To get a student visa for Ireland, you will need to make your application at least a few months before travelling. This can be done online. A good grasp of the English language is essential for students whose first language is not English to study in Ireland without IELTS. Students must show proficiency in English to be accepted for a degree programme. Also, many universities and colleges provide English language training courses for students who want to study in Ireland without IELTS.

If you wish to study in Ireland for less than three months you should apply for the ‘C Study Visa’, if the course lasts longer than three months you will require the ‘D Study Visa’ type of student visa for Ireland. It is unlikely you will be able to extend a ‘C Study Visa’ to cover a longer period, so make sure it will cover your entire length of stay before applying. Once you have found out about which visa is to be secured, below is the application procedure to be followed:

1. Give your IELTS exam and research for the course and the university you wish to get enrolled in. A minimum academic score of 60% and above in Standard XII is required for each course. Foundations and Diploma programmes are available for students who have secured around 50%.

2. For undergraduate courses, Irish universities accept applications through Central Applications Office (CAO) an online enrolment system. You will have to create an account on the CAO website to provide your basic information, submit the scanned version of your documents, score TOEFL/IELTS and pay application fees. This account will inform you about the application process and its stages.

3. Obtain an acceptance letter for the university/college you wish to study in Ireland and then apply for a student visa.

4. However, before applying, you need to show funds of at least €7000 in your bank account when applying for the study visa. This amount equals the cost of living in Ireland for an international student for one academic year. Also, you need to be able to prove that you or your parents/sponsor will be able to provide at least €7000 for each year of your studies, in addition to the course fee.

5. Pay the application fee of €300 and take an appointment for an interview to be able to obtain your student visa.

To gain your Irish student visa you will need to provide the following documentation:

• Acceptance letter from the college
• Printed and signed application summary sheet
• 2 Passport sized colour photographs
• Original valid passport which has enough space for the insertion of the visa sticker
• Appointment and payment confirmation receipts
• Signed letter of application including full contact details
• Evidence that full fees have been paid
• Evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while studying in Ireland

The visa application centre will not accept your application if you are missing one or more of the documents listed above. In such an event, however, the visa application centre will highlight the missing documents to you and will allow you to provide the missing documents on the same day.