Frequently asked questions about preparatory courses for studying in Ireland

#Study Abroad Preparatory Course# Introduction: Studying abroad in Ireland has attracted great attention from everyone. In recent years, the number of people studying abroad in Ireland for preparatory courses has gradually increased. Below are common preparatory questions for studying in Ireland. Welcome to read and reference!

1. Common preparatory questions for studying in Ireland

1. What is preparatory education

The education system in most Western countries, including Ireland, has this According to the regulations, foreign students who want to enter universities in various European countries must first study the university's one-year preparatory course, which can also be called a university preparation course. After completing the course, you will be eligible for admission and no longer need to take the school's unified examination. Preparatory courses are generally designed by foreign universities. In addition to language courses, international students must also study preparatory courses for the majors they want to study. After completing the course, passing each subject, and receiving a preparatory diploma, students can start undergraduate courses.

2. Why should you study preparatory courses?

Generally, students who have just arrived in Ireland to study abroad will definitely not adapt to the changes in environment and language at the beginning. There are many difficulties. It is unrealistic for students to start taking professional courses directly at this time. It is also an irresponsible behavior for students and may even damage their self-confidence. The preparatory course is a process set up by these universities in Ireland to allow students to gradually adapt to the new environment. In this process, students have one year to improve their language skills, better adjust themselves during this gradual adaptation process, make better and more secure decisions, and be in a better state to prepare for the next challenge. down the formal undergraduate curriculum. Therefore, preparatory courses are a must, no matter how good you are.

3. What are the benefits of studying preparatory courses?

1) Adapt to the new environment more quickly

The cultural differences and language differences between the East and the West are so great that even the best students cannot be sure that they will be able to adapt to the new environment as soon as they arrive in Ireland. It basically takes a while to adapt. Taking a preparatory course can not only help you adapt better, but also strengthen your language skills and avoid financial and time losses.

2) Strong learning atmosphere

Not only in Ireland, universities in many countries teach foreign languages. It is indeed difficult for new students to keep up with the teachers in class. . Study in the preparatory courses first. In such an environment, you can know how classes are taught in Ireland, and you can also have a deeper understanding of their unique academic atmosphere. When I take formal courses in the future, I will not feel confused, but will be able to understand what the teacher is saying very well and keep up with the teacher's teaching thinking.

3) The range of choices has increased

Generally speaking, if you apply directly from home to study at a university in Ireland or another country, the requirements are often very strict. If your grades are not ideal, it may be difficult for you to apply for the school or major you like. If you are studying preparatory courses, you can determine your target school while still studying preparatory courses, which can greatly reduce the risk of application.

4. What are the colleges and universities in Ireland that offer preparatory courses?

Ireland’s high school lasts for three years. Among all secondary education schools, one-tenth of them are boarding schools, and a small number of them are from the United Kingdom. To prepare for A-LEVEL, the so-called first year of high school in China is called the filtered academic year, which focuses on students' hobbies and courses, and there is no formal examination. The last two years are education for the purpose of the graduation examination, which is divided into three levels. If you obtain the level certificate, the door to university will be open for you.

Higher education institutions in Ireland: St. Angela's College, University College Cork, Athlone Institute of Technology, Dublin City University, Waterford Institute of Technology

5. Preparatory admission requirements What are they?

For Chinese students, going to Ireland to study college preparatory courses generally requires the following conditions:

1) Have graduated from or are about to graduate from high school in China (including technical secondary school, vocational school, etc.) High school, etc.);

2) Good grades in school, with an average score of above 70;

3) Have a certain English foundation, and generally need to have an English proficiency level of IELTS 5 or above ;

4) The family can afford the cost of studying abroad, which is approximately RMB 120,000 per year.

VI. When does the preparatory course start?

Usually, the preparatory course starts in September each year and ends in June of the following year. There are also a few schools that offer preparatory courses that start in January every year and last until August of that year.

Whether the semester starts in September or January, preparatory courses are designed to help students successfully enter university in September to study undergraduate courses.

2. IELTS requirements for studying in Irish universities

1. Trinity College Dublin

Its full name is Trinity College Dublin. It was established in 1592 and its main campus is located in Dublin. , established by the royal order, is a royal college with strong teaching strength and can be as famous as Oxford and Cambridge in the United Kingdom and Harvard and Yale in the United States.

