Ireland or also known as the Emerald Isle has a long and honorable tradition in education dating back to the middle Ages. The Irish government continues to regard education as key priority and this has resulted in the country having one of the highest educational participation rates in the world - 81% of Irish students complete second-level and approx 50% go on to higher education. Education is considered a fundamental right under the Irish constitution.

The qualifications system in Ireland has been modernized with the introduction of the National Framework of Qualifications. Students are encouraged to use the National Framework Qualifications to identify the qualification they will achieve before making decisions. The NFQ is a system of ten levels, the ten levels capture all learning from the very initial stages to the most advanced. It is designed to incorporate awards from all kinds of learning wherever it is undertaken. The transparent nature of the NFQ allows students to compare and contrast qualifications and to plan their education and training and career progression. It aids employers in recognizing and understanding the level and standard of qualifications, acting as a tool for identify \'appropriate fit\' qualifications for specific roles.

Entry to third level education for Irish students is competitive and is based upon performance in the final secondary school examination, the Leaving Certificate. Entry requirements for overseas students are determined individually by each institution and are generally based on national examination performance and English language aptitude. Non EU/EEA international students intending to study in Ireland will require a study visa and demonstrate that they have immediate access to at least €7,000, which is the estimated cost of living in Ireland for a student for one academic year. It is important to note that depending upon the location of the higher education institution, the type of accommodation preferred and on the personal expenditure of the student, living expenses will differ.  Subsequently they would also need to demonstrate that they or their sponsor has ready access to an amount of at least €7,000 for each subsequent year of the student studies, in addition to the course fees for each of those years.

It is useful to note that international students are entitled to work up to 20 hours part-time per week during the academic term and to work full-time during vacation periods. The minimum wage in Ireland is €6.35 per hour.

Irish people have a great love of conversation and have a genuine interest in other people. This friendliness and hospitality for which the Irish people are renowned contributes to the ease with which overseas students adapt to the way of life and in particular, student life in Ireland. Although Ireland has its own distinctive Celtic language and culture, English is the spoken language in Ireland today.

Students will be impressed with the rich historical, artistic, literary and natural setting of this country. Adventurous students will have the opportunity to learn about Ireland’s traditional games such as Gaelic football, hurling and camogie (the women\'s variant of hurling) which remain the most popular sports in the country today. These sports are played almost exclusively in Ireland and are administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (pronounced "gah"). GAA also promotes handball and rounders as well as Irish music and dance and the Irish language.

Full-time students can purchase a Student Travel Card which is valid on Dublin Bus, Iarnrod Eireann rail services, Dart, LUAS, and Bus Eireann services. All they need is their College ID (secure) Completed Student Travel card Application Form €15.00 (€12 for the card and €3.00 photo fee). Students can download and complete the online Student Travel card Application Form from the Student Travel Card website.