Moving to another country to study can be an expensive decision. Tuition fees and various costs of living can add up, meaning an international student might need upwards of €25,000 a year to study and live comfortably in Ireland. International students should be aware that it is a condition of the student visa that students show they have sufficient funds to pay their fees and support themselves during their time in Ireland.

Obviously, the easiest way to fund studies and living expenses is through parental support, or to already have the money yourself. There are other options, however. Some students opt to take out loans; some work part-time (student visas allow international students to work in specific, limited circumstances) and some fortunate students are able to avail of scholarship and fellowship opportunities.

Some Irish universities and third-level institutions offer undergraduate scholarship opportunities for international students. Competition for these prizes is generally very high. A student usually has to be accepted for a place on a course before submitting a scholarship application. International students may also be able to compete with Irish students for financial studentships, bursaries and other available funding opportunities. Keep an eye on your chosen institution’s website and contact its International Studies Office for further information on the opportunities that exist for you.

Many national governments also offer scholarships to allow and encourage their talented students to travel abroad to gain extra training, skills and experience. There are exchange partnership programmes between the Irish government and a number of other countries. You should contact the authorities in your own country to ascertain the options and possibilities that are available.

The Irish government offers a limited number of scholarships to enable international students from developing countries to travel to Ireland and take up places at third-level institutions. These Development Cooperation Ireland fellowships, as they are known, are awarded by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, and are specifically targeted at countries with which Ireland has close development cooperation ties. These include Vietnam, East Timor, and a number of African countries. More information is available from www.dfa.ie.

There are more scholarship opportunities for study and research at postgraduate level. Irish institutions and the Irish government are both eager to attract talented postgraduate students. The institutions themselves, as well as a number of bodies such as Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, offer funding and grants for researchers in a wide range of science, technology and arts subjects.

As there are significant costs involved in travelling to study in Ireland, all students should investigate their funding and scholarship options thoroughly. The opportunities are there; it is your responsibility to undertake some research and submit your application accordingly.