Dec 07, 2020
In this article we would like to shine a spotlight on Europe’s most entrepreneurial nation which is also a beautiful island country and gaining ground as an ideal study destination in Europe.
Can you guess which country are we talking of?
Of course, it is Ireland, located just off England.
Ireland is known for being a friendly, safe English-speaking country with world renowned universities, internationally recognized qualifications, and extensive choice of courses. It is also the European headquarters of many IT & Pharmaceutical companies.
One of the most attracting highlights of pursuing higher education in Ireland is that most of the Master’s degrees are for 1 year with 2 years of post-study work visa extension and a chance to get indefinite right to stay in Ireland.
So, let’s look into the aspects of considering Ireland for a Master’s Degree abroad.
Ireland has an expertise in higher education, the deep appreciation and reputation for learning, which tends to make it an attractive study abroad destination for masters in all subject areas.
You need to have a relevant bachelor's degree or diploma if you are applying for any of the postgraduate courses in Ireland. Minimum 55%-75% overall aggregate in Graduation with IELTS 6.5* with no band less than 6.0. IELTS 6 with no band less than 5.5 is also acceptable in some Universities, Institute of Technologies, and Colleges based on the course and the institution you are applying to.
The duration for a Master’s Degree in Ireland can be 1 or 2 years based on the program you opt for. One year of full-time study is offered in most of the courses, but some can last for two in case of research-focussed programmes. Two teaching semesters are spent in most of the cases where modular units of study and associated assessments are completed before commencing work on an independent research project and dissertation in the third semester and over the summer continuing with it.
The most surprising part of cost of Masters programmes in Ireland is that both the international students and domestic students pay the same tuition fee for some courses. For a year of full-time study European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) students can expect the cost to be between €4,000 and €9,000. €9,000 per year would be the cost for masters for students from outside the EU and EEA with some courses also costing up to €30,000 per year. A student contribution fee of maximum 3,000 EUR/year has to be paid by both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA citizens.
To help fund the meritorious international students in their studies in Ireland, various funding options are available depending on the criteria, course and the institution. The Irish government, and various private and public establishments provide many scholarships and bursaries as well. Although, make sure you check the criteria carefully, along with the application closing date. The most popular scholarships to study in Ireland are as follows:
1. The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship
Scholarship Amount:** Complete Fee Waiver + €10,000 stipend for one year of education
2. V.V. Giri Global Excellence Scholarship
Scholarship Amount: 100% Tuition Fees
3. Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship 2021
A stipend of €16,000 per annum
4. Global Excellence Postgraduate Scholarships
Scholarship Amount: €5,000
The stay-back option guarantees post graduate students the opportunity to remain in Ireland, after their studies, for a period of two years irrespective of the course duration of 1 or 2 years. Speaking in a nutshell the western European country of Ireland is one of the best studies abroad destinations with the scope of MS in Ireland increasing post COVID Lockdown as the international borders have opened. All the Irish universities and institutions are welcoming the international students to pursue their higher education with them. Due to shorter and more intensive courses education in Ireland is value for money. Make the most of it by applying to study masters in Ireland. Get in touch with KC’s Ireland Admission Experts for further details and application process.