In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of students who wish to study in Ireland after completing their Class 12th. Ireland offers you the opportunity to experience a new culture, gain exposure to global perspectives, and grants you access to high-quality education. The universities in Ireland are among the top universities in the world, known for their diverse academic programs, cutting-edge teaching, and research facilities. Having a lower tuition fee, as compared to other study-abroad destinations like the USA, UK, Canada, France, and Germany is what makes Ireland a popular choice for students.
Popular courses to study in Ireland include English, History, Political Science, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Medicine, MBA, Accounting, Finance, Law, and International Relations. To ease your worries about studying in Ireland, reach out to Contentholic and they will provide you with the best career advice, visa guidance , and SOP and LOR writing services. In this blog, we will focus on what it is like to study in Ireland after completing your Class 12th.
Higher Education System in Ireland
Most educational institutions in Ireland are funded by the government, due to which they have lower tuition costs. English being the language of instruction, is what makes Ireland a preferable study-abroad destination for international students. It takes around 3-4 years to complete undergraduate study in Ireland. Its universities offer various academic programs for overseas students. The institution you choose to study in Ireland depends on the course you are interested in pursuing, and the qualifications you wish to have. In Ireland, we have the following types of higher education institutions.
University- Ireland consists of 7 universities which are among the top 3% institutions worldwide. These universities teach various kinds of undergraduate and postgraduate courses across all fields of study.
There are around 14 Institutes of Technology in Ireland known for providing education and training in areas such as business, science, engineering, linguistics, and music.
College of Education is meant for students who wish to be school teachers. This can be achieved via either a 3-year Bachelor of Education or an 18-month postgraduate diploma.
Private Colleges provide specialist education and training in areas like vocational training, law, medicine, business studies, and agriculture. With this, you gain qualifications at the vocational, certificate, or degree levels.
Leading Universities to Study in Ireland After 12th
Based on the university you have applied for, t he estimated annual tuition fee for an undergraduate program in Ireland would be somewhere around €9,850–€25,500. Let us have a look at the Irish universities that are known to offer the best higher education. The prestigious universities of Ireland that are an ideal choice among students are:
1. Trinity College Dublin
2. Dublin Business School
3. University College Dublin
4. National College of Ireland
5. Dublin City University
6. University of Galway
7. University of Limerick
8. University College Cork
9. Maynooth University
10. Griffith College
Now, let us get down to having a basic understanding of each of these universities to study in Ireland after completion of Class 12th.
1. Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth, Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s oldest university. Ranked 1st in Ireland, it offers a variety of undergraduate courses such as Political Science and Government, Economics, Public Policy Analysis, Sociology, Biology, Neuroscience, English Language and Literature. It offers the Undergraduate E3 1-year scholarship valued between €2,000 to €5,000 for certain subjects. (E3 stands for Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies.) To apply for this scholarship, you need to write a 200-word statement on “How I will contribute to the E3 Initiative and provide Balanced Solutions for a Better World at Trinity College Dublin.”
2. Dublin Business School (DBS)
Dublin Business School is a private college, built in 1975. It provides UG programs in the fields of business, marketing, management computing, law, accounting, IT, arts, creative media, psychotherapy, and psychology. It is the largest independent third-level college in Ireland. For its students, it offers the Partial Scholarship , worth €500 – €1000 , based on the Level 8 or Level 9 program that you have selected to study.
3. University College Dublin (UCD)
The University College Dublin is one of Europe’s research-intensive universities. It was established in 1854. Popular Bachelor’s courses taught here are Business Studies, Marketing, Finance, History, Psychology, English Literature, Medicine, and Physiology. To nurture the talent of international students, UCD provides the Global Excellence Scholarships which cover 50%- 100% of the tuition fees.
4. National College of Ireland (NCI)
What started as a joint venture between the Jesuits in Ireland and the Irish trade unions in 1951, is now known as the National College of Ireland. It is known for offering full and part-time Undergraduate courses in the areas of business, computing, psychology, and education. Its most famous UG courses include marketing, accounting, finance, data analytics, AI, cybersecurity, and early childhood education. Undergraduate students in their final year who achieve a first-class honors degree receive a 50% discount on their tuition fees as part of the First Class Honours Postgraduate Scholarship.
5. Dublin City University (DCU)
The Dublin City University was created in 1975. Popular for its vast alumni network, the university is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world. It teaches Bachelor’s programs such as Financial Accounting, Chemical Sciences, Business Studies, Journalism, History, and Electronic Engineering. DCU offers partial Merit-based Scholarships to some non-EU students.
