Ireland is a small, safe, English-speaking country at the heart of Europe. Its capital, Dublin, is a cosmopolitan city with a well-earned reputation for welcoming international students, and The Institute of Education sits right at the centre of it.
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Studying in Ireland is great because I have the opportunity to choose and study subjects I like and that are not taught in Italy. I also have the opportunity to speak English daily which allows me to improve my fluency in the language.
Giovanni
Current 6th year student
Ireland has a proud history of welcoming international students wishing to benefit from an educational system that is respected throughout the world.
A home from home. We want every international student to feel settled and safe from the moment they arrive.
The Institute of Education has reserved apartments at Binary Hub, amodern purpose-built student residence right in Dublin city centre. You’ll be living with otherInstitute students, which means you won’t have to find your feet alone.
Your ensuite room is entirely your own, with shared kitchen and living space. 24/7 staffedreception, a gym, common rooms, games rooms and outdoor courtyards. House Parents are basedon site throughout the year.
A homestay places you with a carefully selected Dublin family, giving you a warmhome environment and the chance to experience daily Irish life. Host families arevetted through our partner guardianship agencies and are based across the Dublin suburbs, typically a short bus or tram ride from school.
We’ll help match you with a family that suits your personality and preferences.
This depends on your nationality. If you are a citizen of the UK, EEA or some non-EU countries, you do not need a visa to travel to Ireland. For the most up to date information regarding visas, please visit irishimmigration.ie. If you are from a country that requires a visa to travel to Ireland, please give yourself plenty of time to apply.
If you are not an EU citizen, you must register online for an appointment at the GNIB office in Dublin: burghquayregistrationoffice.inis.gov.ie
There is very high demand for appointments and you should attempt to secure one several weeks in advance, even before you travel to Dublin. Appointments can be booked up to six weeks in advance. The best time to check for availability is at 10am and 2.30pm (Dublin time). If you do not secure an appointment straight away, keep trying, as this process may take some time.
The GNIB office is located on Burgh Quay, which is about 20 minutes away from the school. You should arrive to your appointment 10 minutes early, with the following documents:
Students under the age of 18 must bring all the above documents plus:
This depends on your nationality. If you are a citizen of the UK, EEA or some non-EU countries, you do not need a visa to travel to Ireland. For the most up to date information regarding visas, please visit irishimmigration.ie. If you are from a country that requires a visa to travel to Ireland, please give yourself plenty of time to apply.
If you are not from the UK or the EEA, you will need medical insurance. The international office can arrange this for you before you travel. Our insurance is provided by Arachas and meets all the requirements for your Irish residency permit.
No, IOE does not provide airport transfer but your appointed guardian in Ireland will be able to help organise a pick up from the airport to your accomodation.
Dublin is a very small city with a multicultural population. The Institute of Education is located right in the centre of the city and is easily accessible by bus, train and tram. If you like sport or culture, you will enjoy living here, and you can also explore the natural beauty of the surrounding counties at the weekend or during your school holidays.
Be aware though that it can get cold and more than a little rainy at times and if you are used to a warmer climate it may come as a bit of a surprise! Bring a warm coat for the winter months and you will be just fine.
In Ireland, students typically start school at the age of 4 and finish at 18. The secondary school system is broadly similar to high school elsewhere, with between 5 and 6 years of tuition in total, depending on students’ preferences.
There are two sets of state exams over the course of a student’s second-level education. Students take the Junior Cycle mid-way through, while the Leaving Certificate exams are taken in a student’s final year.
The grading system used by the Irish Department of Education uses a combination of letters (O and H) and numbers (1-8). O refers to ordinary level and H refers to higher level. 1 is the highest score that you can achieve, while 8 is the lowest.
The difference between higher and ordinary level relates to the amount of material that is covered and the type of knowledge that a student is expected to have. At the Institute, most subjects are offered at higher level only, although many of the languages and mathematics are offered at ordinary level also.
In Ireland, university offers are based on the number of points that a student achieves in their Leaving Certificate. When you complete your Leaving Certificate exams and receive your grades, these will be converted into points. There are different numbers of points for higher and ordinary level subjects, and there are also bonus points for students who take higher level maths.
If you’d like to learn more about life at The Institute or need help, we’d love to hear from you. Our team is here to answer your questions and guide you through the process.