All about studying in Galway, Ireland

Here are the top reasons international students choose Galway for their higher studies every year:

Galway offers an array of courses that are popular with international students. National University of Ireland, Galway, holds a QS World Ranking of #270. Another famous institution for studying in Galway, Ireland is Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.

Top courses preferred by students in these institutions include Arts, Social Sciences, Engineering and Informatics, Business, Science, Public Policy and Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences.

Studying in Galway, Ireland can be affordable if you plan well in advance so you can apply to a range of scholarships offered by Irish universities and colleges before deadlines. The students can apply for scholarships for undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and Research.

Here are some options:

• Postgraduate International Merit Scholarships Scheme

• The School of Computer Science, Advanced MSc Scholarship

• MSc (Technology Management) – three scholarship scheme

As Ireland is home to many multinational companies, there’s a high competition for skilled workers and the scope is quite high. With a shortage of skilled professionals in sectors like business and finance, engineering, IT, health care, hospitality, and natural and social sciences, the city offers a high employability scope in these areas. Some of the high-performance companies in Galway include Boston Scientific, ThermoKing, Medtronics, HP, Harmac, Avaya, and CISCO. Professionals working in Galway earn approx. EUR 39,100 on average per year including housing, transport, and other benefits.

International students holding a valid immigration Stamp 2 permission can work for 20 hours per week during the academic session, and 40 hours per week during the months of May, June, July, and August, and from December 15 to January 15. They do not need any specific work permit to work part-time if they are enrolled for a course of 1 year or longer.

Ireland’s minimum wage is €9.15 per hour. The country provides a post-study pathway for international students, called the Irish Third Level Graduate Scheme. It allows the NFQ (National Framework Qualification) Level 9 or 10 graduates to remain in Ireland to look for employment or apply for a green card/work permit. Students can eventually apply for General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit.

Galway is currently the European Capital of Culture and UNESCO city of film. The city is known for its vibrant lifestyle and for hosting numerous events, festivals, and celebrations. It’s a popular seaside destination and is full of culture, exceptional food, and music. The City Centre is very popular and is known for its wonderful, cobbled streets, colourful shops, cafes, and bars.

To enjoy Galway, one should taste the local flavours, be a part of a festival, enjoy the pub, visit the City Museum, and Salthill Promenade, and check out the local market. The famous buildings in Galway are Kylemore Abbey, Dun Aonghasa, The Fisheries Watch tower Museum, St.Nicholas Collegiate church, GMIT Library, Lynch’s Castle, and The Spanish Arch.

The Galway Airport is located at Carnmore around 7.4 km east of Galway city. The transport system in Galway – both road and rail is very good as the city is a popular weekend gateway for travelers.

Students can opt for university residences or private residences. University accommodations situated on campus are usually single en-suite rooms with Wi-Fi facilities. These are secure options, and the charges include the utility bills as well. The University residences have an early deadline, so if you want to apply for the same, do it before time. Private residences include single-room, twin-bedroom, double-room, and homestay options. They also have a private studio flat. Sharing a house is convenient and popular among international students.

Health and safety have been the utmost priority of international students for all institutions. International students are required to take private health insurance coverage for their stay in Ireland. This proof of health insurance is necessary while applying for a visa and at the time of registration with the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

With its historical, small-city charm and its inspiring pace of growth, Galway might just be the ideal city for you. A leader in research and medical technology, it makes quite a promising city for international scholars.