Ireland Overview
Ireland, situated in the vast Atlantic Ocean, is separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. It occupies approximately half the area of Arkansas and encompasses the entire island except for the six counties forming Northern Ireland.Ireland is an island located in the North Atlantic Ocean, separated from Great Britain by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George’s Channel. It is the second-largest island in the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest globally. Known for its diverse industries including finance, information technology, and pharmaceuticals, Ireland has produced many notable figures in fields such as entertainment, hospitality, and literature. Some renowned personalities from Ireland include Fiona Shaw, known for her roles in the Harry Potter movies, Darina Allen, a prominent TV chef, Evanna Lynch, also known for her role in the Harry Potter films, and Michael Carruth, an Olympic gold medal-winning boxer.
Key Facts:
- Land Area: 26,598 square miles (68,889 square kilometers); Total Area: 27,135 square miles (70,280 square kilometers)
- Population (2014 est.): Approximately 4,832,765 with a growth rate of 1.2%. The birth rate is approximately 15.18 per 1000 people, and the infant mortality rate is 3.74 per 1000 births. The average life expectancy is 80.56 years.
- Capital (2016 est.): Dublin, with a population of around 1.2 million.
- Currency: Euro
- National Name: Éire
In Ireland, the climate is mainly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Typically, April is the driest month overall, although in many southern regions, June holds that distinction. Dublin experiences its hottest temperatures in July, averaging around 16°C (60°F), while January brings the coldest weather at 5°C (41°F). May sees the most daily sunshine hours, peaking at 6.3 hours.
August receives the highest amount of rainfall, with an average of 80mm. Snowfall is rare in Ireland during winter, except in mountainous areas. Summers are generally mild, with temperatures rarely exceeding 20 or 25°C. June and July are typically the warmest and sunniest months.
Security at international airports is now very tight, and certain items such as scissors and knives are not permitted in hand luggage. Your airline can provide a list of prohibited items.
Some of the well-known airports in Ireland include:
- Dublin Airport
- Shannon Airport
- Waterford Airport
- Galway Airport
- Cork Airport
- Weston Airport
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Banking
Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. The Bank occupies a unique position in Irish banking history. At the core of the modern-day group is the old Bank of Ireland. The headquarters of the bank until the 1970s was the impressive Bank of Ireland building on College Green, Dublin.
Bank of Ireland banknotes feature the Bank of Ireland logo, below which is a line of heraldic shields representing each of the six counties of Northern Ireland. For example, the 5 pound note is blue, the 10 pound note is pink, the 20 pound note is green, and the 50 pound note is blue-green. Some well-known banks in Ireland include Allied Irish Banks, Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank, Permanent TSB, KBC Bank, Rabobank (Ireland), and Ulster Bank, among others.
Currency
In the Republic of Ireland, the official currency is the euro. One euro consists of 100 cent. Notes are available in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, and €500. Coins come in 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, and €2.
In Northern Ireland, pound sterling is the local currency. One pound sterling consists of 100 pence. Notes are available in denominations of £5, £10, £20, £50, and £100, while coins come in 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, and £2.
Ireland is considered to be one of the best travel destinations. Some of the best places to see in Ireland are:
- Dublin is a perfect destination for the whole family with amazing hotels, and kids can enjoy in Dublin Zoo, go around Phoenix Park, etc.
- Killarney is a walking town, and every trail is a history lesson. Journey on foot through Ireland’s first national park, 26,000 acres of woodlands, Sandstone Mountains, and low-lying lakes.
- Galway – For visitors, the best thing about Galway is that you can walk everywhere. As soon as you arrive, enjoy a walk through the city streets. There, you’ll find lively pubs, independent shops, and winding cobblestone streets packed with students, artists, writers, and craftspeople.
- Cork – Ireland’s third-largest city began life as an island and now spans both banks of the River Lee, with watery channels running beneath some of its main thoroughfares.
- Westport – A true family destination, Westport boasts magnificent scenery, golf facilities, recreational fishing, sailing and yachting, beach swimming, hiking and cycling trails, and a place called Pirate Adventure Park.
- Donegal Town is a fairy-tale of a place, featuring a charming harbour, serene beaches, and stoic stone remains of centuries past, like those of the 15th century.
