Are you willing to know the facts about Canada vs Ireland for Indian students? As popular destinations for study abroad, the two countries offer high-quality education, welcoming atmospheres, and work visas, attracting students from around the globe. When choosing one of them, Indian students find it hard to make decisions because of different advantages. Hence, this blog gives you a comprehensive guide for making a better choice!
Canada vs Ireland for Indian Students Overview
At the beginning, an overview is offered. In this form, we give you a comparison between Canada vs Ireland for Indian students from 10 perspectives, helping you learn about the differences comprehensively.
Canada vs Ireland for Indian Students Overview | ||
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Type | Canada | Ireland |
Education System | Dominated by public universities: BA/BSc (3-4 years), MA/MSc (1-2 years), PhD (3-5 years) | Dominated by public universities: BA/BSc (3-4 years), MA/MSc (1-2 years), PhD (3-5 years) |
Famous Universities & Ranking | University of Toronto (25th), McGill University (29th), University of British Columbia (38th), University of Alberta (96th) | Trinity College Dublin (87th), University College Dublin (126th), University of Galway (273th) |
Average Tuition Fees | Undergraduate: $15,000-$29,000, Postgraduate: $11,000-$26,000 | Undergraduate: $11,000-$27,000, Postgraduate: $11,000-$37,000 |
Average Yearly Cost of Living | Averagely $8,800-$14,600 every year | Averagely $10,700-$16,000 every year |
Work Opportunity | International students can work 20 hours a week and apply for a work visa of 3 years. | International students can work 20 hours a week and apply for a work visa of 1-2 years. |
Immigration Policy | There are diverse immigration pathways after studying (e.g., Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs), with relatively lenient policies. | After graduation, securing a job allows conversion to a work visa, and permanent residency can be applied for after 5 years—though competition is intense. |
Popular Majors | Computing, Engineering, Business, Environmental Science, Health Sciences | Biopharmaceutical Science, Literature & Humanities, Computing, Business |
Entry Cirteria | IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+ | IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+ |
Scholarships | The government and universities offer some scholarships but competition is intense. | Opportunities are fewer in Ireland, with some schools providing merit-based scholarships and EU students typically have more likely to access the scholarships. |

Canada vs Ireland for Indian Students: Popular Courses
The two countries, with diverse subject advantages, boast different sought-after courses. The following is Canada vs Ireland for Indian students in terms of their lessons.
Popular Courses of Canada
In recent years, many majors have thrived in Ireland and attracted numerous students. The following are Ireland’s popular courses.
- Business Analytics: The development of big data gives impetus to this major, which is needed in almost every field.
- Data Science: Today, the world features digitalization, which contributes to the popularity of data science, which combines science, statistics, math, computing, etc.
- Pharmaceutical Science: In Ireland, which is known for pharmaceutical production, students could learn the knowledge of medicine and participate in the whole process of production.
- Computer Science: In Ireland, recognized as the centre of technology in Europe, computer science is becoming increasingly popular. With the headquarters of Google and Microsoft, students can enjoy many employment opportunities.

Popular Courses of Ireland
In recent years, many majors have thrived in Ireland and attracted numerous students. The following are Ireland’s popular courses.
- Business Analytics: The development of big data gives impetus to this major, which is needed in almost every field.
- Data Science: Today, the world features digitalization, which contributes to the popularity of data science, which combines science, statistics, math, computing, etc.
- Pharmaceutical Science: In Ireland, which is known for pharmaceutical production, students could learn the knowledge of medicine and participate in the whole process of production.
- Computer Science: In Ireland, recognized as the centre of technology in Europe, computer science is becoming increasingly popular. With the headquarters of Google and Microsoft, students can enjoy many employment opportunities.

Canada vs Ireland for Indian Students: Entry Criteria
If you ask Ireland or Canada which is better for masters and bachelor, you should keep on reading. For international students seeking further study, understanding the admission requirements is a must. The following are the details of the acceptance standards.
Entry Criteria in Canada
For undergraduate lessons, you need to finish the 12-year education first and get your diploma from the senior high. Meanwhile, you need to pass the SAT. Postgraduates need to pass the GMAT or GRE if they are pursuing management and engineering courses. There is one thing you need to know: Canadian universities will offer average scores of different courses, and no matter what degrees you have gotten, you have to pass IELTS or TOEFL, which are of great importance for your visa.
Entry Criteria in Ireland
In Ireland, if you wanna apply to universities or colleges, you must be over 18 years old. You should bear in mind that low entrance standards don’t mean poor education quality, so you’re expected to improve yourself. For undergraduate courses, you need to submit your materials through the online system, Central Applications Office. For postgraduates, you need to finish all your undergraduate courses, pass the specific exams and meet the minimum GPA. In addition, some institutions even ask you to have work experience.

