are multiple internal five-a-side leagues, a gym and tonnes of other facilities available for more casual sports.”

Adjusting to Ireland

While it is normal for students to experience some culture shock in the first few weeks of coming to study in Ireland – just as they would if studying abroad anywhere else – the friendliness and open-mindedness of the Irish makes it relatively likely such adjustment pains will pass quickly. One blogger who moved to Ireland for a period of time has some good advice:

“Leave behind your former country’s frame of reference, open your heart, and allow yourself to be a student. For Ireland has its own way of operating, and at its core is a respect for humanity. The Irish are not concerned with your attachment to who you think you are, they are too busy welcoming you into their fold because they suspect once you understand their playing field, you’ll be much better off.”

Students who have a fixed image of Ireland as a traditional, quaint country characterised by small villages and rural farming will be in for a surprise. As much as traditional culture remains strong and vibrant in Ireland, the country has become incredibly modern and dynamic over the past couple of decades. The Irish-Canadian Society website explains contemporary Irish lifestyle in cities like this:

“Ireland is hugely influenced, economically, by the many US subsidiaries attracted to it by low tax rates and a well-educated, English-speaking work force and US television shows are very popular. At the same time, it is unquestionably European in outlook.”

If students begin to feel overwhelmed by culture shock, they should immediately contact the International Office of their education institution to receive counselling and support services. A key role of the International Office is to make sure international students feel comfortable not only in Irish classrooms, but also in Irish society and on campus in general.

Student Visas

NOTE TO AGENTS: As with any country, Ireland’s visa and immigration regulations may change at any time. The most important takeaway from this section is to MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION (INIS) WEBSITE before helping students with their visa applications. Providing accurate visa information is one of the most important services an agent can perform for students, and it is a hallmark of professionalism. This section summarises the visa framework in place for international students as of December 2016.

Five Essential Points

• Irish immigration rules treat international students according to (a) what kind of course/programme they are pursuing and (b) what country they are from.
• International students who are citizens of the EU do not need a visa to study in Ireland. However, non-EU students coming to Ireland from one of the 26 Schengen countries in Europe do need a visa to study in Ireland. Some students from non-EU countries will need visas, and some will not, as this section of the course will detail.
• The maximum total time non-EU students pursuing full degrees may stay in Ireland is 7 years (or 8 years if the degree is Level 9 or above), while for English-language students the total time allowed is 2 years. Language students can apply to a maximum of three 8-month courses in total, which brings them to the 2-year limit.
• Students wishing to enrol in non-degree and English-language programmes in Ireland must make sure their school or college is on the ILEP (Interim List of Eligible Programmes).
• Students must provide proof either in their visa application (for students coming from visa-required countries) and/or at point of entry (for students coming from non-visa required countries) that they have sufficient funds to cover the entire duration of their course or programme – without needing to work.

Determining Whether Students Need a Visa

The list of non-EU countries whose students do require a visa can be found at this webpage.

If students are coming from a country where a visa is required for entering Ireland, they must apply for their visa BEFORE coming to Ireland.

If students are coming to Ireland from a non-EU country whose students DO NOT need a visa – please see SCHEDULE 1 at this link – they should bring their letter of acceptance from their education institution and show this to immigration officials when they enter Ireland, to receive all necessary immigration stamps and permissions. Nationalities that do not need a visa include Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States.

Ireland is not part of the Schengen Agreement in Europe, therefore students who are not EU citizens and who are coming to Ireland from the Schengen countries need a visa to come to Ireland. The Schengen countries are Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

General Visa Rules

• Visa applications should be made in the student’s country of residence, and they must be made online.
   
• Students can apply for a study visa up to 3 months before their date of travel to Ireland. Visa processing times are about 8 weeks on average and students can check their status here.
   
• There are fees charged for visas issued to non-EU students, with some exceptions. Please visit this link for more on fees and countries whose students are exempt from fees.
   
• Non-EU students must prove they have met basic English-language requirements.
   
• Non-EU students on courses lasting longer than 90 days must register upon entry to Ireland with immigration authorities and are then – if all documents are in order and the student answers questions satisfactorily – issued with a Certificate of Registration (aka a “GNIB Card”) and an extended passport stamp.
   
• Students can be refused entry by immigration officials if their paperwork or answers to officials’ questions are considered unsatisfactory. ICOS (the Irish Council for International Students notes: “Students should be sure to bring all of the documents they have received from their school or university (e.g., acceptance letter, insurance cover, accommodation details, etc.) so that they can show a complete record to the immigration officer.”
   
