What you need to know
Ireland is well regarded for its education system and is seen as a easy and safe place to both live and work. All Irish Universities and Colleges accept applications from Non-EEA nationals. Non-EEA nationals planning to study in Ireland must be registered in an eligible full-time course from the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).
Visa
If the student is travelling from a country that requires a visa to enter Ireland, they will be required to apply for a student visa. If the student is from a country which does not require a visa to enter Ireland, should have their letter of offer of a place at the school, educational institution, or University at hand and ready for inspection at immigration when arriving in Ireland.
It is required that non-EEA students must register with their local immigration office to receive permission to remain in Ireland.
Universities and Institutes of Technology
There are 8 universities in Ireland and 14 Institutes of Technology. There are also a further 11 third level private colleges to choose from. If you decide to register in a private college, then you will have to pay fees. The fees for private colleges in Ireland can depend on the college.
Ireland’s Third level graduate scheme
In the event where a Non-EEA student has graduated with a Level 8 degree, they might be allowed to remain in Ireland for 12 months. A Non-EEA student with a degree at level 9 or above might be granted permission to remain for 24 months. An excellent feature of Ireland’s Third Level Graduate Scheme can allow a Non-EEA student to seek employment in Ireland and apply for a General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit. In order to avail of this, the Non-EEA student must be legally resident in Ireland.
Tuition Fees
If you are applying for a place at third level as a non-Irish resident, and if you are not eligible for free fees or EU fee rates, then you will be charged full tuition fees.
IIP - Ireland Investor Visa
Students attending Third Level Education in Ireland under the IIP Investment Programme can avail of reduced tuition fees in certain cases. Learn more about the IIP Investment Programme here.
Applications
If you are a non-EEA resident, you need to first contact the HEI (Higher Education Institute) to if you should apply using the CAO, or the HEI.
Applications should be made before the closing date of 1 February. It is recommended that your application be submitted no later than 15 December, prior to the 1 February deadline.
If you would like to know more about attending Third Level Education in Ireland you can contact our office to speak with a member of our team.