Canada vs Ireland for Indian Students: Cost of Living
The cost of living is an important factor which you should take into account when studying abroad because it dramatically affects your quality of life. This section will give you a comparison forma of Canada vs Ireland for Indian students regarding the cost of living.
Cost of Living Comparison | ||
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Type | Ave. Cost in Canada | Ave. Cost in Ireland |
An Ordinary Meal | $18.25 | $20.52 |
Fitness Club | $42.78 | $55.23 |
Internet | $62.38 | $52.94 |
Monthly Pass | $75.39 | $94.62 |
Basic Utilities | $153.12 | $238.47 |
One-bedroom Apartment Outside City Centre | $1,186.80 | $1,552.18 |
One-bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $1,343.45 | $1,805.33 |
Generally speaking, the cost of living in Ireland is slightly higher than that of Canada, indicating you have to prepare more if you’d like to choose Irish education.

Canada vs Ireland for Indian Students: Scholarships
For many international students, the cost of studying abroad is an important issue. Both Canada and Ireland offer various scholarship programs for international students, alleviating their financial burdens. The following is Canada vs Ireland for Indian students in terms of scholarships.
Scholarships in Canada | |
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Type | Note |
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships | This scholarship targets outstanding doctoral students, offering up to CAD 50,000 annually for three years. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic achievements and research potential, with nominations submitted through institutional recommendation. |
Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program | Open to master’s students across all disciplines, this scholarship funds research projects in various fields. Awardees receive approximately CAD 17,000 over 12 months, with around 2,000 available annually. Applicants must demonstrate strong academic performance. |
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarships | Open to international students enrolled in Social Sciences and Humanities doctoral programs, this scholarship offers up to $60,000 per year for three years, including a travel allowance. |
Admission/Entrance Scholarships | Generally speaking, most universities offer corresponding admission/entrance scholarships, which are automatically awarded to outstanding incoming students based on academic merit without requiring a separate application. |
Except for the 4 kinds of scholarships in Canada, international students can also access many other kinds of scholarships of specific universities, and you can consult the schools’ official websites.

Scholarships in Ireland | |
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Type | Note |
Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship | The GOI-IES (Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship) program is designed explicitly for high-achieving international students pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees in Ireland. Jointly funded by the Irish government and local higher education institutions and administered by the Higher Education Authority, this scholarship offers an exceptional opportunity for global scholars. |
Claddagh Scholarship Program | The Claddagh Scholarship Program is a national-level scholarship initiative launched and administered by Education in Ireland, exclusively designed for Chinese students. This comprehensive program spans multiple academic disciplines and is available at various degree levels, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies. |
Though only two kinds of scholarships from governments and organizations are offered in the above form, there are still specific kinds in the Irish universities, like TCD, UCD, UCC, etc.

Canada vs Ireland for Indian Students: Employment
In this part, you’ll know about Canada vs Ireland for Indian students regarding future jobs. Canada is home to a prosperous employment market, which is abundant with opportunities. There are many high-salary jobs, like teachers, nurses, construction managers, financial managers, and so forth. In Canada, the average salary is $3,300–$3,800, and the median income is $2,900–$3,300. While in Ireland, the popular fields include mining, agriculture, fishery, medicine, IT, etc. There is a shortage of labour force, meaning it’s relatively easy for international students to get jobs. In Ireland, the average salary is $3,800–$4,400, and the median income is $3,200–$3,700. Additionally, if you want some part time jobs for students, you still have many choices.

Conclusion of Canada vs Ireland for Indian Students
After learning about the blog of Canada vs Ireland for Indian students, you have a clear understanding of studying in these two countries. Each country has its own advantages and benefits, and we all know it’s not quite easy to make a decision, so we hope this blog is helpful. May you have a happy study journey.
FAQ of Canada vs Ireland for Indian Students
Which country is better to settle, Ireland or Canada?
Both are excellent. These two countries boasts high-quality education, welcoming atmospheres, and work visas, attracting students from around the globe. But, generally speaking, the cost of living in Ireland is slightly higher than that of Canada.
Is Ireland worth it for Indian students?
Yes! Ireland is home to world-class univerisities, a livable environment, a promising job market, and pleasing climate. For Indian students who desire to study abroad, Ireland is a wonderful place for them.
Is Ireland's economy better than Canada's?
We can say “Yes.” Over the past ten years, Ireland’s economic expansion has dramatically surpassed Canada’s. World Bank figures reveal that, since 2014, Ireland’s annual GDP growth rate has consistently outpaced Canada’s by nearly seven percentage points on average.
Is Canada a good option for Indian students?
Sure. Canada remains an excellent study destination for Indian students, offering top-tier education, multicultural exposure, career prospects, and financial aid—catering to diverse academic interests and professional aspirations.
Is it better to study in Canada or Ireland?
As popular destinations for study abroad, the two countries offer high-quality education, welcoming atmospheres, and work visas, attracting students from around the globe.