I Want to Study in Ireland • Maggie Cardosi, University College Dublin • Antonio de Linares, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin • Jeff Bates, Senior Associate Director of College Counseling, Rye Country Day School STUDY IN IRELAND A Guide to Irish University Admissions Maggie Cardosi, University College Dublin Antonio de Linares, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin IRELAND IN THE MAP IRELAND IRISH SCENERY IRELAND: THE MULTI- NATIONAL HUB 8 of the top ten gaming companies 9 of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies STUDYING IN IRELAND • Youngest Population in Europe: 50% under the age 0f 35. • Land of “saints & scholars”. • Ireland is recognized throughout the world as a seat of learning in Europe and offers globally recognized qualifications in a broad range of subject areas • 7 Universities: All publicly funded, secular institutions and degree programs may be 3 or 4 years in length. • Campuses range from small to large in size, urban or countryside settings, and modern to medieval buildings. STUDENT LIFE IN IRELAND • Irish universities host over 35,000 international students every year from 161 countries. • Wide array of campus services, as well as hundreds of clubs and societies. • On-Campus housing is available for international students during their first year. • International students are authorized to work up to 20 hours per week when school is in session. • International students are required to have private health insurance. • Students from the United States and Canada DO NOT need a visa! CAREER OUTCOMES • 1 year stay back visa for all international students after graduation. • 87 % of international graduates employed nine months after graduation or committed to further education (Irish Higher Education Authority 2016): 33% employed in Ireland. 23% employed overseas. • Irish universities leading in producing entrepreneurs in Europe in the last 5 years (PitchBook, The Universities Report, 2015) APPLICATION PROCESS: WHAT YOU NEED Students from the US may apply to Irish universities with the same materials required by domestic institutions Students should submit the following: Up-to-date High School Transcript Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT and/or AP exams) 2 Letters of Recommendation Personal Statement (approx. 500 words) Application fees vary by university, but are typically about $50- 60. Applications open in October or November (dependent upon the university) and close on July 1st; however, students are encouraged to apply by early January to ensure a timely decision and availability of scholarship funding. APPLICATION PROCESS: THINGS TO REMEMBER Students should apply directly to an individual university, as Ireland does not offer a centralized application such as the UCAS or Common Application. Irish degrees are very focused in nature, and students must apply directly to a degree program (English, Business, Science, etc.) rather than to the university as a whole. Entry requirements vary dependent upon the degree program and individual university. Minimum entry requirements for less competitive programs may be 3.0 GPA along with a 1500 SAT/22 ACT, while more competitive programs may ask for a 3.7 GPA with a 1950 SAT/29 ACT as well as AP or SAT II exams. Admissions decisions are generally weighed more heavily on a student’s academic achievement, although supplemental materials such as letters of recommendation and personal statements may be required. APPLICATION PROCESS: TRANSFERRING Due to the focused nature of Irish degrees, transferring between programs and universities is fairly uncommon and may require a student to take additional courses, delaying the completion of a bachelor’s degree. High school students are therefore encouraged to research and carefully consider their options before accepting an offer of admission to ensure that the program is the best fit. Current university students who wish to transfer to an Irish university should apply via the same application as students entering from high school and then inquire about Recognition of Prior Learning (transfer credit). This process is done on a case-by-case basis and may not be provided at every university. Because Irish degrees are so specialized, transfer students may not be granted the same status as that at an American institution. TUITION AND HOUSING FEES Tuition fees vary dependent upon a student’s program of study and university, with fees for classroom based programs (Arts, Business, Law, etc.) being less expensive and lab based programs (Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, etc.) being more expensive. Tuition fees for the 2016/2017 school year range from €12,000 to €22,400 approx. $14,000 to $25,500) across the seven Irish Universities. Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry fees range from approximately €40,000 to €45,000 (approx. $45,000 to $51,000) per year. On-campus accommodation may be either catered or non-catered, and costs range from approximately €5,000 t0 €10,000 ($6,000 to $11,500) per year. Food, books, travel expenses and other additional living costs may range from €5,000 to €8,000 ($6,000 t0 $9,000) per year. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUNDING Many Irish universities offer scholarships specifically for international students, so students should contact each university individually to enquire about funding. Funding may not be available after a certain point in the application cycle, so student are encouraged to apply to university programs by early January. Most Irish universities are eligible to receive US Federal Aid funding through Direct Loan program. Some universities may also accept US Veterans Benefits, such as the GI Bill. FURTHER RESOURCES For more information about studying in Ireland, you can visit the Education in Ireland website at http://www.educationinireland.com/en/. You can also find more information about each of the Irish universities on the following websites: http://www.ucd.ie/international/ https://www.tcd.ie/study/non-eu/ http://www.dcu.ie/international/index.shtml https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/international http://www.nuigalway.ie/international-students/ http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/ http://www.ul.ie/international/ THANK YOU AND STAY IN TOUCH! Maggie Cardosi Antonio de Linares [email protected] [email protected] (646) 632-3781 (+ 353) 1 8964673 www.ucd.ie/international www.tcd.ie/globalrelations Counseling Applicants to Irish Universities What kind of student may be the best fit for study in Ireland? Independent Adventurous Focused Passionate Independent Reasons why a student might choose to explore Irish University study Program Family Cost Culture Average Course Fees Course Cost in Euros Cost in Dollars Medicine 37,000 - 52,000 41,000 – 58,000 Engineering 10,000 – 21,000 11,150 – 23,500 Science & Tech 10,000 – 21,600 11,150 – 24,100 Arts & Humanities 10,000 – 16,500 11,150 – 18,400 Business 10,000 – 16,000 11,150 – 17,850 It is important to note that the cost of tuition in American Dollars is subject to potentially changing exchange rates. These expenses do not include Room and Board fees or the cost of living off campus. How to apply to Irish Universities Qualifications Review Application Thank You for Attending! Questions?.