Education isn’t a preparation for your life – it’s an indistinguishable part of life itself. And nowhere is this truer than in Ireland, where time spent in the classroom is just the starting point of a journey towards a fuller, rounder, more interested and more interesting individual, finds Ivor Vaz
A RECENT SURVEY has indicated that the number of international students travelling to Ireland for higher education has grown exponentially, with China the most popular country of origin, and with India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Canada and the USA also among other significant contributors to inbound student traffic.
Irish universities have dedicated more resources to promoting themselves abroad as a destination for international students in recent years. Non-European Economic Area (EEA) students pay higher fees, generally of between €9,000 and €25,000, but for some courses such as medicine as much as €54,000 a year. The number of international students coming to Ireland increased by 45 per cent between in the last five years, according to the new report, which was conducted by the European Migration Network, which is part of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) think tank.
The Irish Government invests over 782 million annually in research in Ireland’s higher education institutions. The impact of this funding is that Ireland’s higher education institutions now lead the world in an increasing number of fields.
Irish universities are in the top 1% of research institutions in the world in terms of research impact in 19 fields, spanning natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities. This creates a unique opportunity for you at undergraduate and postgraduate level to join research programmes that are driving innovation and changing lives worldwide.
Ireland is emerging as a top destination for Indian students going to study abroad. There are already over 2,000 Indian students in Ireland and the figures are going up every year. The biggest advantage Ireland has is that it’s an English speaking nation. It lies in the heart of the Eurozone. Ireland also has a large number of top globally recognised institutions that offer courses in different disciplines including science, technology, engineering, medicine, business and finance, which are a big draw for Indians.
Most importantly, despite being very high quality, education in Ireland is value for money. Average tuition fee for undergraduate and postgraduate courses for non-European students range from €8,000- 30,000 while cost of living varies between €6,000-10,000 per year. While cost of education is lower for Indian students in Ireland than many other international destinations, another advantage is that they can choose to stay back for one year after completing their course. This gives them a chance to look for jobs. Further, Indian students in Ireland can work up to 20 hours a week
A PLETHORA OF STUDY OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM
Regardless of what you’re looking to study, from Humanities to Engineering, there’s an Irish institution that can match your curriculum to perfection. So, no matter what your chosen subject may be, studying in Ireland increases your options of where you’d like to write the next chapter of your learning story.
A real strength of the system in Ireland lies in the fact that its higher education institutes (HEIs) are not only dedicated to academic excellence but are highly innovative. Continuous innovation in higher education has been an important driver of Ireland’s knowledge based economy, which has led Ireland to being the fastest growing economy in Europe. Recently the UN’s Global Innovation Index named Ireland as one of the most innovative economies in the world. Ireland’s rapid rise in world rankings for Research and Development is notable. In 19 fields of research, Irish universities are in the top 1% in the world. For example, Ireland is ranked second in the world for nanotechnology, second for immunology, second for chemistry, third for agricultural sciences and fourth in the world for mathematics.A network of applied research centres within Ireland’s higher education system, as well as a robust PhD framework play important roles in fostering continuous innovation.
Creativity and innovation is part of the Irish culture. The Irish entrepreneurial spirit has been an important driver in Ireland’s transformation into a high tech, knowledge based economy. Ireland has the fastest growing economy in the European Union. Its world class education institutions have shown the ability to deliver ‘employment-ready’ skills so students can transition smoothly into the workplace.
ADVANTAGE OF TWO-YEAR STAY-BACK OPTION
A key advantage of studying in Ireland is that students at post-graduate level can avail of a two-year ‘stayback’ option after completing their course. At a time when other countries are tightening their visa rules for international students and graduates, Ireland has taken the opposite approach. Last month the Irish government announced an extension to its Third Level Graduate Scheme, for non-EU/EEA students at post graduate level.
This new permission is expected to double the ‘stay back option’ for Masters and PhD students from 12 months to 24 months. It will also allow eligible graduates to remain in Ireland for a further two years to seek employment. This is a very welcome development and a key element of Ireland’s international education strategy. Highly skilled international graduates can make a significant contribution to Ireland’s talent pool and Ireland can provide international students with a highly desirable start for their own careers.
