Top Universities & Colleges in Ireland

Ireland has a long and rich history attached to its educational institutions and is a European Union member country that has a majorly English speaking population. In 2019, Ireland was ranked #16 as the happiest nation in the world by the United Nations. Growing vastly, the economy of Ireland is ranked 6th with regards to competitiveness, in the world. There are 1000+ companies’ headquarters in Ireland.

The government of Ireland has spent a great deal on the educational facilities in the country, leading to a well-equipped education system. Around 35,000 international students from 160+ countries enjoy the vibrant culture of Ireland. The majority of international students in Ireland are from China, Malaysia, America, Canada, India, and Saudi Arabia. Health-care related courses are a popular choice of these students.

The government of Ireland allows students to stay in the country until a year or two after the students have completed their course to look for employment in the country. Along with many reasons to study in Ireland one is safety. Ireland is generally regarded as a safe country, with almost no instances of violence against international ethnic minorities studying in the country.

Popular Cities to study in Ireland

Few cities house all the higher education institutes, viz. Dublin, Galway, Cork, Maynooth, and Limerick. Out of all these cities Dublin has the highest density of universities and is also the most expensive city to live in.

Popular Courses to study in Ireland

• Almost all colleges/universities in Ireland offer degrees in Business administration (MBA or MS in Business) along with courses for Human Resource management.
• Other popular courses to study in Ireland include MS and M.Sc. in Computer Science and Masters in Education.
• MS and M.Sc. in Data Analytics
• M.Sc. in Big Data Management
• MEng in Digital and Medical Technologies
• Apart from a Masters in education, all the courses will be extremely useful all over the EU, while the aforementioned course is mostly for setting up an education career in Ireland.

Popular Universities to study in Ireland

According to QS World Ranking 2020, see the table below for the top universities to study in Ireland.

You can also explore top courses to study in Ireland in the following section.

1. Dublin City University (DCU)

Top five courses:

• Professional Masters of Education (Post Primary)
• MSc in Computing
• MSc in Management (Business)
• MSc in Human Resource Management
• MSc in Finance

2. Maynooth University

Top five courses:

• Professional Master’s of Education (Secondary)
• Professional Master’s of Education (Primary)
• MSc Business Management
• MSc Computer Science (Software Engineering) – highest in Science Programs
• MA Irish History

3. NUI Galway

Top five courses:

• Professional Masters of Education
• MSc Computer Science (Data Analytics)
• MSc Biotechnology
• MSc Biomedical Science
• LLM International Human Right

4. University College Cork (UCC)

Top five courses:

• MSc (Management & Marketing)
• MSc (Information Systems for Business Performance)
• MSc Computing Science
• MSc Data Science & Analytics
• MSc Corporate Finance

5. University College Dublin (UCD)

Top five courses:

• MA in History
• Master’s in Business Administration
• Master’s in Environmental Resource Management
• ME in Electrical Energy Engineering
• Masters in Public Policy

6. University of Limerick

Top five courses:

• MA in Technical Communication and E-learning
• MEng in Information and Network Security
• MSc in Financial Services
• Masters in International Entrepreneurship Management
• MA in Irish Traditional Music Performance

Universities, Institutes of Technology, and Colleges of Education collectively form a form part of higher education institutions in Ireland. Refer to the table below to understand the key points about these.

The courses that are rated under the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) network are all internationally accepted professional courses and they are quality assured by the Irish government.

There are six types of major award available in to study in Ireland . These are mentioned below.

• NFQ Level 7: Ordinary Bachelor Degree (3 years duration).
• NFQ Level 8: Honours Bachelor Degree (3-4 years duration).
• NFQ Level 8: Higher Diploma (1-year duration).
• NFQ Level 9: Postgraduate Diploma (1-year duration).
• NFQ Level 9: Masters Degree (1-2 years duration).
• NFQ Level 10: Doctoral Degree (approximately 4-years duration).

In Ireland, degree program courses that lead to any of the awards are mentioned below.

• Ordinary Bachelor Degree
• Honors Bachelor Degree
• Higher Diploma (after completion of an Honours Bachelor Degree)
• Postgraduate Diploma (after completion of an Honours Bachelor Degree)
• Masters Degree
• Doctoral degree

As an international student in Ireland, one can only go higher on the NFQ network and not lower, so if one wants to change courses, can only do so for higher-level courses and in very rare cases, within the same level.

