Ireland Student Visa Information

Ireland is recognized as the best education systems in the world for Higher Education Achievements. It provides the students to choose from 5000 internationally recognized qualifications as well as have access to the exceptional research opportunities in world-leading programs. The higher educational institutes in Ireland also connects with the leading global companies to offer career assistance to the international and domestic students.

Like every other country, the applicants from the non-EU countries do not require a visa to study in Ireland while candidates from EU countries will need to have a visa once they decide to have their education in Ireland. The Student Visa Application process is categorized into two heads, based on whether a student is applying for a degree program offered by a higher education institution or they intend to pursue an English-language or non-degree course.

Applying for a student visa

The applicant must apply for their visa application online using the AVATS online facility. It is an online visa application facility which is available universally and must be utilized by all aspirants

All the required documentation, passport size photograph, and appropriate fee have to be attested along with the completed application and received by the relevant office as indicated by the online system., only then the application will be further processed. The students are advised to go thoroughly through the visa details. If the candidate does not provide the requisite documentation, their visa will be refused.

Cost of the visa application

The applicants are requested to provide a valid evidence that they have sufficient funds to cover their tuition fees and cost of living expenses. They have to make sure that they have ample funds to support their stay in Ireland without recourse to public stocks, or the reliance on casual employment. Following will be the documents serving as evidence of access to sufficient finances:

• A detailed bank statement comprising of a six-month period immediately preceding the visa application and indicating sufficient funds to cover their expenses.
• Official confirmation that the student is in receipt of a scholarship.

Note - An approximate cost of living in Ireland for a student is €7,000, for one academic year. It is mandatory to prove that the student or his/her sponsor has instant access to an amount of at least €7,000 for each year of their studies, including the program fees for each of those years. If a NON-EEA Student is opting for education for less than six months, the non-EEA Student must have access to €500 per month of the stay or €3000 whichever is the lesser.

Application Process

Undergraduate Students

If the candidate is applying for higher education in Ireland as an EU citizen, they need to apply for all undergraduate courses through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Applications can be submitted online, which makes the job even easier.

Academic Entry Requirements - The entry requirements for the undergraduate courses may vary every year, depending on the number of candidates and the number of places available. Irish students complete by the results in the Irish Leaving Certificate Examination. Students are rated on their six best subject scores.

One of the minimum entry requirements for higher education programs is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. Faculty requirements and various courses must be met at all institutions. The applications are evaluated independently, and the Diploma does not ensure admission. Individual institutions may stipulate requirements additional to the minimum required.

English Language Requirements - The aspiring students should be able to grasp, understand, converse and write English and be proficient in the Language to be accepted for a degree programme. English Language Training Programmes are offered in many universities and colleges. There are around 94 private English language training schools nationwide; that runs short and long-term programmes.

Below is a list of the minimum standards in The English Language. However, the results achieved in such other examinations must indicate ability to one of the standards outlined below:

Postgraduate Students

Whether a student is an EU or a non-EU postgraduate student, they have to apply directly to the foreign office in their preferred higher education institute. Some Higher Education Institutes will request the student to apply through the Postgraduate Applications Centre.

English Language Requirements - The applicants registering for a degree course must be able to speak, read and write the language proficiently to participate in the seminars, tutorials, discussions and examinations. If their mother tongue or their undergraduate education is not English, then a student have to pass an approved test before registering any program.

Please note that test scores are only valid for 2 years.

Requirements for the Medicine Program - If a candidate is applying for graduate entry medicine, they will require to pass the GAMSAT examination. It is a particular test developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) for medical schools providing graduate-entry programmes. GAMSAT is required by all the EU graduates applying for the 4 Year Graduate Entry Medicine Programme (GEP).

English Language Courses

Ireland offers specific language courses for the international student who aspires to study one. To register for an English language course in Ireland, a student has to apply directly to the English language institute they are interested in, as well as indicate the course they prefer to opt. It should be noted that the English language school they are applying to is a recognised English language school.