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Ireland

Study MBA in Ireland 2023

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Basic monthly living cost

  • Rent in a shared flat

    864

  • Share of utilities

    63

  • Internet subscription

    52

  • Local transportation

    100

Sample lifestyle cost

  • Fast food combo

    9

  • Cinema ticket

    12

  • Pint of local beer

    6

About Ireland

Ireland is a North Atlantic island separated from Great Britain by the St. Georges Channel, the Irish Sea and the North Channel. Divided into two political regions--the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Ireland as a whole island belongs to the Common Travel Area and is a member of the EU. Distinctions between the two jurisdictions include currencies (Northern Ireland used the pound sterling and the Republic of Ireland uses the euro) and governments (the RI is a parliamentary democracy and NI is fundamentally governed by the United Kingdom.

What Type of Schools Offer Business Degrees in Ireland?

Currently, the Republic of Ireland has seven universities and five colleges; Northern Island has three universities, two university colleges and six colleges. Ibat College in Dublin is an example of a college offering bachelor and master degrees in business, business administration, entrepreneurship and finance/accounting. Belfast and Ulster in Northern Ireland are home to several colleges and universities that also provide a variety of undergraduate and graduate business degrees.

Be aware that higher education in the Republic of Ireland is referred to as "third-level" education rather than tertiary or college-level education.

How Long is the Academic Year?

Classes begin in September and continue until May or June, depending on each school's academic calender plans. The academic year is interrrupted by several holidays recognized in Ireland, including the October Holiday, Christmas, New Years and Easter.

How Much is Tuition?

Irish and EU students may attend school under the "Free Fees Initiative" if they meet certain requirements. However, FFI students must pay registration fees amounting to 3000 EUR per academic year.

For international students, tuition costs vary among higher learning institutions and could range from 20,000 EUR ($24,000) to 35,000 EUR ($39,000) for undergraduate business degree programs that take three to four years to complete. Students must purchase textbooks and other items necessary to the program.

In addition, Ireland offers a support scheme to help students from developing countries pay for their business degrees,whereby such students need only pay EU fees. Alternately, non-EU students should seek financial assistance from their country's education department regarding scholarships and study abroad grants.

Why Earn a Business Degree in Ireland?

With nearly all Irish universities rank consistently in the top five percent globally, Ireland offers students the ability to receive internationally recognized degrees in an entrepreneur-friendly environment. Moreover, Ireland is an English-speaking country (aside from regional dialects in Northern Ireland that are difficult to understand) that facilitates traveling to many places in Europe as well as finding employment in many European countries because of its centralized location.

Visa Requirements

  • C study visa - If you wish to study in Ireland for less than 3 months
  • D study visa - If your course lasts longer than 3 months

What type of Visa do you need?

Visa name

Student Visa (C study visa; D study visa)

Price and currency

Irish student visa fees vary depending on your country of origin. Standard visa application processing fees are €60 (US$80) for a single-entry visa and €100 (US$135) for a multiple-entry visa.

Who can apply for the visa?

If you are a citizen of the EU or EEA (including Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) you do not need a student visa for Ireland in order to study in Ireland. There are a number of other countries that do not require Irish student visas or entry visas and these are listed here: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/visa_requirements_for_entering_ireland.html

For the citizens of non-EEA nations who come to study in Ireland, they must be enrolled in a full-time course under the Degree Programme (for Higher Education) or the Language and Non-Degree Programme of Ireland.

Regardless of whether or not you require a student visa for Ireland, if you are a student from a non-EEA country you must report to an immigration officer upon entry into Ireland to be granted permission to enter. You must do this within the district you intend to live.

Please note: Ireland is not a member of the Schengen Agreement. You will, therefore, still have to apply for an Irish visa even if you have a visa for a Schengen country.

Where can you make the application?

AVATS online facility

You must make your visa application online using the AVATS online facility. The online visa application facility is available worldwide and must be used by all applicants.

Website:https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx

How to make the application?

You must apply online for a visa. When you have completed the online application process, you must follow the instructions on the summary application form that is created by the online system. The summary form will contain information on where you are to submit your supporting documentation. The summary form, which you must print, sign, and date, must be submitted with your supporting documentation.

You will need to provide the following with your visa application (original documents are required and must be in English or accompanied by a notarized translation):

  • Letter of acceptance from a recognized school/college/university in Ireland confirming that you have been accepted on a course of study. This course of study must be full-time (lasting an academic year) and have a minimum of 15 hours per week study time.
  • Evidence of your academic ability to pursue the chosen course through the English language (unless it is an English language course).
  • Evidence that the fees for the course have been paid in full.
  • Evidence that you have enough funds (€7,000) to maintain yourself for the initial part of your stay.
  • Evidence that you or a sponsor have access to at least €7,000 for each subsequent year of your studies, in addition to the course fees for each of those years.
  • Evidence that you have private medical insurance.
  • An explanation of any gaps in your educational history.
  • Confirmation that you intend to return to your country of permanent residence when you leave Ireland.

When should you apply?

You can apply for a study visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland. You will need to make your student visa application at least a few months before traveling to Ireland.

Students from a non-EEA country who intend to study in Ireland for a period of more than 3 months must register, after they arrive, with the local immigration officer for the district in which they are living. Their passport will be endorsed with the conditions and period of time for which they have permission to remain. Students who do not require a visa must have €3,000 when they first register.

Bear in mind that an Irish student visa does not automatically allow multiple entries into the country. If you think you will need to leave the country and return during your studies, you will need to apply for a re-entry visa.

Processing time

3 Months

Work opportunities

If you are attending a course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), you will have stamp number 2 endorsed on your passport when you register with your local immigration officer. You will be allowed to take up casual employment of up to 20 hours part-time work per week in term time or up to 40 hours per week during college vacation periods, that is, from June to September inclusive and from 15 December to 15 January.

If you are not attending such a course, you will not be entitled to take up part-time work or engage in any business or profession. You will then get stamp number 2A on your passport.

Hours per week

20

Why do you need this type of visa?

Some of the reasons why a student visa to Ireland may be denied are the following:

  • If there are no sufficient funds to cover the entire visit/study in Ireland.
  • If the proposed study has not had a logical pathway.
  • If there are inconsistencies, misleading information, or fraudulent documents.