Study In Ireland

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Why studying in the Ireland is the best destination for an international student

Ireland is also known as Emerald Isle because of its rolling hills, magnificent castles and a lush expanse of greenery. Ireland is a land that offers the best of both worlds-the green countryside with rich Irish traditions and a vibrant urban city with technological advancements. Ireland will assure of a holistic experience that goes beyond the scope of studies.


Ireland's Universities and colleges form the Top 1% of the research institutes in the world, its pristine academic excellence is irrefutable proof of excellent quality education. The Irish government monitors stringently the quality of education via the National Framework of Qualifications (NFF) which ensures uniformity and excellency in all Irish universities. The Irish education system is derived from the UK’s education system which translates the universal approach in the curriculum.


With exceptional emphasis on innovation, creativity and disruptive thinking has garnered many popular figures like Ernest Walton, Oscar Wilde, John Bell and James Joyce to name a few of many legendary figures from the Irish land. It is a land of promise and opportunities, A technology hub housing many leading companies having their European headquarters here. Ireland is known to have over 1,000 multi-national companies with the top 9 global ICT companies, top 8 pharmaceutical companies and top 6 diagnostic companies, top 8 gaming companies and top 20 medical device companies and also 50% of the world’s leading financial services firms are also stationed in Ireland, the burgeoning list of housing the best is ever growing. Phew!


Study In Ireland

Ireland ranks 3rd among the world’s most peaceful countries on the Global Peace Index, which elucidates the social acceptance and political stability of the Irish democracy. The international students will be entitled to the same rights and facilities as their Irish counterparts.


The prospect of work while studying is not only lucrative but also liberating, allowing students to explore employment opportunities, the student is allowed to work 20 hours a week during term and 40 hours a week during breaks. After completion of the course, the student can stay back and seek employment opportunities under the Irish Third Level Graduate Scheme for non-EU third-level graduates. The employment permit is a golden ticket to permanent residency in Ireland, a seemingly possible reality with straightforward obligations.


With immense opportunities to grow professionally & personally, Ireland emerges as the best destination for international students.


Visa Rules And Obligations

The New Delhi Visa Office (NDVO), part of the Embassy of Ireland in India, is responsible for processing visa applications for Indian students. Visa applicants must apply online via AVTAS for their visa. The ideal time to start applying for an Ireland student visa is 4-months before the commencement of your programme. The visa processing fee will be €60


There are two types of student visas in Ireland depending upon the duration of stay.


C Study Visa- If a student intends to study in Ireland for less than 3 months and if the course lasts longer than 3 months, the student should apply for a D study visa.


The immigrant student has to fulfil the below-specified prerequisites to get the Ireland student visa. The student must have a Letter of acceptance from a recognised university/college. The Indian nationals (non-EEA nationals) must be enrolled in a full-time course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) to study in Ireland Universities. The details for the same are listed on the immigration rules for non-EEA students. For a D study visa, this course of study must be full-time (lasting an academic year) and have a minimum of 15 hours per week of study time.


The student also has to show evidence of the course fee paid. If the overall tuition fees are under €12,000 then the student has to pay at least €6,000 and if the overall fee is €12,000+ then the student has to pay at least 50% of the total first-year fee.


The immigrant student has to show evidence of sufficient funds to cover the living expenses without dependence on casual employment in Ireland. The cost of living (COL) expenses must be maintained at least €7,000 for each subsequent year of your studies, in addition to the course fees for each of those years. The threshold can be met by personal or sponsored finances.


The student must have a health insurance plan purchased in Ireland to satisfy immigration requirements and HIA (Health Insurance Authority) legislation. This private health insurance must provide coverage from the date of arrival to Ireland until the date of departure. The cost of private health insurance generally ranges between €150 and €180 per year.


The student has to prove the English language proficiency for that IELTS scores are generally preferred. The minimum IELTS score required for the Ireland student visa is 5.0 band in each module.


In terms of academic obligations, students have to furnish proof of any gaps in educational history. This can be supported by valid documents, statements etc. Ireland's government does not confer inevitably the employment or permanent residence soon after completion of your course for that student has to provide supporting evidence indicating the candidate intends to depart the country after the programme is completed. This can be in the form of a return flight ticket however this is optional; Students can fill the declaration form also instead.


The prospect of access to employment in Ireland on a student visa outlines as: If the student attending a course in the ILEP they will have stamp number 2 endorsed on the passport when registered with the local immigration officer. The student will be allowed to take up casual employment of up to 20 hours of part-time work per week in term time or up to 40 hours per week during college vacation periods.


