Ireland in the European Union has everything going for it. The long standing land of fine literature is slowly but surely treading upwards as one of the most preferred destination of students in India wanting to study aboard. The reasons for this are many. Sprawling campuses, top-of-the-order educational courses taught by well-qualified academicians and a booming economy all make it the hotbed of excellent education. Contrary to popular beliefs that education in Ireland is imparted in Irish, this country has carved a niche for itself in teaching various courses in English at all top colleges and Universities.
Over 1,000 Indian students are spread across various universities and colleges in Ireland, mostly enrolled into various courses in Bio-Sciences, Business Administration, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering among others.
Studies reveal that Ireland, though having entered the field of education as a major player much after biggies such as US, UK etc, has been seeing a consistent increase of foreign students at 10 per cent per annum. Owing to its student-friendly atmosphere and courses that were carved out for future needs, Ireland housed nearly 25,000 international students in 2006.
This tiny country has been most sought after for its courses related to Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Business Management and Pharma sectors. Because it set an example with its booming economy (which is growing at a steady 8.5 per cent every year) most IT majors and Pharma companies have made it their home for many years now. While Intel, Microsoft, Dell, IBM, Hewlett Packard have their European and Asia/Pacific headquarters in Ireland, Pharma majors like Wyeth, Schering-Plough, Merck Sharpe and Doehme, Pfizer, Novartis, Allergan and Glaxosmith Kline also have a presence there. Not only this, Bio-Medical majors like Boston Scientific, Becton Dickinson, Baucshe and Lomb, Abbott, Johnson & Johnson and Stryker have set up camps in Ireland.
According to the Director of Enterprise Ireland Gabriel McCarrick, students prefer Ireland due to the Government’s emphasis on education and research, irrespective of the political scenario, and its willingness to route more than adequate amounts of funds into the education sector.
With nearly 37 per cent students attaining tertiary level of education in Colleges, Technology Institutes and Universities (as against the overall European Union average of 27 per cent) the government has earmarked nearly 20.7 billion Euros for various education related causes in Ireland. Experts say public expenditure with relation to education has more than doubled during the last decade or so.
The cost of its academic programmes and institutional fees for international students in Ireland are in the range of Euro 7,000 to 15,000 and overall living cost is around Euros 3,000 - 4,000, depending upon the lifestyle of the individual. This approximately makes it between Rs 7 to 10 lakh per year. Part time jobs (allowed upto 20 hours/week) in cafes, shops, super bazaars, eateries are available aplenty for students and helps them make a neat 3000 - 4000 Euros per month, levelling it off with living expenses. The country is overall safe for young men and women during all times of the day and night. A small yet close knit group of Indian students make the experience of living and learning in Ireland safer, despite being thousands of miles away from home.
If you are interested in studying at the historic land of Jonathan Swift, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and W B Yeats keep your certificates ready. For, Enterprise Ireland, the Trade and Technology agency of the Irish Government, will soon bring a host of colleges and Universities to various mega cities in the country (see box). At each fair venue there will be information available on Education in Ireland and student visa procedures. Representatives from the various universities and institutes (more than 13 of them) will be available to meet students first hand and provide information on the institutes, courses, admission criteria, costs etc.
(Recently in Ireland)
