International Students Coming to Ireland – Everything you Need to Know

International Students Coming to Ireland: Everything you Need to Know

Name: HomeHak
Price range: $

Where do they come from?

The biggest increase has been international students from other EU states, jumping from 1,934 in 2017 to 6,383 in 2022.

According to the Irish Times, the total number of full-time, non-EEA international students reached nearly 18,500 in 2018. The Irish Higher Education Authority (HEA) states that the main non-EEA sending countries for Ireland are the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Canada. Asia sends the largest share of students (43% as of 2017/18), followed by North America (30%), and the EU (20%).

As reported by this report, applications from British students increased by 9 per cent this year. In 2021, Ireland was home to 25,000 international students. India is the second-biggest source of international students on the island.

International Students Coming to Ireland: Everything you Need to Know — Photo by Javier Trueba on Unsplash

Top tips for International Students arriving to Ireland

Rental scams

September has approached, and students are heading back to college. The rental market has never been busier. With the surge in demand for accommodation, hopeful tenants are being advised to be cautious of a variety of rental scams. HomeHak has put together some useful information about scams related to renting.

Bank account

One of the first things you should do is open a student bank account. Each university usually has a banking partner on campus.

Budgeting for international students

To enable you to enjoy your university experience to the fullest, you need to learn to manage your money correctly. One of the biggest ways to save money in university is through your grocery shopping. As an international student in Ireland, you can enjoy a range of great discounts and savings. These will make your finances easier to manage.

Shopping and discounts

Ireland has several student discount cards. They range from freebies to money off. Below, we list the cards we recommend adding to your student wallet.

iConnect Card

– You can save up to €450 on MacBook iPad ranges with a valid third-level student card.

>Student Leap Card

– Ireland’s primary student travel card.

ISIC Card

– ISIC has been the mainstay discount card for international students for over 50 years. They offer exclusive discounts on a vast range of products and services in over 125 countries.

Affordable Supermarkets

Grocery shopping will eat up a large part of your student budget. It pays to shop around to find the cheapest supermarket in your local area. Here, we list the supermarkets that are the cheapest.

Manage your time

As you settle into the swing of things, your time in Ireland is going to fly by. Plan Your Next Adventure with Discover Ireland.

Ireland’s Weather

Ireland is the type of place where you can experience the four seasons in one day. Ensure to pack wisely for cold, warm and wet days.

HomeHak International students — Photo by Erik Witsoe on Unsplash

Student Travel Card

A student travel card will get you discounts on your travel throughout Ireland. Also, giving you great savings is the Student Leap Card.

For more information on these tips, check out our article International Students Studying in Irish Universities Top Tips.

Embassies

Full details of all Diplomatic Missions in Ireland or accredited to Ireland on a non-resident basis can be found in the link below. This has been issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs. It includes information on the index of missions and representations accredited to Ireland. Diplomatic List July 2022

Irish Banks

To open an Irish bank account as an international student, you will need:

Certificate of Attendance

These are Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks and Ulster Bank. Each offers a student account with differing service fees and added extras.

Mobile phone

Ireland has a reliable phone network. The country is covered by several major network providers. There are a number of options available to you, depending on your budget and requirements. These include a fixed-term contract, sim-only plan or pay-as-you-go tariff.

The main operators we’d recommend in Ireland are

Healthcare

The INIS visa service offers information on the process of finding health insurance in Ireland. On average, health insurance for international students costs around €100 – €120 per annum.

Working in Ireland

Here are the conditions you need to be aware of:

EU Students

If you’re travelling from the EU, you can work in Ireland without registering for a GNIB card.

Non-EU Students

Non-EU students can seek casual work of up to 20 hours a week during term-time, provided they have a card. In June, July, August and September, non-EU students can work up to 40 hours per week.

You cannot work in Ireland if your course is under six months in length.

Start with the university careers portal. These list a range of term-time positions available on and off campus. Then, check job sites such as Monster, Jobs and Irish Jobs. Distribute your CV to local businesses, as not all positions are advertised online.

