About Ireland

Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. Half the size of Arkansas, it occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland

Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George’s Channel. Ireland is the second-largest Island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest on Earth. Ireland is known for its industries like: Financial, Information Technology, Pharmacy etc. Moreover, many renowned Celebrities hail from Ireland from the field of entertainment, hospitality, literature etc. namely : Fiona Shaw – actress, the Harry Potter movies, Darina Allen – Irish personality and TV chef, Evanna Lynch – actress, Harry Potter films, Michael Carruth – Olympic gold medal winner, boxing. Some of the highlights includes:

Land area: 26,598 sq. mi (68,889 sq km); total area: 27,135 sq. mi (70,280 sq. km)

Population (2014 est.): 4,832,765 (growth rate: 1.2%); birth rate: 15.18/1000; infant Mortality rate: 3.74/1000; life expectancy: 80.56

Capital (2016 est.): Dublin, 1.2 million

Monetary unit: Euro

National name: Éire

Ireland’s climate is influenced most by the Atlantic Ocean. April is the driest month generally, but in many southern parts June is the driest. July is the hottest month in Dublin with an average temperature of 16°C (60°F) and the coldest is January at 5°C (41°F) with the most daily sunshine hours at 6.3 in May.

The wettest month is August with an average of 80mm of rain. In winter, Ireland rarely sees snow, as winters here are usually mild. In the mountains, snow is not uncommon. Summers in Ireland are not extreme either. It is unusual for the temperature to rise above 20 or 25 °C. June and July are the warmest and sunniest months.

Security at international airports is now very tight and there will be a number of items that you will not be permitted to carry in your hand luggage such as scissors and knives. Your airline will be able to provide a list of prohibited items. Some of the well-known airports of Ireland are:

  • Dublin Airport,
  • Shannon Airport,
  • Waterford airport,
  • Galway Airport,
  • Cork Airport,
  • Weston Airport etc.
  • Name : Irish Tricolour
  • Use: National Flag and Ensign
  • Proportion: 1:2
  • Adopted: 1922 (Constitutional status; 1937)
  • Design : A Vertical Tricolour of Green, White, and Orange.

Banking

Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. The Bank occupies a unique position in Irish banking history. At the core of the modern-day group is the old Bank of Ireland. The headquarters of the bank until the 1970s was the impressive Bank of Ireland building on College Green, Dublin.

Bank of Ireland banknotes features the Bank of Ireland logo, below which is a line of heraldic shields each representing one of the six counties of Northern Ireland. Example: 5 pound note, blue, 10 pound note, pink, 20 pound note, green, 50 pound note, blue-green. Some of the well know banks of Ireland are: Allied Irish Banks. Bank of Ireland.,Danske Bank, Permanent TSB, KBC Bank,  Rabobank (Ireland) , Ulster Bank etc.

Currency

In the Republic of Ireland, the official currency is the euro. One euro consists of 100 cent.

Notes are €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.

Coins are 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2.

In Northern Ireland, pound sterling is the local currency. One pound sterling consists of 100 pence.

Notes are £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100.

Coins are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2

Ireland is considered to be one of the best travel destinations. Some of the best places to see in Ireland are:

1. Dublin is a perfect destination for the whole family with amazing hotels, and kids can enjoy in Dublin Zoo, go around Phoenix Park etc.

2. Killarney is a walking town, and every trail is a history lesson. Journey on foot through Ireland’s first national park, 26,000 acres of woodlands, Sandstone Mountains and low-lying lakes.

3. Galway For visitors, the best thing about Galway is that you can walk everywhere. As soon as you arrive, enjoy a walk through the city streets. There, you’ll find lively pubs, independent shops and winding cobblestone streets packed with students, artists, writers and craftspeople.

4.Cork. Ireland’s third– largest city began life as an island and now spans both banks of the River Lee, with watery channels running beneath some of its main thoroughfares.

5. Westport – A true family destination, Westport boasts magnificent scenery, golf facilities, recreational fishing, sailing and yachting, beach swimming, hiking and cycling trails, and a placed called Pirate Adventure Park.