• Students are not generally permitted to change courses or schools within their first year of study according to Irish immigration law, so they should take great care when choosing their course of study and school before coming to Ireland. (After their first year, students may change courses but only if the new course is at the same level – or above – in the National Framework of Qualifications as the original one.)
   
•  Students who enrol in degree programmes cannot enrol in a non-degree or language courses, and degree programme students cannot then take language/non-degree courses.
   
• Students who hold a valid Irish IRP/GNIB card do not need a re-entry visa to travel to Ireland. Their IRP/GNIB card and passport are sufficient.
• Students may be allowed to take a foundation language course to upgrade their language skills in pursuit of a degree IF this is outlined in a visa application.
   
• Students must be enrolled in full-time courses. Part-time courses are not permitted for international students.
   
• In the rare event that a student’s education provider is no longer permitted to deliver the student’s course of study, the student could transfer to another education provider if the course to which the student transfers is at least at the same NFQ level as the original one.
   
• All students need to have medical insurance arranged before they come to study in Ireland.

English-language Requirements

COVID-19 Update for 2020 Only from INIS (source: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Study):

“As an exceptional measure for 2020, and to address problems being experienced accessing supervised tests because of Covid-19, INIS will also accept the results of online tests. In addition to the tests outlined in the document linked above, we will also accept Duolingo online tests. Your score from the Duolingo test must be at least 55 for short-term English-language preparatory courses or for second level education. Your score from the Duolingo test must be at least 75 for all other courses. For us to access your Duolingo results you will have to include us as an “institution” for your result. You do this by picking “Irish visa” as an institute on Duolingo.com. Remember we will need to match your name, date of birth, email address and image provided to Duolingo with that information on your visa application.”

**

Normal Rules:

INIS states that students “must show that they have the capacity to fully partake in their chosen course through the medium of English and satisfy the visa officer in this regard. It is recommended that all applicants, regardless of nationality or educational background, undertake the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) English-language test, and provide the original certificate with their visa application.” ICOS (The Irish Council for International Students) notes that “certain other tests of academic English are also acceptable,” and continues:

“Minimum scores for IELTS and other accepted examinations are set out on the INIS website (currently under review). Any certificate must have been issued within 2 years of the expected start date of the course to be considered valid. If the English-language requirement for a course is higher than the immigration service minimum, evidence of meeting the college’s requirements must be provided.”

Please Note: There are rare exceptions to this rule, and they usually apply to students enrolling in PhD programmes, students who studied in an English country previously, students who have excellent grades and a record with a letter from their last provider that the studies were in English. In this case, the Irish provider would have to exempt the student from a formal English test like IELTS and the immigration office would have to approve the exception. Agents with such students should enquire directly with the institution about such matters and understand that this is the exception, not the usual rule.

Visa Application Process for International Students Pursuing Higher Education Degrees

This category of visa regulations refers to international students pursuing degree programmes. These are full-time academic courses that take place in the day that lead to one of the following awards recognised by the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) summarises Ireland’s degree programme levels and awards as follows:

• “NFQ Level 7 = Ordinary Bachelor’s Degree (3-year duration)
• NFQ Level 8 = Honours Bachelor’s Degree (3–4-year duration)
• NFQ Level 8 = Higher Diploma (1-year duration)
• NFQ Level 9 = Postgraduate Diploma (1-year duration)
• NFQ Level 9 = Master’s Degree (1–2-year duration)
• NFQ Level 10 = Doctoral Degree (approximately 4-year duration)”

The application procedures for international students needing a visa to study at these degree levels are as follows, according to Education in Ireland. (All visa information excerpted within the quote marks is from the Education in Ireland website, as of December 2016. NOTE: VISA INFORMATION WILL CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME AND IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT AGENTS REGULARLY VISIT THE EDUCATION IN IRELAND WEBSITE OR THE INIS WEBSITE FOR UPDATES AND ACCURACY.)

Education in Ireland includes an important note:

“Students’ applications will only be processed when the online form is completed AND the required documentation, passport photograph, and appropriate fee are received by the relevant office as indicated by the online system.

If students do not provide the documentation required, their visa will be refused.”

