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International Applicants

Application Process for International Applicants

  1. Determine whether you qualify for a visa.
  2. Check whether you meet the Teagasc college entry requirements.
  3. Check you can manage the fee requirements and living costs.
  4. Contact the College Principal to discuss your application.
  5. Prepare for your application: source the documentation, including where relevant the CEFR language certification; translation of qualifications to English; a comparability statement for each qualification.
  6. Apply for a visa (if required).
  7. Apply for the course.
  8. Plan your move to Ireland (once your application is accepted and paid for).

Registration opening dates for courses are different for each course, dates will be announced on our website and social media accounts so please keep an eye out for announcements.

EU Applicants

  • Ordinarily resident in the European Union (EU) and has received full-time post-primary education and/or worked full-time in the EU for 3 of the 5 years immediately prior to admission to an Irish College

Or

  • Holds a passport from an EU country and has completed all full-time post-primary education within the EU

Or

  • Holds official refugee status or humanitarian leave to remain in Ireland and has been ordinarily resident in the EU for 3 to 5 years immediately prior to admission to Irish college
  • A student’s registered status (EU/non-EU) cannot be changed during a programme for which he/she is registered.

International Applicants

Applicants who are Irish nationals, or nationals of the EU, UK, EEA, Switzerland or those who qualify under the EU Temporary Protection Directive (humanitarian leave to reside in Ireland), can apply to study in a Teagasc Programme. Please contact the college or centre of your choice for further information.

Applicants who are not Irish nationals or nationals of the EU, UK, EEA or Switzerland, are welcome to study with Teagasc but need to meet additional requirements including visa requirements and additional course charges.

Applicants need to be aware that the course charge does not include costs such as accommodation, food and travel. Applicants are strongly advised to have private health insurance recognised in Ireland, as this is the responsibility of the applicant.

Visas

Your first step is to ensure that you have a visa which covers you to study in Ireland for the duration of the course.  Teagasc educational programmes are not included on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) and international applicants cannot use a Teagasc programme application / course offer / student registration for the purposes of attaining a visa to enter / remain in Ireland.  In general, a long stay ‘D’ visa is required to remain in the State for longer than 3 months.

Citizens of certain countries are exempt from visa requirements for entering Ireland – further information is available here.

Please note

  1. It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain the appropriate visa from the Irish Government (Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration).
  2. It is the responsibility of the applicant to check if they need a visa to travel to Ireland to study. All queries regarding student visas should be directed to your local Irish Embassy or Consulate.
  3. Applicants must ensure that they read and understand all the terms and conditions required for a study visa to remain valid before paying the fee or make an application for a visa.

Useful information

Teagasc College Fees

A list of Teagasc fees can be found here. The fee-assessment for international applications falls into two groups:

Group 1: EU Fee Applicants

Applicants who fall under this category will be assessed for Irish/EU fees.  This group includes applicants who are:

  • EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation/UK citizens
  • Refugees or a refugee family member with permission to reside in Ireland
  • Permanent residents (Stamp 1, 4 or 5 visa)
  • Those with Humanitarian leave to reside in Ireland

Note: Citizenship is not determined by ‘duration of time’ living in a country, definitive proof of citizenship is being a holder of a passport for that country / region.

Group 2: International Fee Applicants

This group are international applicants who do not qualify for the EU-fee category.  Currently the course charge for international students is €7,000 and does not include costs such as accommodation, food and travel.

See ‘Moving to Ireland’ section below to estimate living costs.

Qualification Equivalence

The NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications website gives guidance on the equivalence of foreign qualifications. Applicants can download a comparability statement for each qualification to upload with their application.

English Language Requirements

  • Teagasc courses require that learners are proficient in English, both reading and speaking.  Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency at Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) Level B2. Certificates must be issued within 2 years of the course start date.  See CEFR self-assessment grids.
  • Recognised English language testing bodies include: International English Language Testing System (IELTS); Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); Cambridge English.

Contact Details

Contact the College Principal to discuss the course and to get guidance and useful information relevant to your application.

Apply Online

Contact the college to access an appropriate application form.

Helpful links:

Where relevant, in addition to the checklist, as an International Applicant you will need to obtain:

  • A Personal Public Services Number (PPSN) – Refer to the Department of Social Protection for instructions
  • A valid course application link from the college to which you are applying and:
    • Complete the online application form
    • Upload evidence of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) Level B2 or equivalent English language proficiency
    • Upload an official translation of previous qualification(s)
    • Upload a comparability statement for each qualification

For guidance on the online application platform see Teagasc’s Application Process Overview.

Your application is incomplete until all relevant documents are uploaded.

All documents must be saved on your device (laptop/mobile).  The following formats are acceptable: .jpg,  .gif, .pdf, .doc, .docx.  Max file size is 2MB.  Please note that .heic formats are not supported by our system.

Receipt of an application does not constitute an offer of a place on a course.

Moving to Ireland

Ireland has a high cost of living and securing accommodation can be a challenge, so please research your move before you make any payments.  One reputable source of information is citizensinformation.ie, which provides comprehensive information on public services and on the entitlements of citizens in Ireland.  Helpful links include: