Third Level Education in Ireland

If you are moving to Ireland in order to study, you will need to explore the full range of options available to you.

The third-level education sector in Ireland consists of universities, Institutes of Technology, and teacher training colleges.

Universities

Universities in Ireland are state-funded, but they are generally autonomous. You can choose from 4 universities in Ireland. These include:

• The National University of Ireland (NUI), which is the umbrella university covering University College Dublin, University College Galway, University College Cork, and St Patrick's College in Maynooth. The NUI also has 3 recognised colleges. These are the National College of Art and Design, the Royal College of Surgeons and St. Angela's College of Education.
• The University of Dublin, which is generally known as Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
• The University of Limerick (UL)
• Dublin City University (DCU)

Institutes of Technology

There are 14 Institutes of Technology located around the country. There are colleges located in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Tralee, Dundalk, Athlone, Galway, Sligo, Letterkenny, Limerick, Castlebar and Carlow. These colleges run courses in Engineering, Computing, Science, Business, Catering and a wide range of other areas.

Students generally qualify with a National Certificate or Diploma, although Degree courses are also available in some colleges.

Colleges of Education

There are five Colleges of Education in Ireland, providing specialised training for primary school teachers. These are all located in Dublin, with the exception of the Mary Immaculate College of Education, which is based in Limerick.

Private Colleges

In addition to the state-funded colleges, there are a number of fee-paying third-level educational institutions offering courses, mainly in professional vocational training and business. Some of these colleges are linked to universities or professional associations and their qualifications may be accredited accordingly. Others offer National Council For Educational Awards (NCEA) accreditation. It is important to check out the accreditation on offer before you choose your course.

Picking a course

The Central Applications Office (CAO), which is based in Galway, operates a centralised applications procedure for all third-level colleges. The CAO produces an annual booklet listing all of the third-level courses on offer through their system. This is a useful place to start. Pick out a small number of courses that are of particular interest and send away to the relevant colleges for further, detailed information.

The Points System

Entrance to third-level education in Ireland is generally decided by competition. At the end of their secondary school education, students sit the Leaving Certificate exam and their grades are converted into numerical points based on scores in their 6 best subjects. These points are calculated and third-level places are awarded on that basis.

Recognition of qualifications from other countries

If you have taken your secondary school exams under another system in another country, you will need to check whether your qualifications will be sufficient to secure a place in the Irish third-level course of your choice. Contact the college directly to confirm this before making your application.

English Language Requirements

English is the language of instruction at all third-level colleges in Ireland (some colleges also instruct in the Irish language) so you will need to show that you are proficient in the language before you will be accepted on a course. You may be able to take English courses at the college of your choice, but if these are not available there are a number of private English language colleges around the country.

Visas

• If you are travelling from a country that requires a visa to enter Ireland, you should contact the Irish diplomatic mission in your home country before you travel. If there is no such diplomatic mission in your country, write well in advance to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, and ask for a visa application form. You will be asked to provide:
  

• A valid passport number

• The date of issue and the expiry date of your passport

• The date, place and mode of your arrival in Ireland

• A letter from the college that has offered you a place

• A letter explaining where you will get sufficient funds to cover fees and maintenance

• Recent passport photographs

• Visa application fee.

Mature Students

A small number of places are retained for mature students, those over the age of 23. These places are designed to improve access to third-level for adults who may not have sufficient points from their Leaving Certificate to compete with school-leavers. If you are interested in applying for one of these places, you will need to apply directly to the college of your choice, rather than through the CAO.

There are a number of part-time and modular courses and distance education options available if the full-time education option does not suit your circumstances.

Rates - back to top

If you are a European Union national or if you are normally resident in Ireland, you will not be charged fees for approved courses in state-run universities and Institutes of Technology, although you may have to pay a small amount for registration, exams, etc. You may be eligible for a maintenance grant.

If you choose to enrol in a private college, you will have to pay annual fees. These vary from college to college. Tax relief at standard rate is available for fees in approved private colleges.


If you are applying for a place at third level as an overseas student, you will be charged full tuition fees and you will not be eligible for maintenance grants.

How to apply - back to top

Apply to the Central Applications Office (CAO) using a CAO application form. You can list up to 10 Degree and 10 Certificate or Diploma courses, in order of preference, on your application form. Make sure that you enclose the appropriate fee with your application.

For participating higher education institutions, application can be made on-line through the CAO.


Application deadlines for EU nationals - back to top
Your application should be submitted by 1 February at the latest if you are an EU national.

If you miss the February deadline, you can submit your application up to 1 July. You will have to pay an additional "late fee".

Application deadlines for non-EU nationals - back to top

If you are a non-EU national, you should have your application in by 15 December of the year before you plan to start your studies.

Where to apply - back to top

Apply directly to the CAO office in Galway if you are a school-leaver and you are applying for an undergraduate place. If you are applying as an overseas student, check the procedures with the CAO before you make your application as some colleges take applications directly from overseas students.

Apply directly to the Admissions Office of the college of your choice if you are applying for a mature student place or if you are applying for other courses such as postgraduate or "study abroad".

Central Admissions Office,
Tower House,
Eglinton Street,
Galway.
Tel: 091 509 800
Web site:http://www.cao.ie

This information has been adapted from the Charter from Oasis, Public Service Information for Life, an Irish eGovernment system providing access to comprehensive information on public services. For more details, visit
www.oasis.gov.ie