For eligible non-EEA students, a list of courses (Interim List of Eligible Programmes) has been provided by Ireland higher education to which students can enroll in full time. The list of higher education institutes to study in Ireland can be found here.

The major cost of studying in Ireland is due to tuition fee. It depends on the program a student chooses. For non- EU/EEA students, Undergraduate course fees in Ireland range from 10,000 to 25,000 EUR per year. For Masters and Doctorate degrees, it lies between 9,000 to 35,000 EUR per year.

International students in Ireland also need to pay some other charges for student services and other school-related activities. This reaches up to 3,000 EUR per year. Additionally, a student planning to study for more than 90 days in Ireland needs to register for GNIB. The registration charges are EUR 300.

You can read all you need to know about field wise tuition fees in Ireland, university-specific costs, city-wise cost of living, daily expenses, and a few tips about saving some money while studying as an international student in Ireland.

There are two main intakes for which Ireland accepts applications. See the table below.

Two semesters are used for covering coursework in Irish institutions.

Preparations for studying in an Irish university maybe started almost a year in advance. All admissions are completed by mid-June, and universities have different deadlines for different courses.

• The admission requirements to study in Ireland are dependent on individual universities.
• The same university may have different requirements for different courses.
• In some cases such as studying graduate courses in Medicine, students may need to pass an entrance exam GAMSAT. 
• Academic requirements also differ with each university to study a bachelor's course, usually, students are graded on their six best subject scores. The International Bacculaureate (IB) Diploma is also accepted as meeting the minimum entry requirement
• For undergraduate studies to study Medicine in Ireland, it is advised to contact the International Office of the target college.

For proving English proficiency for academic courses, the following set of exams are accepted by Irish institutions.

In general, the following are the requirements to study in Irish institutions:

• IELTS 6.5 and above
• GRE may be required

Research proposal for Masters and Ph.D. admissions is required

For UG admissions, applications are processed through the Central Applications Office (CAO) for EU/EEA students. The courses and the colleges can be found on CAO’s official website http://www.cao.ie/courses.php

The application timeline for the 2020-21 COA admission process is mentioned in the table below.

• For non-EE/EU students looking for undergraduate courses to study in Ireland, they have to directly apply to universities and no common portal is available.
• The process of applying for postgraduate aspirants is similar- applying to individual institutions.
• For PG admissions, some institutions accept applications through a common portal – PAC. Applications for different institutions with multiple courses can be filled online and uploaded using the PAC (Postgraduate Applications Centre) website. Each application has a fee of 50 Euros.

The Institutions that accept applications for PG courses through PAC are mentioned below.

• Dublin City University
• University College Cork, Ireland
• NUI Galway
• Maynooth University
• Waterford Institute of Technology
• Institute of Technology, Carlow
• 3U Partnership, Greater Dublin University
• Galway – Mayo Institute of Technology
• Cork Institute of technology

After applying, the candidate will be allotted an 8 digit Postgraduate Application Number. This number must be mentioned in all the supplementary documents that he/she will upload (transcripts, passport copies, etc.)

Some quick tips for PG aspirants are jotted below:

• Make sure, if you are going for a research position, that you go through the pages of the specific tutors that you are interested in.
• Make lists of tutors you are interested to work under their area of specialization, the university/Institute that they belong to along with deadline dates for application submission and scholarships to study in Ireland.
• If you are interested in working with someone very specific, it is always better that you contact the tutor by E-mail and work out details like research funding.
• It is always important that you make a customized research proposal for every tutor you are interested in, depending on the expertise of the tutor in question.

However, it is equally important to understand that you may under no circumstances send a generic e-mail to all the tutors that you are interested to work under.This will diminish your chances of landing a fair chance to work with them.

After you finalize the university/institute of your choice, you have to pay the fees to study in Ireland for the first six months (at least 6000 euros or complete fees, if the total fee is less than 6000 euros) of your study. Once the fee is paid, you have to collect the receipt and start the process for the visa application.

For undergraduate admissions, the following set of documents is generally required to study in Ireland:

• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Two or more academic references
• Academic transcripts
• English Proficiency test
• Copy of passport

For the Master's Program, documents required to study in Ireland are mentioned below:

• GMAT, GMAT any other subject-specific exam
• English Competency test
• Certified degree certificates copies
• Certified academic transcripts
• Two or more academic references
• Letter of Recommendations in case of previous work experience
• Academic Resume, if required
• Portfolio, if required
• Copy of passport

Applying for a student visa iis quite a time-consuming process as it may take up to 8 weeks in certain cases, requires some meticulous form filling and documents.