6. University of Galway
Founded in 1845, the University of Galway is a member of the Coimbra group, which consists of 40 long-established European institutes. Designated research institutes at the university are characterized by significant interdisciplinary and high-quality research activity. Nursing, Psychology, Arts, English and Creative Writing, Music, International Hotel Management, Civil Engineering, and Environment Science are some of its most prominent Bachelor’s courses. As part of the university’s commitment to rewarding high achievers, it offers the Excellence Scholarship , worth €1500. Students with an exceptional academic record who have enrolled in a full-time program at the university are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
7. University of Limerick (UL)
The 1st university to have been established since Irish independence in 1922, the University of Limerick is another premier Irish institute. It was the 1st university in Ireland to offer a cooperative education program, in which students get to be a part of an 8-month work placement. It is known for teaching UG courses such as Architecture, Environmental Science, Financial Mathematics, Product Design and Technology, Aeronautical Engineering, and Creative Media and Interaction Design. Its Faculty of Science and Engineering offers merit-based international (non-EU) scholarships worth €2000 per year.
8. University College Cork (UCC)
The University College Cork was established in 1845 as one of the three Queen’s colleges, located in Belfast, Cork, and Galway. Some popular undergraduate programs taught her include Lab Technology, Nursing, Medicine and Surgery, Commerce, Marketing, Health Resource Management, and Human Resource Management. UCC students enrolled in its College of Science, Engineering, and Food Science, are given the SEFS International Undergraduate Scholarship which offers a 25% fee reduction in each year of study.
9. Maynooth University (MU)
The Maynooth University was built in 1997 and is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland in County Kildare, Ireland. It is ranked the 8th university in Ireland in 2024 as per the Center for World University Rankings. It teaches Bachelor courses in the following fields: Adult and Community Education, Anthropology, Biology, Business, Economics, Design Innovation, English, Finance, Mathematics, Statistics, Law and Criminology. The MU Sports Scholarships are given to students to excel in academic studies as well as sports.
10. Griffith College
Formed in 1974, with four campuses in Dublin, Cork, and Limerick, Griffith College is one of the two largest independent higher education colleges in Ireland. It offers full and part-time degrees and higher education qualifications in the following fields: Law, Business, Accountancy, Media, Journalism, Design, Fashion, Music, Drama, TV and Film Production. Its campus is home to the Leinster School of Music and Drama. The Griffith College awards the Academic Merit Scholarship to non-EU students, valued between €500 and €1500.
Admission Requirements for Studying in Ireland
While most of the universities and colleges will have various requirements based on the course you have chosen, some application requirements are common across all universities in Ireland. The documents that you require for studying at a university in Ireland are as follows:
Official transcripts and school-leaving certificate from an accredited institution.
Filled online application form.
English language proficiency test scores in exams like IELTS or TOEFL.
Academic documents like SOP, LOR, essay, resume, and a Cover Letter need to be submitted to the admission panel of an Irish university. Universities ask these as they wish to understand the student’s interest in a particular program at a university in Ireland and how s/he is likely to benefit from it, in terms of their academic and professional endeavors. You might be asked to write such academic documents while applying for a scholarship at a particular university. To write in the best possible way, according to the university standards contact study abroad consultants like Contentholic , who provide exceptional SOP and LOR writing services.
At times, certain students may be asked to appear for an interview , based on the course and the degree level they have applied for at a university in Ireland. This is done to evaluate your personality, way of speaking, and behavior.
Proof of funds, valid passport, Student Visa, and health insurance.
Types of Student Visas in Ireland
Students must apply for an Irish Student Visa, once they have received a Letter of Acceptance from their chosen university. In Ireland, there are two types of Student Visas:
C Study Visa is meant for students who will be studying in Ireland for 3 months or less. Students enrolled in short-training programs usually apply for a C Study Visa.
D Study Visa is for 90 days and is for students who are about to pursue full-time higher education in Ireland.
To apply for an Irish Student visa, you require the following documents:
Valid Passport
2 passport-sized photographs
Letter of Acceptance from the university
Payment receipt of tuition fees
Proof of funds that will cover your education and living expenses in Ireland.
Proof of English proficiency test scores (IELTS/TOEFL)
Medical insurance worth €25000.
Conclusion
Studying in Ireland is a life-changing experience. It offers multiple benefits such as academic opportunities, professional and personal development, and a strong knowledge base. Quality education, lower tuition fees, a global learning environment, specialized programs, cutting-edge research, and better placement opportunities, are reasons why Ireland is preferred by most international students after completing class 12th. With rising numbers of students interested in going to Ireland for higher studies, there is a growing demand for proper career guidance provided by study abroad consultants. We, at Contentholic , are committed to providing one of the best career counseling, visa application , and SOP and LOR writing services. Reach out to us, and we will make your experience of studying in Ireland a memorable one.
