General Information & FAQ

About Ireland
Ireland is a small island republic off the coast of North West Europe. It lies about 100km from its nearest neighbour, the United Kingdom, across the Irish Sea. It has been a member of the European Union since 1973 and plays a very active part in all the activities of the Council and the Commission. It is approximately 500 km from Paris and Amsterdam by air. The population of Ireland (north and south) is around 4 million. In the past many Irish people emigrated to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and this means there are strong social and cultural bonds between Ireland and these countries. For more information see www.ireland.travel.ie

Why is Ireland a good study destination for overseas students?

• Its main working language is English.
• Its educational system is well respected and leads to qualifications which are recognised and valued worldwide.
• Higher education has played an important role in the economic success of the nation.
• Colleges are relatively small and can give students good personal attention.
• The climate is mild, the environment clean and healthy and it is safe, having relatively low crime levels.
• While it has a vibrant modern economy with access to the full range of information technologies and other services, Ireland also has a long history and a unique culture with its own language, literature, music etc.
• Irish people are warm and welcoming to overseas visitors.

What is Waterford like?

• Waterford is a city and a port located in the South East of the county.
• It is the designated Gateway to the SE Region, with good shopping, social life and facilities for sport and recreation.
• It is the fifth city of the Irish Republic having a population of about 50,000 people.
• It is easily accessible from the capital Dublin (160km) by train or bus.
• It is an ancient walled city with many interesting remains and attractive buildings.
• Its most famous export is the unique Waterford Crystal.
• Further general information about Waterford

Why should I choose Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT)?
Just some of the reasons for choosing WIT are:

• WIT is a state-sector, university-level college which is funded directly by the Irish government. This means that its facilities and infrastructure are of excellent quality.
• It provides a wide range of vocationally oriented courses, which lead to internationally recognised awards at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• It operates within the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) which provides assurance that all its courses are quality assured and all its staff have high level qualifications.
  WIT stands out from other Institutes of Technology in having delegated authority from NQAI to award its own qualifications within this framework. This autonomy was awarded as a result of an international review process.
• The qualifications from WIT are aligned with the European Credit System (ECTS)
• It has an excellent new Library, recently referred to in a national study as 'one of the best in Ireland.'
• WIT has a newly opened Information Technology Building with state of the art computers, network and broadband access.
• WIT currently caters for over 10,000 students of which 6,500 are full-time and over 4,000 are part-time. There is a rapidly growing community of international students.
• WIT is one of the most popular destinations for Irish school-leavers and there is strong competition for places.
• WIT has strong links with industry and employers and many of its courses involve work placement.
• WIT provides postgraduate opportunities through its taught Masters and research programmes.
• There is excellent college managed student accommodation which is affordable, clean and near the Institute. The cost of living in Waterford is lower than in many other cities in Ireland.
• Some relevant links:
  Education Ireland
  www.hetac.ie
  www.hea.ie
  www.naric.org.uk/home.htm

Selecting a course

WIT Offers courses for International students at three levels:

• Undergraduate (Higher Certificates, Bachelors Degrees and Honours Bachelors Degrees)
• Postgraduate (Masters and Doctorates)
• Preparatory course (prior to undergraduate entry)

What are the main undergraduate subject areas open to overseas students?

• Engineering - Manufacturing, Construction, Architecture and Electronics
• Information Technology
• Hospitality and Tourism Management
• Field Sciences - Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry
• Laboratory Sciences - Biotechnology, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, Physics
• Business - Management, Marketing, Finance and Accounting
• Art and Music
• Health Promotion

Does WIT offer flexibility in terms of course delivery and entry and exit points?
Yes! In addition to many standard 4 year degree programmes, WIT offers awards at the following levels

• Higher Certificate - 2 years duration
• Bachelors Degree - 1 year added on to a Higher Certificate (total 3 years)
• Honours Bachelors Degree - 1 year added on to a Bachelors Degree or 2 years added on to a Higher Certificate. (total 4 years)
• This means that a student completing a 2 or 3 year award in their own country can be considered for exemptions and advanced entry.

Should I apply for direct entry to an undergraduate programme or should I consider a preparatory or foundation course?
If the following characteristics apply to you, we would recommend that you consider the option of a one year Bridging Course:

• English is not your first language
• You have just left secondary school and are still under 20 years of age
• You do not feel confident about adapting to a strange country and studying through English
• You want to get the best grade of award of which you are capable
• You do not want to fail a year of college - repeating a year will cost you more in the long term and may influence the grade of your award