Students should:

• “Complete the online application form;
• Check the Irish Embassy details where the student’s documentation is to be sent;
• Provide a passport-sized photo;
• Ensure their passport is valid for 12 months;
• Pay the application fee;
• Provide a signed letter of application which explains why they require the visa;
• Provide a Letter of Acceptance from the Irish university, college or school confirming they have been accepted and enrolled in a course of full-time education, involving a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime tuition each week.
  • This letter must name the student application and verify the title/duration of the course;
  • It should also confirm the amount of fees payable for their course, and that this amount has been paid.
  • If the college has taken out medical insurance (please see SECTION I for more on medical insurance) on the student’s behalf, details of this must be contained in this letter of acceptance. If it is not arranged by the college, the student must organise medical insurance on their own and provide evidence with their application.

Having completed the online application process, students must follow the instructions on the summary application form that is created by the online system. The summary form will contain information on where they are to submit their supporting documentation.

The summary form which they must print, sign, and date must be submitted with their supporting documentation.

Students may be required to provide Biometrics information as part of the application process.

Evidence of payment of fees

All fees must have been paid prior to the visa application being submitted. The application should contain either:

• A copy of an Electronic Transfer of Funds from the applicant to the Irish Bank of the college, showing details of the beneficiary’s name, address, bank details, and the same details for sender and a copy of a letter/receipt from the Irish college confirming that the fee has been received OR a valid receipt showing that the course fees have been lodged to an approved student fees payment service.
• Where the course fees are less than €6000 fees must be paid in full to the college. Where the course fees are more than €6000, the student must pay at least this amount (that is, €6000). The minimum amount is an immigration requirement. However, the college the student wishes to attend may require full payment of fees.
• Fees paid to the college are a matter between the student and the college. However, in the event of the visa application being refused the college should refund the fee (minus any small administration charge) within a reasonable period.
• As mentioned previously, students must show that they have the capacity to fully partake in their chosen course in English. INIS requires IELTS of 5 but most Irish universities and colleges generally require IELTS of 6.5. As per section J3, INIS is allowing students to take the online Duolingo English Test (DET) for admission purposes. This exception is, so far, in place only for 2020 because of Covid-19.
• Students should keep copies of all documents submitted.
• If students are applying from China, India, Nigeria, Russia, United Arab Emirates, or the United Kingdom, they should check the Irish Embassy website for details of further documentation that may be required.”

Here are some links for agents from specific non-EU countries looking for visa information:

China: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/china/
India: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/india/visas/applying-for-irish-visa/
Nigeria: http://www.vfsglobal-ie-ng.com/
Russia: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/russia/visas/visas-for-ireland/
Turkey: https://www.dfa.ie/embassies/irish-embassies-abroad/europe/turkey/
United Arab Emirates: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/uae/our-services/visas/visas-for-ireland/

Finances

Students must show they have sufficient funds to support their stay in Ireland without recourse to public funds, or the reliance on casual employment. For all academic courses due to begin after 1 July 2023, they must show evidence that they have immediate access to at least €10,000.

They must also demonstrate that they and/or their sponsor(s) have ready access to at least €10,000 for each subsequent year of studies in addition to course fees for each of those years.

If the duration of the course is less than 6 months students must have access to €700 per month of stay or €4,200 whichever is the lesser.

All details listed must be proven by documentary evidence and, where sponsors are involved, it must be clear their documents relate to them.

It is crucial to visit the Irish Immigration Service website for the most up to date information on student finances.

Please visit Education Bond Ireland for more information on education bonds.

Visa Rules for English-language and Non-degree Students

Agents and students must – before applying for a student visa for English-language and non-degree programmes in Ireland – confirm that the school is on the ILEP (The Interim List of Education Programmes), which includes both higher education and English-language learning institutions (NOT further or vocational training providers). This means that the school is in accordance with Ireland’s student immigration policy. INIS provides this further clarification of what inclusion on the ILEP list means:

“The ILEP does not guarantee the quality of the institution but if a provider is listed on the ILEP in respect of courses they will have met certain criteria including the mandatory provision of learner protection in respect of enrolled non-EU students. For the English-language sector a maximum class size of 15 students applies to all ILEP-listed providers and they must also have demonstrated that their teaching staff are properly qualified ….

For all institutions their listing on the ILEP is contingent on their ongoing compliance with immigration rules and continuing to meet the other conditions set down for listing on the ILEP.  In the language sector, in particular, the new rules are considerably stricter than those that applied in the past and providers will be judged on their performance against these higher and more universal standards. This will include unannounced inspections, spot checks and other monitoring. Examinations will now be a compulsory element of the student programme and all students will be required to be registered for the examinations. Providers who breach the requirements or engage in immigration abuse are liable to be removed from the ILEP.”

