Ireland vs UK

Studying abroad is the dream of many but choosing the country where they want to study is one of the main decisions that they have to take before choosing the university of their choice. It may seem like an easy option, but it can be quite tedious. Most students are confused about whether to study in Ireland or study in UK. Here, in this blog, we compare Ireland vs UK on the lines of which is the better study destination for Indian students, with a lot of factors that go into choosing the country to study in and then deciding the best country to study and work for Indian students. 

Ireland vs UK: Eligibility Criteria

To begin the comparison of Ireland vs UK, the first line of differentiation comes from the eligibility criteria in both countries for admission to universities.

UK

• You can obtain admission after completing a three-year undergraduate degree in any post-graduation courses. You will have to apply for an online GMAT exam to get admitted to management courses. You do not need to take the GRE exam for science courses, so consult with the university first.
• CBSE plus-two certificates for admission to undergraduate courses are now recognized by UK universities.
• Similar to the USA, in the case of management courses in the UK, you would be expected to have a few years of work experience. There is a provision for waiving TOEFL and IELTS exam requirements but they are important and needed for students to get a visa.

 Ireland

• Students who wish to study in universities of Ireland are required to have a score of a minimum of 60 per cent in Class 12th exams. Students must have acquired 18 years of age before enrolling in a degree programme. 
• The Central Applications Office (CAO) is in charge of accepting applications for all undergraduate courses through an online enrollment system. You are required to upload all your basic details along with a scanned copy of your documents as well as a TOEFL/IELTS rank. 
• You need to have a relevant bachelor’s degree or diploma if you are applying for a postgraduate course at an Irish university. Your undergraduate course must be coherent and applicable to the course in which you choose to obtain your master’s. In order to show your control over the English language, applicants will also be expected to appear for an English proficiency exam.

Must Read: Study in UK for Indian Students after 12th

Ireland vs UK: Cost of Studying

Next, we move on to the cost of studying in Ireland and the cost of studying in UK. Here is a table outlining the cost of studying undergraduate courses in Ireland vs UK:

Here is a table outlining the cost of studying in UK vs Ireland for postgraduate courses:

Ireland vs UK: Visa Requirements

We now move on to the comparison of the visa requirements in Ireland vs UK. The two countries have different rules for a visa. The UK visa application is different from the visa application of Ireland. Check them out here:

UK

For a full-time student visa, the visa granted to students is a tier 4 (general) student visa. It is more complicated than ever to get a British student visa because of the tightening of visa regulations over the last few years. These laws refer to this visa –

1. It is only given for a full-time research programme.
2. The term of the visa will be three years if you were to apply for a diploma course (maximum)
3. If you apply for a graduate degree, the term of the visa will be four years (maximum)
4. Applying for this visa costs £348(INR 34,790). 

You may be granted permission to work at a part-time job. It varies from person to person.

Ireland

• Students are expected to apply for an Ireland Student Visa if they plan on coming to Ireland for more than 3 months to follow a course of study.
• At the time of applying for an Ireland student visa, applicants would be expected to display funds of at least EUR 7000(INR 6.2 lakhs) in their bank account. For a foreign student for one academic year, this number equals the cost of living in Ireland.
• If you have a valid stamp on your passport, you will be granted permission to work for an estimated 20 hours a week.

Must Read: Student Life in Ireland

Ireland vs UK: Post Study Work Permit

We further move on towards the differences in the post-study work permit between Ireland vs UK. 

UK

• Tier 1 (post-study work) was closed to new candidates in 2012. So, you are not holding a Post Job Visa for a Student Visa. 
• After your studies, if you want to work in the UK, then you need to apply for a Tier 2 visa intended for highly skilled employees.
• Your annual minimum wage for the new job should be £ 30,000(INR 29 lakhs) or higher in order to be able to qualify for Tier 2.
• With a Tier 2 visa for a period of 5 years, you can stay and work in the UK.

Ireland

• Most students prefer to stay back in Ireland once they have completed their studies and take a job to increase their work experience.
• For this, students may apply for a Third Level Graduate Scheme. This is only applicable if you are enrolled as a full-time student and have an approved Irish degree. 
• Stamp 1G is given to international students who are graduates and are given permission to work as per the Third Level Graduate Scheme.
• You don’t need to file separately for a visa extension if you’re given Stamp 1G.

Though as it is seen in the comparison of Ireland vs UK, it is evident that both countries have their own benefits for students and both offer several opportunities to students too. We hope you choose the country which seems suitable to you the most.

Climate in UK and Ireland

UK

The weather in the UK varies and changes daily. The weather is tough to forecast. The summers are typically mild, and it snows a lot in the winter. Compared to India, it has colder summers. Additionally, raindrops might fall at any time of the year since the weather is unpredictable. The average temperature ranges from around 25°C to 15°C in the summer and from about 7°C to 0°C in the winter.

Ireland

Due to the Atlantic Ocean’s stifling impact, Ireland enjoys a moderate oceanic climate. In coastal locations, mean yearly temperatures are often higher—between 9°C and 10°C. The hottest season, summer, with an average temperature of between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. The hottest months are July, August, and June. January, followed by February and December, is the coldest month.

FAQs

Explore: Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship

We hope we have cleared all your doubts related to choosing between Ireland and vs UK and helped you gain clarity regarding what should be your choice. For further assistance regarding admission-related queries and guidance, contact us at Leverage Edu experts.