Essential Tips And Tricks For International Students Coming To Ireland

Have you secured your admission to the academic hub for international students, the Emerald Isle? If yes, you must be on the emotional rollercoaster of happiness from pursuing a high-quality education at the world’s leading center and the sadness of leaving your homeland. You may also feel butterflies in your stomach as you embark on a new study journey in Ireland. All these mixed emotions are apparent, but your goal should be to survive well over there.

If you don’t know much about that, this blog serves as a survival guide. It will offer you and other international pupils tips to help you quickly settle in Ireland. Implementing them will let you avoid any possible dangers and make your student journey successful.

6 Ways To Survive Well In Ireland: International Student’s Survival Guide

The Paperwork After Your Arrival

Once your plane lands on the Emerald Isle, an immigration officer will examine your visa and other papers. You’ll have to show them evidence of securing admission at an Irish institute, like a bank statement or a document. The immigration officer will then stamp on your visa to indicate the date of your arrival in Ireland.

You must also register with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) to receive a Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) card upon your arrival at your campus. It will serve as a permit to reside there for your studies, and its fee is currently €300. If you want any related assistance, connect with your university’s international student registration team. They will further guide you through the application process and streamline your registration procedure with the INIS.

Arrange For Your Accommodation

It would be best to determine your accommodation way before arriving there. After some research, you may find a few options related to it but select very carefully for yourself. Think about different factors while arranging your accommodation. The rent should be reasonable and align with your budget.

The location should be near your institute, so it saves your time, energy, and money consumed in commuting. It should also have essential facilities and be safe in every way. Generally, foreign pupils reside in student halls and apartments. If you don’t want to share your room with anyone else and your budget allows, go for a one-bedroom apartment. Additionally, opt for host family homes if you wish to have a home-like environment and home-cooked meals.

Get A Part-Time Job

Whether you have a secure partial or full scholarship, having a part-time job will enhance your study tenure there. It will let you explore and get on new adventures whenever you get time out of your academic commitments. European students studying in Ireland can work without any restrictions. However, non-EU pupils can only work up to 20 hours per week during their semester. Yet this duration extends to 40 hours per week during their holidays or term breaks.

Find any part-time job that suits you well, online or offline. If you’re great at studies and have top-notch writing skills, offer Ireland assignment help. It will also enhance your learning and let you earn while enjoying flexibility. Besides, you can work at retail shops, restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, supermarkets, libraries, gyms, etc.

Create An Irish Bank Account

Having an Irish bank account is crucial to survive without significant hurdles and manage your money while studying there. So, it is one of the first things you should do after you arrive in the country. For this, you’ll need a valid passport or ID card and a certificate of attendance that you can receive from your institute after your course registration.

You must also share details of your permanent address in Emerald Isle with bankers. Usually, international tutees tend to lean towards the top three Irish banks: Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks, and Ulster Bank. You should research each of them and pick the one you find the most appropriate for yourself.

Take Measures For Your Healthcare

If you’re moving somewhere from Europe to Ireland for formal education, you will enjoy free healthcare during your tenure. However, you may still have to pay for specific treatments later.

However, all non-European students have to pay privately for their health insurance. The INIS visa service also provides guidance related to it. On average, international pupils from other parts of the world may have to pay €100 – €120 annually. Therefore, remember the healthcare expenses when you’re setting up a budget.

Don’t Hesitate To Seek Help

As you’ll be new over in Emerald Isle, you might not have many ideas about how things go. So, be open to help and never hesitate to seek support. Asking for a helping hand takes a lot of courage, and you should be brave enough to request assistance regarding anything.

For example, balancing academic commitments, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities is a tiring challenge. So, outsource your papers to any reliable Irish essay writing service cheap to manage your life efficiently. Besides, if you feel confused about the routes, ask anyone near you to guide you directions. Similarly, in case of any medical or security emergency, contact healthcare or safety-providing services. Save their contact numbers in your phone and memorise them to connect with them whenever needed.

• What are some additional tips for my survival as an international student in Ireland?

You should always be prepared for all sorts of emergencies, especially related to your health. Keep copies of your essential documents somewhere secure, both virtually and physically. Stay updated with the news to protect yourself from social or political casualties. Learn basic self-defense techniques through professional classes or workshops to gain confidence and security.

• Is it a must for international students in Ireland to learn and speak Irish?

No, learning Irish for international students during their educational tenure isn’t mandatory. Universities provide programs to them in the English language. However, speaking Irish is a plus point that will provide networking and other opportunities for you in Ireland.

• How can international students save money while studying in Ireland?

Use used or borrowed study material from the library, or your seniors will at least save up to 50% of your book costs. Additionally, get a student Travelcard, the primary identity card for pupils in Ireland. It significantly discounts local Irish transport, such as Irish Rail, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, and Luas. Student Travelcard also offers great deals on 200+ retail shops or marts, helping foreign tutees save on daily expenses.

Parting Thoughts

We have ended this survival guide for internal students pursuing formal education in Ireland. Studying in this country will offer you a wholesome experience from the academic and non-academic aspects. It will enhance your technical skills and boost your soft abilities. You will gain confidence, learn about money management, and how to survive independently. Nonetheless, consider the above guidance to settle and continue your academic journey successfully.

Best wishes!