Ireland: Ancient heritage, cutting-edge research

When you’re choosing a university in Europe, it can be hard to decide whether a traditional, prestigious university or a cutting-edge college with state-of-the-art resources is best for you. But Trinity College Dublin gives you the best of both worlds.

Trinity is one of the oldest universities in Europe, established by Queen Elizabeth the 1st. Of the seven ancient universities in the English speaking world, it’s the only one that is located outside the United Kingdom. It also has an excellent reputation – ranked the best university in Ireland, 53rd overall by the Time Higher Education Supplement, and 10th for international mobility of graduates and value for money (globally) by the Financial Times.

So it certainly offers a rich heritage and prestigious qualifications. But it also provides incredible resources and support for research students. One in three students at TCD are postgraduates, and one in ten are working towards doctorate degrees.

Two areas of focus for research are the arts and humanities and science and nanoscience. The Long Room Hub, named for Trinity’s famous 18th century library, is its Research Institute for the Arts and Humanities. It offers research support in diverse areas, such as philosophy, medieval literature and contemporary art. Students have access to one of the world’s greatest libraries (also one of Dublin’s most popular tourist attractions) with over 4.5 million books and 30,000 current serials.

The Naughton Institute, opened in 2007, is the research facility for Trinity’s Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN). Nanoscience is the study of extremely small matter – atoms and molecules – and has implications for medicine, physics, engineering and chemistry. CRANN is dedicated to world-class science research, linking with current industry challenges.

Postgraduate students from all countries are welcome at Trinity – and two types of generous, but highly competitive, scholarships are available. The Ussher Award offers an allowance of €16,000 each year, plus full fee coverage. The Postgraduate studentships offer an allowance of €8,000, as well as full fee coverage.

To find out more about the many undergraduate and postgraduate courses available at the Trinity College Dublin, talk with one of our student counsellors.

UK: What the new points system means for you

In February 2008 the British Government announced plans to introduce a points-based immigration system for highly skilled foreign workers who want to move to the UK. The system started on 29 February 2008 for foreign nationals working in Britain who want to extend their stay. From April 2008 the system will be rolled out overseas, commencing in India.

There has already been much debate on how it will impact the opportunities for foreign students in the UK, and for post-graduation work. Here we explore what the changes are all about, and how they will affect your ability to study and work in the UK.

Until now, the UK immigration system has been very complicated. With 80 different options for work, training or study in the UK, assessments have been up to the individual case officer and sometimes based on subjective decisions.

Now, all this will be swept away. These 80 different routes will become five simple categories - with a clear points system for each. It is very similar to the system already used in Australia, which is seen as one of the simplest and most efficient in the world.

The UK wants to make sure that only people with the skills most in need will gain entry into the UK. It’s a way of ensuring the needs of their labour market are met. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have to switch your studies to plumbing just to get in! Points are also awarded on your age (the younger the better), your qualifications (the higher the better), your English ability, your current income and your ability to support yourself financially.

So, you can gain an advantage in the points system through further study in the UK, especially if it’s postgraduate study. And you’ll still have the opportunity to work in the UK once you graduate, through the new Tier 1 Post-Study Work sub-category.

Based on the current Home Office guidelines (which are still open to change), here is how it will now work.

There are five ‘tiers’ within the new system:

Tier 1: Highly Skilled – includes entrepreneurs, business people, and top scientists. You won’t need a job offer, and you’ll have the greatest opportunity to settle in the UK permanently.

Tier 2: Skilled with job offer – if your points don’t reach the required amount for Tier 1, you’ll need a job offer in an area where the UK is short of labour (such as nursing).

Tier 3: Low skilled – this category will now favour migrants from the EU.

Tier 4: Students – a simpler and more transparent system for student visas.

Tier 5: Temporary workers, youth mobility – covers sports people, musicians, cultural exchanges or working holidays.

The tiers most relevant to international students are Tier 4 and Tier 1. Requirements for student visas will not change significantly when this new tier is rolled out in 2009.

The main difference is that once you have accepted an offer from an accredited university or college, this will be enough proof that you intend to study. An entry clearance officer will no longer make an educational judgement about the suitability of your course.

Your institution will be known as your ‘sponsor’ under this system, even though there is (usually) no financial support involved. You can change courses once you have arrived, as long as you stay with the same institution – otherwise you’ll have to re-apply for your visa.

Under a Tier 4 Student visa, you’ll still be able to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week, and you can still bring dependents with you.

Once you graduate in the UK, you may be able to apply for a Tier 1 visa. This replaces the current International Graduates Scheme and Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme. The Post-Study Work sub-category of this scheme allows the brightest foreign students (who have studied in the UK) to work after graduation, without having a sponsor. This visa will be valid for 2 years, at which point you may be able to switch into another sub-category or tier to remain in the UK.

Ultimately, the new scheme should be a fairer and less bureaucratic way to study and work in the UK. Because the points system is simple, you can easily calculate whether you have enough, or what you can do (such as further English study) to improve your chances of a successful application. The Home Office expects that they will be able to assess applications more quickly, and reject less, under the new scheme.