Budgeting
Your Budget should include the cost of food, rent, clothing, travel and of course entertainment. For an International student studying in College or University, approximately AUSD 320 should cover a week’s expenses of the above including a few extras such as telephones and incidentals. School children would require less, approx. AUSD 265 per week for the same overheads. However, individual lifestyles and location could influence this estimate, which is only a fair indicative of an average international student’s lifestyle.Money and Banks
The only legal tender is Australian currency. One can change any international currency to the Australian currency at registered forex facilities available at the airport, banks, major hotels and even some malls. Traveller cheques are more easily accepted if already made out in AUS dollars. However other currency TCs may be cashed in at banks, hotels etc. Once a student has made themselves comfortable, it is a good idea to open an account with a local bank branch. Several banks both of Australian origin as well as from other countries are represented here and so the banking services can be quite competitive. Day to day banking has become very easy in Australia too, as it has all over the world, with Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), 24 hour banking being available as well the acceptance of credit and debit cards at most shopping outlets including grocery and convenience stores.Credit Cards
Credit cards are widely accepted around Australia. The most commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Bank card, Diners International, Master Card, Visa and their affiliates.Currency
The currency of Australia is the Australian Dollar and Cents. The Dollar comes in notes of denomination 5, 10, 50 and 100, whilst the Coins are available in 5,10,20,50 cents, 1AUSD and 2AUSD. Australia is the first country to introduce plastic currency in the form of polymer banknotes, as far back as in the 1880s – a world’s first. These notes have since been known to offer benefits such as security as well as easier handling, hardiness and recycling possibilities. This again underlines Australia’s prowess in ingenuity and leadership.Tipping
Tipping is not the norm in Australia. In smaller cafes etc loose change from return of the bill may be left behind by the patrons, but not expected. In larger sit-down restaurants and hotels a 5-10% tip is accepted if given but not expected by the staff. In taxis too all change is returned to the customer unless asked to round off to the nearest dollar.Education System In Ireland
Education is compulsory for children in Ireland from the ages of six to sixteen or until students have completed three years of second-level education.
The basic steps for applying are:
The higher education system in Ireland consists of the university sector, institutes of technology, and private independent colleges. The entry requirements for international students to higher education are determined individually by each institution and are generally based on national examination performance and English language aptitude. The NFQ Level 9 (Master’s and Postgraduate diploma) and NFQ Level 10 (Doctorate degree).
Admission Requirement:
- 3 years or 4 years Bachelor Degree
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0
Tuition Fees: PG – 13,250 – 14,000 euros
Stay Back – Masters (NFQ Level 9 and NFQ Level 10): 2 years’ work permit.
The undergraduate programs, namely Bachelor’s degree, typically span 3 years. An Ordinary Bachelor’s degree is of level NFQ 7, while an Honours Bachelor’s degree and Higher Diploma are of level NFQ 8.
Admission Requirement:
- 12th Standard
- IELTS with no band less than 5.5 and overall 6.0
Tuition Fees: UG – 12,000 – 18,000 Euros/annum
Stay Back – Bachelor’s degree is of level NFQ 7 and Honours bachelor’s degree and Higher diploma is of level NFQ 8 – 1 year work permit.
Whatever level and type of course you choose, you can expect to benefit from the highest quality of teaching and research, backed up by rigorous quality assessment. Ireland leads the world in developing quality standards and performance measures. In fact, Ireland is so committed to quality that the results of several of these assessments are publicly available for you to consult.
Studying in Ireland:
The most popular undergraduate qualifications are the Bachelor’s degrees (also called undergraduate or first degrees), which are now required for entry into a wide range of careers in Ireland and other countries. Degree programs incorporate the most up-to-date subject developments and are underpinned by world-class research and links with business and industry. Many universities and colleges now cooperate to deliver degree courses, and this has further increased the number and variety of courses and study environments.
Some of the Bachelor courses are:
- Bachelor of Business in Management
- Engineering
- Marketing
- Hotel Management
These come under NFQ Level 7.
Some of the Master’s Courses are:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) (NFQ Level 9)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) Marketing (NFQ Level 9)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) HRM (NFQ Level 9)
- Masters of Science MSc in International Accounting & Finance (NFQ Level 9)
- Masters of Science MSc in Information Systems with Computing (NFQ Level 9)
Ireland Visa
Visa Process:
A SET OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS + 2 SETS OF COPIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF VISA APPLICATION.
PASSPORT: Original and Copy of Passport having validity of at least six months. If available, your old passports should also be attached. Current passport should not be damaged. Copies of all pages of the passport are required.
PHOTOGRAPH: Two Photographs – not more than 6 months old printed on photographic paper with White or light grey background background and close-up of your face (80%) in sharp focus and correctly exposed. Size: 35-38 mm (width) x 45-50 mm (height).
Reverse of the photograph should be white and unglazed.
VISA FEES: Current visa fee for a single entry is Rs. 10,000, to be paid in cash. Visa fees are non-refundable.
VISA APPLICATION FORM:
(a) Printed and Signed Summary of the Online form. All applicants have to fill the online form which is saved for 30 days. (https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx). This form requires all personal details of the applicant, travel history, contact details in Ireland, University / course details, complete education details, employment details, sponsors details and agent details. All visa refusals for any country have to be declared, failing which the Ireland visa would result in the Irish visa being refused.
