Since Brexit, Ireland has become a top destination when it comes to Erasmus trips abroad. Indeed, more and more students choose this country to make their studies in an English-speaking country since the announcement of Brexit and the United Kingdom.
Prepare your Erasmus+ trip to Ireland
First, make sure that all your identity papers are valid. A simple identity card is needed for European Union countries’ travellers that want to enter the irish territory. If you come from a non European Union country you need to prepare your visa application in advance. Inquire about this application through your embassy or consulate to know if you need a visa to enter the irish territory.
Advice: to accomplish all the procedures while organising your trip you will need several months to ensure a safe journey.
Studying in Ireland
Ireland proposes seven different public universities and has several highschools and technological institutions which offer a wide variety of higher education programmes.
To enter these universities you will need an English language test (TOEFL or IELTS) to justify your English level.
There is a selection between all the different Erasmus+ student mobility dossiers of every university, which means that the number of places is limited.
The university tuition fees are free until your fourth year of university studies. If you would like to enter an irish university during your last year of Masters degree you must take into consideration the fact that the university tuition fees for this year are not free anymore. The cost for this school year can rise up to 10 000 euros. Our advice: make your Erasmus+ trip to Ireland before your last Masters degree to avoid these expensive university tuition fees.
The foreign students integration is done a week before the beginning of the irish school year. During this integration week there are information meetings, events and parties.
When it comes to the university programme you might have few teaching hours, between 12 and 18 hours per week according to your field of studies but keep in mind that homework is still very important.
Living in Ireland
Ireland is the land of pubs and beer parties but let’s talk about the administration for now.
Once in the territory, you need to know if you are covered by health insurance. First, along with all the other administrative procedures, you need to have a European health insurance card. To know more about how to get your European health insurance card and what to do if you are sick while your Erasmus trip abroad, take a look at our article: what to do if I get sick during my Erasmus internship.
The coverage of medical expenses in Ireland: every student has the right to a refund for all medical expenses with the European health insurance card.
Only optical and dental treatments will have to be assumed by you.
To go further on the organisation of your dossier for your Erasmus+ mobility, we help you to know how to go on an Erasmus+ mobility.
How does it work in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland, as it is affiliated to the United Kingdom, has the same immigration laws as the other territories, such as England or Scotland. We advice to go to Dublin or Cork, for example.
