Ireland’s traditional reputation for educational excellence is recognised the world over. Dating back to the Middle Ages, Ireland – known as the Island of Saints and Scholars -provided education to much of the western world: more recently, Irish writers such as James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, WB Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde, are studied around the world, while ongoing investment in research and development has placed modern Ireland at the cutting edge of science and technology. 

Successive modern governments in Ireland have regarded education as a key priority and today Ireland has one of the highest education participation rates in the world, with almost half of young people entering third-level education. Irish Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Technology are acclaimed internationally for their high academic standards, while the many established English language schools have a well-founded reputation for quality.

Ireland is also a uniquely attractive place to live, with friendly people and a wide range of cultural and sporting activities. In 2007, students from 142 countries pursued courses in Higher Education in Ireland, with another 140,000 studying English here. This international experience, together with its cultural links to the English-speaking world, its intensive investment in research and development, and its strong connections to industry, has been central to Ireland’s development as a knowledge society in the new global economy.

• Education Ireland
• The Irish Education System
• Third Level Education
• Irish Universities
• Institutes of Technology in Ireland
• Private Higher Education Colleges
• Fourth Level Education
• English Language Sector
• Useful Links

Education Ireland

Education Ireland was formally established to provide information about Ireland as a centre for international education. Its website (www.educationireland.ie) acts as a central contact point for information about programmes available in Irish Universities, Institutes of Technology and private Colleges, and provides comprehensive links to other Irish education websites.

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The Irish Education System

Education in Ireland is compulsory from age 6 to 16, or until students have completed three years of secondary education. However, most children start in primary education at the age of 4. There are over 3,200 primary schools in Ireland, most of which receive capital funding from the State, supplemented by local contributions. The second-level sector comprises over 750 secondary, vocational, community and comprehensive schools.  Almost 60% of students attend secondary schools; 26% attend vocational schools; and 14% attend community and comprehensive schools. Second-level education consists of a three-year Junior Cycle followed by a two or three-year Senior Cycle. In the Senior Cycle, there is an optional Transition Year Programme. During the final two years of Senior Cycle, students take either the established Leaving Certificate; the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme or the Leaving Certificate Applied.

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Third Level Education

The higher education system in Ireland is broad in scope and encompasses the university sector, the technological sector, the colleges of education and private independent colleges. The institutions within the first three groupings are autonomous and self-governing, but are substantially state funded. 

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Irish Universities

The seven Universities in the Republic of Ireland offer state-of-the-art training through a broad range of Bachelors, Masters and PhD programmes. These Universities are attractive destinations for Irish, European and international students, reflecting the unique combination of a quality education and an exciting cultural experience. Irish Universities are fully integrated into the life of their cities and regions, with vibrant student communities and social life.

Significant government investment in research and development makes the Irish Universities an especially attractive destination for young researchers and scholars. The Universities play a central role in ensuring that Ireland continues to advance and becomes a fully-fledged knowledge society. The receipt of significant funding through the Government's Strategic Innovation Fund underpins their performance in research and the output of highly-skilled graduates with doctoral qualifications and post-doctoral experience. The Universities have rigorous quality assurance procedures which adhere to the highest international standards.

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Institutes of Technology in Ireland

The 14 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) in the Republic of Ireland offer programmes at levels 6 to 10 of the National Framework of Qualifications. These include undergraduate programmes leading to higher certificate awards, Ordinary Bachelors degrees, Honours Bachelors degrees and post-graduate awards, both taught and by research, leading to Masters and Doctoral degrees, in a wide variety of subjects. Most have schools of Science, Engineering & Technology, and Business. In addition, many of the Institutes have developed special programmes in areas such as Humanities & Languages; Paramedical Studies and Healthcare; Art & Design; and Tourism. The quality assurance procedures of each Institute are approved by the Higher Education and Training Award Council (HETAC). The qualifications awarded by HETAC are internationally recognised by academic; professional; trade; and craft bodies.

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Private Higher Education Colleges

The various private independent colleges are mainly involved in providing business and professional educational training. Courses on offer include: Accountancy and Business Studies; Law; Humanities; Hotel and Catering; Tourism Studies; and Art. Many of the programmes offered by these colleges are validated by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and some have links with Universities and/or professional associations through which the offered courses are accredited.

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Fourth Level Education

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have a critical role to play in ‘Fourth Level' or  post-graduate education in Ireland. Significant funding is provided for research being carried out in the HEIs, much of it coming through the Higher Education Authority’s   Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI), and major research initiatives funded by Science Foundation Ireland. The Government’s 2006 Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation sets out a vision and roadmap for the coherent development of research, technological development and innovation. Government research support continues to increase under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013.

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English Language Sector

Ireland has a well-founded reputation for the excellent quality of its English language services. The quality assurance body for the sector in Ireland is the Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS) which administers an inspection scheme, leading to recognition by the Department of Education and Science . A full list of the over 110 quality-assured and recognised schools and organisations (ELTOS) is available on the ACELS website.  These offer a wide variety of courses, and generally provide a full package of tuition, accommodation and extra-curricular activities. English language training can also be combined with sporting activities such as angling, golf or tennis. The English language sector is supported in its promotional activities by Fáilte Ireland. 

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Useful Links

The Education Ireland website acts as a central point of contact for information on Irish education and on programmes available in Irish Universities and colleges. It provides up-to-date comprehensive information on courses; scholarships; coming to Ireland; and learning English in Ireland (www.educationireland.ie).

The National Qualifications of Ireland (NQAI) is the Irish centre for the recognition of international qualifications. If you have completed a qualification outside Ireland, you may wish to have it assessed in order to gain employment or undertake further studies in Ireland (www.qualificationsrecognition.ie).

Qualifax is Ireland's National Learners' Database. It is the "one stop shop" for learners. Qualifax provides the most comprehensive information on further and higher education and training courses in Ireland (www.qualifax.ie).

The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) provides a way to compare qualifications, and to ensure that they are quality-assured and recognised at home and abroad. Students are encouraged to use the NFQ to identify the qualification they will achieve before making decisions. Qualifications recognised through the NFQ are quality-assured: this means that your course, and the institution at which you study, are reviewed on an ongoing basis www.nfq.ie).

The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) develops, promotes and maintains higher education and training awards to the highest international standards and quality (www.hetac.ie).

 The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) promotes the general welfare of international students (www.icosirl.ie).

The Irish Universities Assocation (IUA) is the representative body for the seven Irish Universities (www.iua.ie).

The Institutes of Technology of Ireland (IOTI) is the representative body for the thirteen Irish institutes of technology (www.ioti.ie).

The Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA) is a self-regulating association of independent third level colleges formed in 1991 to represent the interests of its member colleges and their students (www.heca.ie).

The Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS) is the quality assurance body for English language teaching in Ireland. ACELS administers an inspection/recognition scheme leading to recognition by the Department of Education and Science (www.acels.ie).

Fáilte Ireland promotes the English language schools (www.failteireland.ie).

The Student Finance website is a convenient and user-friendly source of information on financial support for further and higher education in Ireland (www.studentfinance.ie).

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