Study in Ireland

Ireland is a small island spread over 70,282 square kilometers, have five cities namely Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. aspiring students can choose from thousands of post graduate courses for their higher studies. Ireland boasts of its educational excellence, safe and friendly environment, a rich heritage of art and culture, beautiful countryside and metropolitan cities. No wonder it is one of the most sought after campus destinations for students from all over the world.

Why study in Ireland

The country has 34 higher education institutes internationally acclaimed for offering 5000 programs that has a very high academic quality. The best reasons to study in Ireland are:

• The universities of Ireland are ranked in the top five percent globally
• The quality of education is assured by Irish state agency, Quality Qualifications Ireland
• The higher education system comes within top twenty worldwide
• Hundreds of scholarships are awarded every year
• Irish Government has increased investment in knowledge and higher education by 10 percent per annum over the last decade.
• The country ranks 16th globally for its scientific excellence, 11th for Global Innovation Index, 1st in Nanosciences, 2nd in Immunology and Computer Science, 3rd in Animal and Dairy and 5th in Material Science.

Living in Ireland

There are many options for students to choose from as far as accommodation is concerned. The most popular choice is on-campus accommodation, which is available in many colleges, and experience the life of a student surrounded by all commodities such as shops, restaurants etc. All universities have halls of residence, generally as apartments of 4 to 8 students, with a private bedroom and shared kitchen, living room and bathroom.

Apart from this students can also opt for self-catering, rented accommodation, often shared with other students. It is normally cheaper to share accommodation with other students. Rents are usually payable monthly and in advance. Students also have the option to live with a host family in their home. This way, you have your own independence but still have the home comforts (and some rules) as well as a family to show you the ropes and help you settle in to a new way of life in a new country. Students are normally provided with their own room and with morning and evening meals – at a cost of between €125-€180 per week.

It is advisable to start the search for accommodation, cost, connectivity and accessibility with college through public transport/ walking/cycling,etc.

English language schools include pre-arranged accommodation in their fees, often with suitable Irish families who offer a home-from-home to the student for the duration of their course. This can be a great way for students to find their feet in a new country, have trustworthy people to help them with any queries they may have, and if you are staying with a family with children close to your own age, they can introduce you to local life and help you learn how to speak English informally.

Education Institutions in Ireland

According to the 2012-13 QS World University Rankings, seven public universities of Ireland are ranked within the top 700 of the world. To name a few, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), University College Dublin (UCD) and University College Cork fall within the top 200 of the ranks.

Ireland has a benchmark when it comes to education and commitment to excellence. The country ranks 16th globally for its scientific excellence, 11th for Global Innovation Index, 1st in Nanosciences, 2nd in Immunology and Computer Science, 3rd in Animal and Dairy and 5th in Material Science.

Ireland universities and colleges offer a multitude of courses aimed to provide a rewarding career to the students. Some of the popular streams include:

• Information Technology
• Management
• Finance/Accounting
• Engineering
• Biotechnology and Pharmacy
• Applied Science and Hospitality

Entry Requirements

Moving out of the comfort zone of your home country requires a lot of preparation. It is advisable to do a thorough research on the new country and evaluate each and every parameter that will help the students to find a firm ground to step on as they land into a completely new world.

It is advisable to get as much information as possible about the preferred programme, institution and accommodation as well as funding and student visa criteria. The very next step entails the necessary paperwork.

The Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is responsible for developing and maintaining the National Qualifications Framework (NFQ) and for quality standards (Quality Assurance and Pastoral Care) in both the higher education sector and English Language schools.

Students are encouraged to use the National Framework of Qualifications to identify the qualification they will achieve before making decisions. Qualifications recognized through the NFQ are quality assured. This means that you can have confidence that your course, and the institution at which you are studying, are reviewed on an ongoing basis.