NOTE: Attendance is a crucial requirement of students being able to retain their visa status. INIS states: “A non-EU student … has obtained immigration permission on the basis that they are attending a course of study. If they are not attending their classes then their immigration status is liable to be revoked.”

Click here for the list of ILEP programmes, and make sure to check regularly for any updates to the list.

Once the agent and the student have confirmed that their school is on the ILEP list, they must obtain a Letter of Acceptance from the school confirming they have been accepted. To be accepted, the student must understand that he/she is committed to a course of full-time education occurring in between 8 am and 5 pm for at least 15 hours per week.

They must then produce evidence that they have paid the necessary fees to the school or college; if total course fees are less than €6,000, students must pay the full amount of the fees in advance. Students must also have access to €3,000 at when they first register with immigration officials – in addition to their course fees – and that they have medical insurance. (See SECTION I for more on medical insurance).

The duration of the visa permission for students studying at ILEP schools is 8 months. Students can apply for a visa for a total of 3 language courses, allowing them to stay for a total maximum time in Ireland of 2 years.

Visa Rules for Other Types of Student

There are visa regulations for students who are pursuing studies in Ireland that are shorter in duration than typical degree programmes and language programmes (for example, short-term language students and semester students).

There is a strong market in Ireland for short-term language studies (that is, of 90 days or less) and so the following is essential for agents to know. Short-term language students are viewed by the Irish government as “educational tourists,” and the following conditions apply to them:

• The stated reason for the student’s visit must be credible;
• The student must have a return flight and must leave at the end of their stay;
• They must be able to support themselves while in Ireland (INIS states: “If the duration of your course is less than 6 months you must have access to €500 per month of your stay or €3000, whichever is the lesser;
• They must obey the law;
• They must not engage in work;
• They must be covered by private medical insurance.

Such students will be subject to visit/holiday visa rules. They do not have to register with immigration authorities. These rules can be found here.

For visa rules concerning students coming to Ireland to study for just a semester, please visit this webpage.

For information on international students who wish to bring their families to Ireland while they study, please visit this webpage.

Post-graduation Immigration Opportunities

International students on degree programmes may be eligible for Ireland’s Third Level Graduate Scheme which allows graduates to stay in Ireland for between 6 months and 2 years (depending on the NFQ level of degree completed) to look for employment or to apply for a Green Card. During that time, they can work for 40 hours a week (full time). Further information on work concessions for international students can be found in SECTION K.

NOTE TO AGENTS: As with any country, Ireland’s visa and immigration regulations may change at any time. The most important takeaway from this section is to MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE INIS WEBSITE before helping students with their visa applications. Ensuring the provision of accurate visa information is one of the most important service an agent can perform for students, and it is a hallmark of professionalism.

Working in Ireland

Five Essential Points

• International students enrolled in at least one year of full-time study in a course leading to a qualification recognised by the Irish Department of Education and Skills do not need a work permit to work in Ireland.
• Non-EU students taking courses offered by education institutions on the ILEP list may work part-time during studies and full-time in holiday periods once they receive a Personal Public Services Number (PPS Number). This website explains how to apply for a PPS number.
• Students enrolled in a foundation/preparatory course prior to enrolment on a full-time course are not entitled to work until they have begun their full-time course.
• International graduates of recognised degree programmes at Level 8 or higher may apply for the Third Level Graduate Scheme which allows them to stay in Ireland for a certain period of time after they have completed their degree. Recently the government has extended the period of time that master’s degree, postgraduate diploma, and doctoral degree holders may remain in Ireland to 2 years.
• There are opportunities for non-EU students to immigrate to Ireland once they are in the Third Level Graduate Employment Scheme as long as they receive a job offer that meets certain conditions.

Overview

EU students are permitted to work full-time or part-time in Ireland while they study.

Students from outside the EU can work for up to 20 hours per week while they study, and up to 40 hours per week during holiday periods: June to September inclusive and from 15 December to 15 January. For more on non-EU students and work in Ireland, please visit this webpage.

Please note: Students on a Stamp 2A immigration permission (for example, students coming from outside the EU to study for a semester in an Irish university) may not work in Ireland. For more information, please visit this INIS page.

