STUDY IN IRELAND
Republic of Ireland visa guidance
If you want to study in the Republic of Ireland and are from a non-EEA/EU country, you must apply for a visa before you travel. You can check the visa requirement on the Citizens. Information website, which will also give you details on how to apply and how much it will cost. In general, there are two types of student visa for the Republic of Ireland.
Types of Republic of Ireland student visa
C Study Visa: for those who wish to study in the Republic of Ireland for less than 3 months.
D Study Visa: for those who wish to study in the Republic of Ireland for more than 3 months.
Republic of Ireland student visa requirements
More detailed information on the requirements of your student visa can be found on the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service, on the Department of Justice and Equality website.
Some evidence you will need to provide includes:
- Evidence of access to enough funds for the initial part of your studies in the Republic of Ireland (€7,000)
- Evidence of access to at least €7,000 per year for every year of your studies, in addition to the tuition fees
- Proof of private medical insurance
- Proof that you are able to complete your chosen course in the English language
The earliest you can apply for your visa is 3 months before the start of your course. Applications are processes in date order, and can take around 8 weeks to process.
Republic of Ireland visa fees
First of all you should check if you are exempt from having to pay a fee.
- Single entry visa fee: €60
- Multi entry visa fee: €100
You can check for the latest update on visa fees here.
Student Culture in the Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland (or Eire as it is known in Irish), is an island off the western coast of Britain. Whilst the northern 6 counties of Ireland are part of the UK, the southern 26 counties make up the Republic of Ireland, the capital of which is Dublin – home to around a third of the country’s inhabitants. Gaining its independence from the UK in 1922, the Republic of Ireland is part of the European Union, which makes it a great choice for students from other EU countries who would like to study abroad. Known as the ‘Island of Saints and Scholars’, Ireland has a strong tradition of education and, as its economy was ranked as the fastest growing in the EU in 2015 and there is almost no unemployment, prospects for graduates are good.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUNDING
Another way of helping to support you though your studies, there are various scholarships and awards available to international students. Some are available directly though the university you will be studying at, whilst there are other schemes offered at a national level which you should check if you are eligible for.
There are hundreds of scholarships available from various organizations such as:
Global Excellence Scholarships and Funding, University College Dublin
A scholarship for undergraduate students Check if you are eligible to apply here.
Graduate Scholarships and prizes
Offered by the National University of Ireland, these are some examples of scholarships and prizes you could apply for. If you want to find out more, just ask one of our advisors who will be happy to give you more details.
Student Accommodation in the Republic of Ireland
Students studying in the Republic of Ireland spend around 38% of the budget on accommodation, so it really pays to choose where you live wisely. Student accommodation will normally be offered in your first year, usually in halls of residence which are subsidized by the university.
Costs can vary depending on which city you study in, but you should budget around €10 -15,000 per year to cover accommodation and living costs.
Dublin is by far the most expensive city to study in, but smaller cities such as Galway can be significantly cheaper.
Food
Revolving around simple, hearty dishes, Irish cuisine makes the most of seasonal produce especially lamb, green vegetable and, of course potatoes
- Irish stew
- Boxty
- Coddle
- Colcannon
- Champ
- Soda bread
- Boiled bacon and cabbage
- Smoked salmon
- Barmbrack
Cost of study in the Republic of Ireland
Before making your decision to study in the Republic of Ireland or not, you’ll need to know how much everything is going to cost. Of course, costs will vary depending on which university you choose and your accommodation, but the following figures will give you something to aim for.
If you’re planning on studying an undergraduate degree, you can expect to pay around €10,000 – £54,000 in tuition fees depending on what course you choose to study.
Please bear in mind that these fees are indicative only, and are subject to both increase or decrease depending on which course you choose to study and where.
Typical monthly costs in the Republic of Ireland might look something like this:
- Accommodation: €500
- Utility bills: €130
- Mobile Phone: €15-30
- Broadband internet: €40
- Study materials: €70
- Travel: €55
- Groceries: €250
- Typical night out: €30
- Cinema ticket: €8-12
Work and Study in the Republic of Ireland
A great way of challenging and expanding your language skills as well as helping you support yourself, it’s possible for international students to work whilst studying in the United Kingdom. In general, if you are studying at degree level, you ale to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term-time, and up to 40 hours during holidays.
Your bio-metric residence permit should provide information on what hours you are able to work whilst you’re studying, but you can also check you are eligible to work in the UK or speak to one of our advisors who will be happy to give you more information.
Manners and Behavior
One of the friendliest and most welcoming countries in the world, the Irish are renowned for their wit and banter, as well as their love of ‘the craic’. Family and their ties to ‘home’ are a very important part of the culture, and even when living separately, close connections with extended family is maintained.
Banter (sometimes called ‘slagging’) is something you’ll encounter on a daily basis; as is taking being teased well and not seeing it as an insult. Rest assured that trading insults with one another is more than likely a sign of affection!
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