Study in Ireland from Nigeria

With overseas education becoming expensive day by day, it is no wonder international students feel the heat to study abroad. But some countries lessen the financial burden of students by providing affordable education. Ireland is undoubtedly one among many countries that strives to provide affordable education and focus on lessening the extra or unnecessary financial burden for its International students. 

Let us see some of the benefits or advantages for students who seek to study in Ireland.

• Experience World-class education.
• Can choose from the pool of part-time jobs.
• Affordable education and living costs.
• English is the mainstream language for education.
• Vast career opportunities
• Cultural diversity
• Can experience the structured transportation service of Ireland.

There are many more benefits like safety, career development, research opportunities that International students in Ireland can do and experience.

The Education System in Ireland is divided into four categories - primary (first-level), second-level, third-level and further level education. Also, the education system in Ireland says that it is compulsory for kids aged 6 to 16 to attend school. The schools in Ireland are completely government-funded for all levels of education. If necessary, parents can send their kids to a private school also, but that is not government funded.

Primary education is for students aged 4 to 11 or students aged 6 to 11. 

Secondary education is for students aged 12 to 18. Secondary education in Ireland follows a cycle system where the students have to complete a three-year junior cycle and a two or three-year senior cycle. In the final two years of the three-year senior cycle, students attend one of the three programmes for which they will have to sit in a state-level examination. 

The three programs mentioned above are the Established Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, and Leaving Certificate Applied Programme. If students complete these five or six years of secondary education, they have obtained the Junior certification by completing the Junior Cycle Examination.

The next is the transition year that follows the Junior certification. During this year, students are free from taking the formal examination. Instead, they are exposed to practical study and are made to have real work experience.

The third level of education is the college study which students aged above 18 attend. The third level of education can be achieved by attending one of the sectors, which are -  the university sector, the technological sector or institute of technology (IoT) and colleges of education. These three institutions provide college education to native Ireland students as well as International students.

If you wish to study overseas or abroad, you should particularly know the intakes which are nothing but the application submission period. It is essential because if you miss the intake periods, you have to wait for a longer period of time before again submitting the application. So to help you not miss the intake period, we are mentioning the Intakes in Ireland. It is to be noted that “Intake” is also known as “Semester” in Ireland.

In Ireland, there are primarily two Intakes that happen in a year, unlike in India, where only one Intake happens. The two primary intakes are Autumn Intake and Spring Intake.

• Autumn Intake - Starts in September and ends in December.
• Spring Intake - Starts in Late January and ends in May.