Ireland has risen quickly in the rankings of the best countries in the world for higher education and for eventually landing a great job. The country’s beautiful landscape, excellent education infrastructure, and bustling economy make it a perfect place for higher education (undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral etc.). If you are an aspiring engineer, then Ireland is definitely the right place for you. In this post, we will cover things you need to know about engineering in Ireland. We will talk about the courses, university, student life, job opportunities, and a few other things. Let’s get started.

Engineering In Ireland: All You Need To Know

Considered one of the best countries in the world for studying and working in recent years, Ireland is among the most preferred countries for foreign students with its young population consisting of hospitable people, and a dynamic, vibrant, and modern life focused on technology. Ireland, which is among the 10 richest countries in the world in terms of per capita income, was selected as the 6th most developed nation in the world by the United Nations in 2015. 

Which language is spoken in Ireland?

The official language of Ireland is both Irish and English, and the majority of the country speaks English. Ireland, which has a wide cultural and artistic background, has many famous figures in the fields of music, cinema, literature, and science.

Ireland is one of the countries where some of the world’s largest and best companies have key strategic research facilities. Some of the most influential multinational companies in the world work on research projects in partnership with universities in Ireland.

What is the higher education investment in Ireland?

The Irish Government invests over 782 million annually in Irish higher education institutions. Higher education institutions in Ireland are becoming the world’s leaders in an increasing number of fields, driven by this funding. Due to the high standards of university education in Ireland and the affordable university prices in Ireland, it is among the countries most preferred by international students for university education abroad. The rate of enrollment in higher education in Ireland, which has a population of close to 5 million, is around 83.78%.

How is higher education in Ireland?

The higher education system in Ireland is very similar to the British education system. Undergraduate education is generally 3 years. Veterinary, architecture, and dentistry take five years, and medicine takes six years. In some universities, undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered together and at the end of their education, students graduate with a master’s degree. International students’ entry requirements for higher education are determined by each institution individually and generally take into account the student’s national test performance and English language proficiency.

The higher education system in Ireland consists of universities, institutes of technology and colleges of education, and private independent colleges. Private Colleges, which offer professional documents, certificates, and diplomas to students, also provide a wide variety of vocational program training in health, pharmacy, media, textile, marketing, and many more.

Certificates and diplomas in business, engineering, arts, and linguistics are offered in 14 Institutes of Technology.

There are 3-year undergraduate and 18-month graduate programs in education colleges preferred by candidates who want to receive teacher education.

The 2018 QS World University Rankings include one of Ireland’s seven public universities and 14 institutes of technology among the world’s top 700. Ireland also has private sector colleges of varying character, from the small Burren College of Art with 200 students to the Dublin Business School with 9,000 students.

Why choose Ireland for higher education?

• University education in one of the world’s best education systems. 
• Opportunity to benefit from investments in the education system.
• More than 5000 internationally recognized program options.
• World-class research opportunities in the world’s leading programs.
• Career opportunities in the world’s leading global companies located in Ireland. 
• The opportunity to make your dreams come true in a very enterprising country.
• The wide cultural vitality with 35,000 international students from 161 countries.
• The experience of living in one of the friendliest and safest countries in the English-speaking world.

What are the requirements for higher education in Ireland?

A Level and Foundation Education

A Level diploma is a high school diploma given after the last two years of high school, which in a sense corresponds to university preparation in countries such as America, Australia, and the United Kingdom. This diploma is one of the most important internationally recognized certifications in the world.

A student who graduated from high school in England also applies to universities with A Level diploma.

The high school diplomas of many countries are not considered equivalent to their high school education in countries such as America, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. For this reason, in order to be considered high school graduates in such countries, students who have graduated from high schools in a country outside of these must receive an education called ‘foundation year’ in these countries. When the foundation education is completed, undergraduate education can be started at the university. It can be said that A Level diploma is accepted as equivalent all over the world.

A Level diplomas are based on the courses taken by the student. A Level stands for Advanced Level. For example, if a student has an A-Level diploma in Mathematics, that student has advanced mathematics knowledge. The license period is 3 years in countries such as Ireland and England. A Level diploma grade is the basic criterion for university placement. Universities generally want the student to have an A Level diploma from 3 courses in student admission.

High school graduates when they want to study at university in Ireland, are not accepted at A Level, so they are taken to Foundation education. Foundation (International Foundation Year (IFY) is a program that international undergraduate students who want to attend undergraduate programs participate in to prepare them for university entrance. 

