Admission Journey: Know how Smitha Balakrishnan got into Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Ireland during COVID-19
Talk to ExpertStudyabroad.shiksha.com got in touch with Smitha Balakrishnan – to know about the challenges she faced while processing her study abroad application during the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19. Smitha is looking forward to pursuing her Postgraduate Diploma in UX Design & Applied Innovation from the Letterkenny Institute of Technology in Ireland. The excerpts of the conversation follow.
Q. Why did you choose to study abroad? Did Covid-19 affect your decision at any point?
Smitha: I chose to study abroad especially Ireland because they generally provide short duration courses and I can work while studying. I will get a better understanding of the world, culture, and people which will add up as an extraordinary experience in my life.
I did have doubts about planning to study abroad during the COVID-19 phase, but the confusion did change when I got clarity from the Shiksha Study Abroad counselors. I was given reassurance that I can still follow my dream as I can start with online classes.
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Q. Was this particular country your only choice as a study destination or did you consider other countries as well?
Smitha: I chose Ireland as my study destination as the country has one of the best curriculums for the User Experience course. I also did not opt for admission to any other country.
Q. Once you were sure of going abroad to study, how did you research the application process? Was it a difficult stage?
Smitha: Research was quite complicated as I had a bitter experience with another agency. The Shiksha Study Abroad counselors made this process easy. They understood my requirement and provided me the list of universities related to my course. Since I got the university details, it was quite easy for me to choose and decide.
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| Study in Ireland - Colleges, Eligibility & Scholarships | Scholarships to Study in Ireland |
| Ireland Universities Accepting Backlogs | Job prospects in Ireland |
Q. Which exams were you required to take?
Smitha: I was required to appear for the IELTS test for my Master’s program.
Q. How was your Visa interview? What questions did the Visa officer ask you?
Smitha: In my scenario, the Visa Officer did not ask any questions but did check if the documents were submitted in the order mentioned by them.
Q. What challenges did you face due to Covid-19 Lockdowns? Was it difficult to arrange finances?
Smith: There were a few challenges while preparing the documents (like Photostat and affidavit). Arranging the finances was not difficult as I have self-sponsored my study.
Q. Was your family concerned about sending you abroad during these uncertain times? How did you convince them?
Smitha: Yes, my family was concerned about studying abroad during COVID-19 as people were returning to India from abroad. The highlight of studying in Ireland is the part-time job while studying and two years stay back which my parents saw as an opportunity.
Q. How did you come across Shiksha Study Abroad Counseling services? What’s your honest opinion about the help provided to you by the team?
Smitha: I had started my application process through another agency and was struggling to figure out the universities. Accidently I chanced upon Shiksha Study Abroad and gave my details for the inquiry. From there my life has changed for good.
The services from Shiksha have been outstanding. They understand the individual’s circumstances and guide accordingly. They were very patient and always available to me. I give a hundred percent credit of getting my Ireland Study Visa to my counselor Srashty Agarwal.
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Q. What additional support did you receive from the university or Shiksha Study Abroad counselors during this unforeseen situation?
Smitha: Getting my birth certificate was a bit challenging. I was given every bit of detail by Shiksha Study Abroad counselors on how to get the document.
Q. You have made it to your chosen study abroad destination. What advice would you offer study abroad aspirants, esp. amid the COVID-19 scenario?
Smitha: I would suggest following one’s dream and goal of studying abroad in spite of the ongoing pandemic. There might be a delay but there will not be a stop. Apply for the application process if it has commenced. Options like online class can be opted for during the initial days and one can be in the university once the flights have resumed.
While Smitha waits for the international borders to open, we would like to wish her all the best for her future ahead.
Read more success stories in the making during the COVID-19:
Q: What are the requirements for admission to Griffith College (Ireland)?
International students can apply for Griffith College admission through the official website. We have mentioned below the Griffith College requirements for international undergraduate and graduate admissions:
Griffith College requirements for undergraduate admission:
- Completion of secondary school comparable to Australian Year 12 or equivalent academic achievement
- Meet the English language requirements
- Submit the additional test score for ACT/SAT (if required)
Griffith College requirements for undergraduate admission:
Q: What is the acceptance rate for NCI Ireland?
