Before you embark on your overseas education you will need to hold a student bank account in your country of study. This is important to ease transactions, as the cards you hold for any accounts you may have in your home country may not be accepted in your destination country.

Some banks will allow you to apply for an account online before you arrive in your destination country whilst others require you to open the account in person once you arrive in the country. When you arrive at the bank to open your account they will ask you for a number of things, these vary between countries and banks but they may ask you for some or all of the following:
• A valid passport or birth certificate
• Proof of address (this could be a utility bill or accommodation letter
from your institution)
• Home address
• Secondary identification
for example a drivers licence
• Student identification such as a student
card or certificate / letter of acceptance
• ATM card from another bank
• Money to deposit in the account
(minimum amounts apply)
The best way to transfer money from a foreign account is through a wire transfer. Although there will probably be a fee for the wire transfer (also called an electronic transfer), it is the fastest way to
move funds. Key questions to ask before opening an
account are:
• Does my chosen bank offer accounts
to international students?
• If I have large amounts of
money, would I be better protecting them
in a high interest savings account?
• Do they have a branch and cash
machines in my area?
• Is there a charge for using my cash card
at other ATMs?
• Do they provide an overdraft facility? If
so, is it interest free and for how long?
• Does my local bank in my home country
recommend any particular banks?
• What are the charges for late payments
or failed cheque payments?

The most popular internationally recognised undergraduate course is a bachelor’s degree. Business and economics are such broad  subjects that most countries offer them in a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree depending on what areas are coveredwithin the course.

There are also more specific business bachelor’s degrees although they are  quite uncommon. In addition bachelorof business administration; bachelor of science in business administration and bachelor of science in business are awarded to students who have completed a degree course in business administration which focuses on one other aspect of business such as accounting, finance and marketing.
In the UK students are also offered Higher National Diplomas (HND) in business studies. The attainment level of this diploma is roughly equivalent to the second year of a bachelor’s degree and takes two years to complete. In the USA, some provinces in Canada and more recently Australia, students have the option of an associate degree; these are offered by community and junior colleges and run for two years. They can be used for a transfer to a four year college or university. In regards to business there is a specific Associate degree called associate of applied business (ABB).

Depending on the institution, country and even province qualifications will differ so it is important to research what qualification is right for you in regards to course modules, course length and career opportunities.

As an international student, your largest expenditures will be tuition fees and accommodation. Tuition fees vary from institution to institution so it is always best to telephone and ask your chosen institution for the exact fees. International student tuition fees normally include the cost of examinations and student services. They can often be paid in instalments.
EU STUDENTS
There are different tuition fees for EU and non-EU students. Introduced in 1997, the Irish government pays tuition fees for EU students on full time courses at third level.
To qualify as an EU National, you must:
• Hold EU nationality
• Not receive educational funding from outside the EU
• Have no previous attendance on a third level course
• Have been a resident in an EU country for the past three to five years preceding the start of your course
• Be enrolled on a full time course running for at least two years
For further details visit:
www.studentfinance.ie

NON-EU STUDENTS
It is common for non-EU student tuition fees to be more expensive. However students from developing countries may qualify for the ‘Student Support Scheme’, a scheme where students only pay the amount of the EU fee.
The scheme is available for only a small number of students and is not offered by every institution. Students ineligible for the ‘Student Support Scheme’ may qualify for a grant or additional funding. It is advisable to enquire at your chosen institution early on in the application process about fees and the ‘Student Support Scheme’.

A very small number of scholarships are offered by institutions to aid international students in studying in Ireland. You should aim to apply for a scholarship or grant at least one year before the start of your course. Scholarships are extremely sought after by international students and high in demand. It is also worth noting that a majority of scholarships do not cover the entirety of the course cost.
Scholarships offered by home country Governments are a popular choice for international students as the success rate is higher. Applications should contact the Minister of Education in their home country. You can also apply for a scholarship at International Scholarship Agencies.

Visit the following websites for further scholarship information:
www.iefa.org
(International Education Financial Aid)
www.icosirl.ie
(ICOS Irish Council for Overseas Students)
www.education.ie
(International Section, Department of Education and Science)