Known for its large expanse of lush green fields and magnificent castles, Ireland is a country that offers you the best of both worlds – the green countryside and a vibrant urban lifestyle. For the past few years, Ireland has witnessed humongous economic growth. More than 1000 multinational companies have made Ireland their home. Ranging from Google, Microsoft, Airbnb, Facebook and others Ireland is becoming extremely attractive for big daddies in the tech sector. Adjacent to this growth, the country has managed to invest generously in the education sector. Universities and colleges of Ireland form the top 1% of research institutes in the world with impacts in 19 disciplines including social science, natural science, humanities, and healthcare. Irrespective of the university one enrols in, the quality of education remains mostly uniform, owing to the fact that the Irish government monitors the quality of education via the National Framework of Qualifications (NFF). As a result, one in ten full-time students in Ireland is an international student.
Indian students have also been applying in large numbers in the country as there are ample opportunities, especially in the segments of computer science and pharmacy. To understand this phenomenon, here are some of the benefits of studying in Ireland:
Ease Of Access
Unlike some of the other western countries such as the US and Britain, tests such as GRE or GMAT are not required in most universities. All an Indian student needs are good academic scores and competent grades in IELTS, TOFEL, and PTE. Further, most Irish Universities don’t discriminate between students on the basis of study gaps. As long as students provide a good explanation ranging from employment, vacation, health issues, business ventures etc., especially in the cover letter, they won’t face any problems from Irish universities.
Cost Of Education Comparatively Lower Than The US, UK etc
When compared to the cost of education in the US, UK or France, Irish Universities come across as a viable option for Indian students. The average tuition fee in Ireland ranges between €10,000 and €20,000 (8 to 14 lakhs) per year. The biggest expenditure is the tuition fee, whereas other expenses like accommodation, student visa, medical insurance and the likes, typically cost between €7,000 (5 to 9 lakhs) to €12,000 per year. Also, Irish government policy allows international students to work on a part-time basis (up to 20 hours a week), which can alleviate their living expenses to a great extent.
Furthermore, almost all master’s programmes are of one-year duration, after which students can become a part of the workforce. Irish gives a work visa to international students on completion of a degree course. However, it is to be noted that with regard to student visas, Ireland does not accept a full loan for fees and living. Hence, the students are expected to have at least 50% of their own funds and the rest can be covered through a loan.
Safe And Helpful Environment
Ireland has been ranked in the top 10 countries in Global Peace Indices of 2018* and 2017*, which makes it one of the safest countries in the world. Also, foreign students enjoy similar rights as any local Irish citizen and be a part of a society that is always ready to help and support them. According to the UN’s Annual, Human Development Index, Ireland is 3rd with regard to the quality of life. Irish citizenship is ranked 2nd best in the world. As for women’s safety, Ireland is one of the safest countries ranking 7th among the countries in the EU and 16th in the world. Ireland has a rich culture and history to experience and widen one’s horizons.
To know more about scholarships in Ireland and the application process, here are some articles from NRI VISION: Why UCD Global Excellence Scholarships In Ireland Is Apt For Foreign Students?; Know More About The Postgraduate Scholarship Programme Of The Ireland Govt; Everything You Need To Know About Application Process To Study In Ireland.
