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Ireland is an increasingly popular
designation for student from all over the world. The friendless and
hospitality for which Irish people are renowned, contribute to the
ease with which overseas students adapt to the way of life and in
particular student life.
Having developed from being a
predominately agricultural economy in the 1950’s Ireland is
now a
thoroughly modern nation with well developed manufacturing and
international services sectors and has the highest economic growth
rate in the E.U .-hence the title “The Celtic Tiger”. The educated
workforce produced in Ireland by the education system has been a key
factor in attracting international investment to the country and in
the growth of the modern technological industries which has have
helped make Ireland one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
The international dimension of
education is important in Ireland, which has one of the most trade
dependent economies in the world. The Irish Government has
invested in the internationalization of our education system, both to
promote the international activities and linkages of our colleges and
to encourage students from overseas countries to study in Ireland.
Higher Education in Ireland is judged
by international standards and the employment market
for graduates is a global one. Overseas students receive a quality
education in a friendly environment. They in turn enrich the
educational experiences our own students and bring an international
dimension to our campuses. Lifelong friendships and networks are
formed between Irish and overseas students which later enhance the
cultural and trade relationships between our countries.
HIGHER
EDUCATION :
Higher Education in
Ireland
consists of the universities (with associated college of education),
institutes of technology, and a number of private independent
colleges. The universities and institutes of technology are
autonomous and self governing, but are substantially state-funded.
UNIVERSITIES :
There are nine universities in Ireland-
2 in Northern Ireland and 7 in the Republic. The University
of Dublin,
Trinity College (TCD), founded in 1592, is the oldest university in
Ireland. The National University of Ireland (NUI) is a federal
institute consisting of four constituent universities; University
College Dublin, National university of Ireland Dublin, National
university of Ireland Cork: National university of Ireland Galway and
National university of Ireland Maynooth. NUI also has three recognized
colleges: National Colleges Of art and Design (NCAD), The Royal
College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and St. Angela’s College of
Education. The University of Limerick (UL) and Dublin City University
(DCU) are our newest universities and were founded in 1989. The two
universities in Northern Ireland are: The University of Ulster (UU)
and the Queens University of Belfast (QUB).
In addition to offering degrees at
Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate levels, over a full range of
disciplines, the universities and colleges also undertake research in
many areas.
UNDERGRADUATE AND
POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Diplomas are also available and
universities are involved in continuing and distance education
programmes (aimed mainly at Irish residents).
INSTITUTES OF
TECHNOLOGY
There are currently 14 Institutes of
Technology located throughout the Republic offering programmes at
degree, national diploma and national certification authority, which
ensures that their qualification reach the highest international
standards. Many of the institutes of Technology also run postgraduate
diploma and degree programmes, both taught and research.
COLLEGES OF
EDUCATION
There are five colleges of education
for primary school teachers. These colleges offer three year full time
courses leading to a B.Ed degree which is the recognized qualification
for primary school teaching.
INDEPENDENT THIRD
LEVEL COLLEGES
These colleges offer programmes leading
to certificates, diplomas and degrees, which have recognition by
Ireland’s national certification authority or from other external
accreditation institutes (such as catering, Tourism Studies and Art.
STUDY PROGRAMS
AVAILABLE TO OVERSEAS STUDENTS
In addition
to full undergraduate and
postgraduate programmes, Irish universities offer a wide selection of
study programmes involving credit transfer agreements with overseas
universities and colleges. These range from summer programmes, to
semester programmes, to full academic year programmes in a broad
spectrum of facilities. These programmes include:
Junior Year Abroad (JYA) and study abroad programmes (mainly aimed at
non E.U students) SOCRATES (Applicable to citizens of Members States
of the E.U. as well as to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). SOCRATES
aims to promote the concept of life long learning in response to
constantly evolving education and training needs. There is a variety
of programmes promoted by SOCRATES, including:
ERAMSUS (Higher Education)
Lingua (Language Learning)
STUDENT EXPENSES
The main cost that students can expect
to incur while in Ireland include fees*, accommodation and living
expenses. These vary considerably depending on the course, the
institution and the lifestyle of the student.
*Third Level Education in free for
students who are:
 |
First-time graduates and |
|
|
Are E.U. nationals and have been
ordinarily resident in an E.U. Member state
for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an
approved
third-level course. |
The universities and colleges have a
small number of scholarships for overseas students. Students are
advised to contact the institution directly to obtain further
information.
APPLICATION
PROCEDURE
Studying overseas is a very enriching
experience however it can be quite costly, hence it is worth spending
time and considering choosing the most appropriate institution.
Apart from the universities in Northern Ireland, application for most
full time undergraduates’ courses is made through a central
Applications Office (CAO). The (CAO) provides an application pack with
a handbook which lists all the courses on offer and gives information
on how to apply.