National College of Ireland is one of the best public research universities in the Ireland. The National College of Ireland is among the colleges that do not publish official data on the acceptance rate. However, as per some unofficial sources including EduRank, the National College of Ireland acceptance rate is 52%. This shows that NCI is moderately selective for admissions and international students may find it comparatively tougher to get into. Please note that, the data on the acceptance rate is taken from unofficial source, therefore, it is subject to vary.
Q: How can I apply for Dublin Business School Ireland admissions?
Dublin Business School accepts international applications through the Official Application Portal available on the university's website. Students can refer to the listings below for the steps to apply at DBS Ireland:
Step 1: Open the Application Portal and head to the form
Step 2: Select the student type and course
Step 3: Course selection:
- Select a course type
- Select a course
- Select the year of entry as ‘Year 1’
- Choose the batch commencement date
Step 4: Enter personal details:
- Add details like name, date of birth, contact details, gender, nationality, etc
- Address
- Emergency contact details
Step 5: Keep filling the details and continue until the last step:
- Insert previous education information
- Input other details
Step 6: Submit the application form
Q: Is it hard to get into the Letterkenny Institute of Technology?
With an acceptance rate of merely 42% for international students, Letterkenny Institute of Technology is a very competitive university to get into. This figure tells us that Letterkenny IT accepts approximately only 34 out of every 100 applicants on an average. However, students must not feel discouraged and fulfill all the Letterkenny Institute of Technology admission requirements, ie; academic requirements, English language requirements & more in order to boost their chances of getting admitted in Letterkenny IT. Candidates must be aware of the application deadlines and apply to the university correctly, along with submitting all the relevant requirements.
Note: The data is derived from unofficial sources and is subjected to changes.
Q: Is Griffith College in Ireland good for doing a computer Science course?
Griffith College Dublin offers an affordable master's degree in computer Science for international students. The Griffith College Dublin fees for MS in computer Science is around INR 12.59 L for first-year. Therefore, yes Griffith College in Ireland is good for doing a computer Science course.
Q: What is the cost of a student visa for Ireland?
Candidates looking to apply for a long-stay D Study Visa in Ireland would be required to pay €60 for a single entry valid for 90 days and €100 for a long-stay D Visa with multiple entries. The visa charges are the same for the short-stay C Visa.
| Entry Type | Long Stay D visa (for staying more than 90 days to study) | Short Stay C visa (for staying less than 90 days to study) |
|---|---|---|
| Single Entry | EUR 60 (INR: 5421.87) | EUR 60 (INR: 5421.87) |
| Multi entry | EUR 100 (INR: 9036.45) | EUR 100 (INR: 9036.45) |
| Transit | EUR 25 (INR: 2259.11) | n/a |
Q: How much does MS cost in Ireland?
The tuition cost to study MS from the universities in Ireland will be in the range of INR 10 Lacs – INR 40 lakh. The first-year tuition fees to pursue MS from top-ranked MS universities in Ireland are given below:
Particulars | First-Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
Trinity College Dublin | INR14.2 Lakh - INR 23.8 Lakh |
University College Dublin | INR 8.5 Lakh - INR 24.5 Lakh |
University of Galway | INR 7.1 Lakh - INR 25.4 Lakh |
University College Cork | INR 13.8 Lakh - INR 22.2 Lakh |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Ireland for International Students
Q: Is Ireland a good option for MS?
Ireland is one of the most peaceful and the safest countries in the world. It is ranked 8th in the world out of 189 countries in a United Nations index measuring longevity education and health. Also, Ireland is ranked 3rd in the Global Peace Index 2023. When compared with other European destinations, higher education in Ireland is more affordable for international students. Some of the reasons to choose Ireland as a study destination for MS are:
- International exposure
- High-quality education
- Better career opportunities
- Affordable cost of living
Passionate about learning and imbibing the best in my life, I thoroughly enjoy interacting with different personalities and making deep informative conversations. Providing guidance for informed decision making is s... Read Full Bio
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