• You can apply for a study visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland.
• The course that you are going to pursue must be included in the Internationalisation Register administered by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) (Visit www.nqai.ie for more information) and is a part of Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).
• The maximum time a student may stay in Ireland to attend courses at degree level is limited to seven years.
• Students may apply for a visa to study in Ireland through the Irish Embassy in India.
• If a student wishes to pursue studies for more than 3 months, he will be requiring a type 'D' visa.

The stepwise process to apply for a visa to study in Ireland is mentioned below:

A student is advised to go through the official link of the Irish Government website to know step by step procedure; right from knowing which visa to apply for to instructions on planning travel to Ireland. The overview of it is mentioned below:

• Complete the online application form
• Check the Irish Embassy details where your documentation is to be sent
• Provide a passport-sized photo
• Ensure your passport is valid for 12 months
• Pay the application fee
• Pay your visa fee and other charges for booking appointments.
• Provide a signed letter of application which explains why you require the visa
• A Letter of Acceptance from the Irish university, college, or school, confirming you have been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time education, involving a minimum of 15 hours of organized daytime tuition each week.
  • This letter must name you (the applicant) and verify the title/duration of the course
  • It should also confirm the amount of fees payable for your course, and that this amount has been paid.
  • If the college has taken medical insurance on your behalf, details of this must be present in this letter of acceptance. If it is not arranged by the college, you must organize this yourself and provide evidence with your application.
• Make sure to keep copies of all documents submitted.
• Check out the list of all documents needed to apply for a Visa.
• Additional registeration fees of EUR 3000 is required.
• Once in Ireland, the student has to register with the GNIB. The GNIB will issues a residence permit/GNIB card. The fee for this card is 300 Euros.

The fees for Irish visas is mentioned in the table below.

Required language proficiency scores

• The English language proficiency, through these tests, are mandatory visa requirements. However, the lower limits of the scores for visa issuance and admittance into the university will be different most of the time.
• The minimum requirement for visa issuance is as follows.
• IELTS Academic: 5.0 minimum score
• TOEFL: Minimum score of: 173 (Computer-based), 61 (Internet-based), 500 (Paper-based)
   

Visa processing time

• Normal Student Processing takes around 4-6 weeks
• ‌Through Approval in principle scheme the processing time is 5-7 weeks.

Approval in Principle Scheme

Under this scheme, applicants for a study visa from India, who have been accepted to a QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) approved course, can apply for a study visa without having to pay the requisite college fees in advance.

• On arrival to Ireland, the student needs to do residence permit registration for rest of the visa formalities.
• He/she needs to submit a ‘Declaration’ stating that the candidate shall be coming back to India after completion of program.
• Single entry visa from India fees is 60 EUR, Multi entry after reaching Ireland 100 euros has to be paid.

Checking on your visa status

• You can check online to see if your visa has been processed (using your Visa Application Number). This list is updated weekly.
• If you get approval for a visa, the Embassy to which you sent your documents will affix a visa to your passport.

If you are refused a visa you may appeal the decision within 2 month

There are many scholarships in Ireland provided by:

• Government of Ireland
• The Irish higher education institutions
• Other organizations 

Some common scholarships to study in Ireland include:

• Go Overseas and Education in Ireland
• Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI)
• Fulbright Scholarship
• The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship
• Postgraduate Fellowships: The Walsh Fellowships
• DCU International Student Scholarships
• NUI Galway International Student Scholarships
• National College of Ireland Scholarships 
• Law Ph.D. Scholarship Opportunity at DCU
• Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS):
• Opportunities in Ireland for Ontario College Graduates
• Galway Mayo Institute of Technology scholarships
• DIT Centenary Scholarship Programme
• Irish Aid funded Fellowship Training Programme

There are university-specific scholarships available as well. Other examples of scholarships to study in Ireland are mentioned below.

• EPA-DIT PhD Co-Fund Position for International Applicants in Ireland
• The School of English Dublin City University Scholarships in Ireland
• School of Law Doctoral Scholarships
• University College Cork SEFS Postgraduate Research Scholarships in Food Science
• Maynooth University John and Pat Hume Doctoral Awards Scheme for International Students
• International Scholarships at National College of Ireland
• UCD science scholarships
• NUI Galway International Student Scholarships

MSc Scholarships for International Students by Trinity College DublinClub MBA Leadership Scholarship.