Why use a Tenant CV?

It’s an easy-to-read document.
HomeHak tenant CV shows off information a landlord would need to know. Head to our article What is a Tenant CV? for more information.
It promotes you as a suitable tenant.
A tenant CV takes some frustration out of the rental application process.
It provides all valuable and essential information for the homeowner upfront. Check out our article on 6 Reasons to Use a Tenant CV.

Landlord References

A landlord recommendation letter (rental reference) is an crucial component of your rental application. In a competitive rental market, a good reference can make a huge difference. Check out our article Importance Of a Reference for Irish University Student Accommodation.

Important links for international students

Revenue office

www.revenue.ie

Safety

www.garda.ie

Irish Newspapers

www.irishexaminer.com

Travel in Ireland

www.discoverireland.com/ire

Irish Council for International Students

www.internationalstudents.ie

Link to University websites In Ireland For International Students

Trinity College Of Trinity

University College Dublin

University College Cork

Dublin City University

Technological University Dublin

University Of Limerick

Maynooth University

Galway National University Of Ireland

Athlone Institute Of Technology

Carlow Technology Institute

Dundalk Technology Institute

Limerick Institute Of Technology

Letterkenny Institute Of Technology

Waterford Institute Of Technology

Cork Institute Of Technology

Sligo Technology Institute

Institute Of Technology, Tralee

Dublin Business School

Griffith College Dublin

Useful articles for international students

Study in Ireland: A Guide for International Students

International Students

Student visas to study in Ireland

Study in Ireland

Top recommended websites for international students

Irish Council for International Students

Irish Universities Association

Citizens Information

Education in Ireland

Embassy World

The Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service

Google Maps

July 29, 2022September 21, 2022

International Students Studying in Irish Universities Top Tips

Top Tips for International Students Studying in Irish Universities

It is a truly enriching experience to study in an Irish University. With highly dedicated and qualified staff, our universities have a prestigious reputation of delivering world class education to the highest standard. According to the Irish Universities Association, there are currently over 32,000 international students studying in Ireland availing of the extensive range of courses available. Read more to find your top tips for international students studying in Ireland.

You might be feeling a bit anxious. Fear not, as HomeHak has put together our top tips for international students coming to Ireland to make you feel more at ease.

Bank account

One of the first things you should do is open a student bank account. Each university usually has a banking partner on campus. This makes it easy for you to open a bank account with appropriate supporting documents. In addition, it takes the stress away of having to choose the right bank and you can get the process done in minutes. Want to know the different student bank accounts in Ireland? Compare and apply online here.

Budgeting for international students

To enable you to enjoy your university experience to the fullest, you need to learn to manage your money correctly. One of the biggest ways to save money in university is through your grocery shop. Furthermore, Lidl and Aldi are the best budget supermarkets to do your food shop in. They can help save you a substantial amount of money on your food bill. Want more tips? Check out this article.

Jar with savings — Photo by Towfiqu Barbhuiya on Unsplash

Manage your time

As you settle into the swing of things, your time in Ireland is going to fly by. Plan Your Next Adventure with Discover Ireland.

Irelands Weather

Ireland is the type of place where you can experience the four seasons in one day. Ensure to pack wisely for cold, warm and wet days. Moreover, summer temperatures usually range from 16-22 celcius with winters rarely dropping below freezing point but still quite cold.

Student Travel Card

A student travel card will get you discounts on your travel throughout Ireland. Also, giving you great savings is the Student Leap Card. The Student Leap Card is the national student travel card. Furthermore, it can help you with savings on mobile plans, travel and shopping. Besides, card holders can get student discounts on fares for Go-Ahead Ireland, Dublin Bus, Luas, Bus Éireann, DART and Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann).

The Irish People

The Irish are well known around the world for their friendliness and love to converse with strangers. Furthermore, if you ever need something during your time in Ireland don’t be afraid to ask as the Irish will go above and beyond to help you out. The one thing you will be guaranteed from studying in Ireland is a few new Irish friends too! So don’t be shy and get out of your comfort zone and mix with new people.

