Welcome to Carlow College, St. Patrick's International!
Students from around the world choose to study at Carlow College, St. Patrick’s for the friendly & inclusive environment, beautiful heritage campus and affordability. As Ireland’s second-oldest third level institution, we have a long history of providing high-quality education and exceptional student supports in the areas of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies.
Learn more about the options available to you!Â
Admission Requirements
All Non-EU Degree-Seeking applicants at Carlow College must have:
- successfully completed a second level / high school qualification equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate (i.e. level 5)^ and submit all higher education entrance exam results;^^
- Please note that all subjects completed must be successfully passed, with good grades. For applicants that apply for the BA (Hons) in Psychology Programme, they will need to take a maths assessment.
- a minimum score of 6.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). If English is not the first language of the applicant, the applicant should review Carlow College’s English Language Policy and its associated appendix titled English Language Requirements for Admissions to Carlow College, St. Patrick’s; all necessary English language paperwork must be submitted with a completed application form.
As is standard national procedure, learners on programmes with professional placements are required to undergo Garda Vetting Procedures and / or demonstrate to programme staff that they meet the relevant professional standards prior to commencing placements. If an enrolled learner does not successfully meet the above requirements, they will be required to withdraw from their programme. If a learner is forced to withdraw from their programme, fees from previous academic years will not be refunded to the learner (see the Fees and Refunds Policy).
Once an application is received, the application will be forwarded to the relevant Programme Director and assessed. If the application makes it through this pre-screening process, the applicant will be invited to a virtual interview conducted via Microsoft Teams; the interview will be conducted by the International Officer and the relevant Programme Director. For transparency purposes, the relevant Programme Director and the International Officer will complete separate Interview Marking Forms.
^ If an applicant has only completed 11 years of full-time education or whose High School Completion Qualification comes in at a level 4 on the Irish National Framework for Qualifications, they must complete a Foundation Programme.
^^ For learners from the United States, the minimum score for the ACT is 20 and for the SAT is 1400 – 1440. The equivalency of qualifications for all Non-EU learners is based on information determined by QQI NARIC Ireland. Carlow College also uses the Entry Requirements Criteria for EU/EFTA/UK Applicants, for Non-EU applications, we use appendix II of this Entry Requirements document.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2024/25 Academic Year have now closed. Applications will reopen for the 2025/26 Academic Year in February 2025.Â
To submit your application, an application fee of €40 applies and must be paid at the time of application.Â
For more information regarding the application process, please see our Admission Guidelines and Procedures for Non-EEA Degree Programme Applicants.Â
Immigration
All learners studying in Ireland must comply with all elements of Irish immigration requirements outlined by the Department of Justice. When examining the process for immigration, in the first instance, the Non-EEA applicant should determine if they require a visa to enter Ireland as a learner. If the applicant is a citizen of a country that requires an entry visa for Ireland, you must read the page created by the Department of Justice regarding the application process for obtaining a Long-Term Study Visa.Â
All Carlow College, St. Patrick’s Undergraduate Programmes are on Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).
Immigration Requirements
Visa Information
Long-Term Study Visa
FAQs
ILEP
NOTE: The application process for applying for a entry visa for Ireland can take up to eight weeks, so it is important that the applicant engages in the process immediately upon receiving an offer. Furthermore, it is recommended that applicants do not purchase tickets associated with travelling to Ireland until their visa has been approved.
Private Medical Insurance
All Non-EEA students are required to have private medical insurance when coming to and residing in Ireland for the purpose of study. The private medical insurance should provide cover for accident and/or disease and should cover the student for any period of hospitalisation. Carlow College, St. Patrick’s does not provide a Group Insurance Scheme and all Non-EEA learners will need to purchase a plan that is compliant with Irish Immigration Requirements.
