INTRODUCTION TO

HIGHER EDUCATION IN IRELAND

WHY STUDY IN IRELAND? 237,328 Students 

One of the world’s best education systems.
15 32,000
Route to residency with a post-study work permit  Private Colleges International students
Right to work part-time while studying 
Affordable education – courses cost less than in
3 9 Universities 
National galleries
the UK, the US and Canada 
Industry-focused programmes  14 Institutes of technology 

TOP 5: MOST EDUCATED TOP 5: HIGHEST PROPORTION OF

COUNTRIES IN EUROPE STEM GRADUATES IN EUROPE
80% IRELAND 40.5%
STEM GRADUATES PER CAPITA

IRELAND 35,2
CYPRUS 39.4%
FRANCE 26,6
UNITED KINGDOM 39.3% UNITED 25,2
80% employed LUXEMBOURG 38.3%
KINGDOM
FINLAND 23,8
80% of Ireland’s university SWITZERLAND 37.7% DENMARK 23,3
graduates are employed Ireland has the highest number of STEM
Ireland has the highest share of graduates
within nine months. graduates per capita in Europe.
per capita in Europe.

UNIVERSITY OR Institute of Technology

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY? €9,950 - €12,500

Universities and Institutes of Technology (IOT) offer

the same level of qualifications.   Private College
€12,000 - €15,000
Universities focus more on theory and research,
whereas IOTs are more industry focused.  
University
Institutes of Technology are more affordable.    €15,000 - €25,000

Innovation has become a priority for the Irish

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Government, with increasing Research & Devel-
opment investments across all the country’s
main industries. In 2020 alone, the govern-
Ireland’s higher education institutions and government ment invested over €869m in R&D! This was an
are committed to investing in Research & Development 8.4% increase on 2019.1
(R&D).
Irish higher education institutions are
The country is fast becoming a European leader in dedicated to facilitating the country’s
this area. ground-breaking research.

Around 20% of Ireland’s R&D expenditure

comes from Irish universities!2
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Higher Doctorate/ Doctoral Degree: NFQ Level 10
(approximately 4 years in duration) QQI Sec Institutes of technology Universities
National Framework of Qualification: www.nfq.qqi.ie

Foundation programmes bridge the gap between a qualifications from one education system to another. They
student’s existing qualifications from their home country and are designed to prepare students for starting a course in a
an undergraduate or postgraduate programme in Ireland. particular area – Medicine, Engineering or Computer
They essentially allow international students to align their Science, for example.

QUALIFICATIONS AND PROGRESSION All courses are regulated by the Irish government
through Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

Ireland’s world-class universities, IOTs and colleges
offer industry-focused programmes that strike a
perfect balance between expert knowledge and future
employability. This equips graduates with a unique
skillset that makes them stand out from the crowd.
There are plenty of undergraduate and postgraduate
options available – covering everything from Com-
puter Science to Business and Marketing.
All programmes lead to qualifications pursuant to
the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
Once you have completed your studies, you can start
your journey to Irish residency!
To attract the best emerging talent, Ireland has created an
attractive post-study work visa that can lead to residency.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS  English Language Requirements 

Aside from English language requirements, international Institutes of Technology Entry Qualification IELTS
students applying for undergraduate courses will need to
demonstrate a high pass in their High School Mathe- Level 7 5.5
matics along with other good grades. Level 8 6.0
Level 9 6.5
Graduates with Level 7 may apply for advanced entry into
Year 2.
Universities Entry Qualification IELTS
Masters graduates will need good results in a Level 8 Level 7, 8, 9 6.5
qualification.

GENERAL ADMISSION DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST

The document list can vary from institution to institution but these are generally the main documents requested:

DOCUMENTS UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES GRADUATE STUDIES

Transcript of Records
Diploma
Proof of English language proficiency
(IELTS, TOELF, Duolingo or equivalent)
Academic references
Motivation Letter
Curriculum Vitae
Proof of course-specific qualifications where applicable
 ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PATHWAYS PROGRAMME
ELI Schools’ Pathway Programme helps students
to reach the English language requirements for
entry into Ireland’s Higher Education Institutions.
The programme includes:
6 months (25 weeks) of tuition
An IELTs exam
An 8-week holiday
Over an 8-month VISA.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
3 stages
The Pathway Programme is split into three stages: each
stage represents two levels of the CEFR (Common
European Framework of Reference for Languages).
25 weeks
Each stage takes 25 weeks and ends with an IELTs exam.
20 hours
The programme is 20 hours per week: 15 hours of
General English and five hours of workshops.
Special workshops
The workshops you take will focus on different skills,
depending on your individual learning needs.
SCHOLARSHIPS 
There are several funding opportunities available
for non-EU students coming to Ireland. These
come from a range of sources including the Irish
government, research councils, Irish higher educa-
tion institutions, and foreign bodies with partner-
ships in Ireland.
Current scholarships/funding bodies include:
Government of Ireland International Educa-
tion Scholarships Programme – Higher Educa-
tion Authority (HEA)
YOUR ROUTE TO RESIDENCY
The Third Level Graduate Programme offers Level 8 Bachelor
graduates a one-year post-study work permit, and two years
for Level 9 Master graduates.
Graduates with specific skills may also be sponsored by an
employer for a Critical Skills Work residency permit.
1Source: Gov.ie Press Release (20 January 2021)
2Source: Irish Universities Association
Contact us:
3Source: Irish Universities Association. 50% statistic relates to March
2014 to May 2019.
4Source: European Innovation Scoreboard 2020
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must:
Be over 18 years old.
Hold a minimum Level 6 international
qualification.
Complete an online Language Assessment
before entry – you will then receive a Path-
way Tuition Plan.
ADVANTAGES
Defined progress
Learning objectives are clearly set out at each
stage – so you will know exactly what you
need to achieve. Focused students may
progress more quickly.
Right to work
You have the right to work 20 hours per week
during term time and 40 hours per week
during the eight-week holiday.
Guaranteed college place
If you meet the requirements, you will receive
a conditional offer from an Irish university or
IOT (Institute of Technology). You will then
have a guaranteed place once you
complete the English Language Pathway
Programme.
A student’s eligibility for each scholarship will depend
on various factors such as their previous grades and
chosen course. Scholarships often include a stipend
for a certain period of study, as well as a full or partial
waiver of tuition and registration fees.
Irish Research Council for the Humanities and
Social Sciences (IRCHSS)
Home to Europe’s fastest-growing
economy, Ireland is an exciting place
for graduates!
There are career progression opportu-
nities and high starting salaries across
all the country’s thriving industries.
www.workandstudy.travel/ +353 83 331 1433
murilo@workandstudy.travel @workandstudybrasil