COUNTRY FACTS Capital: Dublin Population: 3,924,140 Area: 70,273 sq km Language: Irish, English Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Protestant Continent: Europe

International students coming from a state other than the EU should contact the Irish diplomatic mission in their home country. Those who do not have an Irish diplomatic mission in their home country should apply directly for a visa application form, well in advance of their departure, to:

Department of Foreign Affairs
Visa Office Hainault House
69-71 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 4780822
Fax: +353 1 4751201.
E-mail: visa@iveagh.gov.ie

Please select the Irish Diplomatic Representation nearest to you In their application students will be asked to supply the following information:

1. Valid passport number
2. Date of issue and expiry of passport
3. Date, place and mode of arrival in Ireland
4. Letter from University/College indicating that they have been offered a place in a recognized educational establishment
5. Letter indicating the source of funding to cover fees and maintenance
6. Recent passport photographs
7. Visa application fee.

Standard non-refundable Visa Application Processing Fees are charged at  25.39 for a Single-Journey and  50.78 for Multiple-Journey. Nationals of certain countries are exempt from fees. Check with your nearest Irish Diplomatic Representation for details.

 
FINANCIAL AIDS

A limited number of scholarships for overseas students are available from the universities and colleges themselves. These are awarded solely at the discretion of the individual institutions who set down their own criteria for eligibility. Students are advised to contact the institution of their choice directly, to obtain further information.

The Department of Education and Science also has a limited number of scholarships. For details contact:

International Section
Department of Education and Science
Marlborough Street
Dublin 1

Tel:+353-1-8095029
Fax:+353-1-8741933
Website: http://www.irlgov.ie/educ

Many overseas students studying in Ireland are sponsored by their own governments or through other international scholarship programmes. In most cases applications should be made through the Ministry of Education in the student's home country.  
LIVING COST IN IRELAND

The main costs that students can expect to incur while studying in Ireland include fees, accommodation and living expenses. These vary considerably depending on the course, the institution and the lifestyle of the student.

The figures given below provide a guideline only for budgeting. Costs do not remain static, so it is important to double check fees with the institutions of your choice and to ask their advice on other living costs. Living Expenses vary depending on the type of accommodation preferred and on the personal expenditure of the student.

To give some idea of the total cost involved, the following approximate figures for 2001/2002 are given as a guide to overall expenses for one academic year (usually 9 months). All prices are in Euros.