6. Donegal Town is a fairy-tale of a place, featuring a charming harbour, serene beaches and stoic stone remains of centuries past, like those of 15th-century.

Budgeting

Your Budget should include the cost of food, rent, clothing, travel and of course entertainment.

For an International student studying in College or University, approximately AUSD 320 should cover a week’s expenses of the above including a few extras such as telephones and incidentals.

School children would require less, approx. AUSD 265 per week for the same overheads.

However, individual lifestyles and location could influence this estimate, which is only a fair indicative of an average international student’s lifestyle.

Money and Banks

The only legal tender is Australian currency. One can change any international currency to the Australian currency at registered forex facilities available at the airport, banks, major hotels and even some malls.

Traveller cheques are more easily accepted if already made out in AUS dollars. However other currency TCs may be cashed in at banks, hotels etc.

Once a student has made themselves comfortable, it is a good idea to open an account with a local bank branch. Several banks both of Australian origin as well as from other countries are represented here and so the banking services can be quite competitive.

Day to day banking has become very easy in Australia too, as it has all over the world, with Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), 24 hour banking being available as well the acceptance of credit and debit cards at most shopping outlets including grocery and convenience stores.

Normal bank trading hours

9.30 am – 4.00 pm Monday to Thursday
9.30 am – 5.00 pm Friday
Some banks are also open Saturday morning

Credit Cards

Credit cards are widely accepted around Australia. The most commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Bank card, Diners International, Master Card, Visa and their affiliates.

Currency

The currency of Australia is the Australian Dollar and Cents.

The Dollar comes in notes of denomination 5, 10, 50 and 100, whilst the Coins are available in 5,10,20,50 cents, 1AUSD and 2AUSD.

Australia is the first country to introduce plastic currency in the form of polymer banknotes, as far back as in the 1880s – a world’s first. These notes have since been known to offer benefits such as security as well as easier handling, hardiness and recycling possibilities. This again underlines Australia’s prowess in ingenuity and leadership.

Tipping

Tipping is not the norm in Australia. In smaller cafes etc loose change from return of the bill may be left behind by the patrons, but not expected. In larger sit-down restaurants and hotels a 5-10% tip is accepted if given but not expected by the staff.

In taxis too all change is returned to the customer unless asked to round off to the nearest dollar.

Education System In Ireland

Education is compulsory for children in Ireland from the ages of six to sixteen or until students have completed three years of second-level education.

The basic steps for applying are:

  • Choosing your required programme
  • Identifying Universities
  • Health documents, if required
  • Taking various required tests like IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT, etc.
  • Arranging and preparing essays and recommendation letters
  • Completing and sending application forms along with required documents
  • Applying for VISA after obtaining unconditional offer from the universities

The higher education system in Ireland consists of the university sector, institutes of technology and private independent colleges. The entry requirements for international students to higher education are determined individually by each institution and are generally based on national examination performance and English language aptitude. The NFQ Level 9 ( Master’s and Postgraduate diploma) and NFQ Level 10 (Doctorate degree).

Admission Requirement:

3 years or 4 years Bachelor Degree

IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0

Tuition Fees:  PG – 13,250 – 14,000 euros

Stay Back – Masters (NFQ Level 9 and NFQ Level 10) – 2 years’ work permit.

The undergraduate programs namely Bachelor’s degree is 3 years. Ordinary Bachelor’s degree is of level NFQ 7 and Honours bachelor’s degree

Higher diploma is of level NFQ 8.

Admission Requirement :

12th Standard

IELTS with no band less than 5.5 and overall 6.0

Tuition Fees: UG – 12,000 – 18,000 Euros/annum

Stay Back – Bachelor’s degree is of level NFQ 7 and Honours bachelor’s degree and Higher diploma is of level NFQ 8.– 1 year work permit

Whatever level and type of course you choose, you can expect to benefit from the highest quality of teaching and research, backed up by rigorous quality assessment. The Ireland leads the world in developing quality standards and performance measures. In fact, the Ireland is so committed to quality that the results of several of these assessments are publicly available for you to consult.

