Is Ireland a good place to study?

College Application Time is here! Students from across streams in India are examining options to enhance their education profile. With the rupee falling, Indians are looking beyond the US to pursue higher education. Ireland is one of the more sought after destinations after Britain, Germany, France and Australia. According to Barry O'Driscoll, a senior spokesperson for Education in Ireland, the percentage of Indians visiting the country increased by 17% in 2017.

Why do you think Ireland is a good country for Indian students?
Ireland is an English-speaking country with a long tradition in education. All of Ireland's universities are ranked in the top five per cent globally. Ireland's Institutes of Technology (there are 14 of them that go by that name) are renowned for their close links with industry and their highly employable graduates. The country, much like India, offers a buzzing, multicultural, society, where students will certainly find the highest of education standards and warmest of welcomes. In fact, Ireland is one of the ten safest countries on earth, according to the Global Peace Index 2017.

How have things changed for students post Brexit in Ireland?
Since the Brexit vote, Ireland's higher education institutions have seen a notable increase in applications and enquiries for higher level programmes from Indian students. It is expected that Brexit will lead to an increase in international students and researchers choosing Ireland. The country's membership of the European Union has played an integral role in building Ireland's reputation as a location for orld-class research and as a centre of excellence in higher education.

UK universities are now seeing a drop in applications from international students in recent months, whereas Ireland's institutions have seen a notable increase in applications -- particularly from India.

What is the eligibility to apply for a course in a university in Ireland?
The eligibility criteria for each university and course varies, though there are certain general requirements that a candidate needs to keep in mind before applying for colleges in Ireland:

• All Irish institutions of higher education use English as the language of instruction so the student needs to be able to understand, converse and write in English.
• If your native language is not English or your undergraduate education was not in English, then you will have to pass an approved test, before registering for any course, like the IELTS, PTE, ETAPP, GCSE, etc.
• Ireland requires candidates from non-EU countries to have a visa to come and study in Ireland. The student immigration process is divided into two categories, based on whether you are applying for a degree programme offered by a higher education institutions or you intend to pursue an English -- language or non-degree course.
• An important (issue) to keep in mind while applying for a visa is evidence that you have access to sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees and cost of living expenses. You must show you have sufficient funds to support your stay in Ireland without recourse to public funds, or the reliance on casual employment.
• While you may be able to undertake part-time work during your time here, you should not have to rely on this income to meet all your expenses.

How conducive are living conditions for vegetarians?

There are plenty of food options for vegetarians both on campus or off campus, in local cities and towns. For Indian students, there are plenty of Indian food stores.

What is the best time to apply?
Undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the September 2019 intake are now open for applications.

- Divya Nair
Source: www.rediff.com