Non-EU international students must receive a Personal Public Services Number (PPS Number) to be permitted to work, and their employers will generally pay wages only to Irish bank accounts. They should be paid at least the Irish minimum wage, which is €9.25 per hour.

Students taking a foundation/pathway programme in preparation for study in a full-time higher education programme in Ireland are not permitted to work until they have been accepted into and are studying in their full-time programme.

To be eligible to work in Ireland, Education in Ireland notes that non-EU students must be:

• Registered with GNIB;
• Enrolled on a recognised programme leading to a qualification recognised by the Minister for Education & Skills;
• Attending a full-time programme of education at or above NFQ Level 7 [that is, bachelor degree or higher];
• Undertaking a minimum of 15 hours of daytime study;
• Getting instruction, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. per week for a minimum of 25 weeks per annum;
• On a programme of at least one year’s duration.”

Third Level Graduate Scheme

Non-EU international students’ right to work in Ireland ends as soon as their studies are finished unless they apply to and are accepted into the Third Level Graduate Scheme. To be eligible for this programme, students must have completed an honours bachelor’s degree/higher diploma, master’s degree, or postgraduate degree at a recognised post-secondary institution in Ireland. By applying they signal their desire to stay in Ireland to find a job and/or to obtain a Green Card or work permit.

Students who qualify for the Third Level Graduate Scheme are granted one non-renewable extension of their visa for a certain period of time, which varies according to the degree the student has completed. Here are the current permitted extensions:

• Students who have completed a Level 8 degree may stay in Ireland for 12 months after they graduate;
• Students who have completed Level 9 or 10 higher master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and doctoral degrees may stay in Ireland for 12 months initially after they graduate, with an option for another 12 months if the student proves to immigration authorities that they have taken real steps to access suitable graduate level employment (e.g., going to job interviews, registering with graduate employment agencies, etc.).

Once they have been accepted into the Scheme, international students are permitted to work up to 40 hours a week. In addition, once they have finished their entitlement in the Third Level Graduate Scheme they may go back to school in Ireland if they re-enter at a higher level than their last degree. Non-EU students who decide to do this then have up to 7 years (8 years if studying at Level 9 or higher) to complete their new degree.

To apply for the Third Level Graduate Scheme, students go to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) in Dublin or at their local Garda office with official documents showing their exam results as well as the document required to renew their GNIB card.  

Getting a Green Card

Non-EU students who have been accepted into the Third Level Graduate Scheme may apply for a Green Card Permit (also known as the Critical Skills Employment Permit). To obtain a Green Card, international student graduates must be in the Third Level Graduate Scheme and have received a job offer for a minimum of 2 years. In addition, the job offer must be for either:

1. A job that pays at least €60,000 per year in any occupational field; or
2. A job that pays at least €30,000 per year and that is on the Highly Skilled Occupations List.

Promoting Ireland

Five Essential Points

• Great education agents play a key role in helping to promote Irish education institutions to both EU and non-EU students alike. Such agents act professionally and ethically to earn a solid reputation within the international education sector.
• Agents’ key responsibilities are to accurately portray the features of an Irish institution and to ensure they do not promise a study abroad experience to students that the institution cannot fulfill.
• It is the agent’s job to match the international student with an appropriate institution and course of study; the agent should not persuade a student to attend a school or choose a course if it does not suit the student’s interests and credentials.
• Agents should regularly engage in professional development to become increasingly attractive to Irish education institutions.
• Agents should regularly check the following websites for updates regarding international student visas and work concessions in Ireland: Education in Ireland, The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS), and INIS.

Overview

Irish education institutions generally expect the following of the agents they work with to place international students in their courses; these should be understood as the basics every agent should build into their practices:

• Agents should promote Ireland as a safe and vibrant society with an excellent education system offering programmes for all types of students. This includes both degree programmes and short-term programmes such as language courses.
• Agents must be very familiar with the NFQ and the levels within it.
• Agents should be well aware of the work and immigration opportunities for non-EU students as well as the rules governing them.
• Agents should promote the innovation infrastructures in Irish post-secondary institutions as well as the well-established links between Irish universities and IoTs and multinationals operating in Ireland.
• Agents should help prospective students to gather all required documentation for their application to their chosen Irish education institution and programme.

In addition, agents should know:

• When courses/programmes start and end;
• Eligibility criteria for individual courses/programmes;
• Refund policies for dropped courses and/or students being unable to attend programmes to which they had gained admission and paid fees for;
• Academic credit rules (i.e., transferability of students’ previous credits to the new institution).

