JOIN USIreland is emerging as one of the preferred destinations for Indian students for higher education. An education fair was held in the City on Sunday where seven universities from Ireland took part, offering various scholarships for Indian students.
Dublin City University, NUI Galway, National University of Ireland, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Limerick and Trinity Colleges were among the institutions at the fair.
More than 250 students attended the fair on Sunday. Information technology, bio technology, post graduation in business studies and management studies, apart from engineering courses were the most inquired courses, according to the organisers. The fair was organised by 'Education In Ireland'.
The organisation's India Advisor Wendy D’souza told Deccan Herald that immunology and psychology are the other courses for which there was a demand. “These days students come prepared for the fair. It is not a random search any more. They would have researched in advance. They will interact with only those institutions that they find relevant for the courses of their interest.”
The country is offering nine scholarships exclusively for Indian students. The entire tuition fee will be waived. They will also be given 10,000 euros towards living expenses, she added. Another advantage is that the country offers visa for a year after course completion, to be able to find a job. Since the medium of instruction is English, it becomes another added factor to be a preferred destination, D’souza said.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Sheela Roy, one of the parents who attended the fair, said she was looking for institutions offering Psychology course for post graduation. “I have come here for my daughter. She is pursuing bachelors and we are considering Ireland as an option for post graduation in Clinical Psychology. It is the fifth best place for higher education.”
She added that one of the obvious considerations to send children abroad is the issue of safety and that of racism. Since there are many Indian professionals in the country, parents feel that they do not have to worry about safety in Ireland, she added. For her, the choice was between India and Ireland. If her daughter did not get a seat in any of the institutions in Ireland, she would continue her studies in Bengaluru, Roy said.
Somipem Keishing was among the students at the venue looking for post graduation courses in journalism. “The universities are better here compared to several other countries. I have not found any scholarships for journalism till now though,” she said.