• The Irish have an innate maternal instinct. They are very helping and friendly towards foreign nationals. Studentswhostudents who stay with a host family experience this instinct at its best.
• Ireland is a European country with two official languages, i.e. English and Irish. Throughout Ireland, one may find other languages spoken as well. However, English is understood and spoken throughout the country.
• Life in Ireland especially is lucrative and one enjoys the standard of living of the European countries, without dealing with learning an additional European language.
• Ireland is much warmer than other countries that share its latitude.
• Extreme winters are rare, and you're more likely to encounter a warm glow, with average winter temperatures of between 40°F/5°C and 46°F/8°C.
• Summer temperatures are generally between 60°F/15°C to 70°F/20°C.
• Rain is a constant possibility, so your study abroad in Ireland packing list must have a rain gear and a sweater!
• Some students choose to stay in on-campus accommodation, which is available in many colleges.
• On-Campus accommodation is always in demand. It can be quite expensive and it is difficult to find.
• All universities have halls of residence, generally apartments of 4 to 8 students, with a private bedroom and shared kitchen, living room, and bathroom.
• On-campus accommodation must be paid in 2 installments, in September and in February. Universities and colleges will have further details about their accommodation and how to apply.
• Students who want to be independent choose self-catering, rented accommodation. Students pay their rent monthly and in advance. At the beginning of a letting period they pay a deposit of one month's rent, which will be refunded when they leave (provided they have not caused any damage to the premises). The normal length of a lease is 9 or 12 months.
• Some students choose to live with a host family in their home. This way, they have your independence but still have the home comforts (and some rules). Staying with a host family can be a great way for students to find their feet in a new country!
• Health insurance is compulsory for an international student in Ireland. It costs around 20,000 EUR per year.

Law is one of the best rewarding fields in Ireland in terms of salary. Generally starting salaries that fresh graduates get are between 20,000 EUR to 30,000 EUR. According to GradIreland 2019, some top-paying jobs and their starting salaries are mentioned below.

• As a student in Ireland, one does not require a work permit for being employed for working 20 hours/week.
• During the course a student in Ireland can work for 40 hours/week during the vacation period (during June, July, August, and September and from 15th December to 15th January inclusive).
• It is best if the student gets employed within the Ireland's university campus.
• Working on campus cuts down the costs of traveling and makes more time available to be within the university.
• International students enrolled for full-time courses that are recognized by the IDES do not require an additional work permit in Ireland.
• If as a student, one has no prior experience, one can seek jobs in restaurants, bars, cafes, book shops.
• Students can also apply to help at entertainment events, call centers, and retail supermarkets. For those with good interpersonal skills, can also apply for the post of secretary or assistant at corporate organizations.
• It is advised to build a strong network with peers and seniors.

• Under Irish Third-level Graduate Scheme legal resident non-EU-third level graduates may search for employment after completing their studies for two years in Ireland. He can work for 40 hours during this time.
• A student looking for using this scheme needs to get Stamp 1G converted from Stamp 2/2A.
• Level 8 qualification allows graduates to get a 12-month extension for residence permit up to a maximum of 7 years (overall, this includes their stay as a student and post-study work).
• For level 9 or above graduates, one can get a 24-month extension (to be approved twice in blocks of 12 months) up to 8 overall years.
• This scheme, however, cannot be renewed once used. To know about the eligibility for applying to this scheme post studies, documents needed, time limits according to NFQ levels, one can visit the official link. 
• This scheme applies to graduates with awards granted by recognized Irish awarding bodies. These include:
  • The seven Irish universities; i.e. Trinity College, UCD, DCU, Maynooth University, UCC, NUIG and the University of Limerick
  • Dublin Institute of Technology
  • Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
  • Institutes of Technology
  • Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

 
Permanent Residency

• After getting a job from a registered EEA employer, one should apply for a work permit by themself or through the employer. The validity of the work permit is the same as that of the visa.
• The time after which PR can be applied depends on whether one holds a General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit.
• For one holding a General Employment Permit, can apply after 5 years.
• For a person holding a Critical Skills Employment Permit , can apply for a PR after 2 years.
• After living as a permanent resident for 5 years in Ireland, one can apply for citizenship in Ireland.