If the student pursuing a course not listed in ILEP, they will get stamp number 2A on their passport which means they will not be entitled to take up part-time work or engage in any business or profession.


The post-study pathway allows students who have completed their studies to work in Ireland for up to two years without an employment permit under the Third Level Graduate Scheme.


The immigrant student also needs to abide by the general laid-ground rules of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which are to maintain satisfactory academic progress and attendance criteria throughout the duration of the study and should pay tuition fees by the census date of each term. The student has to register for residency within 90 days of arriving in Ireland.


Post-study Work Visa

After graduating from the Irish Universities, the student will be eligible for a work permit, which is of two types:


The Irish General Work Permit: This employment permit allows non-EU citizens to work in Ireland for up to two years and work in the domain of their choice. The employment permit is generally issued for 6 months to 24 months which can be further extended up to 3 years.


Critical Skills Employment Permit: Under this employment permit, all the individuals practising a profession that’s included on the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List, which includes jobs in the tech sector, are given a work permit. Acquiring this permit streamlines your process of getting a permanent residency.


The fees of acquiring any of these above-mentioned permits are €500 fees for a permit of 6 months or less, and €1,000 fee for a permit of 6 months to 2 years. If the candidate fails to secure any of the employment permits the fees will be refunded. As a precondition to receiving the work permit, the candidate's annual salary should be a minimum of €30,000.


Route To Permanent Residency

A non-EU citizen eligible to apply for permanent residency in Ireland only after legally stayed in the country for at least 5 years. This universal rule applies to all general work permit holders.


As a student, if you applied for a 2-year master’s program and acquire a work permit under two years PSW, the student can further extend the work permit for just 1 year and be eligible for permanent residency. However, the critical skills employment permit holders, are eligible for permanent residency just after 2 years.


This makes Ireland a very lucrative option for immigrant students aspiring to build a professional career in the IT sector. After acquiring the permanent residency from the Irish government, the candidate need not apply for further renewals of employment permits.


Ireland Scholarships For International Students


The Irish government has launched various scholarship programmes for meritorious international students. These financial aids can be partially or fully funded depending upon the eligibility and programme applied for.


There are umpteen scholarships and bursaries provided by the Irish government as well as private universities, however, the fierce competition to avail the government scholarships are fairly high and student should start applying at least 12 months before the commencement of their programme.


The prime criterion before applying for such scholarship programmes is excellent academic background. Besides academics, active involvement in extra-curricular activities/volunteering/internships can also serve as an advantage for those planning way ahead to apply for financial assistance. The immigrant student has to keep in mind that every college or course has its own specified criteria for detailed information Students have to visit the official website for individual scholarships.


The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship- Under this initiative, the Irish government grants 60 scholarships every year. If a student secured admission to an Irish higher education institution, the scholar will be entitled to a €10,000 stipend for 1 year of study. This scholarship is available for all levels from Bachelor, Master to PhD levels as well.


Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship 2023- This scholarship is funded by the Department of Education and Skills. A gateway to encourage international students to pursue the MS and PhD in Irish Universities. The generous scholarship includes a stipend of €18,500 per annum and a contribution to tuition fees for up to a maximum of €5,750 per annum also students will be eligible for direct research expenses of €3,250 per annum.


The Walsh Scholarship- This fellowship commemorates the significant contribution of the late Dr Tom Walsh in the field of agriculture and food research in Ireland. This prestigious scholarship is awarded mainly to postgraduates working related to the Teagasc Research and Knowledge Transfer Program, majorly in fields of food, crops, animal and grasslands, environment, economics, and rural development.


The amount of the grant is €22,000 per student and the duration is two years for an MSc course and four years maximum for a PhD program. The preferred location of the grant is Teagasc Research Centre.


University College Dublin Global Scholarships- UCD offers a wide range of scholarships to international students. Scholarship applications will be considered on academic merit paired with a holistic review of the application. The Global Excellence Scholarship is payable to tuition fees only to all successful candidates. Successful applicants will be awarded either a 100% or a 50% tuition fee scholarship. To be eligible for UCD scholarships, students must enrol in the University College Dublin, they also need to fulfil preconditions to secure this scholarship.


There are many other scholarship opportunities as well concerning the field of your study, the student must explore all options available to extract the maximum benefit while studying. These scholarship programmes are not only meant to offset the financial obligations but also a means to stand out among thousands of other applicants. The benefits student can avail even for further studies and Permanent residency in Ireland.