Offering English-medium instruction and with a range of well-established higher educational institutions, Ireland is becoming an increasingly popular destination for international students. There is a safe, welcoming environment and with Ireland being home to a number of Top 10 global companies, there are numerous career opportunities and a post-study visa option for international students.
While University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork are among the most widely known universities, there are various state-accredited institutions to choose from.
Courses for Irish universities are listed according to the level of learning achievement and academic outcome as follows: Level 8 - Honors Bachelors Degree; Level 7 - Ordinary Bachelor's Degree and Level 6 - Higher Certificate. Course choices (up to 10 in each category) should be listed in order of preference. Programmes categorised as 'Restricted' will usually require an additional form of assessment such as in interview or portfolio.
Students wishing to disclose a disability or significant difficulty such as dyslexia or dyscalculia may be eligible to participate in the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme.
Applicants to Irish universities need to show evidence of English language proficiency. The application process for students varies depending on region of origin.
Students applying as EU citizens should have been ordinarily resident in the EU for three of the five years immediately preceding admission. Applications are made through the Central Applications Office (CAO) for which the early application deadline is January 20 and the regular deadline is February 1. Applicants must write a statement of interest and enter the names of two referees. EU students applying for Medicine must take the HPAT. By the end of May, applicants receive a Statement of Application Record email directing them to log in and verify that all records are accurate and up to date. Offers are made between July and August (for the earlier rounds).
Non-EU citizens may apply directly through the university's website (or the Common App for some institutions) and should check the visa application procedures with care. North American (US and Canadian) applicants may use the Atlantic Bridge portal for programmes such as Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy and Law. Required documents include: personal statement, CV, transcripts and predicted grades and letters of recommendation.
Fees can vary amongst the institutions. Check with the university website and note that the fees will be higher for students applying as non-EU citizens.
Scholarships are available from the Government of Ireland, higher education institutions and other independent organisations. Check the funding sections of individual university websites (for example, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and University College Cork) or view the following sources for more information:
The first resource should be the CAO. Everything from researching options to applying is available here.
Education in Ireland has everything from application tips to searching for programs to student visas
Also use the sites listed on the Other European countries page to search for programs in Ireland