Bachelor’s degree admission requires a high school diploma or above, a GPA score of 3.5, and an IELTS score of about 6.5; master’s degree admission requires completion of formal undergraduate studies, a GPA score of 3.0 or above, and an IELTS score of 4.0 left and right levels.

2. Dublin Institute of Technology

The full name is Dublin Institute of Technology. It was formally established in 1887. It is currently a large-scale institution of higher learning in China. Its courses range from vocational training to doctoral research. Complete, with the mission of cultivating modern talents.

For admission, you need to have completed the previous stage of professional study, and the average score must be around 80 points. You also need to provide an IELTS score report of 6.0-6.5. Popular majors are accounting, management and nursing. Branch, employment is also very good.

3. Maynooth University

The full name is NUI Maynooth. As a new university established in 1997, it is still relatively immature, but its youth also gives it strong vitality. , the learning atmosphere is not rigid, very suitable for young students' learning, and more conducive to stimulating potential and conducting academic exchanges and practices.

Undergraduate admissions will examine students’ scores in both the National College Entrance Examination and the College Entrance Examination, both of which need to reach 80% of the total score. The IELTS requirement is around 6.0; for master’s degrees, students generally need to undergo preparatory studies first, and apply in this way Will be given priority for admission.

4. University of Limerick

The full name is University of Limerick. It was officially established in 1972. It is a relatively comprehensive independent university. The school’s training attaches great importance to practicality. We work closely with enterprises and provide more than 2,000 internship positions every year.

To apply for undergraduate programs, you need a high school diploma and high school grades. For master’s programs, you must provide relevant certificates of undergraduate graduation; for science and engineering majors, you need TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.0 points, and for grammar majors, you need TOEFL 100 or IELTS 6.5 points. .

3. Application process for studying in Ireland

1. Collect school information, select major and direction to apply for

Through various channels (Internet, consult study abroad institutions , write to the school) Check the school and major information, and select the basic level and general direction of the major to apply for in the college based on your own professional background, interests and personal advantages. There are many schools to choose from in Ireland. There are more than 20 Irish schools in the list of schools recognized by the Ministry of Education. Each school has different characteristics and advantages.

2. Prepare application documents

Since letters of recommendation, personal statements and other documents are very important to the application, this step requires students to invest a lot of energy, and it is generally recommended that students use It takes several months to prepare, and the paperwork includes a resume, personal statement, and 2 letters of recommendation. The most important one is the personal statement. This is because letters of recommendation and resumes only show the school the specific information of the applicant, while the personal statement is the opportunity for the applicant to show the school his personal character, quality and academic expertise. The school usually attaches great importance to the applicant. Language skills, character qualities and academic interests demonstrated in the personal statement. The entire application in Ireland adopts the online application form, so the paperwork does not need to be mailed. Generally, it can be uploaded directly to the system or given to the school.

3. Submit application materials

Since the opening hours of various schools in Ireland are different, applicants need to pay attention to the application status in advance. General opening time is October 1st. After submitting the application, it usually takes 3-4 weeks for the school to announce the results one after another. After receiving conditional admission, students need to pay a deposit to reserve a seat. Usually after paying the deposit, students must take the IELTS test and submit it before June or July of the following year. If you expect that your IELTS score will not meet the standard, some Irish colleges and universities also offer short-term language classes, and students need to apply in advance.

4. Prepare visa materials

The list of materials required by the Irish Immigration Service will be relatively large, but the student visa rejection rate is actually very low. The Irish visa materials are relatively complex overall, involving various aspects such as parents' work, capital flow, guarantee deposit, and insurance, so students need to be well prepared. All non-English materials must be translated. After preparation, students need to make an appointment online and submit them. When the visa is due, take all the documents to the visa center to submit the visa materials.

After submission, usually within about two weeks, the Irish Embassy will mail the passport with the visa attached directly to the student. When getting a visa, you need to check your personal information and visa information to prevent errors. The normal requirement is a 3-month entry visa. After entering the country, go to the GNIB office to apply for an IRP card.