As it is a known fact that many countries have been affected by the slow-down and the ease of doing business requires reforms like more local courts, setting up a fast-track commercial dispute resolution mechanism, land data digitisation and contract enforcement protections. Enterprise Ireland – is an Irish state economic development agency that is responsible for bringing Irish businesses to India and setting up Indian businesses in Ireland.
Ranking 24th in the Ease of Doing Business index, Ireland provides an understanding atmosphere and opportunities in education, managing development licences, getting acknowledgement for businesses, settling indebtedness to name a few. Lately, post-Brexit Ireland is wooing Indian companies to set their foot in the European markets and plans to get 80 Indian (mainly targeting tier 2 cities) companies by 2022 in Ireland.
Ireland has a distinct advantage over other EU countries as it will be the only country after UK which is English speaking. In an interview with stoodnt.com, Barry O’Driscoll – Senior Adviser, Education in Ireland, shared key opportunities available in Ireland for higher education.
A selected excerpt –
What are the opportunities in higher education for Indian students in Ireland?
Ireland has a long history as being a centre of excellence in education and location for world class research. The Irish higher education institutions offer over 5,000 programmes of study for students across undergraduate, postgraduate and Phd levels and the majority of these are open to international students. More and more international students are choosing to study in Ireland. There are over 40,000 international students currently studying at higher level in Ireland. The country offers a buzzing, multicultural society where students will certainly find the highest of education standards and warmest of welcomes. Clubs and societies play a significant role in campus life.
There are about 200 merit-based scholarships on offer directly from the HEIs, ranging from 10% to 50% fee waivers, across all disciplines. Interested students should visit www.educationinireland.com
Which areas of study should an Indian student consider enrolling in Ireland?
Indian students with interests across all disciples should consider Ireland, as there is a vast range of programmes on offer, including at masters level. In the last few years the most sought after courses in Ireland have included mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, biotechnology, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cyber security, accounting / finance and MBA. It is also clear that there is now an increased level of interest in other programmes as communications and media, graphic design, arts, humanities and hospitality and hotel management.
It is worth mentioning as well that Irish universities are ranked in the top 1% in the world, in 19 fields of research, Irish universities are. For example we are ranked second in the world for nanotechnology, second for immunology, second for chemistry, third for agricultural sciences and fourth in the world for mathematics. A network of applied research centres within Ireland’s higher education system, as well as a robust Phd framework play important roles in fostering continuous innovation. Read more about Study in Ireland for Indian Students.
How easy is it to get a student visa for Ireland?
There is generally a high approval rate for Indian students with an offer from an Irish higher education institution, and who can show that they have the appropriate level of funding in place to cover the course fees and cost of living. In February, as part of the Education in Ireland roadshow, students can meet with the government of Ireland visa officers to understand the process of applying for study visas for Ireland and the paperwork required.
Which are the main education destinations in the country?
Ireland has 33 higher education institutions represented by the Education in Ireland brand, There are a significant number of students in the main four cities in Ireland, namely, Dublin, our capital city, as well as Cork, Limerick and Galway. There are also a growing number of students choosing to study at higher education institutions in Ireland’s regional cities and towns, such as Waterford, Athlone, Dundalk and Letterkenny.
What is the cost of studying in Ireland?
Course fees are from €10K per year upwards. The average cost of a masters per year, would come in at around €13K or €14K. The cost of living can range from €10K to €15K per year depending on lifestyle and whether the student is living in the capital city, Dublin, or a smaller regional city which is generally cheaper. The costs are laid out in our student guide, here on page 10: https://www.educationinireland.com/en/Publications/Education-in-Ireland-brochure-2019.pdf
Do you think language could be a barrier for Indian students? Explain
No. Ireland is an English speaking country and as long as the student has the required level of English (as certified by IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent), there should be no barrier from a language point of view.
What are the things that an Indian student should keep in mind/prepare for while going to study in Ireland?
Masters students should note that the vast majority of masters courses in Ireland have a duration of one year. At masters level, international, (non-EU) students can avail of a Stay Back Visa which will allow the student to remain in Ireland for a further two years to look for employment opportunities. With over 1,000 multinational companies with operations in Ireland, there are good opportunities for many international students to get work experience and / or kick start their careers in Ireland.
Advantages of studying in Ireland
Ireland should definitely now be considered as one of the top study destinations for Indian students. In fact Ireland is already on the radar for an increasing number of Indians looking to study abroad. We are an English speaking country with a long tradition in education. All of Ireland’s universities are ranked in the top 5% globally and Ireland’s Institutes of Technology are renowned for their close links with industry and their highly employable graduates. Currently there are close to 5,000 Indians studying in Ireland in higher education. This includes undergraduate, postgraduate and Phd, although around 90% of Indians are postgraduate students.
How is your organization helping students get admitted to colleges and universities in Ireland?
Education in Ireland will be hosting the government of Ireland’s education roadshow in February 2020. This will be a series of education fairs across five cities in India with 20 of Ireland’s top higher education institutions participating. Students and parents can meet with admissions officers and academics to discuss options for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. They can also meet with government of Ireland visa officers to understand the process of applying for study visas for Ireland.
What are the job opportunities for Indian students during and after study?
A key advantage of studying in Ireland is that students can avail of up to two years ‘stay-back’ option after completing their course, at postgraduate level. This guarantees students the opportunity to remain in Ireland for a period of one year to seek employment in dynamic sectors such as ICT, biopharma, engineering, medical devices, food science and financial services. The possibility of gaining valuable post-study work experience, makes Ireland a very compelling option for the Indian students. With over 1,000 multinationals based in Ireland, the country offers exciting career opportunities for talented graduates.