Study in Ireland for Indian Students – 2024
Ireland may be a small European country, but its popularity as a higher education destination is rapidly climbing. This is for very good reason – Ireland combines several of the factors that characterize a great place to study abroad. So, if you are exploring options to study in Ireland for Indian students, what do you need to consider? We break down exactly what makes Ireland a destination worth looking into for your higher education needs.
What Makes Ireland a Great Destination to Study Abroad for Indian Students?
The top international student groups choosing Ireland for their higher education degrees, according to ICEF Monitor, are:
- USA – 14.5%
- India – 13.5%
- China – 11.3%
Year to year, the number of students arriving in Ireland to study abroad continues to grow. As of 2022/2023, the year-over-year growth of 11% saw over 35,000 international students. Ireland is now competing with the UK, traditionally one of the most popular global destinations for studying abroad, for non-EU international students.
Top Reasons to Study in Ireland for Indian Students
1. World-Class Universities
Ireland may be a small country with fewer universities than destinations like the UK or Australia. But its universities nonetheless pack a punch on the world stage of academic excellence. The Irish Universities Association’s eight universities are all world-ranking, according to QS Top Universities. This includes one of Ireland’s (and Europe’s) oldest universities, Trinity College Dublin, as well as some of Europe’s youngest but fastest growing universities, too.
| University Name | QS WUR 2024 |
|---|---|
| Trinity College Dublin | 81 |
| University College Dublin | 171 |
| University of Galway | #289 |
| University College Cork | 292 |
| University of Limerick | #426 |
| Dublin City University | 436 |
| Maynooth University | #801-850 |
| Technological University Dublin | #851-900 |
Naturally, with these high standards of education, Ireland creates a strong appeal in the minds of international students looking for a world-class degree.
2. Affordable Tuition Fees
Getting a higher education abroad is not cheap, especially as international student fees are higher than domestic tuition fees. The tuition fee range to study in Ireland for Indian students falls between €9,850–€19,500 for undergraduate programs. In the UK, average tuition fees at the same study level are almost €10,000 higher than the average tuition fees in Ireland.
This makes getting a world-class degree at some of Europe’s best universities a much more accessible opportunity for Indian students. Irish universities also offer attractive scholarship opportunities for international students, encouraging enrolment and diversifying their campuses. Just a handle of examples of global scholarships to consider to study in Ireland include:
| University Name | Scholarships |
|---|---|
| University College Dublin | UCD Global Scholarship |
| Trinity College Dublin | India Graduate Scholarship |
| Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship | |
| University of Galway | Global Achievement Scholarship (Undergraduate) |
| University College Cork | SEFS International Student Merit-Based Scholarship |
| University of Limerick | Jim Kemmy India Scholarship |
| Dublin City University | DCU Merit Scholarship |
| Maynooth University | Entrance Scholarship |
3. Excellent Industry Opportunities
Ireland is the European Union’s fastest growing economy, with a thriving knowledge sector and high demand in:
- Technology
- Life Sciences
- Financial Services
- Agribusiness
- And more
Ireland’s Department of Finance records the highest level of employment in 2023, with 2.6 million people active in the workforce. With one of Europe’s youngest populations, Ireland clocks an impressive 4% in unemployment, far below the average for the EU.
So how does this translate into the reasons to study in Ireland for Indian students? Irish universities are highly responsive to industry needs in building their curricula. According to the 2022 Graduate Outcomes Survey, over 80% of graduates were in employment less than a year after graduation. More than 10% of graduates entered further study within a year of graduation as well.
Of these numbers, nearly 80% of all international graduates were in employment within nine months of program completion. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) reports that top employers for international student graduates include companies like Ernst & Young and Amazon! These are just some of the big multinationals with a strong presence in Ireland – other names include Google, IBM, LinkedIn, and Pfizer.
4. Hands-On Experiential Learning as Part of Your Degree
Co-operative education and work placements are among some of the valuable experiences Irish universities offer its students. In fact, the University of Limerick’s Cooperative Education program is the country’s biggest undergraduate work placement program, as well as one of the biggest in Europe. Students in over 50 degree programs across multiple study disciplines can access work opportunities of 6 to 8 months in Ireland’s booming business and industry sectors as part of their curriculum!
These placements are collaborative efforts between Irish universities and their business and industry partners. Companies like PwC Ireland, Deloitte, and Ernst & Young actively encourage applications from students in work placement programs!
Work experience in one of Europe’s most dynamic centers of business, economy, and industry adds immense weight to your qualifications. Choosing to study in Ireland for Indian students means getting an education that goes beyond classroom learning. You graduate with work experience under your belt, existing professional networks, and the most relevant and current skillsets the job market is looking for.
5. Earn as You Learn
As an international student with Stamp 2 permission (formal authorization to complete a full-time program in Ireland), you can work part-time as a student! As with study abroad destinations like the UK, you can work 20 hours during the week, and a full 40 hours during semester break.
Universities like University College Cork host their own student job portal in collaboration with Student Development and Employability and UCC’s Student Union and Human Resources. The platform helps students keep up to date with work opportunities, also helping local businesses advertise and recruit effectively. Recruitment sites in general are one of Ireland’s most popular gateways to employment and recruitment opportunities.
6. Join the Job Force Faster
Like the UK, program durations are shorter than those in the USA and Canada. Bachelor’s degrees are three years long on average, and master’s degrees between 1 to 2 years long. As a result, students graduate and enter the workforce faster.
Combine that with Ireland’s dynamic job market and industry growth, and you set yourself up for success with your Irish university degree!
Best Programs to Study in Ireland for Indian Students
According to the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the most popular programs among international students are Business, Administration, and Law. These three disciplines comprise nearly 40% of the fields of study international students opt for.
In answering the question about the best programs to study in Ireland for Indian students, we have to look at employability. One of the biggest factors tied to choosing a degree is the opportunities it creates for your future career.
Ireland’s Critical Skills Occupations List highlights the skill shortage area where Ireland is keen to hire qualified graduates. Below, we break down some of the high-demand career opportunities available to graduates from the following fields:
1. Science and Engineering
- Chemical scientists in manufacturing
- Medical laboratory scientists
- Biological scientists and biochemists in manufacturing
- Physical scientists in manufacturing
- Meteorologists
- Operational forecasters
- Civil engineers
- Structural engineers and site engineers
- Mechanical engineers
- Electrical engineers
- Electronics engineers
- Design & development engineers
- Production & process engineers
- Material scientists
- Setting out engineers
- Façade designers
- Project engineers
2. ICT
- Information technology & telecommunication directors
- IT specialist managers
- BIM managers
- IT project and program managers
- IT business analysts, architects, and systems designers
- Programmers and software developers
- Web designers and developers
3. Health Professionals
- Medical practitioners
- Psychologists
- Industrial pharmacists
- Radiographers
- Radiation therapists
- Vascular technologists & physiologists
- Gastrointestinal technologists & physiologists
- Podiatrists/Chiropodists
- Audiologists
- Perfusionists
- Dieticians
- Cardiac Physiologists
- Medical Scientists
- Registered Nurses
- Registered Midwives
4. Business & Finance
- Accountants
- Taxation experts
- Management consultants
- Business analysts
- Business and financial project managers
- Actuaries, economists, and statisticians
- Business sales executives
- International marketing experts
- Estimators
Rounding Up
This is just a brief rundown of the opportunities to study in Ireland for Indian students. The country boasts excellent universities, high employability rates, a rich history, beautiful landscapes, and friendly people who will easily endear themselves to you. If you are looking to study at Europe’s top universities, Ireland is a fantastic option to consider!