The stay-back option guarantees post graduate students the opportunity to remain in Ireland, after their studies, for a period of two years to seek employment in dynamic sectors such as ICT, bio-pharma, engineering, medical devices, food science and financial services. The possibility of gaining valuable post-study work experience makes Ireland a very compelling option for the Indian students.With over 1,000 multinationals based in Ireland, the country offers exciting career opportunities for talented graduates.
ROOTED IN THE PAST, FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
The romantic image of Ireland is still very much alive and well. But side-by-side with it sits a modern European nation that is a magnet for both financial services and IT, with most of the biggest companies/brands in the world, from Google, Facebook, Pfizer, Genzyme, PayPal, Apple, Intel, Hewlett Packard, LinkedIn and Twitter, having their European HQ here. With one of the youngest and best-educated workforces in the world, Ireland is also a major innovation hub and a breeding ground for new start-ups and for Research & Development.
Ireland’s young and multicultural population revels in living in one of the most dynamic and forward-looking counties in Europe. The new, modern Ireland vibrates with a sense of curiosity that powers its economy and shapes its society, giving rise to one of the most dynamic of European countries in the arts, music, culture, and emerging technologies.
It’s a huge understatement to say that travel broadens the mind. Studying and living in a foreign environment will challenge your worldview, and introduce you to new people, a new culture, and a whole new world of diverse sights and spectacles. No matter how short your stay in Ireland may be, you’re guaranteed to leave Irish shores with stories, experiences and memories that will last you a lifetime.
Long Tradition in Education Excellence
Ireland’s longstanding reputation for high quality education is built on a solid foundation of commitment to excellence. Today we have one of the best education systems in the world and an internationally renowned reputation for academic quality.
34 higher education institutions in Ireland offer an extensive range of over 5000 programmes leading to internationally recognised, quality assured qualifications. International students can choose to meet their education needs in highly respected business schools, centres of scientific and technology excellence as well as renowned language, humanities and arts faculties during their courses and 40 hours during vacation.
Ireland is also home to a fairly large population of Indian professionals and overseas Indians. There is an Indian community in Ireland which is over 25,000-strong. Many Indians have done very well as doctors and medical professionals, and there is a growing number of successful Indian IT professionals as well. Indian professionals receive among the largest number of work permits issued by the Irish government. Besides, there is a policy of encouraging Indian entrepreneurs to set up shop in Ireland.
Not only does Ireland have a large number of world-class colleges and universities, there are also various niche institutes and courses which have become very popular among Indians including those in cloud computing, data analytics and different specialisations in finance. Graduate and postgraduate courses in Ireland are well connected to industry, and students get a lot of opportunities to join top global companies and startups for internships and jobs. Educational institutions in Ireland have strong industry linkages for research and business collaborations. These are a big support for students in their career and future path. A number of leading international companies have set up operations in Ireland, providing employment opportunities to several international students on completion of their courses.
Besides, many scholarships are available for international students. Among some of the prominent scholarships, Trinity College Dublin offers €5,000 to undergraduates, University College Dublin is providing 100% tuition fee for masters programmes and 50% tuition fee for one-year master programmes, National University
of Ireland, Galway, is offering €2,750 for undergraduate and postgraduate merit scholarships each, and National College of Ireland is offering €2,950 for master programmes and €2,000 for undergraduates applicants.
Ireland is also where some of the world’s biggest and best companies have located key strategic research facilities. And in Ireland, you’ll find a unique ecosystem that sees academic researchers working hand-inhand with small home-grown and start-up companies in partnership with some of the most powerful multinationals on the planet through a programme for shared research projects developed by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
One thing is for sure, students and parents who are looking at study abroad options should certainly consider Ireland as a destination. Students will experience one of the friendliest and most welcoming countries in the world. It’s an experience that is truly life-changing. In the words of Ireland’s own most famous poet, W.B. Yeats, education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. Truer words were seldom spoken!
