Why Study in Ireland?
- Ireland is home to some of the top universities in the world, as the Irish education system is one of the best in Europe.
- Ireland is an English speaking country, with only 36% of the population speak Irish Gaelic.
- Ireland is an affordable country to live in with around €10,000 living costs per year.
- Most Irish universities are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and academic resources, making Ireland recognized as an international location for high-quality scientific research.
- The Irish post-study visa makes it easier for students to look for job opportunities in the country after graduation and, once they have found a job, they are eligible to apply for a green card/work permit. Bachelor’s graduate gets 12 months while Master’s graduate gets 24 months of post study visa.
- In Ireland, students can work up to 20 hours during semester months and 40 hours during holidays. Students can earn extra money as well as valuable work experience in Ireland with minimum wage of €9.80 per hour.
- Ireland’s emerald landscape is among the most enriching reasons to study there, with the many outdoor leisure pursuits for which it is famous.
- Ireland is one of the world’s safest and most hospitable countries, giving international students the opportunity to study without worrying about their overall well-being.
- Ireland is a vibrant and hospitable country, with a young population of 40 percent below 25 years old. Rich music culture can be found in this fun-loving country.
Ireland at a Glance
Since the early 17th century there have been four Provinces of Ireland: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. The provinces of Ireland no longer serve administrative or political purposes, but function as historical and cultural entities. The counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions that have been, and in some cases continue to be, used to geographically demarcate areas of local government.
- Connacht
- Leinster
- Munster
- Ulster (Republic of Ireland)
- Ulster (Northern Ireland)
| Name | Irish Equivalent | County Town |
| Galway | Gaillimh | Galway |
| Leitrim | Liatroim | Carrick-on-Shannon |
| Mayo | Maigh-Eo | Castlebar |
| Roscommon | Ros Comán | Roscommon |
| Sligo | Sligeach | Sligo |
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled both, thereby forming the present-day province of Leinster. Leinster had a population of 2,630,720 according to the preliminary results of the 2016 census, making it the most populous province in the country.
| Name | Irish Equivalent | County Town |
| Carlow | Ceatharlach | Carlow |
| Dublin | Baile Átha Cliath | Dublin |
| Killdare | Cill Dara | Naas |
| Kilkenny | Cill Chainnigh | Killkenny |
| Laois | Laois | Portlaoighise |
| Longford | Longfort | Longford |
| Louth | Lú | Dundalk |
| Meath | Mí | Trim |
| Offaly | Ua Fáilghe | Tullamore |
| West Meath | Iarmhí | Mullingar |
| Wexford | Loch Garman | Wexford |
| Wicklow | Cill Mhantáin | Wicklow |
Munster is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south west of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings". Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into counties for administrative and judicial purposes. Munster has no official function for local government purposes. It has a population of 1,280,020, with the most populated city being Cork.
| Name | Irish Equivalent | County Town |
| Clare | Clár | Ennis |
| Cork | Corcaigh | Cork |
| Kerry | Ciarraí | Tralee |
| Limerick | Luimneach | Limerick |
| Tipperary | Tiobraid Arainn | Clonmel |
| Waterford | Port Lairge | Waterford |
Ulster is the second largest (after Munster) and second most populous (after Leinster) of Ireland's four provinces. Unlike the other provinces, Ulster has a high percentage of Protestants, making up almost half of its population. English is the main language and Ulster English the main dialect. Ulster has no official function for local government purposes in either country. However, for the purposes of ISO 3166-2, Ulster is used to refer to the three counties of Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan only.
| Name | Irish Equivalent | County Town |
| Cavan | Cabhán | Cavan |
| Donegal | Dún na nGall | Lifford |
| Monaghan | Muineacháin | Monaghan |
Ulster is made up of nine counties, six of which are in Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom) and three of which are in the Republic of Ireland. Belfast is its biggest city, with an urban population of over half a million inhabitants, making it the second-largest city on the island of Ireland and the 10th largest urban area in the UK.
| Name | Irish Equivalent | County Town |
| Antrim | Aontroim | Belfast |
| Armagh | Árd Mhacha | Armagh |
| Down | Dún | Downpatrick |
| Fermanagh | Fir Manach | Enniskillen |
| Londonderry | Doire | Derry |
| Tyrone | Tir Eoghain | Omagh |
Accommodation
All universities have halls of residence, generally apartments of 4 to 8 students, with a private bedroom and shared kitchen, living room and bathroom. On campus accommodation must be paid in 2 installments, in September and in February. In most campus accommodation, it is not possible to pay your rent on a monthly basis. You will usually have to pay a deposit of one month’s rent in advance, refunded when you leave.
