Ireland the emerging study abroad destination country

Ireland's worldwide reputation for high quality education is built on the solid foundation of commitment to excellence. Ireland is a beautiful island, combining contemporary modern cities with an unspoilt countryside, cityscapes steeped in history and a rich natural habitat. Renowned for friendliness, our safe, English speaking country offers the warmest of welcomes to students from all over the world.

The higher education system in Ireland is broad in scope and encompasses the university sector, the technological sector, the colleges of education and private, independent colleges. The institutions which fall within the first three groupings are autonomous and self governing, but substantially state funded.

A number of institutions are authorised to confer their own awards.These institutions include the Universities, the Dublin Institute of Technology and a growing number of the Institutes of Technology. The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) is authorised to make awards in the non-university sector. HETAC makes awards and sets and monitors standards at all levels of higher education and training up to doctorate level.

The qualifications system in Ireland has been modernised with the introduction of the National Framework of Qualifications. The NFQ is a system of ten levels, the ten levels capture all learning from the very initial stages to the most advanced. It aids employers in recognising and understanding the level and standard of qualifications, acting as a tool for identify 'appropriate fit' qualifications for specific roles.

The Framework is maintained by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI). The quality and standard of all Irish educational awards made by authorised institutions and HETAC are fully recognised globally.

The following academic awards can be achieved at Irish higher education institutions:

• Higher Certificate: Two year full-time course
• Ordinary Bachelors Degree: Three year full time course
• Honours Bachelors Degree: Normally a three or four year course
• Graduate Diploma: Designed for graduates seeking a vocational reorientation - usually a one year course.
• Masters degree: Either by research or through a taught programme. Normally one-two year(s) duration.
• Doctorate (PhD): Usually takes a minimum of three years of original research. Doctorates are usually awarded pass or fail, with distinctions in rare cases.

For an island with a population of just 4.5 million, the Irish culture and way of life has travelled far and wide. More than 70 million people are proud to claim Irish heritage.

Music is very much part of the Irish identity, and phenomena such as U2, Enya, Westlife and The Corrs have taken the world by storm. Riverdance has been witnessed by millions from Beijing to Boston. .