The three-leaf clover is the unofficial national symbol of Ireland. According to legend, St. Patrick used it to illustrate the Trinity. The rare four-leaf clover is also a symbol of luck in Ireland. However, applicants do not have to rely on sheer luck to be admitted to study in Ireland. Those who meet the admission requirements have overcome the most important hurdle for studying in Ireland.
The exact admission requirements vary depending on the study program and subject area. In all cases, sufficient knowledge of the English language is required in order to follow the respective level of study. The application rich students either at Central Applications Office (CAO) or directly at the university one. That depends on whether applicants want to spend a full degree, a language course or a semester abroad in Ireland, for example. The Postgraduate Applications Center (PAC) is responsible for certain postgraduate programs. In principle, the Irish university decides on admission to the course.
The application process usually starts about six months before the academic year in Ireland begins. To learn more about the country of Ireland and continent of Europe, please follow ask4beauty.
Requirements for admission to studies according to type of study
Similar to the study system in Germany, the Irish university degrees build on each other. In addition to appropriate language skills, a certain grade point average is often one of the admission requirements for studying in Ireland. A transcript provides the university with an overview of the academic achievements so far.
When applying to study in Ireland, students indicate whether they are EU citizens. This status is retained for the entire duration of the course.
Bachelor
Admission requirements for a Bachelor’s program in Ireland are primarily adequate language skills and a high school diploma. A high school diploma also allows entry into a bachelor’s program at some Irish universities. A certain grade point average is often necessary. To apply via the CAO, students need a certain number of points, which is derived from the school grades and possibly from academic admission tests. The system awards bonus points for a math advanced course or particularly good grades.
For a language certificate, the (subject) high school diploma is sometimes sufficient to admit applicants for an on-site placement test. In exceptional cases, the Irish university may require a second foreign language for admission.
In terms of school grades, the admission requirements for a three-year Bachelor’s degree are usually lower than for a four-year Bachelor of Honors.
Master
In order to study for a Masters in Ireland, applicants will typically need a Bachelor’s degree in a similar subject and adequate knowledge of English. For a few Masters programs, the Irish Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma is sufficient for admission.
As a result of the Bologna reform, admission to the postgraduate area in Ireland with a German Bachelor’s degree is usually problem-free. The Research Master usually requires a Bachelor of Honors with outstanding performance. In the Irish grading system, this corresponds to at least an Upper Second Class Honors or a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3. For this research-oriented Masters, it is also advisable to contact the future supervisor at the Irish university when applying.
For admission to the Master’s degree, universities in Ireland sometimes ask for work samples or invite you to interview, especially for applications outside the subject. Relevant work experience is rarely a prerequisite, but is welcome for the MBA, for example. For this master’s program, a Bachelor of Honors Degree in economics or similar courses is required for admission. A good to very good Bachelor’s degree or an Irish Higher Diploma also allow admission to an MBA course in Ireland in some cases. In these cases a good Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required.
An LLM in Ireland is possible with a completed bachelor’s degree in law. Alternatively, the first state examination or relevant professional experience in a relevant area is sufficient for admission. Here, too, a certain average grade is often an admission requirement.
An on-site placement test is often possible for an LLM and MBA as proof of English language skills.
Promotion
The exact admission requirements for a PhD in Ireland depend on the Irish university and subject area.
For admission to a PhD program at an Irish university, applicants usually need a Bachelor’s degree with a good honors degree. In addition, contact and finding a topic with the future supervisor are necessary before the application. A résumé and a research project proposal are helpful for this. An important prerequisite is that the desired research topic fits together with the research work of the university. For the application, students also submit a letter of motivation and proof of appropriate English skills.
Doctoral programs such as a Doctor of Social Sciences (DSocSc), a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) or a Doctor of Medicine (MD) require a Master’s degree in a relevant field for admission. In addition, they require several years of professional experience. In exceptional cases, particularly outstanding applicants can be admitted to doctoral studies with a bachelor’s degree.
Shorter study programs up to a year
The cheap alternative to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Ireland is shorter study programs such as an Academic Gap Year or a semester abroad. In some cases, European students have the opportunity to apply for an entry into the final year of bachelor’s degree and obtain a degree from the Irish university. However, options like these are often the right choice at partner universities of Irish universities. This option is sometimes difficult to access for students from other programs or universities, as the study content of the first two years in, for example, Germany and the last year in Ireland must match.
In addition to the (technical) Abitur, applicants for a semester abroad, an academic gap year or for diploma and certificate courses in Ireland require appropriate language skills in English. For a postgraduate course as well as a Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma, a Bachelor’s admission requirement is required.
Linguistic admission requirements of the universities
In addition to academic requirements, certain English language skills are among the admission requirements for studying in Ireland. The evidence provide applicants usually through language tests such as the IELTS or the DAAD language certificate. In the undergraduate sector, the Abitur grade in English often enables admission to a university placement test.
Different language schools offer a variety of language courses, depending on the entry level and subject area. Students register directly with a recognized language school.
Many Irish universities also offer language courses so that students can easily follow later courses. The exact requirements vary depending on the university.
Academic admission tests
As in the UK, a few medical and health programs require participation in academic admission tests. In addition, many Irish universities require older students to take an Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking test.
The following academic tests are prerequisites for admission to study in Ireland:
- Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT): This test was developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) with the consortium of Graduate Medical Schools. The test is taken by applicants for a graduate program in medicine and health in Australia, Ireland and the UK. The GMSAT is offered twice a year, mostly in March and September.
- Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT): This test is used to select students for undergraduate programs in medicine or health. Registration takes place via the CAO. The test tests logical understanding, solution-oriented thinking, as well as non-verbal communication and the ability to understand the thoughts, behavior and intentions of other people. The minimum number of points required to be admitted to study in Ireland changes every year. The HPAT usually takes place at the end of February.
- Mature Students Admissions Pathway (MSAP): Some Irish universities require you to take this test for admission to certain subjects. These include, for example, law or language and cultural studies. Applicants must be at least 23 years old and register through the CAO. The content of this admission test is based on the desired subject area and topics from everyday life. However, it is not about specialist knowledge, but about general skills from previous studies and life experience. The focus is on the applicant’s approach to unfamiliar topics.
