Studying in Ireland for International Students

Dublin is a vibrant and multicultural city that attracts many students from around the world. The city offers a range of educational opportunities, cultural attractions and social activities for students to enjoy. In terms of accommodation, the first thing is that Dublin is expensive. It is a key European hub in the IT/Pharma//Finance sectors and that means demand for high level property is strong, which makes it expensive. Finding suitable and affordable accommodation in Dublin can be a challenge, especially for international students who are unfamiliar with the local market. This is why it is important to book something as far ahead of time as possible and under no circumstances should you arrive in Dublin without a minimum of 4 weeks accommodation booked.

We have created a Types of Accommodation in Dublin list to help you determine what type of housing might be best for you and your academic journey. You will also find information on things you should consider before entering into a lease.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YdaZlkFumlscxGJwhFtjKLd7tQj1N4_mG6iEXbfsxA4/edit?tab=t.0

All non-EEA students are required to have private medical insurance when coming to and residing in Ireland for the purpose of study. The private medical insurance should provide cover for accident and/or disease and should cover the student for any period of hospitalisation.

From 2nd October 2020, the rules regarding students’ medical insurance changed. Students in Ireland enrolled on a course that is more than 12 months duration must buy private health insurance from a registered insurance broker.

Students can buy private health insurance specifically designed for international students from the following providers at the following links:

• Halligan Insurance
• VHI Healthcare
• International Student Insurance

Guidance on types of cover at the following links:

• INIS guidance
• ICOS guidance

After you arrive in Ireland, you will need to make an appointment to attend Immigration Services in person to register and obtain your permission to remain in Ireland.   You can make the appointment via this link.

At this appointment, they will take your biometrics and complete your registration which will generally last for one year. When you go to renew the following year, this process will generally be conducted online, especially if you are living in Dublin. If you register in Dublin, the immigration officer will arrange to send your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card to you by post.

Make sure to confirm your exact address, including Eircode, before you leave the registration office. Your IRP card should arrive within 10 to 15 working days. If it does not arrive within 15 working days, contact INIS.

If you are a non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss citizen and you want to stay in Ireland for any reason for longer than 90 days, you must apply for immigration permission and, if successful, then register. If your registration is successful, you will be issued with an IRP.

To register you must: be a non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss national, be aged 16 or older, and go to a registration office in-person

If you want to stay in Ireland past the expiry date on your IRP, you must apply to extend your immigration permission and renew your registration. If successful, you will be given a new IRP.

The Irish Residence Permit (IRP) is your registration certificate. You will be given an IRP when you register with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS).

An IRP indicates that your immigration permission to stay in Ireland has been registered by the type of immigration permission you have, for example a stamp number 2 indicates that you are on a Study Visa. The IRP is not an identity card – it is a registration certificate. It is not valid for any reason except to certify that you are registered with immigration in Ireland.

You must carry your IRP with you at all times and present it to an immigration officer or a member of An Garda Síochána (the Irish police force) if requested. This includes whenever you leave or re-enter the country.

An IRP costs €300 per person every time you register and renew.

Students holding a valid immigration stamp 2 permission will be permitted to work 20 hours per week during the academic school calendar (February, March, April, May, October, November, 1-15 December, 16-31 January) .

Students will be able to work 40 hours per week only during the months of June, July, August and September and from 15 December to 15 January inclusive. At all other times students holding Immigration permission Stamp 2 will be limited to working 20 hours per week.

It should be noted also that the hours specified are the maximum that a student can work in any given week and not an average over time. A student who is working for more than one employer remains subject to the overall limits (e.g. during the period when the 20 hour limit applies a student could not work 15 hours each for 2 employers).

Graduate Visa (1G)/Stay back Visa:

Students who complete a minimum of an honours degree at bachelor level (Level 8) are entitled to receive a 12 month extension to their student permission during which they can work for 40 hours per week. This is an exception to the general rule where a student can work for 40 hours per week outside the specified times above. The student will have a stamp 2 permission during the course time, but upon completion of the course, they will produce a transcript of their final results from the College in support of this entitlement, a 1G Graduate Visa.

Students on this scheme can work without a permit and can be employed on contract/internship/probation for this time. If the employer wishes to offer employment beyond the duration of the graduate scheme an employment permit will be necessary.

In the interests of learner welfare, CCT provides medical service information for multiple medical clinics in Dublin with student rates . Students are also provided with access to counselling and psychotherapy services with experienced and fully qualified counselling Psychologists (fully subsidised by CCT).

CCT reminds all learners that the national Emergency numbers in Ireland to call are 999 and 112. 112 works also in all EU countries and from any phone, free of charge.

citizensinformation.ie

Citizens Information provides comprehensive information on public services and on the entitlements of citizens in Ireland. They gather information from various government departments and agencies, and make sure that you have all the information you need, presented in an easy-to-understand way.

ICOS (Irish Council for International Students) 

ICOS has a mission to protect and enhance the rights of international students in Ireland while championing their contribution in the places they study and in the communities in which they live.

Immigration Services Delivery Website

This website has useful information about getting your first visa, renewing your visa, and other policies that will be pertinent during your stay in Ireland.

Education in Ireland

Education in Ireland is a national brand under the authority of the Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science. They can provide useful information about what to expect before, during and after arrival.

The College strives to ensure that the courses we offer are as free from barriers restricting access to learning and progression. However, CCT has set minimum academic entrance requirements for all of its full-time courses. This is to ensure candidates are suitable for the delivery level of the programmes.

The minimum academic entrance requirements for:

Higher certificate Level 6, and Bachelor’s Level 7

Irish Leaving Certificate – 5 passes at Ordinary level including Mathematics and any language (or international equivalent standard)

Advanced Entry route to Add-on Final year Level 7

CCT Level 6 Higher Certificate obtained in the same field, as an automatic advanced entry route to final award year at Ordinary degree – Level 7

Honour’s degree Bachelors programmes Level 8

Irish Leaving Certificate – 2 C3’s at Higher Level and 4 passes at Ordinary level including Mathematics and any language (or international equivalent standard)

Advanced Entry route to Add-on Final year Level 8

CCT Level 7 Bachelors degree obtained in the same field, as an automatic advanced entry route to final award year at Honour’s degree – Level 8

International equivalent academic entrance requirements can be ascertained by contacting us directly.

Overseas applicants whose first language is not English must produce a test score of an official internationally-recognised English Language proficiency test and / or complete an English language Proficiency test administered by CCT. For further information regarding the acceptable English language tests and scores required, please view table at this link.

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Specific admission requirements can be found for each programme by finding and clicking on the particular programme, featured in the  Courses Available for International Students section on this website.

Tuition fees for all full-time programmes can be viewed at this link. 

Questions can also be directed to the admissions office at +353-1-6333444 or email info@cct.ie.

Course Fees

English Language Requirements for International Students

All QQI accredited programmes of education and training of 3 months or longer duration are covered by arrangements under section 65 (4) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby, in the event of the provider ceasing to provide the programme for any reason, enrolled learners may transfer to a similar programme at another provider, or, in the event that this is not practicable, the fees most recently paid will be refunded.

Quality Assurance and Enhancement