Studying in Ireland:

  • STUDY in one of the best education systems in the world for Higher Education Achievements
  • BENEFIT from Ireland’s investment in the education system
  • CHOOSE from over 5000 internationally recognised qualifications
  • ACCESS world-class research opportunities in world-leading programmes
  • CONNECT with career opportunities with leading global companies located in Ireland
  • ACHIEVE your ambitions in Europe’s most entrepreneurial country
  • JOIN the 35,000 international students from 161 countries enjoying Ireland’s vibrant culture
  • LIVE in the only English speaking country in the Euro Zone
  • EXPERIENCE living in one of the friendliest and safest countries in the world.

The most popular undergraduate qualifications are the Bachelor’s degrees (also called undergraduate or first degrees), which are now required for entry into a wide range of careers in the Ireland and other countries. Degree programmes incorporate the most up-to-date subject developments, and are underpinned by world-class research and links with business and industry. Many universities and colleges now co-operate to deliver degree courses, and this has further increased the number and variety of courses and study environments.

Some of the Bachelor courses are: Bachelor of Business in Management, Engineering, Marketing, Hotel Management. These comes under NFQ Level 7.

Some of the Master’s Course are: Master of Business Administration (MBA)  (NFQ Level 9), Master of Business Administration (MBA) Marketing (NFQ Level 9), Master of Business Administration (MBA) HRM (NFQ Level 9), Masters of Science MSc in International Accounting & Finance (NFQ Level 9),Masters of Science MSc in Information Systems with Computing (NFQ) Level 9 etc.

Ireland Visa

Visa Process:

A SET OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS + 2 SETS OF COPIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF VISA APPLICATION.

PASSPORT: Original and Copy of Passport having validity of at least six months. If available, your old passports should also be attached. Current passport should not be damaged. Copies of all pages of the passport are required.

PHOTOGRAPH: Two Photographs – not more than 6 months old printed on photographic paper with White or light grey background background and close-up of your face (80%) in sharp focus and correctly exposed. Size: 35-38 mm (width) x 45-50 mm (height).

Reverse of the photograph should be white and unglazed.

VISA FEES: Current visa fee for a single entry is Rs. 10,000, to be paid in cash. Visa fees are non-refundable.

VISA APPLICATION FORM:

(a) Printed and Signed Summary of the Online form. All applicants have to fill the online form which is saved for 30 days. (https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx). This form requires all personal details of the applicant, travel history, contact details in Ireland, University / course details, complete education details, employment details, sponsors details and agent details. All visa refusals for any country have to be declared, failing which the Ireland visa would result in the Irish visa being refused.

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b) Student visa application form – this form requires details of the University, course to be studied, duration of the course, fees, last education obtained, work experience, details of stay in Ireland, sponsors details, English Language ability and SOP.

(c) Questionnaire – requires same details as above.

PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) – Original PCC, stamp on the passport and 2 copies.

ACCEPTANCE LETTER : all conditions of the University / Institute should be fulfilled.

FEE RECEIPT: If the student is accepted on a HETAC approved course (Higher Education & Training Awards Council in Ireland), can apply for visa without any fee payment. Fees need only be paid once the student receives an AIP (Approval in Principle). Student will need to provide the Fee receipt from the University and the bank statement of the University (reflecting the tuition fees paid by the student) which needs to be forwarded to Irish visa Office, New Delhi.

SOP – student needs to submit 3 copies of a printed Statement of Purpose outlining the reason to study in Ireland.

CV in Brief : 3 copies of same.

ACADEMIC DOCUMENTS: Educational Certificates, Degree Certificates, Diplomas & Mark sheets – Std 10th, 11th, 12th, 1st Year, 2nd Year, 3rd Year, 4th Year, Post Graduation, Other Diplomas, WORK PLACEMENT / Industrial Training Certificates, etc. student needs to submit the Originals along with 2 copies of same.

IELTS / TOEFL SCORES: Score Reports of IELTS / TOEFL with a Minimum of 5.0 band in IELTS and a TOEFL score of 173 is required.

WORK EXPERIENCE: Letter from current employer or experience letter (if applicable). Any other recommendation letter need not be submitted.

AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT – to be taken on a Rs. 100 stamp paper and should be notarized.

