If you are interested in studying abroad, this article will be of interest, covering the options available in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, Europe, America and Canada.
If you wish to go to study in Ireland, you will be looking at the CAO which is the central applications system. This system covers an excess of 40 different third level colleges with a huge range of courses. The CAO system is a points based, and the reason as to why there is a points system in place due to supply and demand. If there is a high demand for a course, there will be high points for that particular course. The deadline for the CAO application system is Feburary 1.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: UCAS
If you are applying to Northern Ireland, Scotland, England or Wales you will be applying through the UCAS system. This is the central application body for full-time undergraduate courses. The British Council's website Study UK (study-uk.britishcouncil.org ) allows you to search for undergraduate and postgraduate courses by subject, by university or by area.
Most of the courses are for a three-year duration, whereas in Scotland they are four years. There are well in excess of 350 colleges offering 30,000+ courses. The courses on offer can be very specific with more availability, for example, if you wished to apply for medicine you have a choice of over 40 colleges, whereas in Ireland we have just five colleges to choose from.
This is why for many students studying abroad can be a much more attractive option. It is not based on a points system, they look for very specific grades in certain subjects in your Leaving cert, for example, you will be required to predict what grades you hope to achieve in your Leaving cert depending on the course you are applying for. If you obtain those grades, you will then be offered a place on that course. For students who are seriously considering the UCAS option, you should start researching courses at least 12 months before you are planning to apply. This time is important due to the different structures and costs associated with studying in the UK, especially fees and cost of living expenses.
Many of these courses require that you do an interview, and depending on the course there are different deadline dates, some are as early as October, but the majority of these deadlines are at the end of January.
You will also be required to submit a personal statement outlining why you are interested in the particular course you are applying for. For those in second level education, in most cases this will be completed by your school, but for those applying outside of the school system, a character reference can be supplied.
European universities: EUNICAS
If your location of study is in Europe, the application system is called EUNICAS. These institutions do not use a points system, but again, there are certain grades in certain subjects required depending on the course you are applying for. In the Netherlands only 10 per cent of the undergraduate degree programmes have a selection process, for the rest, you have a right to a place on a programme provided you obtain grades or other applicable factors to meet the minimum entry requirements.
There is also student finance available from the Dutch Government. You will be required to submit a motivational letter; you may also be called for an interview or an aptitude test. Some of the courses on offer have deadline of January 15. It is important to mention that courses are taught through English. The fees can be high, but accommodation can be as low as €100 per month.
Most of the degree courses run for a duration of three years, as opposed to four years in Ireland. However, the academic year is much longer, 40 weeks whereas here it is 32 weeks. If you qualify for the SUSI grant in Ireland it is transferable to your chosen course in Europe.
USA and Canada
If you are considering USA, the embassy (usembassy.gov/ie ) would be the best option for advice. Unlike Ireland, there is no single application system for the USA. Most students will need to complete a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT ). It is very expensive to study in the USA or Canada.
For students wanting to study in the USA if you are a talented athlete or a gifted student it is possible to get a scholarship.
For anyone wishing to study in Canada, you must apply for a study permit before you arrive in Canada. You can visit https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/prepare/designated-learning-institutions-list.html to learn more about the Canadian study permit. Careersportal.ie is also a significant resource for those looking to study abroad, with resources covering education programmes in the UK, Europe, America and New Zealand.