With extra points awarded for post-graduate study, you’ll have an even better chance for success if you take the opportunity to increase your qualifications. What do you think? Has the new system put you off the idea of studying in the UK? Or do you think it will be a fairer system? You can share your thoughts with our readers in the comment box below.

If you are unsure about any visa issues, whether it’s for the UK or any other study destinations, just talk with one of our StudyLink student counsellors. Their advice is free, and they can help you make the best decision about where to study and how to apply.

Destination UK

Our recent StudentPulse survey showed that the UK is about to overtake the US as the most desired destination for international students. What makes a UK education so attractive? In this article, we explore what it’s really like to study, and live, in Britain.

Kanayo Enwemadu is studying a Master of Public Health at the University of Glasgow. “I wanted to study in the UK as the UK education is recognized, respected and highly valued all over the world. I immediately knew it was the right choice because of the efficiency displayed by all the staff: they are nice, friendly and approachable.” She was surprised by how beautiful the Scottish city is. “Glasgow is breathtaking; it’s a beautiful, cosmopolitan place to live.”

A qualification from a prestigious UK institution can help you fast track your international career. But there are many other benefits to studying in England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland:

Practice makes perfect: you’ll have opportunities to practice your English language skills beyond the classroom. This is the home of the English language, so it’s no surprise that every year over 600,000 international students study English in the UK.

Traditional or state-of-the-art: From the prestige of universities like Oxford or Cambridge, to high-tech facilities at many purpose-built campuses. With over 3000 educational institutions in the UK, you’ll find the right course and location for you.

Earn while you learn: Did you know you can work for up to 20 hours per week during term-time, and full-time during the holidays? This means you can add to your student funds with the extra income – and also gain valuable work experience in your chosen field.

And earn once you’ve learned: Plus, the new International Graduates Scheme allows all international students to work for up to 12 months after graduation.  In February 2008, the British Government announced plans to introduce an 'Australian-style', points-based immigration system for highly-skilled foreign workers who want to move to the UK. The system started on 29 February 2008 for foreign nationals working in Britain who want to extend their stay. From April 2008 the system will be rolled out overseas.

Discover Europe: There are so many places to explore, and travelling from the UK to Europe is easy. The channel tunnel train links London directly to Paris and Brussels, or you can fly to cities like Rome, Madrid or Lisbon in just a few hours.

Or discover the UK: For such a small nation, the UK is extremely diverse. 60 million people live in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and each region has its own distinct culture and history. Some even have their own language.

Your home away from home: The UK has many multicultural communities. You’ll find shops selling all your favourite foods from home, in every major city. You’ll also find many people who speak your language, and places of worship for all major religions.

It’s no wonder that the latest survey by UKCOSA (the Council for International Education) found that nearly 90% of international students in the UK were satisfied with their experience. But, like any study abroad opportunity, there will be some differences to adjust to.

Tomono, from Japan, studied English at a language school in Brighton. “At first it took me a while to adjust to the strange food and the public transport system. I was really homesick. But as my confidence in speaking English improved, I met more people and really enjoyed myself.”

Studying in the UK will develop your independence, creativity, and self-reliance – and these qualities will make you even more attractive to employers around the world.

There is still time to apply for September intake in the UK. To find out more about the huge range of courses available in the UK, contact one of our student counsellors today.

Trinity College: long history, fresh approach

When you study at Trinity College, you’ll be following in the footsteps of famous writers such as Swift, Goldsmith, Wilde and Beckett, and Ireland's former presidents Douglas Hyde and Mary Robinson.

With an impressive academic record spanning over 400 years, Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland and one of the older universities of Western Europe. Despite being grounded in history, the university is progressive and committed to making important contributions to the world in which we live. These days it attracts a large number of international students from over 90 countries, making it an academically and socially exciting multicultural college.

Trinity prides itself on its tradition of personal contact between staff and students. Its 17,000 staff and students form a compact academic community, with several hundred students and a number of staff living on campus. The college houses a range of facilities — dining hall, cafeterias and bars — and offers a varied social life sustained by a host of student societies and sporting clubs.

The campus is set in the heart of Dublin City and is one of Ireland's major tourist attractions. In addition to a beautiful campus and an impressive history, Trinity offers one of Europe’s largest libraries and a highly regarded international faculty and research community.

Dublin has much to offer the international student. With one of the youngest populations of Europe's major cities, Dublin offers a great atmosphere for students. While the city houses a range of fashionable boutiques and upmarket restaurants, it’s also well catered for in second-hand bookshops, street markets, fast food outlets and all kinds of ethnic eateries — many located in the Temple Bar area opposite the front entrance to the College.

Dublin is the hub of the Republic and is within easy reach of the renowned scenic areas of Cork, Kerry, Clare and Galway. For vacation travel, few European capitals are more than two hours away by direct flights.

Contact a StudyLink counsellor to find out more about studying at Trinity College.