It’s time to remind you about another IEC program, namely Work and Study Ireland. This is an ideal program for those who want to immerse themselves in a different culture and improve their English.
The program gives you full student status with the opportunity to work 20 hours during your studies and up to 40 hours during the holidays. According to immigration rules, you must attend at least 85% of classes. A preliminary test and interview are conducted at the school to determine the level of the students. Classes are held 5 days a week in the morning/afternoon. Usually, there are two classes with a 20-30 minute break. At the end of the course, students must pass an exam. You can choose TIE, IELTS, or Cambridge. The school offers a specialized preparation course, but in reality, it is more like a general course with periodic exam assignments.
Initially, the visa is issued for one course lasting 33 weeks, but most students extend it and stay in Ireland for up to two years. There are also those who obtain a work visa during this time, as many come here after receiving higher education. By the way, the ages of the students vary greatly. There are recent high school graduates as well as older students who simply wanted a change.
Studying here is very relaxed. It is worth noting that most of the teachers are Irish: they not only help students speak freely, but also try to expand their knowledge of the local culture. Studying takes place in an international environment that promotes language practice. There are many students from Brazil, China, and Mongolia here. Every day will be filled with new cultural discoveries. For example, on holidays, some students often prepare their national dishes, which are interesting to try.
The school usually organizes four events per month. These can be organizational matters (such as how to get a tax refund, for example), as well as parties or excursions. For example, on Halloween 2025, an area was set up in a bar in the center of Dublin. It was an atmospheric event, and the whole city celebrated it in style.
Ireland amazes with its beauty from the very first moments. There is a special atmosphere of calm and freedom here. The weather pleases with a large number of sunny days, and periodic storm warnings become something familiar over time. And winter is completely snow-free, with temperatures around 5°C in January. The incredible architecture will particularly appeal to history lovers, and Irish pub culture probably needs no introduction. Here you can find the freshest Guinness in the world!
There is a common stereotype that Dublin is very boring. This is not true at all. After school, students have the opportunity to visit many museums, including the world-famous Jameson Distillery and Guinness Storehouse (it’s worth going here if only for the observation deck). If the weather is nice, you can take a walk in the city’s incredibly beautiful old parks. Or go shopping on Grafton Street (the very street mentioned by Ed Sheeran in his song “Galway Girl”). And, of course, you can go to a concert; there is a good selection of evening entertainment here.
On weekends or during holidays (you can take 8 weeks during or after your studies), you can go on a short trip. It is quite easy to get around Ireland by bus and train, and with student discounts, it is generally inexpensive. There are tons of route options — from the closest ones to Wicklow and Kilkenny (which, by the way, also has a beer museum — Smithwick’s Experience) to the more distant ones — Galway, Sligo, and others. You can try to get a visa and go on a trip to Belfast in Northern Ireland, but it’s pretty hard to get an appointment at the consulate.
To be honest, it’s not easy to find a job right now, but eventually all students find part-time work. In addition, there may be a queue for a residence permit in the first few months, which sometimes means you have to adjust your plans, including those related to housing. Housing is perhaps the biggest problem in Dublin. It is difficult to find, and the cost can be prohibitively high. However, even from remote areas, the journey to the center will not be very long, as Dublin is still a fairly small capital city. But despite all these issues, the experience of living and studying in Ireland is definitely worth it.
This review was shared by our participant Anna, who now lives in Dublin.