(b) Student visa application form – this form requires details of the University, course to be studied, duration of the course, fees, last education obtained, work experience, details of stay in Ireland, sponsors details, English Language ability and SOP.
(c) Questionnaire – requires same details as above.
PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) – Original PCC, stamp on the passport and 2 copies.
ACCEPTANCE LETTER : all conditions of the University / Institute should be fulfilled.
FEE RECEIPT: If the student is accepted on a HETAC approved course (Higher Education & Training Awards Council in Ireland), can apply for visa without any fee payment. Fees need only be paid once the student receives an AIP (Approval in Principle). Student will need to provide the Fee receipt from the University and the bank statement of the University (reflecting the tuition fees paid by the student) which needs to be forwarded to Irish visa Office, New Delhi.
SOP – student needs to submit 3 copies of a printed Statement of Purpose outlining the reason to study in Ireland.
CV in Brief : 3 copies of same.
ACADEMIC DOCUMENTS: Educational Certificates, Degree Certificates, Diplomas & Mark sheets – Std 10th, 11th, 12th, 1st Year, 2nd Year, 3rd Year, 4th Year, Post Graduation, Other Diplomas, WORK PLACEMENT / Industrial Training Certificates, etc. student needs to submit the Originals along with 2 copies of same.
IELTS / TOEFL SCORES: Score Reports of IELTS / TOEFL with a Minimum of 5.0 band in IELTS and a TOEFL score of 173 is required.
WORK EXPERIENCE: Letter from current employer or experience letter (if applicable). Any other recommendation letter need not be submitted.
AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT – to be taken on a Rs. 100 stamp paper and should be notarized.
FUNDS: The total cost of funds should be calculated as total Tuition fees + Living cost @ Euros 7000. Original and 2 copies of IT returns of sponsors for the last year filed. A CA statement can be submitted for NSC, KVP, Mutual funds, Property incorporating the values will suffice.
BANK EDUCATION LOAN SANCTION LETTER from a Nationalized Bank.
BANK STATEMENT: Latest Saving’s a/c Bank Statements / Pass Books of the student or Sponsor for the last six months and a Bank Certificate. Recent deposits should be supported with evidence.
BANK FIXED RECEIPTS: Bank Fixed Deposit Receipts from Nationalized Bank. Only a Bank letter confirming the Fixed Deposits total value will suffice. The Original Fixed Deposit Receipts are not required to be submitted.
Medical Insurance : Evidence of Private Medical Insurance provided by the University / Institute is to be compulsorily provided. Alternatively student will have to make private arrangement for same.
AIR TICKET BOOKING, FOREIGN EXCHANGE & INSURANCE:
(a) We advise you to make a provisional booking of the air ticket. Air ticket should be booked 3 – 4 days prior to the orientation date.
Living in Ireland
This section takes you through the universities enrolment procedures process step by step. It starts with application procedure right till assistance available and bank loans. It also gives a helpful guide for studying in Australia,Student Support,University Courses etc.
College students have a wide choice when it comes to accommodation. Some students choose to stay in on-campus accommodation, which is available in many colleges. All universities have halls of residence, generally apartments of 4 to 8 students, with a private bedroom and shared kitchen, living room and bathroom. On campus accommodation must be paid in 2 installments, in September and in February.
In most campus accommodation, it is not possible to pay your rent on a monthly basis. Students who want to be totally independent choose self-catering, rented accommodation. Students pay their rent monthly and in advance. Accommodation can also be found through the local newspapers and estate agents in the cities. Websites such as Daft.ie or MyHome.ie also contain a large portfolio of rental properties. Moreover, on an average the student living cost comes around €7,000 and €12,000 per year.
Telecommunications in Ireland includes, radio frequency spectrum licensing and the postal sector, are regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has overall responsibility for national policy and regulation of both telecommunications and broadcasting.
Telephone system: This is one of the easier way of communication in Ireland, which includes: Fixed telephone lines and Mobile cellular telephones. There are three mobile telecommunications providers: Three Ireland, Meteor and Vodafone Ireland.
Internet in Ireland: In 2013 the Internet in Ireland is used by 77% of the population and is an important contributor to the economy and education. As per the survey:
Internet users: 3.6 million, 77% of the population, 70th in the world .
Dial-up subscriptions: 34,109 or 2.1% of total Internet subscriptions
Fixed broadband subscriptions: 1.045 million or 23% of the population
Mobile broadband subscriptions: 583,755 or 13% of the population
Internet hosts: 1.4 million, 40th in the world.
Post – Office – he Post Office has helped keep Irish people in contact with their families at home and abroad for many generations. Post Offices are usually open from 09.00 a.m. to 05.30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 09.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. on Saturday. You can also buy stamps at newsagents, supermarkets and some other shops.>Supermarkets are usually open on Monday to Saturday from 08.00 or 09.00 a.m. to 06.00 or 08.00 p.m. In larger cities, supermarkets open twenty-four hours a day. Many are also open on Sundays from around 10.00 a.m. to 05.00 or 06.00 p.m. smaller food shops are often closed on Sundays and may close earlier or later on other days.
