Ireland is one of the island nations in the North-Western region of Europe, known as the Silicon Valley of Europe Ireland, it features major global tech and pharmaceutical giants, such as Google, Apple, Meta and Microsoft. It is also a native English-speaking country following Brexit, Ireland offers world class education system which is governed by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) framework. It’s rich in culture, features warm hospitality and has a strong economy making it a premier destination for international students.

Study in Ireland

Why Ireland is one of the best destinations for Nepalese students

• English Speaking: The education and daily life in Ireland are primarily in English which eliminates major language barrier concerns that the Nepalese students might face while trying to study in Ireland.
• European Hub: Career opportunities after post-study leads to multinational corporations across the European markets for the Nepali students.
• Study Rights: The international students that are holding a stamp 2 visa can work up to 20 hours per week during their academic terms and up to 40 hours per week during their holiday periods.
• High Chance of Employability: Irish universities contain strong connections to major industry hubs which means there is high employment rates for university graduates.

Popular Courses for Nepalese Students

• Business and Management: Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management and Marketing.
• Information Technology and Computer Science: Software Engineering, Cloud Computing, Data Analytics, AI, Cyber Security and Information Systems.
• Healthcare and Nursing: Nursing Studies, Healthcare Operations, Public Health and Medical Technology.

Popular and Affordable Universities for Nepalese Students

• Technology University Dublin: Ireland’s first technical university which is known for their industry focused undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
• National College of Ireland: Placed in Dublin’s International Financial Services Center, it offers specialized degree programs in Business and Computing.
• South East Technological University: High ranked technical university offering highly affordable tuition fees and strong exposure to practical industry training.
• University College Dublin: A world ranked research university that provides broad and wide ranged undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degree programs.

Top 5 Popular Cities in Ireland for Nepalese Students

1. Dublin: The capital city of Ireland and an economic powerhouse that hosts some of Ireland’s major universities, tech campuses and contains a vibrant city life.
2. Cork: Ireland’s second largest city and a primary economic hub known for pharmaceuticals, engineering and culture.
3. Galway: A coastal city that houses many students on the west coast and is recognized as a cultural hub and medical technology center.
4. Maynooth: Historic town that is located just outside Dublin and offers a dedicated student community and offers low living costs.
5. Limerick: Affordable and rapidly growing educational hub in the Midwest of Ireland and home to major technological research universities.

Types of Courses

• Foundation(Level6): A 2-year undergraduate technical foundation course.
• Bachelor’s (Level 7 and Level 8): A 3-to-4-year undergraduate program.
• Postgraduate or Master’s: It is a specialized degree program that is of 1 to 2 years.
• Doctorate or PhD (Level 10): A 3-to-4-year research-based degree that involves deep academic contributions and thesis.

Academic Requirements

Level of Course	Academic Requirement (NEB)	English Language Requirement
Foundation (Level 6)	Class 12/+2 minimum GPA 2.4+	IELTS: 5.5 overall, PTE: 46+
Bachelor’s (Level 7-8)	Class 12/+2 minimum GPA 2.8+	IELTS: 6.0-6.5 overall, PTE: 54-58
Master’s (Level G)	3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree with GPA 2.8+	IELTS: 6.5 overall (min 6.0 bands), PTE: 58-63
Doctorate or PhD (Level 10)	Master’s degree with GPA 3.2+	IELTS: 6.5-7.0 overall, PTE: 65+

Ireland University Application Process

1. Select the University and Program: Choose your suitable Irish university and program on the QQI register.
2. Prepare the Documents: Get the marksheets, copy of passport, IELTS or PTE scorecards, Statement of Purpose (SOP), CV and Research Proposal (If applying for PhD).
3. Submit the Application: Apply directly through the university’s official site or through an authorized online portal.
4. Receive Offer Letter: Accept conditional or unconditional offer letter and pay the required tuition deposit (minimum of €6,000 is required).
5. Receive Confirmation: Wait and obtain the tuition receipt and visa clearance support letters from the institution.

Types of Scholarships

• Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships (GOI-IES): Scholarships sponsored by the Government of Ireland which are highly prestigious and provide full tuition costs and a €10,000 stipend for 1 year of study.
• Merit Scholarships: These are scholarships awarded by the institutions based on previous academic results and are in the form of partial fee waivers of €1,000 to €5,000 per year.
• Research Fellowships: University research fellowships and tuition waivers for the PhD students in the Enterprise Partnership schemes.

Cost Breakdown from Nepal to Study in Ireland

1. Pre-Departure and Administrative Expenses

Items	Cost in Euros	Cost in NPR
Long Stay D Visa Processing Fee	€60 for single entry and 100 for multiple entry	NPR 10,526-18,000
VFS Service Charges	€30	NPR 5,000
Irish Residence Permit (IRP) Fee	€300	NPR 52,632
Medical Insurance	€200-€500 per year	NPR 35,000-88,000
No Objection Certificate (NOC)	Nil	NPR 2,000
Medical Examination	Nil	NPR 5,000-8.000
Flight Ticket	Varies	NPR 136,000-210,000

2. Living Costs and Maintenance Funds

• Monthly Living Expenses: €1,000-€1,500 per month (NPR 1,70,000-2,65,000)
• Proof of Funds: The Irish Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) guidelines state that the students must prove that they can provide at least €10,000 per academic year in living funds and tuition fees.

Ireland Visa Application Process and Documents Checklist

Ireland Visa Application Process

1. Submit AVATS Application: Complete the online visa application via the AVATS portal.
2. Book Appointment at VFS Kathmandu: Book an appointment for submitting documents and collection of biometrics at VFS Global Ireland Visa Centre in Kathmandu.
3. Submit Physical File s Biometrics: Arrive at VFS appointment to submit physical documents, academic and origin documents, and biometrics.
4. Visa Decision (Long-Stay ‘D’ Study Visa): The visa office in Dublin, the Irish Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) will process the file in about 4 – 8 weeks.
5. Travel s Register for IRP: Fly to Ireland and register with ISD/Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) for your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) – Stamp 2 card.

Documents Checklist

1. Valid Original Passport (at least 12 months validity beyond intended date of arrival).
2. Signed and dated official AVATS visa application summary sheet.
3. Official Unconditional/Conditional acceptance letter from an approved Irish university/college.
4. Official receipt for at least €6000 paid (Proof of Tuition Fee Payment).
5. Financial Proof Papers (6-month bank statement of at least EUR 10,000 expenses for living, remaining tuition, income papers and tax certificates).
6. Medical Insurance policy paper.
7. Statement of Purpose (SOP).
8. Academic Transcripts.
9. An IELTS / PTE certificate.
10. No Objection Certificate (NOC).