Castle Campuses or Bustling Cities? UK vs Ireland Guide for International Students

Students often compare the UK vs Ireland in a quest to attain the best possible education. Choosing between the two depends on your specific priorities. While highly different in size in terms of area, both countries offer excellent education systems with prestigious universities, but they have some key differences to consider. The QS World University Rankings 2024 highlight Ireland's two universities in the top 200 and the UK's 27 institutes.

Before choosing, it’s essential to compare not just academics, but also the cost of living in the UK and Ireland, as expenses significantly affect the overall study abroad experience.

Top Universities: UK vs Ireland

According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, some of the top-ranked universities in the UK and Ireland are:

University	Ranking	Country
University of Cambridge	2	UK
University of Oxford	3	UK
Imperial College London	6	UK
University College London (UCL)	9	UK
University of Edinburgh	22	UK
University of Manchester	32	UK
King’s College London	40	UK
University of Bristol	55	UK
University of Warwick	67	UK
University of Glasgow	76	UK
Trinity College Dublin	81	Ireland
University College Dublin	171	Ireland

Ireland vs UK: Eligibility & Admission Requirements

UK

In the UK, there are different requirements for each educational level that must be met in order to be admitted. The primary prerequisite set by UK exam boards is a strong command of the English language because that is the medium of instruction. Documents including your current passport, the application for a student visa, an admissions letter, evidence of funds, a payment receipt, and your original marksheets will all be required. Interviews may be necessary for admission to certain universities. As for educational qualifications, most UK universities require:

• A Levels as minimum passing grade in one or two subjects per the university’s policies.
• Universities require two GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education) (preferably one in math and one in English).

Ireland

Depending on the university and the major selected, different universities in Ireland have different entrance requirements. Even so, foreign applicants to Irish universities typically need to provide the following paperwork:

• Transcripts from university courses or degrees.
• Results of English language exams, such as the IELTS.
• Work experience and samples (if necessary).
• Scores on the GMAT or GRE (if applicable).

Tuition Fees: Ireland vs UK

The average tuition costs for undergraduate and graduate programs in the UK and Ireland for various fields are shown in the following table:

Course	UK	Ireland
Computer Science	£9,250 per year (UG) £15,000 per year (PG) £20,000 per year (Doctorate)	€15,000 per year (UG) €20,000 per year (PG) €25,000 per year (Doctorate)
Economics	£9,250 per year (UG)\ £15,000 per year (PG) £20,000 per year (Doctorate)	€15,000 per year (UG) €20,000 per year (PG) €25,000 per year (Doctorate)
Management	£9,250 per year (UG)  £15,000 per year (PG)  £20,000 per year (Doctorate)	€15,000 per year (UG) €20,000 per year (PG) €25,000 per year (Doctorate)
Finance	£9,250 per year (UG)  £15,000 per year (PG)  £20,000 per year (Doctorate)	€15,000 per year (UG) €20,000 per year (PG) €25,000 per year (Doctorate)
Engineering	£9,250 per year (UG)  £15,000 per year (PG) £20,000 per year (Doctorate)	€15,000 per year (UG)  €20,000 per year (PG) €25,000 per year (Doctorate)

Please note that the tuition prices listed above are estimates. To learn more about the precise tuition costs for the program you wish to apply for, you are advised to visit the university's official website.

Living Expenses in the UK vs Ireland: Which Is Better

Depending on the city, lifestyle, and other elements, the cost of living in the UK and Ireland varies. The cost of living comparison between the UK and Ireland is shown in the following table.

Expense	Ireland	UK
Cost of living one person	$2,337	$1,994
One person rent	$1,531	$1,213
Transport expenses	$124	$155
Monthly salary after tax	$3,162	$3,072
Food expenses	$540	$473

*Data as per livingcost.org

Please note these costs are only indicative. Living expenses in both Ireland and the UK vary and emphasize the need for careful planning and budgeting before moving to either country.

Work Permit and PR

UK

You will require both an employment visa and a work permit to live and work in the UK. Depending on how long you plan to stay or what kind of work you plan to do, there are numerous kinds of work visas.

Once you have applied and provided all the required documents for the procedure, it takes approximately 3 weeks to get a revert on your UK work permit application (if you are outside UK), and within 8 weeks (if you are in the UK).

Ireland

Your registration certificate is the Irish Residence Permit (IRP). Upon registering with the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service (INIS), you will receive an IRP.

An IRP shows

• that the type of immigration permission you possess—such as a stamp number—has been registered and that it allows you to remain in Ireland

Foreign nationals must, in most circumstances, have resided in Ireland continuously for at least five years, without extended absences, to be eligible for permanent Irish residency. Applying for Irish permanent residency can be done in a few different ways, such as through a business permit, employment permit, Irish Immigrant Investor program, or joining a family member. The path you choose for your application may require you to meet additional qualifying standards.

Average Salaries: UK vs Ireland

Here is a comparison of the average salaries in UK vs Ireland for some common job roles:

Job Role	UK	Ireland
Software Engineer	£29,600	$47,531
Manager	£47,263	$56,281
Financial Analyst	£34,444	$40,443
Civil Engineer	£38,483	£39,839
Marketing Manager	£35,567	£48,017
Economist	£37,893	£55,971

*As per Payscale

To conclude, deciding between Ireland vs the UK for international students for education depends on what you like, your academic goals, and your budget. Pick the one that fits your preferences and situation best.