ABOUT IRELAND
A Safe and friendly English speaking Country with Internationally Ranked Universities and Institutions and has a Modern Knowledge Economy focused on services and High Tech Industry.
Ireland, in Irish “Éire”, is a popular destination among students from other states of European Union as well as from other regions of the world. In fact, in 2009 more than 8% of the student population body was formed by international students.
Whether you plan to study in Ireland as an exchange student, as a regular student or simply participate in short-term summer courses in Ireland, you will not only enjoy the friendliness and hospitality of the Irish people, but also the international atmosphere and the high quality of Ireland’s higher education institutions and research institutes.
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
The strength of Ireland’s higher education is a big draw and a variety of academic paths are open to international students.
As well as the arts and literature, Irish universities offer programes in technology and communications, history, environmental science, and peace and conflict studies.
Higher education in Ireland is provided mainly by seven universities, 14 institutes of technology, including the Dublin Institute of Technology and seven colleges of education. There is also a number of other tertiary institutions providing specialist education in fields such as art and design, medicine, business studies, rural development, theology, music and law.
Applications for entry to undergraduate courses in universities, colleges of education, institutes of technology and some other institutes of higher education, are centrally processed by the Central Applications Office (CAO).
Universities retain the function of making decisions on admissions, using a points system based on the Leaving Certificate. Points can also be scored for results in other examinations, such as UK A-levels. The current CAO point allocation for A-levels is: A* (150), A (135), B (120), C (100), D (75) and E (40).
Each university has a minimum entry requirement, usually requiring a pass grade in either English or Irish, as well as maths. Some also require a pass grade in a modern continental European language (French, German, Spanish or Italian).
The closing date for normal applications is in February of the year of entry. Late applications must be received by a date in May.
COSTS OF LIVING
Ireland, in common with much of the EU, is not a cheap country in which to live. Recent estimates for the cost of a year in Dublin have ranged between €8,000 and €12,100, largely depending on the type of accommodation chosen, including rent, electricity, food, books and laundry and medicine as well as travel passes and social expenses, but excluding tuition fees.
WORKING WHILE STUDYING
All nationals from the EEA are free to take up employment in Ireland while studying. Students from outside the EEA on recognised courses can to take up casual employment (up to 20 hours part-time work per week or full-time work during normal college vacation periods). All other work is prohibited.