3 FAQ’s About Studying in Ireland – Admissions, Visa and Scholarships
Hello everyone. I never knew that there would be an overwhelming response to people wanting to know more about coming to Study in Ireland. Thanks for the pleasant comments in previous articles about Studying in Ireland. I cannot answer all the comments, as it very difficult to address each one because in some way or the other they and they are almost all connected. I will cover the following topics here:
- Study Visa for Ireland
- Applying to Ireland Universities
- Scholarships and Financial Aid in Ireland
1. Applying to Universities in Ireland
The best part about applying to universities in Ireland – they don’t require a GRE test score, unlike the universities in the US, where GRE score is mandatory.
The only requirements are a decent IELTS score and a completed undergraduate degree. That’s it. I need not say more.
The IELTS minimum score required is 5.0, however, it is recommended you get at least a 6.5 to be considered in a reputed university in Ireland.
In case you have a gap after your graduation, it is highly advisable that you have a document explaining the gap, which can either be in the form of work experience or some medical certificates.
2. Study Visa For Ireland
There is no visa interview, so all you need to do is walk into the Visa Application Center (VAC) and drop off your original documents. Link to VAC Ireland in India.
- If your course lasts longer than three months, you should apply for a ‘D study visa‘ (long stay D Visa)
- You can apply for a study visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland.
Overview of Study Visa for Ireland Application Steps
- Complete Online Application for D Study Visa.
- Print Summary Form (Date and Sign)
- Create an Account at VFS Site
- Pay Visa Fee Online at VFS Site
- Book Your Appointment
- Print Appointment Confirmation and Payment Receipt
- Prepare Original Documents (see below)
- Attend the VAC at your appointment time
How to apply for D Study Visa for Ireland?
The first step is to complete the application online for Study Visa in Ireland (Link to Apply for Ireland Visa)
After completing the online application, follow the instructions on the confirmation page. The summary form will contain information on where you are to submit your supporting documentation (Visa Application Center, operated by VFS Global near you).
Don’t forget to print, sign and date on the Summary Page before submitting it at VFS center along with your supporting documentation.
While at VAC, you will be asked to provide your Biometrics information (fingerprints).
List of Documents to get Ireland Student Visa:
- Passport Photos
- Current and Full copy of Old Passport
- A Signed application letter
- Reasons for visit
- Agree you would follow the law and rules
- What will you study
- College Admission letter
- Evidence for any gaps in career
- Academic Qualification
- 10th Mark sheets
- 12th Mark Sheet
- Previous Degree Certificate (or Diploma)
- Semesterwise transcripts (if available)
- Test Score Report
- Financial documents
- Bank Statements
- Letter from the Bank – dates within the last 6 months
- Bank Loan papers (if any)
- Other financial documents
You would apply for the Ireland Student Visa after getting an offer letter from the university in Ireland. Please check for the updated list of the documents here.
The documents needed to apply for the University standard set of documents that one would need to apply for any Graduate School:
- Transcripts
- Test Scores (if any)
- Statement of Purpose
- IELTS Score
- Recommendation Letters
There are two ways to apply for a Study visa for Ireland:
- Pay the full course fee and apply (refundable if visa rejected)
- Pay €500 (non-refundable) to the university and apply for a conditional visa. This is called AIP (Approval In Principle)
In both the cases, you get a reply from the VFS in three days to eight weeks.
The stronger your application is and the earlier you apply, the sooner you should receive a notification of the Visa Approval to Study in Ireland.
It should be noted that in the second case (from above) you have 14 days to apply back for a visa by submitting your passport with a fee payment receipt and medical insurance for a year.
More information can be found on in
Once you have your passport stamped, book your flight tickets to Ireland.
Visa rejections to Ireland are so rare that you really don’t have to worry about it.
3. Scholarships and Financial Aid in Ireland
As asked in one of the comments by Ranjana, scholarships are plenty here.
The same old rules apply. Apply to the college early, have a strong application, request for scholarship explicitly and you will definitely get it.
You can get at least €1000 – €2000 depending on your course. It can go up to even a full scholarship.
In fact, if you are really brilliant, you can also get a stipend to pay for your personal expenses of €750.00 per month apart from a full scholarship.
Next: Job Market in Ireland is Brutal if You Not Studying These 2 Majors
