Study Abroad in Ireland
Why Study MS in Ireland?
- Ireland is a rapidly rising nation in terms of the quality of education and this is one of the main reasons why students are lining up nowadays to study abroad in Ireland.
- Ireland is primarily an English-speaking nation. This makes it a preferred destination for students from countries like India, who find it very easy to acclimatize in an English-speaking environment since it is one of the main languages they communicate in from childhood.
- It is also one of the safest education destinations in the world with extremely low crime rates. Parents feel safe sending their children to study abroad in Ireland as the distance makes it impractical to travel frequently to spend time with their wards.
- Ireland is a country that fosters innovation and its universities have top-notch research centers. Many students from all over the world flock to Ireland to further their research studies.
- The Irish are known for their lively culture and they are one of the friendliest people in the world. This is another factor that motivates students to pursue higher studies in Ireland.
- The country is host to the headquarters of several global companies. Due to this, there are a plethora of job opportunities in Ireland making it one the most suitable employment markets globally.
Types of Educational Institutes:
Students can pursue higher studies in different types of institutions in Ireland. They are:
- Universities and Colleges
- Institutes of Technology
- Private Institutes
- English Languages Colleges
Most Reputed Universities in Ireland:
Ireland is host to a few of the best universities in the world. Students come to study in these universities because of the high quality of education and also the relative ease of employment. A few of the top Irish universities for pursuing higher education are:
- Trinity College Dublin
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
- National University of Ireland, Galway
- University College Dublin
- University of Limerick
- University College Cork
- Maynooth University
- Dublin City University
- Technological University of Dublin
Most Popular Fields of Study for International Students:
- MSc in Computer Science (Data Analytics)
- MSc in Biotechnology
- MSc in Management (Business)
- MSc in Finance
- MSc in Biomedical Science
- MSc in International Management
- MSc in Human Resource Management
- MSc in Environment Resource Management
Program Duration & Cost of Education:
- A Master of Science degree in Ireland usually takes one year of full-time studies.
- Some research focused programs may even take two years to complete.
- The cost of education in Ireland is lower than a few other education hubs such as the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada.
- The average tuition fee in Irish universities is around 7,500 euros per annum. Living expenses are separate and may vary from student to student depending on their lifestyle.
Eligibility Criteria for MS Programs in Ireland:
- Completion of 10+2 years of education in addition to at least 3 years of post-secondary education.
- Standardized test scores of TOEFL/ IELTS/ PTE examinations. The GRE/ GMAT is not required for admissions to most of the universities in Ireland.
- A competitive grade point average or percentage of marks during graduation.
- Strong extra-curricular activities such as State/National/International level participation in events & competitions, valuable internships, relevant certifications, and strong recommendation letters from faculty members.
Intakes & Application Deadlines:
- Universities in Ireland have intakes to colleges twice a year.
- The first intake is in September and it is known as the Autumn intake or the Semester 1 intake.
- The second intake is in January and it is known as the Spring intake or the Semester 2 intake.
- The application deadlines for the September intake range from February to July depending on the course and university that the student is applying to. Whereas, the application deadlines for the January intake vary from January to May depending on the course preferred.
Application Requirements:
The applications can be made online using the universities’ application portals or by sending the application by post. Though, nowadays, most universities have moved completely to online application portals with a view to centralize their operations and become eco-friendly. These universities are equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and the entry requirements for them are as follows:
- A recognized undergraduate degree
- A competitive GMAT or GRE score (for some universities)
- A strong Motivational Letter or Statement of Purpose (SoP)
- Academic and professional letters of recommendation
- Certified academic transcripts
- An English language proficiency test (IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE)
- Work experience certificates (optional)
Documents Needed to Apply for Student Visa:
The documents required to apply for a student visa to Ireland are as follows:
- A current passport or other valid travel documentation
- A score of an English language proficiency test (IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE)
- Letter of acceptance from a recognized Irish institution
- Proof of payment of the 60 euros visa fee
- Passport-sized color photographs
- Proof of payment of the course fee. This can either be a valid receipt showing course fees has been paid to an approved student fee payment service or you may furnish a copy of Electronic Transfer of Funds by the applicant to the Irish bank of the university or college.
- Evidence of funds (€7,000) to prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses for the duration of your course.
