IRELAND
Capital City:
Dublin
Currency:
Euro
Official Language:
English and Gaelic
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Population
5,06 million
About Ireland
The Republic of Ireland is an island country in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is located at the north-westernmost border of Europe. It is the second largest European island after Great Britain and It is separated from Great Britain to the east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel.
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If you are a lover of nature and ad adventure, Ireland is most definitely the study destination for you. Nicknamed the Emerald Isle, Ireland is known for its wide plains of lush, green fields. The land also has large areas of rugged, rocky landscape. The midlands and west coast of Ireland are speckled with damp marshes which are the remains of dried-up ancient lakes left by glaciers that covered Ireland over 15,000 years ago. The Irish highlands are located mainly in the southwest and frequently end at sheer cliffs that fall thousands of feet into the Atlantic Ocean.
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The Irish are known to be some of the most welcoming people in the entire world. A study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) found that Ireland ranks 9th on a global list of the attitude of its native population to visitors. If one decides to study in Dublin, Ireland's capital, they will very easily feel at home as Dublin ranks first in the 2020 Condé Nast list of Europe’s friendliest cities.
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Ireland is a country with a rich history and the Irish are a storytelling people. This tradition dates back to Celtic bards, who would record and recite the country's history. Many famous authors come from Ireland, including several winners of the Nobel Prize for literature.
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The government of Ireland is made of an elected parliament, which makes the laws, and a head of state who is the president. The head of the government is the Taoiseach, which means "chief." The Taoiseach is the leader of the political party with the most parliament members.
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Through most of history, Ireland's economy was been based on farming and agriculture. Since the late 1950s, the government made efforts to attract businesses and have turned the country from one of Europe's poorest nations to one of its wealthiest. This astounding turnaround earned Ireland the nickname "Celtic Tiger."
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Why Study In Ireland
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High Ranked Universities
Ireland is home to numerous top-ranked universities around the world, and it is known for its intellectual prowess and providing high-quality education. Ireland is ranked in the top 10 for education (IMB World Competitiveness Ranking 2019). The educational institutes are monitored by the Irish government through the National Framework of Qualification to maintain uniformity in the quality of education.
According to the QS world university rankings for 2023, the top universities in Ireland are:
• Trinity College Dublin
• University of Dublin
• University College Dublin
• National University of Ireland, Galway
• University College, Cork
• Dublin City University
• University of Limerick
• Maynooth University
• Technological University Dublin
• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
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Excellent Education System
Certificates obtained from Ireland are globally recognized and Irish universities are known for providing high education standards with the best research opportunities that will help boost students’ careers. Irish education is known for its contribution to research, innovation and skill development.
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Wide Range of Courses
Irish universities offers over 5,000 programs to choose from. The courses in the universities of Ireland are made in such a way to suit the careers that students want to pursue. There are 9 universities, 14 institutes of technology, 5 colleges of education and numerous private colleges offering certificates, diploma and degree programs. International students have the option of choosing from fields like medicine, engineering, business, science, technology, literature, history, philosophy, psychology, data science and data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cyber security, computer science, business, engineering, humanities, sociology, arts,
and other fields.
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Programs taught in English
Ireland is an English-speaking country and programs are also offered in English. This makes studying in Ireland easier for international students.
Internship Availability
International students studying in Ireland can apply for internships that are closely related to their field of interest. Aside practical exposure to work experiences, internships can serve as a great medium for earning additional income and it will equally go a long way in boosting your resume after school for job opportunities.
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Work while Studying
International students in Ireland are allowed to work part-time for 20 hours a week during school session and up to 40 hours a week during holidays.
Scholarship Availability
Scholarships in Ireland are offered by both Irish government and Irish universities. They include
• Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships
• Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships
• University College Cork Scholarships
• Trinity College Funding for Non-EU Students
• National College of Ireland
• University of Limerick Scholarships
• DCU Business School Scholarships
• Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Scholarships
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Safety
Irish citizens are known for their warm and friendly nature and Ireland has consistently ranked in the top 20 countries for quality of life, peace, and human development. International students studying in Ireland are sure to have a safe and conducive environment throughout their period of education.
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Job Opportunities.
With the employability rate of over 80-96%, Irish institutions offer several career opportunities to international students. Irish economy is rapidly growing in the Eurozone and it’s the 6th most competitive in the world. Ireland is home to many leading global MNCs, and International students can find jobs in various well-known companies such as Google, IBM, eBay, Skype, Slack, LinkedIn, Pfizer, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple.
High demand sectors are:
✓ Life sciences
✓ IT
✓ Pharmacy
✓ Data engineering
✓ Data analytics
✓ Med-tech analytics
✓ Health care
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Getting a Work Permit
Once an international student graduates from any Irish universities, they become eligible for the work permit. Generally, the employment permit is issued for a time duration of 6 months to 2 years and it can be extended up to a further 3 years.
There are 2 types of work permits:
a.) The Irish General Work Permit:
Under this employment permit, a non-EU citizen is allowed to work in Ireland. The permit is originally offered for two years and the applicants are given a job offer.
b.) Critical Skills Employment Permit:
Under this employment permit, all the individuals practicing 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.
It should also be noted that for a migrant to receive a work permit, he/she must earn a minimum of €30,000 per annum. The Irish government offers one-year stay-back visas for bachelor’s graduates and up to 2-year stay-back visas for master’s graduates.
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