FUNDS: The total cost of funds should be calculated as total Tuition fees + Living cost @ Euros 7000. Original and 2 copies of IT returns of sponsors for the last year filed. A CA statement can be submitted for NSC, KVP, Mutual funds, Property incorporating the values will suffice.

BANK EDUCATION LOAN SANCTION LETTER from a Nationalized Bank.

BANK STATEMENT: Latest Saving’s a/c Bank Statements / Pass Books of the student or Sponsor for the last six months and a Bank Certificate. Recent deposits should be supported with evidence.

BANK FIXED RECEIPTS: Bank Fixed Deposit Receipts from Nationalized Bank. Only a Bank letter confirming the Fixed Deposits total value will suffice. The Original Fixed Deposit Receipts are not required to be submitted.

Medical Insurance : Evidence of Private Medical Insurance provided by the University / Institute is to be compulsorily provided. Alternatively student will have to make private arrangement for same.

AIR TICKET BOOKING, FOREIGN EXCHANGE & INSURANCE:

(a) We advise you to make a provisional booking of the air ticket. Air ticket should be booked 3 – 4 days prior to the orientation date.

BANK LOAN

Gee Bee also provides assistance with bank loan. From, Government Sector banks, loan can be availed.

Living in Ireland

This section takes you through the universities enrolment procedures process step by step. It starts with application procedure right till assistance available and bank loans. It also gives a helpful guide for studying in Australia,Student Support,University Courses etc.

College students have a wide choice when it comes to accommodation. Some students choose to stay in on-campus accommodation, which is available in many colleges. All universities have halls of residence, generally apartments of 4 to 8 students, with a private bedroom and shared kitchen, living room and bathroom. On campus accommodation must be paid in 2 installments, in September and in February.

In most campus accommodation, it is not possible to pay your rent on a monthly basis. Students who want to be totally independent choose self-catering, rented accommodation. Students pay their rent monthly and in advance. Accommodation can also be found through the local newspapers and estate agents in the cities.  Websites such as Daft.ie or MyHome.ie also contain a large portfolio of rental properties. Moreover, on an average the student living cost comes around €7,000 and €12,000 per year.

Telecommunications in Ireland includes, radio frequency spectrum licensing and the  postal sector, are regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has overall responsibility for national policy and regulation of both telecommunications and broadcasting.

Telephone system: This is one of the easier way of communication in Ireland, which includes: Fixed telephone lines and Mobile cellular telephones. There are three mobile telecommunications providers: Three Ireland, Meteor and Vodafone Ireland.

Internet in Ireland: In 2013 the Internet in Ireland is used by 77% of the population and is an important contributor to the economy and education. As per the survey:

Internet users: 3.6 million, 77% of the population, 70th in the world .

Dial-up subscriptions: 34,109 or 2.1% of total Internet subscriptions

Fixed broadband subscriptions: 1.045 million or 23% of the population

Mobile broadband subscriptions: 583,755 or 13% of the population

Internet hosts: 1.4 million, 40th in the world.

Post – Office – he Post Office has helped keep Irish people in contact with their families at home and abroad for many generations. Post Offices are usually open from 09.00 a.m. to 05.30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 09.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. on Saturday. You can also buy stamps at newsagents, supermarkets and some other shops.

Supermarkets are usually open on Monday to Saturday from 08.00 or 09.00 a.m. to 06.00 or 08.00 p.m. In larger cities, supermarkets open twenty-four hours a day. Many are also open on Sundays from around 10.00 a.m. to 05.00 or 06.00 p.m. smaller food shops are often closed on Sundays and may close earlier or later on other days.

Some of the well known shopping Malls in Ireland are as follows: Carroll’s Irish Gifts, St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Butlers Chocolate Café in Dublin, Galway Market, McCarthy’s Jewellery Shop, Galway Crafts and Collectables, Brown Thomas department store in Limerick, Jet land Shopping Centre etc.