- Medical insurance details
- Biometric information including your fingerprints have to be submitted to the Irish authorities.
You may also have to appear for a personal interview at the Irish embassy or consulate near you.
Why Study MS in Germany?
- Germany is one of the fastest-growing destinations to study abroad. Replete with bustling urban life, a cosmopolitan culture, some of the best institutions in the world, and beautiful places to visit, undergraduate as well as graduate students are choosing to study abroad in Germany.
- The nation is host to more than 400 universities and more than 26,000 students pursue overseas education in Germany for business masters alone every year.
- The universities offer a plethora of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) degrees as well and students from all over the world, especially India, aim to pursue higher education in Germany in search of world-class education and a high standard of living.
- Around 13% of the people living in Germany are from other countries, making it one of the most tolerant and welcoming countries globally.
- Humanity is one of the core tenets of German universities and they believe in giving equal opportunities to students regardless of their gender, religion, or ethnicity.
Types of Educational Institutes:
There are public as well as private state-recognized institutions in Germany that offer a multitude of courses in various disciplines. 355 official colleges and universities are present across 165 towns and cities in Germany. Following are the different types of universities in Germany:
- Universities (Universität) or Technical University (Technische Hochschule)
- Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule)
- Colleges of art / Colleges of music (Kunsthochschule/Musikhochschule)
- Private and Church Sponsored Institutions
Most Reputed Universities in Germany:
Germany has become one of the most popular destinations for Master of Science and other post-graduate degrees globally because of its world-class universities, affordable cost of living and a largely tuition-free education system. Every year, thousands of students go to Germany to pursue master’s degrees, particularly in STEM fields and add to the student diversity. More than 11% of graduate students in Germany come from other countries and this proportion is growing every year. Germany boasts of some of the best technical universities in the world, some of which are:
- RWTH Aachen
- TU Munich
- University of Duisburg-Essen
- TU Chemnitz
- TU Darmstadt
- University of Bonn
- University of Stuttgart
- TU Kaiserslautern
- TU Dresden
Most Popular Fields of Study for International Students:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Automotive Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Program Duration & Cost of Education:
- A Master of Science degree from Germany has gained popularity in recent years due to extremely low or absent tuition fees (for STEM courses), the high quality of education, availability of post-graduation employment, and the high standard of living in Germany.
- Master’s degrees in Germany usually last for 2 years and are worth 120 ECTS credits.
Eligibility Criteria for MS Programs in Germany:
- Completion of 10+2 years of education in addition to at least 3 years of post-secondary education.
- Standardized test scores including the GRE/ GMAT and TOEFL/ IELTS/ PTE examinations.
- A competitive grade point average or percentage of marks during graduation.
- Strong extra-curricular activities such as State/National/International level participation in events & competitions, valuable internships, relevant certifications, and strong recommendation letters from faculty members.
Intakes & Application Deadlines:
- Universities usually have two intakes every year for most of their courses. The summer intake is in April and the winter intake is in October every year.
- The application deadline for the summer intake is usually in January whereas for the winter intake it is in June/July depending on the university.
Application Requirements:
The applications can be made online using the universities’ application portals or through the common application for German universities known as UniAssist depending on the university. These universities are equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and the entry requirements for them are as follows:
- A recognized undergraduate degree
- A competitive GMAT or GRE score (for some universities)
- A strong Motivational Letter or Statement of Purpose (SoP)
- Academic and professional letter of recommendation
- Certified academic transcripts
- An English language proficiency test (IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE) and/ or a German language proficiency test
- Work experience certificates (optional)
Documents Needed to Apply for Student Visa:
The documents required to apply for a student visa to Germany are as follows:
- Two duly completed national visa application forms
- A valid passport
- Two passport-sized photographs
- An offer letter from a German university. Any of the following may be presented:
- University admission letter
- Letter of admission in a preparatory course issued by a Studienkolleg
- Letter of admission in a propaedeutic course
- Letter of admission in a preparatory German language course
- Proof of prior education:
- A valid German university entrance qualification, known as Abitur if you have studied in a German educational institute abroad
- A recognized foreign degree which must show that you have a qualification equally recognized as the German Abitur
- Academic transcripts
- CV
- Internship and work experience certificates, if applicable
- A means of showing that you have enough money to cover living, accommodation, and study costs. Any of the following will suffice:
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A blocked bank account: One of the easiest and the fastest ways to open a German blocked account is through Fintiba or Sutor Bank. The blocked account provided by Fintiba is accepted by German embassies/consulates all around the world.
