1. Frequently Asked Questions on Studying in Ireland
1. What is the preparatory course?
Most western countries, including Ireland, have such regulations in their education systems. International students who want to enter various European countries for undergraduate studies need to study for one year in the preparatory course, which can also be called the preparatory course. Only after the completion of the course can you qualify for admission, and you no longer need to take the unified examination of the school. Generally, preparatory courses are designed by foreign universities. In addition to language courses, international students should also study their own professional preparation courses. After the course is completed and all subjects are qualified, students can start undergraduate courses after obtaining the diploma of preparatory course.
Second, why do you want to study in the preparatory course?
Generally speaking, students who have just arrived in Ireland to study abroad will definitely be uncomfortable in all aspects at first because of the changes in environment and language, and there will be many difficulties. At this time, it is unrealistic for students to start professional courses directly, which is also an irresponsible behavior for students and even hurts their self-confidence. Preparatory course is a process set up by these universities in Ireland in order to make students gradually adapt to the new environment. In this process, students have a year to improve their language ability, adjust themselves better in this process of gradual adaptation, make better and more secure decisions, and have a better state to prepare for the next formal undergraduate course. So the preparatory course is necessary, even if you are excellent.
3. What are the advantages of the preparatory course?
1) adapt to the new environment faster.
The cultural and linguistic differences between the East and the West are particularly great. Even the best students can't guarantee that they can adapt immediately when they arrive in Ireland. Basically, it takes a while to get used to it. Reading the preparatory course can not only help them adapt better, but also strengthen their language ability and avoid causing their own economic and time losses.
2) Strong learning atmosphere
Foreign languages are taught in universities not only in Ireland, but also in many countries. It is difficult for new students to keep up with the teacher in class. First, preparatory study. In this environment, you can learn about how classes are taught in Ireland, and you can also deeply understand and feel their unique academic atmosphere. I won't feel confused when I take a formal class in the future, but I can understand what the teacher is saying well and keep up with the teacher's teaching ideas.
3) The selection range is expanded.
Generally speaking, if you directly apply for undergraduate courses in any country in Ireland or China, the requirements are often very strict. If your grades are not satisfactory, it may be difficult for you to apply to your favorite school or major. If you are studying in the preparatory course, you can determine your target institution while you are still studying in the preparatory course, which can greatly reduce the risk of application.
4. Which universities in Ireland offer preparatory courses?
High school in Ireland lasts for three years. One tenth of all secondary schools are boarding schools, and a small part of them are preparing for A-LEVEL in Britain. The so-called high school year in China is called the filtered school year, which focuses on students' hobbies and courses, and there is no formal examination. The last two years are education for the purpose of graduation examination, which is divided into three levels. If you get a grade certificate, the door to enter the university will be open for you.
Irish institutions of higher learning: St Angela's College, Cork University, Si Long Institute of Technology, Dublin City University, Waterford Institute of Technology.
5. What are the requirements for the preparatory course?
For China students, the following conditions are generally required to go to Ireland for college preparation:
1) Domestic high schools (including technical secondary schools and vocational high schools, etc.) that have graduated or are about to graduate. );
2) Good grades in school, with an average score of more than 70 points;
3) Have a certain English foundation, and generally need to have an English level of IELTS 5 or above;
4) Families can afford to study abroad with an annual income of about RMB 6,543,800+0.2 million.
6. When does the preparatory course start?
Usually, college preparatory courses are enrolled in September every year and end in June of the following year. There are also a few schools that offer preparatory courses, starting from 1 month every year and continuing until August of that year.
Whether it starts in September or 1 month, the purpose of the preparatory course is to help students enter the university to study undergraduate courses smoothly in September.
2. IELTS requirements of Irish universities studying abroad
I. Trinity College
Full name Trinity College Dublin, founded in 1592. The main campus is located in Dublin and was established by royal decree. It is a royal college with strong teaching strength, which can be as famous as Oxford and Cambridge in Britain, Harvard and Yale in the United States.
Bachelor degree or above, GPA 3.5, IELTS 6.5 or so; Master's degree entrance should complete the formal study of undergraduate course, GPA score should be above 3.0, and IELTS should reach about 4.0.
Second, Dublin Institute of Technology
The full name of Dublin Institute of Technology was formally established in 1887. At present, it is a domestic institution of higher learning. Courses offered range from vocational training to doctoral research, with the responsibility of cultivating modern talents.
Admission requires the completion of the previous stage of professional study, with an average score of about 80 points. At the same time, you need to provide IELTS 6.0-6.5 scores. The popular majors are accounting, management and nursing, and the employment is also very good.
Third, the menu university
The full name is NUI· Menus. As a new university established in 1997, it is still immature, but its youth also gives it strong vitality. The learning atmosphere is not rigid, which is very suitable for young students to learn, and is more conducive to stimulating their potential and conducting academic exchanges and practice.
Undergraduate admission will examine students' HKCEE and college entrance examination scores at the same time, both of which need to reach 80% of the total score, and the IELTS requirement is around 6.0; A master's degree usually requires a preparatory course, so the application will be given priority.
4. university of limerick
The full name of university of limerick was formally established in 1972. It is a comprehensive independent university. The school attaches great importance to practicality and works closely with enterprises to provide more than 2,000 internship positions every year.
To apply for undergraduate courses, you need a high school diploma and high school grades, and master courses need to provide relevant certificates of undergraduate graduation; Science and engineering majors require TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.0, and grammar majors require TOEFL 100 or IELTS 6.5.
3. Application process for studying in Ireland
1. Collect school information and choose the major and direction of application.
Inquire about school and professional information through various channels (network, consulting overseas institutions, writing letters to schools), and select the basic level and general direction of professional application institutions in combination with professional background, interests and personal advantages. Ireland has many institutions to choose from. There are more than 20 Irish schools in the list of schools recognized by the Ministry of Education, and each school has different characteristics and advantages.
2. Prepare application documents.
Because letters of recommendation, personal statements and other documents are very important to the application, this step requires students to invest a lot of energy. Students are generally advised to spend several months preparing. Documents include resume, personal statement and two letters of recommendation. Personal statement is the most important, because the recommendation letter and resume only show the specific information of the applicant to the school, and personal statement is the opportunity for the applicant to show his personal character and academic expertise to the school. Schools usually attach great importance to the language ability, personality and academic interest shown by applicants in their personal statements. The whole application in Ireland is in the form of online application, so the documents and materials do not need to be mailed, and can generally be uploaded directly to the system or handed over to the school.
3. Delivery of application materials
Due to the different opening hours of schools in Ireland, applicants need to pay attention to the application dynamics in advance. The general opening hours are 10, 1. After submitting the application, it usually takes 3-4 weeks for the school to announce the results one after another. After receiving conditional admission, students need to pay a deposit to occupy the quota. Usually, after paying the deposit, students must take the IELTS test and submit it before June-July of the following year. If your IELTS score is not up to standard, some Irish universities also offer short-term language classes, and students need to apply in advance.
Step 4 prepare visa materials
The list of materials required by the Irish Immigration Bureau will be more, but the student visa refusal rate is actually very low. Irish visa materials are complicated as a whole, involving parents' work, capital flow, guarantee money, insurance, etc., and students need to be fully prepared. All non-English materials must be translated. After preparation, students need to make an appointment to submit their visas online, and then bring all the materials to the visa center to submit their visa materials.
After submission, the Irish Embassy will send the passport and visa directly to the students themselves in about two weeks. To get a visa, you need to check your personal information and visa information to prevent mistakes. The routine is a three-month entry visa, and after entering the country, you can apply for an IRP card at GNIB office.