Admission Procedure in IRELAND

Admission Procedure

Before submitting your application it is essential to gather as much information as possible about the course of study you are planning to take and the institution you are planning to attend.

Once you are happy with your choices you will need time to gather the necessary paperwork, arrange accommodation, visa, funding etc. Our advice would be to begin the application process at least one year in advance of your proposed arrival in Ireland.

Application Procedure

Higher Education Institutions:

With the exception of colleges in Northern Ireland, application for most full-time undergraduate courses is made through a Central Application Office (CAO). The CAO provides an application pack with a handbook which lists all the courses on offer and gives information on how to apply.The CAO may be contacted at :

Central Applications Office
Tower House
Eglington Street
Galway
Tel:+353 91 563269/509800
Fax: +353 91 562344
Website: http://www.cao.ie
Email: help@cao.ie help@cao.ie This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Application Dates & Fees:

Applicants should avoid submitting an application close to a Closing Date. The Closing Date cannot be extended.

Note: There are different fees for online and paper applications.

Residents outside the EU:(Past or present)

Application direct to HEIs:

In the case of the following HEIs, applicants who are now, or who have been in the past, reside outside the EU may be required to apply direct to these HEIs.

• American College, Dublin
• Athlone Institute of Technology
• Dublin Business School
• Dublin City University
• Dublin Institute of Technology
• Griffith College
• Institute of Technology Carlow
• Institute of Technology Sligo
• Institute of Technology Tralee
• National College of Ireland
• National University of Ireland Galway
• National University of Ireland Maynooth
• Portobello College
• Royal College of Surgeons
• Shannon College of Hotel Management
• Tipperary Institute
• Trinity College Dublin
• University College Cork
• University College Dublin
• University of Limerick

Such applicants must contact the Admissions Office of each of these HEIs in which they are interested to enquire whether they should apply through CAO or directly to the HEI. Different HEIs may have different policies.

Such enquiries should be made well in advance of the Closing Date of 1st February.

You may be able to view a HEI's policy on that HEI's website.

Applications for all other HEIs must apply through CAO. 

For all other programmes e.g. postgraduate, study abroad, etc., students should apply directly to the institutions of their choice.

Academic Entry Requirements

Access to third-level education is highly competitive in Ireland. Students compete for entry based on results achieved in the Irish Leaving Certificate Examination. Students are graded on their six best subjects scores. Entry requirements for courses may vary from year to year, depending on the number of places available and the number of applicants, thus there exists a great deal of competition for the more sought after programmes.

Overseas students wishing to study in Ireland have two options:

a) Attend secondary school in Ireland and complete the Leaving Certicate Examination with Irish students. This route is chosen by a number of students who commonly take the examination in conjunction with English langauge tuition.

b) Undertake recognised public examinations in their own countries. This is a more common route and it is essential that every applicant check that the educational qualifications she/he is presenting are adequate to satisfy entry requirements. To have a realistic prospect these results should be very good, e.g. for medicine 3 good 'A' Level passes (grades A/B) or the equilivent, in relevant subjects are required. The minimum requirement for most degree level programmes is 3 grade 'C's at A level or equivalent. If there is any doubt about the acceptability of an applicant's qualifications, clarification should be sought in good time from the particular third level institution.

As English is the language of instruction at all Irish Institutions of higher education, students must demonstrate a proficiency in English to be accepted for a third level programme. Generally, the required minimum score in TOEFL is 550. Many universities and colleges provide English Langauge training programmmes for intending students. Furthermore, there are over 110 private English language training schools throughout the country which run both short and long terms courses. For more information click here English Language Schools.

Eligibility under the"Undergraduate Free Fees Programme

The assessment for eligibility under the "Undergraduate Free Fees" is SEPARATE to the designation of an applicant as EU or Non EU. Any student liable to Full EU fees but Not eligible under the "Undergraduate Free Fees Scheme" as outlined below, may still be eligible for financial support toward their tuition through their local authority under the " Higher Education Grant Scheme". Applicants should contact their local authority for further information on the operation of this scheme.

In order for an applicant to qualify under the "Undergraduate Free Fees" scheme they must satisfy three tests:

• The Nationality Test
• The Residency Test
• The Previous Studies Test

The "Undergraduate Free Fees Scheme" covers the cost of the tuition fee payable which DOES NOT include the charge payable by students towards the cost of registration, examination and student services.

Undergraduate Free Fees- Nationality Test

In order for an applicant to satisfy the "Undergraduate Free Fees" National Test, the applicant must be national of an EU member state.

In addition, the following special categories of applicants will satisfy the Nationality test under the "Undergraduate Free Fees" scheme:

1. Persons who have refugee status in Ireland
2. Programme Refugees: persons who are invited to Ireland by the Government usually in response to a humanitarian crisis at the request of the UNHCR

Undergraduate Free Fees - Residency Test

The applicant must have ordinarily resided in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding entry to a third level course. Any time taken to acquire citizenship/refugee status may be included as part of the residency time period.

Undergraduate Free Fees - Previous Studies Test

Free Fees are not payable for students who:

• Are repeating a year, having failed their end of year examinations or as a result of changing courses
• Are undertaking a second undergraduate course
• Any student who has already attended but did not complete a certificate, diploma or degree programme

A Guide for non-European Union Applicants

A candidate will qualify for EU status where they meet the following criteria:

• They are a national of an EU member state and will be ordinarily resident in an EU member state for three of the five years prior to the commencement of the programme.
• They are a national of an EU member state and have received all their post-primary education within an EU member state
• They have been in full-time employment in an EU member state for three of the last five years prior to the commencement of the first year of the course. This applies to candidates over the age of 23
• They have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for three of the five years prior to the commencement of the programme and their parents have been in full - time employment in an EU member state for three of the five years prior to the commencement of the programme. This applies to candidates under the age of 23

The Nationality Test

In addition, the following categories of applicants will satisfy the Nationality test:

• Persons who have refugee status in Ireland.
• Persons who have permission to remain in the State as the spouse or the dependent relative of an Irish national.
• Persons who have permission to remain in the State as the spouse or the dependent relative of a person who has been granted refugee status in Ireland.
• Persons who have been granted temporary leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds, having been in the asylum process.
• Persons who have permission to remain in the State as the parents of an Irish citizen.

An applicant who feels that they qualify under one of these five special categories must support their application with the appropriate letter from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform indicating that they have been granted the appropriate status.

Any applicant satisfying the Nationality test will qualify for EU status and is liable to the full EU fee for the programme to which they are applying.

Any applicant who does not satisfy the Nationality test will not qualify for EU status and is liable to the Non-EU fee for the programme to which they are applying.

The assessment of EU and NON-EU status is determined at the point of the application and this status cannot be changed subsequent to first year registration.

( Source: http://www.educationireland.ie )