Studying in Ireland and Dublin City University: a post-study stay written into the rules

Ireland does one thing more explicitly than most destinations: the right to stay after graduation is written into the rules with a stated duration per qualification level, rather than offered as a vague promise. For a family planning several years ahead, that is something you can read and check.

Two mechanisms to understand before choosing a course

1. ILEP — the list of eligible programmes

Non-EEA students receive a student permission only for programmes on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). Immigration Service Delivery, part of the Department of Justice, uses it as the reference point when assessing visa and residence applications. It covers English language programmes of at least 25 weeks, higher education programmes and professional awards, and foundation programmes.

Put plainly: the first question about any Irish course is not whether the institution is good, but whether the programme is on the ILEP. If it is not, the visa application does not proceed.

2. The Third Level Graduate Programme

• Graduates at NFQ level 8 may receive a 12-month extension, within a maximum of 7 years of student permission overall.
• Graduates at NFQ level 9 or above may receive 24 months (two 12-month blocks), within a maximum of 8 years overall.

During that period graduates look for work and can apply for a General Employment Permit or a Critical Skills Employment Permit. That difference is worth weighing carefully when choosing between a level 8 and a level 9 programme.

Dublin City University

• Located in Dublin, on the Glasnevin campus.
• Five faculties: DCU Business School, DCU Institute of Education, Faculty of Engineering & Computing, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Faculty of Science & Health.
• Runs the INTRA placement programme, with a published list of courses that include it.
• A registered charity in Ireland, RCN 20013653.

This article does not quote student numbers or rankings for DCU because they could not be verified on the university's own pages. If you need those figures to compare, ask the university for current data rather than relying on a number of unknown vintage.

Why INTRA is worth asking about

A placement built into the degree is a different proposition from an internship you find yourself: it sits in the academic calendar, the university carries responsibility for the match, and the experience is on your record when you look for work after graduation — exactly the stage where the graduate permission above matters. Ask whether your specific course includes INTRA, how long it runs, and in which year.

What to verify before applying

• Whether your programme is on the ILEP, and its NFQ level.
• English language and entry requirements for that specific course.
• Financial evidence and health insurance requirements for the visa.
• Work rights during study — set by Irish immigration rules, which change.

Next step

VNIS checks the NFQ level, ILEP status and graduate permission pathway against the programme you are considering, so the decision rests on the rules currently in force rather than older information.