Here are some links international students might find helpful

To summarise

Ireland prides itself in nurturing international students and helping them to adapt to a new culture. Equally important, each university has a dedicated international office for your needs. Additionally, there is also a diverse range of clubs, societies and support structures to help you settle into university life in Ireland. Finally, there is magnetic energy around the Emerald Isle Universities. As a result, this draws in students from all over the world. No wonder it is ranked in the top 3% of institutions worldwide.

If you are an international student studying in Ireland, check out our article:

International Students in Cork City – Where to Do Your Shopping?

July 22, 2022September 7, 2022

Shopping Essentials for Students in your New Accommodation in Ireland

The novelty of walking into your kitchen at home and everything you ever need is always there has come to an end. It is now time to arm your own kitchen with all the basic essentials. Read more to find your shopping essentials for your new accommodation in Ireland.

Packing your life away can be stressful enough without having to think of all the basics you need to have in your kitchen to make a decent meal. Bringing along a grocery list or a weekly menu is a good idea if you get easily side-tracked in the store or don’t know where to begin.

When creating a shopping list you should consider creating a healthy and well-rounded diet . This should primarily comprise of whole, nutrient-dense foods. Include for example,veggies, fruits, protein sources like fish and eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds.

HomeHak has put together a go to list of essentials to get your cooking journey started. It’s time to stock up the refrigerator and cabinets – let’s get started!

Let’s start with groceries.

Let’s start with the essentials!

Protein – chicken, beef, fish.
Grains – rice, pasta.
Milk
Cereal
Bread
Oats
Coffee
Tea

Fresh fruit and vegetables:

Potatoes
Berries – strawberries, blueberries.
Bananas
Apples
Onions
Peppers

Spices and herbs:

Salt
Pepper
Garlic powder
Dry basil

Sauces:

Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Olive oil
Soy sauce

Frozen food:

These are truly a gift in university. They take away the pain of chopping up vegetables and there is no worry of your fruit and veg going out of date.

Fruit
Vegetables
Meat- chicken, beef, fish

Home essentials

It is easy to forget about everything we take for granted at home but do not forget these basics to get your kitchen in proper running order.

Washing up liquid
Hand soap
Laundry supplies (if needed) – detergent.
Toiletries – razor, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel
Toilet paper
Cleaning supplies

Supermarkets

Best supermarkets to do your food shop in? Check out these:

Aldi

Aldi is your best bet when it comes to buying only essentials. This store focuses on the staple items. They offer some of the cheapest products and weekly sales that really help when you are on a budget.

Lidl

Lidl is the cheapest of them all when it comes to buying your shopping essentials. It focuses on essentials. Lidl has weekly specials where they offer amazing discounts not only on food items but also on electronics and more expensive products in general.

SuperValu

SuperValu is Ireland’s largest grocery and food distributor serving local communities throughout Ireland This reputation has been earned through their fresh food quality, strong value offering, consistent support of local producers and the expertise and customer service across their stores.

Dunnes Stores

Dunnes is a high-end supermarket which makes it a bit more expensive than Tesco. The stores usually sell clothing, homewares and groceries. You can find reasonable and trustworthy products of their own brands. They have a grocery delivery system and a click and collect from their nearest stores.

Tesco

Tesco is a UK based retail store and probably the largest supermarket chain in Ireland. They have the widest range of products including well-known brands and a variety of their own brands. You can also find some of the cheapest prices for your groceries here.

To summarise

When creating your shopping essentials list try and break it into sections. For example non starchy / starchy vegetables, fruits, beans and grains, nuts and seeds, proteins, frozen foods, dairy and nondairy substitutes, drinks, condiments, and miscellaneous items.

Want to learn more? Read the definitive guide to healthy grocery shopping here.

If you are an international student, check out our article “Where to shop for international students”. We share the best places for you to do your shopping and get all your necessities!