Ireland, often called “The Emerald Isle” owing to its lush landscape dotted with castles, steeped in history and myths and is home to many famous authors like Oscar Wilde.
This island nation, with moderate weather off the coast of England & Wales, is now as a developed nation, ranked 6th globally in quality of life index, ranking high in healthcare and economic freedom. In 2024, was adjudged the second most peaceful country in the world as per Global Peace Index.
Ireland has over the years emerged as a popular study destination for Indian students, with multiple globally ranked and renowned Universities and a Visa program that encourages its expat students to stay back and pursue career opportunities in over 1500+ MNC corporations that has made Ireland its home. Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon are just a few. Students opting for a masters program in Ireland are allowed to stay back for two years, post study, to pursue career opportunities.
Lying just across the sea from mainland Europe, the opportunities are limitless. In fact, a Master’s degree from any of the prestigious universities in Ireland, opens up a whole new world of opportunities in multinational corporations across Europe. Most academic programs start in September and January.
Ireland follows a National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), a 10 level education framework, wherein you can arm yourself with technical and non-technical qualifications step by step. Indian university qualifications are recognised and respected and you can pitchfork yourself to a higher NFQ level. You can choose from multiple universities, institutes of Technology and several other private higher education institution, depending upon your specialisation and the career stream you opt.
| NFQ Levels | Global Ranking |
|---|---|
| NFQ Level 7 | A 4 year program that awards an ordinary bachelor's degree |
| NFQ Level 8 (4 Years) | A 4 year program that awards an Honours Bachelor's degree |
| NFQ Level 8 (1 Year) | A 1 year higher diploma taken upon completion of an honours Bachelor’s degree |
| NFQ Level 9 | A 1 year Post-graduate diploma taken upon completion of an honours Bachelor's degree |
| NFQ Level 9 | A 1-2 year Master's Degree |
| NFQ Level 10 | A 4 year Doctoral Degree |
The medium of learning is English and for foreign students, TOEFL or IELTS or a similar certification that proves your proficiency in the language is a must.
| University Name | Global Ranking | Faculties |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin City University | 410 | Education Studies Business Studies Science & Health Engineering & Computing Humanities & Social Science |
| Maynooth University | 770 | Education Studies Business Studies Engineering & Computing Humanities & Social Science |
| Technology University of Dublin | 781 | Engineering, Architecture & Built Environment Business Computing, Data & Mathematics Creative Arts, Design & Media Culinary, Hospitality & Tourism Law Science & Health Arts, Social Science & Education Sports & Leisure |
| Trinity College Dublin | 75 | Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Mathematics, Science & Health Science Engineering |
| University College of Cork | 246 | Arts & Social Sciences Business & Law Medicine & Health Science, Engineering & Food Science |
| University College of Dublin | 118 | Arts & Humanities Business Engineering & Architecture Health & Agricultural Science Social Science & Law |
| University of Galway | 284 | Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies Science & Engineering Business, Public Policy & Law |
| University of Limerick | 401 | Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Business Studies Education Studies Engineering Science Health Science |
Applying for an overseas degree is a big step towards realising your career aspirations. You need to have the complete picture before taking the plunge. Your decision needs to well informed and be based on your career aspirations, the costs involved, the visa requirements and what you want to do post your education. These are just a few factors amongst many that you want to keep in mind. We would take a few of these key points and shed more light, so that you are sure you are getting it right.
The most sought after courses in Ireland are Master's program in engineering and to a lesser extend Analytics and Sales & Marketing.
Studying in Ireland is cheaper than many other European and US destinations. Tuition Costs are upward of 10 Lakh in the first year and would depend upon the University you are selected to, the course itself and the course duration. Also in some cases, for courses like B.Tech and MBA, where the course duration is more than a year, the fees would be higher in the pursuing year(s) as the individual colleges may add incremental cost, as per the policy of the institution.
Apart from tuition fees, you would also need to account for Accommodation, Health insurance, transportation, books and periodicals expenses.
Accommodation costs as always depends upon the city you live and the type of accommodation you chose. You can considerably reduce your accommodation cost by opting for shared accommodation outside your college. Similarly you can receive discounts on your transportation cost by using your student leap cards. A brief summary of tuition costs and other costs are given below for your reference.
| Cost Elements | Min (in INR) | Max (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Average Tuition Fees Per academic year M.Sc. | ₹5,00,000 | ₹50,00,000 |
| B.Tech | ₹10,00,000 | ₹35,00,000 |
| MBA | ₹5,00,000 | ₹50,00,000 |
| PG Diploma | ₹5,00,000 | ₹25,00,000 |
| BBA | ₹5,00,000 | ₹25,00,000 |
| Accommodation (per month) Within University Premises | ₹75,000 | ₹1,00,000 |
| Outside University Single accommodation | ₹90,000 | ₹1,20,000 |
| Outside University Shared accommodation | ₹40,000 | ₹50,000 |
| Health Insurance (per annum) | ₹40,000 | ₹60,000 |
| Utilities | ₹12,000 | ₹15,000 |
| Books and Periodicals | ₹60,000 | ₹75,000 |
| other expenses | ₹25,000 | ₹50,000 |
If you are intending to pursue an academic opportunity in Ireland for more than 3 months, you will need to visit the website of Irish immigration service and apply for Ireland student visa via AVATS at least 3 months prior to your travel date. Along with the Visa application, you would need to submit relevant documents which include:
The cost of Long stay study Visa in Ireland is €60 for single entry and €100 for multiple entry. The normal turnaround time (TAT) for a Student Visa is 40 days from the time your document reaches the embassy. Ireland has a 94% positive response to student visa applications and most rejections are due to incomplete applications and missing documents.
Students from India normally pick up casual employment to cover incremental costs. Ireland student visa allows 20 hours of casual employment per week during term time and 40 hours during vacation which is normally from June to September and 15 December to 15 January. They do not however get any social welfare payments or benefits.
Student can also apply for Scholarships from government and non-governmental organisations both in India and Ireland to cover the costs. These scholarships often cover all academic costs including fees, books and journals, research programs etc for students with proven merit. Some universities also provide scholarships for highly meritorious students.
Ireland is a great destination to pursue your higher education. It boasts of many globally reputed Universities with globally recognised faculty streams. Its cost of education is less compared to many other global destinations in Europe and US. More than 1500 Multinational corporations have set up their offices in Ireland in the recent years and recruit heavily from Irish Universities giving you the right platform to launch your career post your studies.
Ireland also boasts of a globally leading quality of life index. Irish people are peace loving and provides a safe environment for you and your family. With great career opportunities, it’s a great place for you to settle down with your family.
Once you complete your stay in Ireland for 5 continuous years, you can apply for a permanent resident visa. It is easy to qualify, if you are a qualified skilled professional and it helps if you have earned your academic qualifications from Ireland.
All universities in Ireland are ranked by the Q5 World University rankings. You can also access any of the Study abroad sites in India to get feedback from existing and passed out students.
More than 1500 multinational corporations sees Ireland as a favoured destination and have set up multiple offices. These offices recruit heavily every year from Universities in Ireland. Ireland also has a favourable visa program wherein you can stay back in Ireland after your studies for a maximum of 2 years after passing out from college. You can alternatively speak to your University counsellor and find out more about the career opportunities and pay packages in Ireland.
While the cost of living in Ireland is higher than in most Indian cities, it's relatively more affordable compared to major Western cities like New York or London.
To get a better idea, you can visit numbeo.com, which allows you to compare living costs between Irish cities and your own city — including housing, groceries, transport, and more. It also provides estimates of the minimum salary you’d need to maintain a similar lifestyle.
