Some basic facts about Ireland

• It is in the north-west of Europe
• The capital of Ireland is Dublin. Some other popular cities of Ireland are Cork, Galway, Maynooth, Limerick etc
• Official language of Ireland is Irish and English
• Currency of Ireland in Euro
• Population of Ireland is 52 lakhs (In 2023)
• Flight duration from Mumbai/Delhi to Dublin is 12 hrs 30 mins  

Why Study in Ireland?

• World class universities
• English speaking country
• Very friendly and safe country
• Extensive choice courses available with internationally recognised qualification
• Ireland is European headquarter of many IT and Pharmaceutical companies
• Chance to get indefinite right to stay just like permanent residency

 Salient features of Some of the good Universities in Ireland

• Trinity College Dublin: Ranked 1st in Ireland and it is the world leader in Nanotechnology, Immunology, Engineering, Information Technology.
• University College Dublin: It is the National University of Ireland and ranked 2nd. It is also the largest providers of Graduate Engineers
• University College Cork: It is ranked 3rd in Ireland. It is in Cork which is 2 hr travel distance from Dublin and Cork is also the pharmaceutical capital of Europe.
• University of Limerick: It is ranked 4rth in Ireland and having popular courses like MSc Aeronautical Engineering, MSc International Management and Global Business
• Dublin City University: It is ranked 5th in Ireland and it is Irish centre for cloud computing
• University of Galway: It is ranked 6th in Ireland and having popular courses like Business Analytics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Nursing
• Maynooth University: It is 10th ranked university in Ireland which is located at Mammoth and it is half hour travel distance from Dublin. Popular courses are MSc Data Science and Business Analytics, MSc Business Management, ME Electronic Engineering etc.
• Technology University Dublin: Ranked 9th in Ireland and having popular course like Computing, Supply chain Management etc.
• Atlantic Technological University (Letterkenny): Letterkenny is the commercial hub of Ireland and having popular course like MSc in Computing in Artificial Intelligence Research, Big Data Analytics, Culinary Arts
• Atlantic Technological University (Sligo): It is having some popular courses like MSc in Bioprocessing Science, Master of Arts in Social Work
• Dundalk Institute of Technology: Ranked 13th in Ireland and have popular courses like data analytics, computing in software, business and technology etc.
• Technological University of Shannon: Ranked 17th in Ireland and have popular courses like Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Pharmaceutical & Forensic Analysis, Tourism and Hospitality etc

Salient features of some of the good Private Colleges of Ireland

• National College of Ireland: It has been ranked 14th in Ireland having popular courses like MSc Data Analytics, MSc Cloud Computing, MSc Management etc
• Dublin Business School: Ranked 22nd in Ireland and have popular course like MBA, MSc Information System with Computing, MSc Management
• Griffith College: It has 3 campuses at Dublin, Limerick and Cork. Its major intake is in January and September
• American College Dublin: It is popular for Arts and have major intakes in January and September
• Shannon College of Hotel Management: It has popular courses like Bachelor of International hotel management and Master in Business and Hospitality
• Dublin International Foundation College: It is popular for pathway programs and has major intake in January and September

 Academic Entry Requirement

 Bachelors: Minimum 55-60 % in class 12th with IELTS 6 and no band less than 5.5.

 Master: Minimum 55-75 % in graduation with IELTS 6 and no band less than 5.5.

Intakes

Ireland offers multiple intakes for international students, allowing flexibility for those applying to study at universities and colleges. The two main intakes are:

• September Intake (Fall Intake): This is the most common intake and most courses (especially undergraduate and postgraduate) begin in the fall. It is the primary intake, with most programs available. It is recommended to apply at least 3-4 months before the start of your course.
• January Intake (Spring Intake): Limited programs are offered by some universities and colleges during this intake. Fewer undergraduate courses are available during this intake but post graduate courses like MBA and masters are available during this intake. It is a good option for students who missed the September intake

 Part Time Work

International students who hold a student visa are allowed to work part-time during their studies under certain conditions. You can work up to 20 hours per week during the academic term (usually during the university semester). During holiday periods (such as Christmas and summer break), students can work up to 40 hours per week. There are several ways to find out part time jobs in Ireland like University job portals, Job website, Recruitment agencies, Networking etc. As of 2025, the minimum wage in Ireland is €11.30 per hour for workers aged 20 and over.

Employment Permit Scheme

Work Permit (General)

• It allows a non-EU citizen to work legally in Ireland for an employer in a particular occupation.
• To qualify for this work permit individual must have annual salary of above Euro 30,000
• Initially this permit is granted for 2 years which can further be renewed for a period of 3 years
• After the period of 5 years this work permit can be issued indefinitely

Work Permit for Critically Skilled Employment (Green Card)

• This permit allows skilled individuals to work for any employer in an occupation where skills shortage exist
• To qualify for green card permit annual salary must be above Euro 60,000
• This permit is also initially granted for 2 years
• After 2 years is over, immigrants may apply for stamp 4 which enables them to work and live in Ireland permanently

Cost to Study in Ireland

Scholarships:

There are a variety of scholarships available for students in Ireland, ranging from those for undergraduate to postgraduate levels, as well as those aimed at international students, specific fields of study, and those with particular backgrounds. Here are some of the key scholarships available in Ireland:

• Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships: These scholarships support talented international students who wish to pursue postgraduate research in Ireland. It includes full tuition fees, a living allowance, and a contribution to research expenses.
• Irish Research Council (IRC) Scholarships: These scholarships support high-quality research projects across all disciplines. They are highly competitive and include a stipend, fees, and research funding.
• Trinity College Dublin Scholarships: Trinity offers various merit-based scholarships for both international and Irish students. Scholarships include the Trinity College Dublin Global Graduate Scholarship for international students and the Trinity Access Programmes offering financial assistance for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• University College Dublin (UCD) Scholarships: UCD offers a variety of scholarships, including the UCD Global Scholarship for international students and the UCD Entrance Scholarships for high-achieving undergraduates.
• University College Cork (UCC) Scholarships: UCC offers numerous scholarships such as UCC International Scholarships, UCC Merit Scholarships, and financial assistance for research students.
• NUI Galway Scholarships: NUI Galway provides various scholarships like the NUI Galway Sports Scholarships and International Student Scholarships.
• Dublin City University (DCU) Scholarships: DCU offers scholarships including the DCU International Student Scholarships and DCU Entrance Scholarships for high-performing students.