Education system in Ireland
The higher education system in Ireland consists of the university sector, institutes of technology and private independent colleges. The entry requirements for international students to higher education are determined individually by each institution and are generally based on national examination performance and English language aptitude.
Irish higher education institutions offer degrees at ordinary (NFQ Level 7) and honour bachelors (NFQ Level 8), Masters (NFQ Level 9) and Doctorate levels (NFQ Level 10), as well as various undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas over a full range of disciplines.
There are six types of major award available in Ireland at these levels:
- NFQ Level 7 = Ordinary Bachelor Degree (3 years duration).
- NFQ Level 8 = Honours Bachelor Degree (3-4 years duration).
- NFQ Level 8 = Higher Diploma (1 year duration).
- NFQ Level 9 = Postgraduate Diploma (1 year duration).
- NFQ Level 9 = Masters Degree (1-2 years duration).
- NFQ Level 10 = Doctoral Degree (approximately 4 years duration).
The Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is responsible for developing and maintaining the National Qualifications Framework (NFQ) and for quality standards (Quality Assurance and Pastoral Care) in both the higher education sector and English Language schools.