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Letter of Commitment by a local resident: A person living in Germany undertaking that they will take care of your accommodation and/or other living expenses during your tenure in Germany.
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Letter of Declaration by a parent: It has to state that they are committed to supporting you financially during your stay in Germany and it must be supplemented by their bank statements of the past 6 months.
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Scholarship awarding certificate: It must state that you have received a certain amount of financial coverage through the instrument of the said scholarship.
- A health insurance policy with a coverage of 30,000 euros with a validity of at least 3 months.
- A motivational letter stating the reason for choosing the specific university, study program, your study and future plans and how this experience will benefit your career.
- Marriage certificate (if applicable) and birth certificates of children (if applicable).
- Proof of payment of the visa application fee of 60 euros.
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Proof of German language proficiency. Either one of the following may be presented:
- German Language University Entrance Examination for International Applicants (DSH)
- Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF)
- Goethe Institute German Language Diploma (GDS)
- German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, Level II (DSD)
- Proof of English language proficiency. Either one of the following may be presented:
- TOEFL: Accepted results are pBT (paper-based test) 550 points, cBT (computer-based test) 213 points and iBT (internet-based test) 79 points
- IELTS: Accepted results are 6 points with a minimum of 6 points in each band of listening, reading, writing and speaking
Living in Ireland as a Student:
- The cost of living in Ireland is relatively low making it a comparatively economical option to pursue a master’s degree.
- Monthly expenses including rent, food, books and socializing may cost anywhere between 600 euros to 1200 euros.
- Additionally, students may have to account for one-off expenses such as travel insurance, medical insurance, deposit for accommodation, registration with police, travel to and from Ireland, which will need to be accounted for separately.
Part-Time Jobs in Ireland for Students:
- Students are allowed to work 20 hours per week on a prt0time basis while pursuing their master’s degrees in Ireland.
- This allowance increases to 40 hours per week during vacations.
- The minimum wage in Ireland is 8.56 euros per hour, so students can cover most of their living expenses by working 20 hours a week while studying in Ireland.
- However, part-time jobs are hard to obtain as Ireland is a small country and most of the employers ask for at least one year of work experience. Students may be able to bypass this hurdle by securing reference letters from their friends and mentors.
- Due to a shortage of good part-time job options, students would be advised to get a little creative with part-time work.
- Tutoring is a good option if you are good in subjects such as mathematics and science.
- Academically sound students are offered assistant positions by faculty members within the college itself and these pay quite decently.
- Therefore, students will be advised to make their financial arrangements before arriving in Ireland because in the unlikely scenario of not finding part-time work, you should not worry about your day-to-day expenses while you pursue master’s studies in Ireland.
Post-Study Work Permit in Ireland:
- After completing their studies in Ireland, students may apply for a post-study work permit. They may qualify for the Third Level Graduate Scheme and obtain a Visa Stamp 2. This extension will enable them to work in Ireland for a period of 2 years and it is non-renewable.
- If students want to continue working n Ireland beyond this period, they are advised to apply for a green card, known as a Critical Skills Employment Permit or a work permit, known as a General Employment Permit.
- Two types of professions are eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit:
- Jobs where the annual salary is 60,000 euros or more. This category is applicable to all professions.
- Jobs where the annual salary is 30,000 euros or more. This category is applicable only to the jobs listed on the Highly Skilled Occupations List, which can be found on the website of Ireland immigration.
Culture in Ireland:
- Ireland has a diverse and cosmopolitan crowd including students and working professionals from all over the world and from all walks of life.
- Irish people are very friendly and it’s not uncommon to see complete strangers stop and give you directions in case you get lost in an unfamiliar place.
- They are quite polite as well and go out of their way to make people feel comfortable.
- Ireland has a good culture of eating and drinking and do not be surprised if a large part of your student allowance is going towards eating out with friends and visiting the local pubs.
- Ireland has good weather and is suitable for people from most countries.
- The Irish have a relaxed sense of fashion and you will find people in hoodies and sweatpants all over the place.
- Overall, it’s a welcoming and friendly place to live in and many people from all over the world have made Ireland their second home.
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