Some of the well known shopping Malls in Ireland are as follows: Carroll’s Irish Gifts, St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Butlers Chocolate Café in Dublin, Galway Market, McCarthy’s Jewellery Shop, Galway Crafts and Collectables, Brown Thomas department store in Limerick, Jet land Shopping Centre etc.
Irish cuisine is the style of cooking that originated from Ireland, or was developed by the Irish people. In the 21st century, the usual modern selection of foods common to Western culture has been adopted in Ireland. Common meals include pizza, curry, Chinese food, Thai food, etc. Some of the well-known restaurants in Ireland are as follows: Sligo Restaurants, Dublin Restaurants, Galway Restaurants, Cork Restaurants, Limerick Restaurants etc.
Health care in Ireland is two-tier: public and private sectors. The public health care system is governed by the Health Act 2004, which established a new body to be responsible for providing health and personal social services to everyone living in Ireland – the Health Service Executive. Everyone living in the country, and visitors to Ireland who hold a European Health Insurance Card, are entitled to free maintenance and treatment in public beds in Health Service Executive and voluntary hospitals.
Health centres provide a wide range of primary care and community services in towns and villages throughout Ireland, and are run by the HSE. Services available at these clinics include GP services, public health nurses, social work and child protection services, child health services, community welfare, disability services, older people services, chiropody, ophthalmic, speech therapy, addiction counselling and treatment, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychiatric services, Home Help and more. Some of the well-known hospitals in Ireland are:
Bantry General Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, Capping National Orthopaedic Hospital
Cavan Monaghan Hospital, Connolly Hospital Blanchard town, Cork University Hospital etc.
Universities In Ireland
Maynooth University
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth, commonly known as Maynooth University, is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. Maynooth University  is recognised as one of the leading new universities in the world, ranked #74 in the new Times Higher Education.
Courses:
Undergraduate Courses – Includes, Business, Engineering, Science, etc
Post Graduate Studies – Anthropology, Biology, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Arts and Law.
Intake: September
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in the city of Limerick, Ireland. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989 The university was the first university established since the foundation of the State in 1922, followed later the same day by the establishment of Dublin City University. UL is ranked 4th for attracting students who attain over 500 points in the Leaving Certificate. UL is ranked 471-480 worldwide in the 2015.
Courses :
Undergraduate Courses – Business Studies, Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Performing Arts etc.
Post Graduate Studies – International Business, Economics, Finance, Computer.
Intake  : September
National University of Ireland, Galway
NUI Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It is located in Ireland’s westerly city of Galway. The five Colleges of the University are:
College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies
College of Business, Public Policy and Law
College of Engineering and Informatics
College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
College of Science
Courses :
Undergraduate Courses – Business Studies, Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Performing Arts etc.
Post Graduate Studies – International Business, Economics, Finance, Computer.
Intake  : September
Dublin Business School
Dublin Business School (DBS) incorporating Portobello College is the largest independent college in Ireland. With over 9,000 students, DBS provides a range of full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with courses for 2016/2017 in subject areas such as business, law, accounting, event management, IT, arts, media studies and psychology. The Dublin Business School has six locations around Dublin. Its main campus is located in Angier Street, and other locations include Balfe Street, Dame Street and South Great George’s Street.
National College of Ireland, Dublin
National College of Ireland (NCI) in Irish is a third-level education college in Dublin. Founded in 1951, it offers full and part-time courses from certificate to degree and postgraduate level in areas related to commerce, industry, and management. The college’s specialist areas include business, computing, psychology, marketing, cloud computing, human resource management, accountancy education and finance. Both full and part-time, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in business, psychology, marketing, digital marketing, human resource management, accountancy, finance and computing are offered through the College’s Schools of Business and Computing.
National College of Ireland, Dublin
Shannon College of Hotel Management, founded in 1951, is Ireland’s only dedicated hotel management college. The College offers two Level 8 degrees, preparing students for careers in business and hotel management. The qualifications awarded at Shannon College are recognised worldwide by international hotel companies, foreign governments, overseas universities and international hospitality organisations. Students earn academic credits for their work placements which are a compulsory element of the degree courses.
Intake – September
Working In Ireland
From 1st September 2016 students holding a valid  immigration stamp 2  permission will be permitted to work 40 hours per week only during the months of June, July, August and September and from 15th December to 15th January inclusive.  At all other times students holding Immigration permission Stamp 2 will be limited to working 20 hours per week. The permission to work ceases on the expiry of the students Stamp 2 immigration permission.
Ireland’s minimum wage is €9.15 per hour.