Irish cuisine is the style of cooking that originated from Ireland, or was developed by the Irish people. In the 21st century, the usual modern selection of foods common to Western culture has been adopted in Ireland. Common meals include pizza, curry, Chinese food, Thai food, etc. Some of the well-known restaurants in Ireland are as follows: Sligo Restaurants, Dublin Restaurants, Galway Restaurants, Cork Restaurants, Limerick Restaurants etc.

Health care in Ireland is two-tier: public and private sectors. The public health care system is governed by the Health Act 2004, which established a new body to be responsible for providing health and personal social services to everyone living in Ireland – the Health Service Executive. Everyone living in the country, and visitors to Ireland who hold a European Health Insurance Card, are entitled to free maintenance and treatment in public beds in Health Service Executive and voluntary hospitals.

Health centres provide a wide range of primary care and community services in towns and villages throughout Ireland, and are run by the HSE. Services available at these clinics include GP services, public health nurses, social work and child protection services, child health services, community welfare, disability services, older people services, chiropody, ophthalmic, speech therapy, addiction counselling and treatment, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychiatric services, Home Help and more. Some of the well-known hospitals in Ireland are:

Bantry General Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, Capping National Orthopaedic Hospital

Cavan Monaghan Hospital, Connolly Hospital Blanchard town, Cork University Hospital etc.

Universities In Ireland

Maynooth University

The National University of Ireland, Maynooth, commonly known as Maynooth University, is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. Maynooth University  is recognised as one of the leading new universities in the world, ranked #74 in the new Times Higher Education.

Courses:

Undergraduate Courses – Includes, Business, Engineering, Science, etc

Post Graduate Studies – Anthropology, Biology, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Arts and Law.

Intake: September

University of Limerick

The University of Limerick is a university in the city of Limerick, Ireland. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989 The university was the first university established since the foundation of the State in 1922, followed later the same day by the establishment of Dublin City University. UL is ranked 4th for attracting students who attain over 500 points in the Leaving Certificate. UL is ranked 471-480 worldwide in the 2015.

Courses :

Undergraduate Courses – Business Studies, Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Performing Arts etc.

Post Graduate Studies – International Business, Economics, Finance, Computer.

Intake  : September

National University of Ireland, Galway

NUI Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It is located in Ireland’s westerly city of Galway. The five Colleges of the University are:

College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies

College of Business, Public Policy and Law

College of Engineering and Informatics

College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

College of Science

Courses :

Undergraduate Courses – Business Studies, Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Performing Arts etc.

Post Graduate Studies – International Business, Economics, Finance, Computer.

Intake  : September

Dublin Business School

Dublin Business School (DBS) incorporating Portobello College is the largest independent college in Ireland. With over 9,000 students, DBS provides a range of full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with courses for 2016/2017 in subject areas such as business, law, accounting, event management, IT, arts, media studies and psychology. The Dublin Business School has six locations around Dublin. Its main campus is located in Angier Street, and other locations include Balfe Street, Dame Street and South Great George’s Street.

National College of Ireland, Dublin

National College of Ireland (NCI) in Irish is a third-level education college in Dublin. Founded in 1951, it offers full and part-time courses from certificate to degree and postgraduate level in areas related to commerce, industry, and management. The college’s specialist areas include business, computing, psychology, marketing, cloud computing, human resource management, accountancy education and finance. Both full and part-time, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in business, psychology, marketing, digital marketing, human resource management, accountancy, finance and computing are offered through the College’s Schools of Business and Computing.

National College of Ireland, Dublin

Shannon College of Hotel Management, founded in 1951, is Ireland’s only dedicated hotel management college. The College offers two Level 8 degrees, preparing students for careers in business and hotel management. The qualifications awarded at Shannon College are recognised worldwide by international hotel companies, foreign governments, overseas universities and international hospitality organisations. Students earn academic credits for their work placements which are a compulsory element of the degree courses.

Intake – September

Working In Ireland

From 1st September 2016 students holding a valid  immigration stamp 2  permission will be permitted to work 40 hours per week only during the months of June, July, August and September and from 15th December to 15th January inclusive.  At all other times students holding Immigration permission Stamp 2 will be limited to working 20 hours per week. The permission to work ceases on the expiry of the students Stamp 2 immigration permission.

Ireland’s minimum wage is €9.15 per hour.

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