Study in Ireland Overview

Ireland is considered one of the leading countries in the progressive education of the world. The country pays great attention to the quality of education as well as teaching methods for both domestic and foreign students. Every year, there are more than 20.000 international students from countries in Europe and other countries outside the region such as the US, UK, Brazil, etc decide to study in Ireland. 

The Irish government has established an education system consisting of general education (first and second level) and third-level education (University and Higher Education). Education in Ireland is compulsory from age 6 to 16 or until students have completed three years of second-level (post-primary) education. Government funds at most levels except for ones in private schools.

General education

First level

The primary level consists of 8 years from 4 to 12 years old. Children officially enter grade 1 when they are at the age of 6. Although it is not mandatory to study before the age of 6, most children start school at the age of 4 (admission in September every year). Therefore, most four-year-olds and almost all five-year-olds are enrolled in infant classes in first level schools (also called national or primary schools)

Elementary schools include state-funded elementary schools (mostly cult schools), special schools for the disabled, and more than 27 private elementary schools. Child-centred primary education has flexible transformation to provide the best teaching and learning methods. The educational program covers key areas such as Languages (Irish or English), Mathematics, Science, Environment, Society, Arts (Music, Drama and Visual Arts), integrating Physical Education in combination with personal health.

Second level

The second level education sector comprises secondary, vocational, community and comprehensive schools.  Each of them is managed and funded by different organizations such as the state, private or other organizations. Secondary education is based on the criteria of providing a comprehensive learning environment that helps students adapt to the living environment and equip them with the necessary knowledge after school.

Secondary education consists of 3 years of Junior Cycle (from 12 to 15 years old) and followed by an additional 2 years or 3 years of Senior Cycle depending on whether the optional Transition Year is taken.

At the end of 3 years of the Junior stage, students must pass the Junior Certificate exam before entering the Senior Cycle. 

At the end of the certification exam, students will receive 1 year of transfer. During that time, students do not need to go to school but experiencing an external environment instead. The main purpose is to educate students to be more mature and pay special attention to the development of personal perceptions and skills in social life. 

Next, students will enter the Senior stage (15-18 years old). Within the last two years, students will have to choose one of the three programs that suit them to obtain a certificate of graduation for each program.

The Leaving Certificate includes:

• The Leaving Certificate: is a final exam from 17 to 18 years old with a curriculum of 30 subjects, in which students must study at least 5 subjects. 
• The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme is the same as a regular graduation certificate but combines other technical and technical subjects related to vocational training.
• The Leaving Certificate Applied: a 2-year program that focuses on training mature people with relevant practical knowledge and can go to work soon after.

Third level

Traditionally the system of third-level education in Ireland has comprised the university sector, the technological sector and the colleges of education, all of which are substantially funded by the State. In addition, some schools offer professional education in areas such as Medicine, Business, Rural Development, Arts and Design, Theology, Music and Law. 

• Ireland has seven public universities and all are among the top in Europe and the top 700 QS World University Rankings in 2021. Among them, Trinity College Dublin (Ireland’s oldest and most prestigious university ranked 104th in the world), University College Dublin (home to 34,000 students, ranked 193rd globally), etc. All schools offer undergraduate, master and doctoral degrees. In particular, in areas such as Natural Sciences, Humanities Science, Technology and Economics, it focuses on in-depth research and global cooperation. In addition, schools prioritize curriculum innovation and gradually upgrade state-of-the-art facilities and scientific equipment
• Irish colleges specialize in professional and business vocational training, in addition to teachers training for educational colleges. The most famous college must be The College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) - Ireland's most prominent medical school, is ranked among the top 500 medical schools in the world.
• The Institute of Technology offers courses in a variety of fields including Science, Engineering, Technology, Business, Humanities, Language, Healthcare, Arts and Design, Tourism, Agriculture and Gardening at both university and graduate levels.
• The Irish government is constantly improving its education agenda by innovating its education strategy, building a learning programme tailored to different stages, improving teaching methods and training elite teachers with a dedicated professional attitude to create the best conditions for international students to study in Ireland.

To attract a large number of international students to study and work, Ireland is constantly offering a wide range of attractive scholarships. Ireland's scholarships come largely from the Government, universities and other institutions. International students who wish to win a scholarship need to meet the academic requirements and conditions of the suppliers.

The standard of scholarship selection for international students will vary depending on the school. Usually, the first condition is that students have academic achievement. However, this depends on the subjects, levels, professions that you choose. In addition, English proficiency or abundant social activity experience is also an advantage in applying for scholarships. Depending on the scholarship, the requirements of the provider will vary. Therefore, the number of grants and types of scholarships are not the same. It can be full or half scholarships. Here are some scholarships that are sought after by many international students.

Scholarships funded by the Irish Government

Irish Government International Education Scholarship 

The Government of Ireland offers up to 60 scholarships per academic year by the Higher Education Agency (HEA) for international students at most levels of bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees (successful applicants with invitations from educational institutions) with a grant of EUR 10.000 for the cost of living for a year and a complete exemption of tuition at university.

