The complete study abroad guide for students and parents.

Studying abroad can be difficult for both the student and the parents but it is also an opportunity for both to learn more about themselves

Choosing the right course for you

It can be a complicated process trying to research and compare all the possible courses you might be interested in studying abroad.

DIFC is a delivery partner with NCUK and provides you with guaranteed access to over 40 partner universities with thousands of courses to choose from. It is designed for international students. At DIFC we can help you achieve your dream career!

• Study medicine abroad
• Study business abroad
• Study engineering abroad
• Study science abroad

Visit a dedicated page for full info on the courses DIFC has.

Don’t Panic

Having your son/daughter heading off to study abroad can be scary for any parent with all the initial thoughts and worries running through your head.

At DIFC we pride ourselves on our student care and ensure the best possible experience for our students and easing any worries parents may have.

How do we achieve this you might ask? Before the student arrives, they can book a 4-week home stay or choose to live on campus accommodation, giving both students and parents the security of a base for the first month while you settle in. DIFC employs an accommodation officer which can help you look for alternative accommodation if you prefer.

Another cause of panic for parents is how will my son/daughter get from the airport to their accommodation in a new country? For students arriving at Dublin Airport, we offer a pick-up service from the airport to your accommodation, at an additional charge. Full information on this is provided with your DIFC confirmation documents.

Once the student arrives on campus, they are tested and assigned to the appropriate class. We also arrange an individual registration and induction with the Student Services Officer, who will provide advice on any important issues such as opening a bank account or any general questions about settling in. These inductions help the students to be introduced to key staff members.

Do I need a visa?

Students from some countries do not need a visa to come to Ireland. Contact your local Irish Embassy or Consular Office for further information.

If your application to DIFC is successful, we will send you a Provisional Offer Letter along with full details of fees owed. Once your fees have been paid DIFC will issue you a Final Offer Letter. On receipt of this you should apply for your study visa. You have three choices when looking to study at DIFC;

• Apply directly for an Irish Study visa to your local Irish Consulate/Embassy
• Apply through your local DIFC Representative Office
• Apply through the online application form

Once you have studied at DIFC for one year and obtained an offer letter from an NCUK Partner University in the UK, you can apply for a UK visa at the British Embassy.

Check our page on detailed advice on visa application.

Now you have sorted all the paper work it’s time to pack the bags

Make sure to research the weather conditions across all the seasons in Ireland and choose your clothing appropriately.

There are some very important items you will not want to forget

• Passport
• Visa
• Tickets
• Prescription medicine
• Glasses
• Money
• Any official documents
• Clothes

As well as the essential items listed above, we recommend also packing these items you may have forgotten about;

• Proof of insurance
• Doctors note
• Student I.D card
• Money belt
• Backpack
• Camera/journal
• Prescriptions (translated)
• A few family photos
• Dress set of clothes
• Identification tags

The all-important ground rules between parent and student

Call or text to let your parents know you arrived safely; as this will help lower your parents stress levels knowing you have reached your destination.

Keep in touch but be flexible and make sure it works for both the student and the parent and this will help guarantee you won’t go too long without hearing from your loved ones, this could be once a week or every second weekend for example.

Let your parents know in advance of any exams or weekends away, just with a quick text and that way they will know you are safe and won’t be constantly ringing. This will also stop the parent from ringing the programme provider (which should only be done in emergencies).

Preparing Against and Dealing with Emergencies

Your child experiencing an emergency is never nice and for this to happen in another country can be frightening.

• Stolen wallet/passport: Keep back up copies of your passport on your computer, for stolen money have your parents set up on online banking so they can wire you money if needs be.
• Missed flight: Make sure you have contact details for the airlines and transfer operators.
• Injury: Make sure you have substantial travel insurance and your student knows how to use it and what it covers.