Ireland
Ireland is simply beautiful - much of the countryside remains unspoilt providing an excellent natural habitat. The Irish landscape provides a rich environment for the many various outdoor leisure activities, such as; hill walking, rocking climbing and caving and that is just a few. There are many activities in which international students can be enjoyed when taking a break from their studies.
Ireland is the global centre of artistic and cultural excellence. Ireland is also an English speaking country and some of the great writers in English literature have come from Ireland.
Overview
Ireland is a country infused with tradition and history. Ireland’s exceptional education began with the 6th century Irish scholar-monks, who travelled throughout Europe establishing centres of learning. Successive Irish modern governments have continued to regard education as a key priority and investment in this area has been sustained for a long time. This has resulted in one of the highest education participation rates in the world today.
The Irish people are among the most enriching reasons to study in Ireland. Irish people are known for their friendliness and hospitality which greatly contributes to the ease with which international students adapt to the student life in Ireland.
Irelands’ young vibrant population, under the age of 25, makes up 40% of the population. Therefore it is one of the most exciting places in the world to be a student.
Every year, thousands of people from all walks of life come to Ireland to study the English language. There are currently more than 110 quality assured English language teaching organisations (ELTOS) recognised by the Department of Education and Science and they offer a wide variety of courses for adults in Business English, English for Academic and Professional Purposes, English with Work Placement, and one to one custom made programmes.
International Recognition
Ireland's long and honourable tradition in educational excellence is recognised worldwide. Ireland is recognised as an international location for high quality scientific research with its’ higher education institutions widely recognised for excellence in many disciplines.
Excellent Secure Living Environment
Ireland is a highly developed democracy with a modern economy holding a reputation for being a safe and welcoming country to live in. Ireland has a low rate of violent crime. There have been a limited number of incidents in which foreigners and tourists have been victims of assault.
Work While You Study
International students have the opportunities to work in Ireland both during and after their studies. This includes part time or holiday work and the possibility of staying in Ireland after graduating, to further develop their experience in the workplace.
Only students attending a full time course of at least one year's duration leading to a qualification are entitled to take up casual employment of up to 20 hours part time work per week or full time work during holiday periods. For further information, please visit http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie
Competitive Costs and Fees
Tuition fees vary considerably depending on the institution and the study programme. The figures given below provide a guideline for budgeting.
Estimated Tuition Fees
The higher education system in Ireland is broad in scope and includes the university sector, the technological sector, the colleges of education and private independent colleges.
| Courses | Fees | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| English Language (General, Academic, Business and IELTS preparation) | €120 +/- per week | Varies significantly depending on the course duration or institution |
| Foundation Studies | €6,500 +/- per year | 6 months - 1year |
| Bachelor degree Arts, Business, IT, Economics, Nursing, Education, Law and social science | €9,100 - €15,500/ year | 3 years |
| Bachelor Degree (Engineering, and laboratory based-courses) | €9,100 - €45,000/ year | 3 - 4 years |
| Master Degree | €8,900 - €37,000/ year | 1 - 2 years |
| Doctoral degree | €8,900 - €37,000/ year | 3 - 4 years |
This table should be used only as a general guide and the actual tuition fees and study costs will be mentioned in the official offer letter which will be issued by the relevant education provider.
Accommodation
There are varies types of accommodation options international students may choose from. They can option to live with a host family, on-campus accommodation, a room in a shared house or a large private apartment. For further assistance and advice on suitable accommodation please contact us
There are a number of other costs associated with studying in Ireland and these include food, laundry, household expenses, clothes, textbooks, transport, health care and of course entertainment. Furthermore, living expenses will differ depending upon the location of the institution and the personal spending of the student.
To give some idea of the total cost involved the following approximate figures are to be considered only as a guide to the overall expenses per year.
Total Living Expenses (excluding course fees) per year
| Textbooks | €650 |
| Accommodation | €3,000 - €5,150 |
| Food & Household | €2,500 - €3,500 |
| Other Living Expenses | €1,500 - €2,500 |
Cost of Health Insurance
When an international student is undertaking a full time course of study for a minimum of one year, then they are classed as an "ordinarily resident" in Ireland, and therefore is entitled to public patient facilities on the same basis as an Irish citizen. However, an international student residing less than one year do not have this entitlement.