Applying to college abroad

QQI Level 5 PLC students in Ireland can also apply to universities in the UK, but the process is separate from the Irish CAO system. Instead, applications are made through the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) website. Many (but not all) UK universities will accept a full QQI Level 5 award for entry to certain courses, but the exact requirements vary by institution and course. Make sure to check with the admissions team of the university that you are applying to that your Level 5 qualification will be accepted before applying. 

Application deadlines for UK universities are earlier than in Ireland, with deadlines in January for most courses, and an earlier October for courses including Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary and Oxford/Cambridge. 

Unlike the CAO, you will need to secure a reference and also write a personal statement. It is important to give yourself time for both of these, and to ask for help from the guidance team if you need it. The current system is due to change, however, with the essay-style personal statement being replaced by shorter and more structured questions. Read more about the changes to the personal statement and reference system here. 

QQI Level 5 PLC students in Ireland can also apply to universities in Europe, with many universities offering courses that are taught entirely through English. Every country and university has its own entry requirements, so it’s important to research carefully. While some European universities accept a full QQI Level 5 award for entry to certain courses, some may require additional qualifications, an entrance exam, language tests, or specific subject modules. 

Application processes and deadlines vary – some use centralised systems (like Studielink in the Netherlands), while others require direct applications to each university via their websites. Tuition fees for EU students are often lower than in Ireland, and some countries have no tuition fees at all, although living costs should be considered. When applying for English-taught programmes, you may need to provide proof of English proficiency (such as IELTS), unless you can show that your previous education was in English. 

Be mindful of deadlines if you are interested in studying in Europe, as some fall much earlier than Ireland, while others such as Italy, fall much later. If this is something that interests you, start in September and try to get organised early!

Some students like to use an agency for help; EUNICAS offers support to Irish students who want to study abroad in Europe for a fee. There is more information here . 

Universities in the EU often have a mixture of low fees and no fees, with the cost varying by country. However the SUSI grant does not only cover Ireland, it also extends (partially) to the UK and EU. Take a look at the SUSI website here. 

Eunicas also has information on EU tuition fees here.