Study Abroad

Travelling to another country to pursue a postgraduate course is an increasingly viable option for many Irish students. There are many practical reasons why a student might decide to take advantage of postgraduate opportunities abroad –reasons pertaining both to the subject you wish to study, and to the wider potential social and cultural opportunities.

The most obvious reason to choose an international university is when the particular course you wish to study is not available in Ireland. There can also be further related reasons such as the availability of particular funding or scholarship opportunities abroad, or a university or country having a particular expertise in a certain area (studying German History in Germany, for example, or coral reef formations in Australia).

The opportunity to live and study in another culture and/or language can also be very persuasive. Future employers may be impressed with the experiences and perspectives gained during time spent studying abroad, while taking a postgraduate course can also be an excellent way of establishing yourself in a new country. The thoughts of new adventures and challenges can also be very attractive to potential postgraduates.

This section of The 2008 National Guide to Postgraduate Studies should give you an excellent idea of the international postgraduate options available. It contains general information about studying abroad, as well as dedicated sections to help students considering postgraduate study or research in Europe, the US, Canada and Australia. You can check out some of the options offered, learn of the issues to consider and the potential potholes to avoid. Embarking on a course of postgraduate study abroad is a big undertaking, and therefore not a decision to be made lightly.

Research, Research, Research

There are many, many different opportunities available worldwide for students who decide to undertake postgraduate study. The possibilities range from accounting in Australia to zoology in Zambia. For obvious reasons, it is important to work out what your options are and then find out as much as possible to ensure that you make an informed choice.

You can narrow down the choice of country, subject and institution by conducting some research. Questions to ask yourself include:

In which specific subject areas am I most interested?
Which countries are viable options?
What kind of programme would suit me best?
How will I finance this?

These are not easy questions to answer. Finding the right course, at the right institution, in the right country, takes a large investment in time and resources. It is advisable to start looking at options and gathering information at least eighteen months in advance of the programme’s start date.

Consult as many people as possible, and read everything you can get your hands on. Talking to lecturers and the careers service, and to foreign students in your own university is a good idea. Contact the embassies of the countries in which you are interested and ask them for any information that they consider relevant. Looking at research journals relating to your area of interest can also give you a clue as to the location of the best opportunities for postgraduate study and research.

The Internet is a most valuable resource. Many countries have dedicated websites for international students, as do most individual universities and institutions. There are also many independent websites that offer valuable advice and tips. Merely entering the words ‘postgraduate’, ‘study’ and ‘US’ into Google returns over 15 million results – so there is plenty of information out there.

Choosing a Country

Universities around the world increasingly seek international postgraduate students, as they tend to pay higher fees than home-based students. Institutions from different countries compete to attract top-quality students and researchers from abroad. Many governments have established official agencies to provide information to foreign students, and have also put in place funding and scholarship schemes to attract postgraduates from abroad.

There are considerations when making a decision other than the course and institution. To use the previous example, the Zoology Department at Zambia University could be tremendous, with a global reputation for cutting-edge research, but there may also be other factors to consider, such as:

Language and cultural factors
Acceptability of academic qualifications
Standard of research and study facilities
Visa and work permit requirements
Career prospects
Costs and standard of living in the country

It is always advisable to visit the country and the university or institution in question before committing – although this may not be possible in every case.

The most popular region for international postgraduate study for Irish students is Western Europe. There are many reasons for this. Historical and linguistic factors attract Irish students to the institutions of the UK, France and Germany in particular. Irish universities have built strong links with their European counterparts under EU educational development schemes. The ECTS programme means that Irish qualifications are accepted at most EU universities and vice versa. Cheaper air travel means that it can be almost as easy to get home from Frankfurt University as from, for example, NUI Galway. Many European countries, including Germany and France, highly subsidise their educational systems, meaning that Irish students can often pay negligible fees at postgraduate level. This section of The 2008 National Guide to Postgraduate Studies contains dedicated information for students interested in postgraduate study in the UK, Netherlands, France, and Germany.

After our EU partners, the English-speaking countries of North America, Canada and Australasia are next most popular. In particular, many Irish students choose to study in the US, taking advantage of strong historical, cultural and business links between the two countries. Postgraduate study in the US can be a first step toward a working career there, and there are a number of attractive scholarship and funding opportunities available. Australia is also an attractive destination for Irish postgraduate students, with the Australian government making a concerted effort to attract talented postgraduate students from abroad. We have provided individual guides to postgraduate study in the US, Australia and Canada within this section of our Guide.

Applications and Costs

Choosing the right postgraduate programme is only the beginning. The admissions processes for postgraduate programmes across the world tend to be complex and thorough. Requirements vary from country to country, discipline to discipline and institution to institution. You will have to convince the admissions officers that you have the ability, and just as importantly, the motivation to succeed at their institution.

Many higher-level institutions require personal statements and research proposals along with academic and professional references, evidence of language capability and proof of your financial means as well as the application form and your academic results. All this can take some time to prepare, and it is highly advisable for international students to submit applications within the deadline.

There are significant differences in the cost of postgraduate education in each country. Postgraduate fees at British universities are generally higher than those charged at mainland European universities, but course lengths of varying durations can balance this out. Fees at non-EU universities tend to be even higher, with some courses at certain prestigious North American universities being particularly expensive. It is up to the individual to decide whether an investment in education now will pay off later.

There are substantial funding opportunities available for postgraduate students at international universities. These differ from country to country, and competition for scholarships can often be fierce. National governments, EU initiatives, university-specific and private scholarships are all sources of financial support. As much research should go into securing funding as in choosing a programme of study. Applying early and often is a good idea. Postgraduate students usually fund themselves through teaching or research, off-campus work, loans or generous parents. However you plan to finance your study, it pays to work out in advance approximately what you will need, and how you are going to obtain it.

Even the process of applying for postgraduate study abroad can be expensive. For example, application fees to US universities can be more than €60 each, and admissions tests can cost considerably more. Students considering European institutions as an option may find it worthwhile to visit and talk to lecturers and other staff before they make their decision. While even the most confident students apply to more than one programme, it makes sense to prioritise and conduct sufficient research in advance so that you only seriously consider options that you are sure are right for you.