Students who want to be totally independent choose self-catering, rented accommodation. Students pay their rent monthly and in advance. At the beginning of a letting period you pay a deposit of one month's rent, which will be refunded when you leave (provided you have not caused any damage to the premises).
Some useful links:
By living with a host family, you have your own independence but still have the home comforts (and some rules) as well as a family to help you settle in to a new way of life in a new country. Staying with a host family can be a great way for students to find their feet in a new country!
Visit the website for more information.
Hostels addresses can be found through www.goldenpages.ie and online bookings can be made through www.hostelworld.com. Many Dublin hostels are centrally located and within walking distance of the college.
Transport
- Biking. Good for people and good for the environment, biking culture has been growing in Ireland, and especially in our cities.
- Driving. Car-sharing is a convenient and affordable option for those who only need occasional car use, or are living in cities where parking can be hectic. In Dublin and Cork, GoCar allows members to use its cars on a per-hour or per-day basis by picking up a car at one of its many stations.
Public Transport. Dublin City’s public transport system is made up of buses, trains and trams making it the most comprehensive service in the country. Meanwhile, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford all have inner city bus services provided by Bus Éireann. Cork, Galway and Limerick all have public bike-sharing systems.
Useful links:
buseireann.ie – Provides transport services throughout Ireland.
jjkavanagh.ie – Transport services between Limerick, Waterford and Clonmel to Shannon and Dublin airport
gobe.ie – Provides transport services between Dublin and Cork
gobus.ie – Provides transport services between Dublin and Galway
Banking
Other Information
Policies offering more extensive health cover, rather than simply emergency medical expenses, are available from Irish private providers for higher fees. The main private health insurance companies in Ireland are VHI, Aviva, Irish Life Health and Laya Healthcare. Please note that, in order to apply for a health insurance policy from one of these companies, you will need to have an address in Ireland and may also require a PPS number.
- Rent bikes. Ride like the locals: brave the streets, explore the different sides of the astonishing country. Ireland is a phenomenal base for the student with wanderlust.
- Go on spontaneous adventures. Get up early and head to the train station. Once there, look at the map and pick one of the next few trains. Spend the day exploring a random town of Ireland.
- Learn some Gaeilge. Make it a goal to commit at least three Irish words to memory. The catch is that you must learn these words from the Irish, not Google translate! This commitment will encourage you to strike up conversations in pubs, grocers, and cafes.
- Indulge in the Arts. Connect with your cultural side. Dublin is a bustling city with enough productions to satisfy an array of interests. Visit the National Concert Hall for a symphony or check out the Abbey Theatre for a play. There are dozens of theatres in Dublin and loads of live music gigs at all hours of the night - many have great students discounts!
- Get lost in Hodges Figgis. Pass an afternoon in Ireland’s largest bookstore flipping through the pages of random novels, travel guides, and Irish history.
- Attend concerts. If you walk around Dublin you will see concert posters everywhere. Dublin has a range of venues from the beautiful Olympia Theatre to giant stadiums like Croke Park. They offer a range of different atmospheres – from cozy and intimate to energetic and jam-packed.
- Café hop. Dublin appears to have more cafés than people. Whether you are looking for the perfect chai latte, loose-leaf tea, or people-watching spot, there is a perfect café for you. If you want to truly know a city, spend a day in a café.
The Department of Education and Skills is a department of the Irish state with responsibility for education and training. The mission of the Department is to facilitate individuals through learning, to achieve their full potential and contribute to Ireland's social, cultural and economic development.
Read more about the Department.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is the statutory planning and development body for higher education and research in Ireland. The HEA has wide advisory powers throughout the whole of the third-level education sector. In addition it is the funding authority for the universities, institutes of technology and other designated higher education institutions.