Guidelines for Ethical Practices in Educational Counselling

When dealing with students, the education agent should:

• Provide sufficient and accurate information;
• Keep adequate records;
• Maintain contact after a course has begun;
• Have clear cost structures;
• Respond to questions in a timely manner.

When dealing with education institutions, the education agent should:

• Submit applications to institutions only from students who have a genuine interest;
• Communicate appropriately with organizations;
• Represent the institution and its courses accurately;
• Advertise with approval.

The following is a list of DOs and DON’Ts for education agents representing Irish education institutions:

Do

• Check that institutions have supplied accurate and up-to-date information;
• Check that information is in language students can understand;
• Ensure students really understand the benefits/drawbacks of a particular study choice so they can make an informed decision;
• Treat students’ information confidentially and carefully;
• Keep students’ money in secure accounts until due for payment, then pay it promptly into the proper accounts;
• Meet all contractual obligations with education institutions, particularly in relation to marketing, recruitment, and information given to students;
• Consider ways to add value to the service you provide to prospective students (e.g., translating enrolment and visa applications for students who would otherwise struggle to understand them).

Don’t

• Provide information that results in misleading or unfair comparisons between institutions;
• Provide false or exaggerated information about post-study work concessions or an institution’s facilities;
• Persuade students to go to a school or programme if it is not well aligned with their educational interests;
• Pass students’ information on to other businesses or people without the permission of the student;
• Charge students fees for services progressively without informing students from the beginning;
• Persuade students to enroll in a course or programme for which they are inadequately prepared (e.g., language proficiency too low, or academic qualifications not yet sufficient).

How Agents Can Be Successful in the Irish Market

Irish education institutions look for the following when they are considering working with international education agents:

• Referrals from students, alumni, or colleagues who have worked with a particular agent and achieved good results;
• Evidence that an agent has been vetted by a third party (e.g., meetings or workshops requiring membership or pre-qualification based on agents having met professionalism, quality, sound business practices, and service standards);
• Evidence that the agent has deep knowledge and insight about their local market (e.g., knowing that Nigerians might be interested in going to Irish universities for certain programmes for certain reasons);
• A sense that the agent will add value to prospective students applying to/having been accepted by the institution (e.g., by checking all their documentation to make sure it is ready for submission to the institution);
• A feeling that the agent will work well with the institution’s staff and do a good job of promoting the institution accurately and effectively.

Resources

All agents should regularly visit the following websites:

• Education in Ireland
• The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS)
• Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS)
• Ireland’s main tourism website
• Live and Learn in Ireland

Agents focusing on specific niches within the Irish education system will find at least one of these resources helpful:

• Irish Universities Association (IUA)
• THEA Technological Higher Education Association
• ACELS (The quality assurance body for the Irish English-language learning sector)
• Marketing English in Ireland (MEI), the main association of English-language schools in Ireland
• Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA)

 

Information Specific to International Students

With a relatively young population, an internationally acclaimed emphasis on education, and a reputation for being a safe place to live, Ireland can be a very exciting place to be a student.

Tuition fees are charged to some international students but not others; please see this Education in Ireland link for details.

Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) generally do not have any special requirements to study in Ireland. For some countries outside the EEA, a visa is not required. It is important to check country-specific requirements via the Department of Foreign Affairs website.

If a visa is required, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website provides detailed information on how to apply and the essential documents that must accompany an application. Some of these requirements include a letter of acceptance for enrolment in a recognised course, immediate access to a specific amount of funds, proof of private medical insurance, proof of English-language level sufficient to meet entry (e.g., IELTS 5) and ability to complete the course, mainly for students who intend to enrol for third-level institutions.

International students studying in a full-time recognised course of at least one year’s duration may be eligible to obtain casual employment of up to 20 hours a week. Ireland also offers generous work concessions to international students.

More information about international education in Ireland is available in ICEF’s Irish Education Agent Course (IEAC), recommended for any agent or counsellor who wants to specialise in sending students to education programmes in this country.

More Information

• Irish Council for International Students: https://www.icosirl.ie
• Tourism Ireland: https://www.ireland.com
• Education in Ireland: https://www.educationinireland.com
• Irish Immigration Service: Study Visas: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland
• Irish National Framework for Qualifications: https://www.qqi.ie/what-we-do/the-qualifications-system/national-framework-of-qualifications

Conclusion