Irish Government Postgraduate Scholarships

This scholarship is funded by the Department of Education and Skills and is administered by the Irish Research Council, which is an opportunity for those who wish to pursue a Master's or Doctor of Research program for any course in Irish schools. The program applies to domestic and international students with bachelor's degrees or higher. You will receive an annual grant of EUR 16,000, a tuition grant of EUR 5.750 and about EUR 2.,250 for research activity.

Scholarships offered by leading universities 

NUI Galway University Scholarship

NUI Galway University (specializing in intensive research) excels in the top 1% of the world's leading schools. The university offers several preferential scholarships for international study abroad for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs with a grant of EUR 2.000 per year, especially many preferential scholarships for Southeast Asian students with the amount of EUR 4.000 per year.

Trinity College Dublin Scholarship

Trinity College Dublin is the oldest and most prestigious school in Ireland. The university offers a comprehensive education, an international environment and a variety of partners in a variety of fields, encouraging students to be creative and innovative in a globalized environment. The university offers scholarships worth up to EUR 5.000 for the first year, for any fields available at the university (except Medicine, Dentistry, Acting).

University of Limerick Scholarship

The University of Limerick has an outstanding track record of research (ranked 35th for Research Impact (Times Higher Education – THE) and is the central headquarters of Ireland. In 2019, the university was voted as the top 100 young universities in the world according to THE. The university provides a friendly environment with leading facilities, providing students with a quality learning environment and practical skills. In addition, the university is well known for its large number of scholarships for many areas that make up its brand such as Educational Sciences, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Arts, Health, etc. Each year, these courses offer scholarships to international students with outstanding non-EU academic achievements, with a university scholarship value of EUR 1.500 per year and Postgraduate of EUR 2.000 per year.

College Dublin Scholarship

University College Dublin is considered the largest university in Ireland and has been named the best university for post-graduation recruitment with more than 93% of students employed after 6 months. It attracts many international students for excellence in teaching and research methods as well as building students the best learning environment. The university offers a variety of attractive scholarships for Southeast Asian students such as Global Excellence Scholarships, and excellent students who achieve scholarships will receive full or partial tuition fees exemption.

Every year, more than 20.000 international students from all over the world come to Ireland to study abroad. With a globally leading education and special offers for international students, it's not surprising that Ireland is one of the best choices for students who plan to develop their study and work abroad path.

For international students, getting part-time jobs is an opportunity to gain experience, accumulate social knowledge, reduce financial pressures as well as experience life in an advanced country. Moreover, not only can you adapt to new life quickly, but also you can increase your understanding of the culture and lifestyle of native people. Therefore, the Irish Government has introduced several policies and regulations for international students to experience part-time jobs while studying abroad. 

Essential information  for international students in Ireland

EU/EEA (EU) students are less likely to have limited working hours and do not need to apply for a work permit. For non-EU/EEA students who are studying undergraduate and post-university degrees, the Government strictly regulates work permits.

Students who are on courses lasting more than 1 year will not need a specific work permit to find a part-time job here. Student visas stamped 2 (except for the 2A seal: not allowed to work part-time) are allowed to work part-time with working hours as prescribed by the Government. They can work up to 20 hours a week during each semester and up to 40 hours a week during the holiday. The holiday period has been regulated – including June to September and from October 25 to December 25. The good news is that on February 1, 2020, the minimum hourly wage was increased to EUR 10.10 and you have to pay attention to pay taxes during your work.

Overtime jobs in Ireland

Ireland offers students a variety of job opportunities. Most part-time jobs have little to do with your specialities and are mostly unskilled labor, not requiring too much experience such as serving restaurants, washing dishes, cleaning, babysitting, etc. These are some jobs selected by international students.

Restaurants, eateries, bars are considered favourite workplaces for students. In Ireland, there are many restaurants, eateries, etc that are always looking for employees with many different jobs such as waiter, kitchen, dishwasher, etc so that students can choose the job that suits them best. You will be able to hone your communication skills, professional attitude and ability to adapt to all problems. In addition, with flexible working hours, these jobs will not affect your school hours.

Tutoring is simple work with flexible working hours and no heavy labour required. To be able to work, you should contact the school because they will have programs that students can teach others. This job asks you to have in-depth knowledge of a certain field and clear expressions. 

Entertainment programs - events such as music shows, plays, concerts, etc usually recruit jobs assistants, staff. These jobs require you to be able to have some relevant experience, flexibility and acumen in handling difficulties at work. This job is extremely suitable for students oriented to the speciality related to event organization, communication.

Call Center and Customer Service are the first choices of international students. This job requires you to be able to communicate well, listen to customers and be competitive at work.

In addition to the above jobs, you can work part-time in universities. Universities offer many jobs for students to choose from such as teaching assistants, research assistants and so on. This job will help you have a lot of experience for the majors you are researching, as a stepping stone to your future.