Ireland is an island located in northwestern Europe. It’s the second-largest island of the British Isles, separated from Great Britain to the east by the Irish Sea, the North Channel, and St. George’s Channel. Ireland is among the top ten wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita and the third most developed country by the United Nations Human Development Index.
It is one of the most educated countries in the world. The efficiency of the education system in Ireland is evident from the fact that 37 per cent of Ireland’s population has a university or college degree, among the highest percentages in the world. Education in Ireland is affordable and provides top-quality services. A total of 6 Universities in Ireland rank in the top 500 Universities across the globe as per the rankings of January 2024
Many Indian students prefer Ireland as their study-abroad location for various reasons. First, Ireland focuses on practical skills and provides miscellaneous job opportunities. Another significant advantage for Indian students is the availability of high-quality Master’s programs that can be completed in just one year. This saves time and money compared to traditional two-year programs. Also, since English is the primary language of instruction in Ireland, Indian students face less of a language barrier when studying there.
To sum it all up, the top reasons for Indian students to study in Ireland are:
- The efficiency of the Education system.
- Rapid development.
- Affordable education system.
- One-year Masters with Job opportunities.
- English as the language of instruction.
Now that we know the unique selling point of studying in Ireland, let us take a look at the most suitable cities to pursue your studies, followed by the best universities in Ireland, and the courses provided, and finish off the blog with a cost estimate of studying in Ireland.
The first is the Capital City of Ireland, Dublin. Known for its literary heritage, museums, galleries, Georgian architecture and a house to diverse MNCs and tech companies, a business hub, Dublin is also home to the famous Trinity College of Dublin. Other prominent institutes are University College Dublin, Dublin City University and Technological Institute of Dublin.
Second is the city of Cork, which is the second largest city following Dublin. Entrepreneurship, Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals, Engineering and Technology, and Arts are prominent fields of Education in Cork. University College Cork is a recognized University apart from the Cork Institute of Technology.
Third, is the city of Limerick. Known for its mediaeval landmarks and history, this city is known as the Rugby capital of Ireland. A notable University in the city is the University of Limerick, renowned for its strong focus on Engineering and Science-related streams.
Fourth, is the city of Galway which lives to tell the story of Ireland’s rich heritage through its culture, tradition, and language. The most renowned National University of Ireland, Galway is also situated here.
Comes Fifth, the city of Waterford. It is equidistant to Dublin, Cork, and Limerick. Gaining fame for being one of the oldest cities established by the Vikings, and being home to the magnificent Waterford crystals, in this relatively small city, the Waterford Institute of Technology is well known for its Research advancements.
- Colleges and Courses
Before we learn about the top courses one can study in Ireland, let us take a look at the top colleges or rather Universities in Ireland. To compile the following list, Data was taken from the Ranking Web of Universities
- Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin:
With a 21,000 student intake, and courses spread across 24 schools, this University standing from the 16th century provides some interesting courses.
Some of them are an Undergrad degree in Ancient and Medieval History and Culture, Civil Structural and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science Linguistics and Language, Molecular Medicine, and Nanoscience apart from the regular courses in Computer programming, History, Arts, Biology Chemistry, Business making a total of 121 courses. Postgraduate courses like Advanced Ageing and Frailty, Children’s Literature, Climate Entrepreneurship, and Divinity are some of the fascinating courses of the 184 PG programs.
- University College Dublin:
With a 38,000 plus intake, this is Ireland’s largest University, prestigiously known for being a Public research University. Purses span from Agriculture, Architecture, and Arts, to Physiotherapy, Radiography, Sports, Law, and Engineering. They also provide a great scope in Research and Innovation by helping startups, businesses, consultancies, researchers, and students step into the world of shaping the future.
- University College Cork:
Established in 1845, this is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. The Undergraduate courses include Applied Plant Biology, Applied Psychology, Arts, Astrophysics, Food Marketing, Folklore, Finance, and multiple others. Postgraduate Degrees are available in programs suh as Actuarial Science, Irish Christianity, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Audiology, Criminology, Computer Sciences and a ton others.
- University of Limerick:
This public research university located in the city of Limerick has its programs classified under 6 schools. They include the Arts and Humanities, Business, Education, Engineering, and Health Sciences.
- University of Galway:
Founded in 1845 as Queen’s College Galway, this University similar to the University of Cork, is a public research constituent university of the University of Ireland. Bachelor of Arts in Global Media, Music, Human Rights, Geosystems, Earth and Ocean Sciences, Mental Health Nursing, and Occupational Therapy are some of the undergraduate courses.
Other prominent universities are:
- Dublin City University
- Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland
- Maynooth University
- Technological University Dublin
- Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
Now that we have gleaned over the popular cities, colleges, and courses, let us understand the cost of study in Ireland.
The cost of study in Ireland for Indian students ranges from €9,850 to €25,500 annually for an undergraduate program, €9,500 to €34,500 annually for a postgraduate master’s degree and €9,500 to €34,500 annually for a doctoral degree. The cost can largely be classified into tuition fees and living expenses.
Type of Expense | In Euros | In INR |
Tuition fees | 9,850 – 55,000 EUR/year | 8,79,802 – 49,13,218.74 Rs./year |
Living costs | 550 – 1,000 EUR/month | 26,802 – 89,349 Rs./month |
Food cost | 250-350 EUR/month | 22,300 – 31,267 Rs./month |
Transport cost | 50-55 EUR/month | 4500 – 5000 Rs./month |
Extra/emergency cost | 200 EUR/month | 17,861 Rs./month |
For students who are looking for scholarships, there are three types:
- Government of Ireland Scholarship: The prestigious Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship offers full tuition waivers and a €10,000 stipend for postgraduate programs.
- University Scholarships: Many Irish universities offer their scholarships specifically for international students, including merit-based awards and need-based assistance.
- Sector-Specific Scholarships: Some scholarships are offered for specific fields of study, such as the Teagasc Walsh Scholarship for postgraduate research in agriculture and food science.
Now, if everything is set and you have decided to study in Ireland, the next step is to book your flight tickets! Here’s a step-by-step process to do the same-
- Choose your travel dates and destinations
- Select a booking platform: You can use online travel agencies. (eg: MakeMyTrip) or book directly on airline websites (eg: Etihad Airways)
- Search for flights
- Compare prices and options
- Book your flight
Points to Remember:
- The costs will vary based on the University, the City, the Accommodation, and personal decisions. Thus it’s important to perform in-depth research and create a cost-estimate plan beforehand.
- Reach out to specific universities with the help of official websites.
- Ask your seniors/networks already studying abroad for guidance on the same
Last but not least, make sure you make the most of the time you spend abroad. This experience will shape your personality and equip you to achieve your career goals.