Here is something definitely magical about Ireland — it’s the land of elves, leprechauns, castles, warriors and balladeers. The Republic of Ireland is not to be confused with Northern Ireland, which is still an integral part of the United Kingdom. Ireland’s 800 years of struggle under the British monarchy was a period of intrigue, strife, famine, progress and intellectual development as some of the most famous works in English Literature were written during that time. Writers like George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde and James Joyce are all part of the Irish literary world.
Irish institutions are classified into three categories: private independent colleges, universities and institute of technologies.
Irish universities are autonomous but funded by the state government. The universities have a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses on offer. There are 7 universities in Ireland.
There are 14 Institute of Technologies, and they have diploma, certificate and degree programmes in areas like business, linguistics, science and engineering on offer.
Private independent colleges have certificate, degree and vocational programmes on offer in fields like art & design, rural development, business studies and law.
Ireland accepts students with 15 years of education for postgraduate studies. It’s a young country and has over 200,000 international students.
The Irish are known to be fun-loving people and take great pride in their Nordic-Saxon heritage. As a student with a modest lifestyle, one can live comfortably with about 1500–1600 Euros a month. The Irish are extremely passionate about their food and drink and most towns have restaurants that cater to every budget and taste. Bread, Irish stew, Shepherd’s Pie and a glass of Guinness are a big part of the Irish cuisine. The Irish are also passionate about rugby and football.
Ireland is a place of amazing natural beauty and some of the popular tourist spots are:
The primary academic intakes begin in September at most colleges and universities in Ireland, though a few institutions offer intakes in February.
Undergraduate degree programmes usually last for 3 to 4 years (full-time study), which might vary depending on each institution. Postgraduate qualifications awarded could be postgraduate diploma or PhD. Both taught and research postgraduate courses are on offer at Irish institutions. A typical postgraduate lasts for 1–2 years of full-time study and a PhD lasts for 3 years at Irish institutions.
With the cost of living in Ireland being considerably lesser when compared with London or New York, Dublin and Cork have become attractive options for world-class higher education. The proximity to London also allows students to visit London during the weekends.
But what’s the exact cost of studying in Ireland? Students studying in Ireland have to pay somewhere between €10,000 and €30,000, depending on the course they opt.
Living cost may range from €600 to €800 per month for international students (it can go up depending on the location you choose to stay). Average cost of food could be €200 per month. Transport cost, health insurance and other expenses should be factored in while calculating your education cost in Ireland.
Some of the popular scholarships available are –
You have more than one reason to study in Ireland. With a strong economy in areas like software development and pharmaceuticals, Ireland offers a lot on a platter of an international student. What could be more wonderful than studying in a country that offers you scenic beauty, a pleasant life and a dynamic environment with ample opportunities to look for your career!