PG in Ireland

A postgraduate course is usually one year’s duration full time or it can take two years to complete part-time or is probably going for research-focussed programmes. A postgraduate diploma, postgraduate degree or Master’s degree offers the student an advanced level of education in their preferred area of study. A postgraduate degree is which you study after once you have finished a bachelor’s degree. Some postgraduate degrees require the accomplishment of a particular bachelor’s degree, others don’t. A number of postgraduate courses are studied at university, but some courses are taught in a commercial environment. Students seeking to eventually advance to a PhD often enrol on a Masters by Research and either continue onto a subsequent doctoral programme within the same field or upgrade their status after reaching a particular point in their Masters studies. Usually, many Irish universities conduct their applications process through a separate organisation, known as the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC).

Intakes Available:

Unlike multiple intakes in different countries, Irish universities and colleges offer two major intakes. In few universities, intakes are additionally referred to as a semester. The intakes available in Ireland are majorly two:

  • Autumn/Fall Semester 1: Starts early September and runs till December
  • Spring/Semester 2: Starts late January to May

The choice of the intake can depend on factors like the availability of the student’s ideal program, academic records, entrance test scores, acceptance rates, job opportunities and readiness to join the program whilst making a decision. Maximum international students prefer the September intake, though January intake is equally good for certain programs. The deadlines for every intake are usually some months before the start date. It is greatly suggested that Students apply early to maximize their chances for admission.

English Requirement:

All postgraduate courses are given in English and students applying for degree courses from Non English speaking countries will have to essentially prove their proficiency of English language and must be able to read, write and speak the language fluently with the aim of taking part in tutorials, seminar discussions and examinations.

If the student’s native language is not English or the undergraduate education was not in English, then they will have to qualify an approved test before registering for any course.

  • IELTS : Overall score of 6.5 with not less than 6.0 in any one component
  • TOEFL: 220 (computer-based test) 550 (paper-based test)
  • PTE Academic : Minimum score of 63

Admission Documents:

  • All the academic documents, including Xth, XIIth and Bachelor Degree
  • Two Letter of Recommendations
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Work Experience Documents if applicable
  • Resume
  • IELTS TRF
  • Any Certificates and achievement documents.
  • Birth Certificate

Expense of Study:

The most important expenses for the students in Ireland are the tuition fees. Tuition costs vary considerably depending on the institution and the choice of programme. Tuition costs do not remain fixed, so it is important to double-check fees with the Institutions students are planning to apply to. Post Graduate Degree & PhD Courses will cost around: £10,000-£16,000. Whereas Business and Medicine & Health Sciences range from £10,000-£34,000. There are several scholarships available for international students from different sources which students can avail. The Cost of Living varies, depending on where you are studying in Ireland, type of stay and personal lifestyle. A student spends between €7,000 and €12,000 per year on average on living costs.