Foundation Education is an intensified A Level education in a sense. However, it does not fully replace this education. The program is conducted for 7-9 months. The study combines intensive English language preparation, study skills and cultural orientation. During Foundation education, you can study Engineering, Science, Pharmacy, Business, Accounting and Economics, Law, Social Sciences, Psychology and Media, Art and Design, and Computer Science. The same departments can be continued at the university.

What are the Foundation Program Admission Requirements?

To be admitted to the Foundation Programs offered by universities and colleges in Ireland, a high school diploma and (B2) intermediate level of English are required. You will be asked to prove your English language proficiency by taking one of the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exams. Students whose English level is not sufficient can also take English preparatory education.

What are the Foundation Program Options?

• Business
• Law
• Engineering
• Medicine
• Science

What are the Foundation program fees?

In Ireland, the fees for the Business, Law, Engineering, and Science university preparation programs are around 13,000 Euros, and the Faculty of Medicine preparation program fees are around 15,000 Euros. Pre-Preparation English Fees are 2.500 Euros for 3 months and 4.800 Euros for 6 months.

What are the English language requirements for higher education in Ireland?

Courses are taught in English at universities in Ireland. Students from abroad must demonstrate their ability to speak and write English to be admitted to universities in Ireland.

Foreign students can prove their language proficiency through one of the following qualifications:

• GCSE English Language Certificate
• University of Cambridge – English Exam Result
• TOEFL
• IELTS
• Cambridge Proficiency Exam
• Cambridge Advanced
• ARELS oral exam
• ETAPP
• PTE Academic

Universities may also set their own standards for English language ability, so it is necessary to contact the chosen university to confirm the submitted document and find out the minimum score required.

What are the university fees in Ireland?

Fees for students from EU/EEA member countries

EU national students usually pay around 3,000 EUR per year to support their exam registration and club work for undergraduate studies in Ireland. EU students who want to study in Ireland must also pay tuition fees. However, EU students benefit from lower tuition fees than non-EU students. Each university publishes information on fees for EU and non-EU students.

Fees for non-EU students

Non-EU students must pay tuition fees at universities and colleges in Ireland. Tuition fees vary according to institutions, programs, and duration.

• Undergraduate courses 9,000 – 45,000 EUR/year for a Bachelor’s degree.
• Masters and Doctoral Courses: 9,150 – 37,000 EUR / year.

Fees vary depending on your field of study, program, and university.

Which are the best engineering colleges in Ireland?

Ireland has over 20 prestigious engineering colleges which provide a great education in the field. Computer Science, Chemical, Biomedical, Aeronautical, and Civil Engineering are some of the most highly sought-after streams among students. Some of the best engineering colleges in Ireland are:

• University College Cork
• University College Dublin
• Trinity College Dublin
• University Of Limerick
• Dublin City University
• National University Of Ireland Galway

What is the cost of engineering in Ireland?

Tuition

The exact value of the tuition fee depends on the University and course. However, you can expect the tuition fee to revolve around the 24,000 euros per year mark.

Living expenses

Ireland isn’t a particularly cheap country to live in (like most of Europe) and it costs around 10,000 euros per year on average to live as a student.

Student visa

A single entry student visa costs 50 euros while multiple entry student visas cost 96 euros. Part time work is permitted on this visa.

What are the educational requirements for engineering in Ireland?

• Display of English proficiency through standardized tests like TOEFL and IELTS. A score of 120 on the TOEFL and 6.5 on the IELTS should be enough. International students from countries where English is the first language are exempted from this. 
• Detailed transcripts.
• Supportive recommendation letters.
• A well written application essay (also known as the Statement Of Purpose).

Can students get work permits after finishing Engineering in Ireland?

After completion of their degree, students can work in Ireland. International students with Immigration Stamp 2 visas can work 40 hours a week between July and September (and between December and January 15th). However, for the rest of the year, only 20 hours of work per week is allowed.

In order to receive a work permit, a Personal Public Services Number (PPSN) is needed. Prospective employees will also need to comply with all of Ireland’s employment laws, taxes, Universal Social Contribution (USC), and Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI).

Can students get scholarships in Ireland?

Scholarship options for non-EU students are limited. There is the incredible Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship which pays a 10,000 euro annual stipend to students and waives off all the tuition and registration fees involved at the University. However, only 60 of these are given out every year so it’s extremely tough to get.

What is the starting salary for engineers in Ireland?

The Irish Engineering job market is quite resilient and didn’t face cataclysmic declines during recessions. There are multiple Fortune 500 companies in Ireland and an engineer can make an average starting salary of 50,000 euros.