How to Apply for Colleges in Ireland?

With Ireland's international education sector currently contributing approximately €1.58 billion per year to the economy (US$1.85 billion), and the Irish government's goal for 2020 to increase to €2.1 billion per year, it is quite provident that Ireland over the years has emerged into a prime international study destination. The number of international students attending one of Ireland's universities has dramatically increased since the last few years and notably, Indian students constitute a good population among the international students' community in Ireland. According to the latest study, the international students' respondents cited "Ireland's location in Europe, tuition fees which are cheaper than in other English-speaking countries, and the ease of application through institutional websites" as factors that "gave Ireland advantages over other countries." Hence for the overseas students who are looking for an exciting international experience in the beautiful English-speaking country, Ireland, but are struggling on the ways to apply for an Irish University, we have come up with a detailed article.

Living in Ireland

If you have decided that you are going to pursue your education in Ireland, you are in the right direction for your journey of overseas education. With a range of top universities with affordable tuition and relevant programs that lead to fulfilling careers, this study abroad destination has everything you're looking for. The Republic of Ireland has a rich culture, beautiful scenery and affordable university tuition fees – even for non-EU students. A fascinating culture steeped in tradition, lush rolling hills and plenty of new places to explore: studying abroad in Ireland is a life-changing opportunity for the students who take the plunge to leave their home country to attain a quality foreign education experience.

Applying to Universities in Ireland

Like for studying in the UK, one has to apply through UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, for studying in Ireland, the prospective students have to apply through the Central Application Office (CAO). There is a CAO website (www.cao.ie) where students can visit to submit their applications to Irish universities and colleges. The CAO provides an application pack with a handbook, which lists all the courses on offer and information on how to apply to each one.  However, there is one key difference between the CAO and UCAS: applicants from outside of the European Union are often not eligible to use the CAO. An exception to this rule is non-EU passport holders who have worked in the EU for at least three of the past five years.

Student Visa

The international students (students from outside the European Union) who aspire to study in Ireland are required to gain a student visa before flying. A visa is a certificate which will be placed in their passport to indicate that they are authorized to land in the state. All International students should apply for the same to study in Ireland if the course lasts more than 3 months. International students should ensure that they have fulfilled the criteria of the policy before they make the visa application. Students may apply for a study visa up to 3 months before the date of travel to Ireland to study. It is important to start the process as soon as they receive the unconditional acceptance from the institution of your choice. You will have to schedule an appointment with a local VFS or consulate to submit the required documents to be granted a student visa to study in Ireland.

Note

The international students can check out the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) which provides a structure (a framework) to understand, compare and contrast the level and standard of different qualifications. This helps them to make informed decisions about the qualification choices and to consider progression opportunities available to them. Qualifications recognized through the NFQ are quality assured.  It renders the aspirants the confidence in their chosen course and institution where they are going to study.