Student Visa in Ireland

FAQs: Ireland

Travelling to Ireland for study

If you would like to study in Ireland and require a visa, you will need to present the the necessary documentation to your nearest Irish embassy or consulate with your visa application.

Where to apply

Visa applications should be made to the Irish Embassy or Consulate in or accredited to the country in which you normally reside. If there is no Irish Embassy or Consulate in your country of permanent residence or home State, you may make the application at your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate or direct to the Visa Office, Department of Foreign Affairs, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.

Please note that, although applications may be made through the Department of Foreign Affairs, the decision on visa applications will be made by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Visa Application form

Diplomatic and Consular Information for Pakistan

HONORARY CONSUL

Address:

29 Ground Floor, Sidco Avenue Centre, Moulana Din Mohammad Wafai Road Karachi- Telephone: +92 21 920 6654, + 92 21 920 6655, Fax: +92 21 920 6656

Email: irishcons@cyber.net.pk

Position Name

Honorary Consul Hasib Ahsan Mozaffar

Diplomatic Representation for Pakistan is handled by the Embassy in Iran

Education & Research Information

There are nine universities in Ireland - 2 in Northern Ireland and 7 in the Republic. The University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD), founded in 1592, is the oldest university in Ireland. The National University of Ireland (NUI) is a federal institute consisting of four constituent universities; University College Dublin, National University of Ireland Dublin; University College Cork, National University of Ireland Cork; National University of Ireland Galway and National University of Ireland Maynooth. NUI also has three recognised colleges: National College of Art and Design (NCAD), The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and St. Angela's College of Education. The University of Limerick (UL) and Dublin City University (DCU) are our newest universities and were founded in 1989. The two universities in Northern Ireland are: the University of Ulster (UU) and the Queen's University of Belfast (QUB).

In addition to offering degrees at Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate levels, over a full range of disciplines, the universities and colleges also undertake research in many areas. Undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas are also available and universities are involved in continuing and distance education programmes (aimed mainly at Irish residents).

Institutes of Technology

There are currently 14 Institutes of Technology located throughout the Republic offering programmes at degree, national diploma and national certificate levels in a wide variety of subjects. Their qualifications are externally validated by Ireland's national certification authority, which ensures that their qualifications reach the highest international standards. Many of the Institutes of Technology also run postgraduate diploma and degree programmes, both taught and research.

Colleges of Education

There are five Colleges of Education for primary school teachers. These colleges offer three year full time courses leading to a B.Ed degree which is the recognised qualification for primary school teaching.

Independent Third Level Colleges

These colleges offer programmes leading to certificates, diplomas and degrees, which have received recognition by Ireland's national certification authority or from other external accreditation institutions (such as universities). Courses on offer include: Accountancy and Business Studies, Law, Humanities, Hotel & Catering, Tourism Studies and Art.

Study Programmes Available to Overseas Students

In addition to full undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, Irish universities offer a wide selection of study programmes involving credit transfer arrangements with overseas universities and colleges. These range from Summer programmes, to semester programmes, to full academic year programmes in a broad spectrum of faculties. These programmes include:

Junior Year Abroad (JYA) and Study Abroad Programmes (mainly aimed at non E.U. students)

SOCRATES (Applicable to citizens of Member States of the E.U. as well as to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). SOCRATES aims to promote the concept of lifelong learning in response to constantly evolving education and training needs. There is a variety of programmes promoted by SOCRATES, including:

ERASMUS (higher education) LINGUA (language-learning)

Student Expenses

The main costs that students can expect to incur while in Ireland include fees*, accommodation and living expenses. These vary considerably depending on the course, the institution and the lifestyle of the student.

*Third level education in Ireland is free for students who are

· first-time undergraduates and,

· are E.U. nationals and have been ordinarily resident in an E.U. Member State for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third-level course.

The universities and colleges have a small number of scholarships for overseas students. Students are advised to contact the institution directly to obtain further information.

Application Procedures

Studying overseas is a very enriching experience however it can be quite costly, hence it is worth spending time and consideration choosing the most suitable programme and most appropriate institution.

Apart from the universities in Northern Ireland, application for most full-time undergraduate courses is made through a Central Applications Office (CAO). The CAO provides an applications pack with a handbook which lists all the courses on offer and gives information on how to apply.