AYP Student Information
The Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) is a list of approved higher education programmes put together by the Irish Department of Justice and Immigration.
Education providers that are not on the ILEP cannot provide courses to non-EEA students. Non-EEA nationals intending to study for more than 90 days, are required to enrol on a course listed on the ILEP. The course must be a full-time day programme, and not a part-time or distance learning programme.
All education providers, including universities, colleges and English language schools, must meet certain standards and requirements in order to have their courses included on the ILEP.
For example, education providers must have adequate policies in place for:
- Refunding student fees and other payments in case your student visa is refused
- Monitoring class attendance and punctuality
- Dealing with absenteeism and expulsion
- Student sick leave
- Student holidays and breaks
- Registering students for end of programme exams
- Student assessments and exams
In addition to these, all education providers must provide learner protection for their students, otherwise known as Protection for Enrolled Learners. This means that there would be measures in place for you to either continue your studies elsewhere or receive a refund for your costs and fees if your course ends prematurely.
Your letter of acceptance from your chosen education provider must clearly state that you are protected by learner protection agreements. If the learner protection arrangements are through an insurance scheme, your education provider must give you a certificate of proof of learner protection demonstrating that you are covered.
If you are enrolled on an English language course from the ILEP, you may be granted a one-time immigration permission of up to eight months. You may take up to a maximum of three English language courses, each with an eight month duration, for a total of 24 months’ immigration permission in total.
Note that you will need to meet attendance requirements and sit an end of programme exam for each course you take in order to renew your student permission each time.
If you wish to stay on as a student after your immigration permission ends, you must enrol on a higher education programme listed on the ILEP.
The Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) contains the current list of approved programmes.
Once you enrol on an approved course of study, you can apply for an immigration permission to study in Ireland. If you enrol on an English language programme listed on the ILEP you can register for a Stamp 2 immigration permission of up to eight months. You must:
- enrol on a programme lasting at least 25 weeks
- attend class for at least 15 hours a week
- attend at least 85% of your classes
- complete an end-of-programme exam.
International students can work in Ireland without having to apply for a separate work visa. However, there are restrictions as to how many hours you will be able to work.
During term time, you will be able to work up to 20 hours a week. During the holidays, however, (June, July, August and September, and between 15 December and 15 January) you will be able to work for up to 40 hours per week.
