Wondering Where to Study? Application Process
For many of you, the first big choice will be whether to study in Ireland, the US or the UK. Historically, most NAE students apply to the UK or US, and all countries have an enormous range of excellent universities. There are significant academic and cultural differences between Ireland, the UK and the US, and for most students it is not sensible to apply to both US and UK universities – you should have chosen which is right for you before you apply. However, first thinking about whether the US or UK is right for you is a good start as most universities worldwide follow one of these two systems.
The application process to UK universities is much simpler, easier and more transparent than that to US universities. UK universities are generally most interested in your academic abilities whereas many US universities are much more concerned about your values, extracurricular activities and story. In the UK you complete one application (UCAS) that is sent to a maximum of five universities. In the US you can apply to as many universities as you like and you may need to write a number of different essays. We recommend that you do not apply to more than nine universities.
Course or University?
Entrance Offers
In the UK and Europe, you usually apply directly to a course of study, such as Mathematics or Philosophy whilst in the US and Canada, you generally apply to a university but do not choose a specific course of study until you have completed a general first year.
Length of Undergraduate Study
In the US undergraduate courses are usually four years, while in the UK and other European countries they are three years. Some UK science courses are four years.
US universities tend to make decisions based on applications that include predicted grades. UK universities make offers on applications including predicted grades but the place is only guaranteed when the offer is met following diploma results in the summer.
*Irish Unive
rs
ities Application s to Irish un iversities are the Central completed th Application rough s Office (CA found on w O). Informa ww.cao.ie. tion can be Both Irish a nd students of differing be supporte nationalitie d through th s will e applicatio education in n process to stitutions. It Irish is crucial to method of a remember th pplying to a at the n Irish highe depends on r education whether a st in st itution udent is an student. EU or a non -EU
18
Irish studen ts should no te the follow presenting ing: Candid for matricu ates la tion a quali than the Le fication oth aving Certifi er cate, such a Baccalaurea s the Intern te Diploma a tional and whose primary edu primary and cation has b posteen in the R counties), w epublic of Ir ill satisfy th eland (26 e Irish langu presenting age require a pass (at le m ent by ast Grade O the Leaving 7 at Ordinary Certificate o le vel) in r Level B1 in Gaeilge. (Na Teastas Eorp tional Unive a ch na rsity of Irela nd)
