Ireland

A small country with a formidable reputation, the Emerald Isle is steeped in history, and its people hold immense pride in their heritage. Celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day and Halloween has been a tradition in Ireland for centuries, if not millennia! Prepare to be captivated by the plethora of cultural experiences available, whether it’s watching a play by one of the theatrical greats in Dublin, immersing yourself in a traditional music ‘session,’ or delving into the rich history of castles and monuments. During the Irish summer, vibrant festivals abound, celebrating everything from blooming flowers to esteemed literary works.

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Program Summary:

Program: Select program,

Program length: Long programs

Vaccinations: Yes

Discounts and Scholarship: No

Language criteria: No

Language course: No

Soft Landing Camp: Yes

High School Choice Program Information

Age and eligibility

Programs are available for students aged 15-17.

Additional eligibility requirements

Program length

Academic Semester or Academic Year are available.

Schools

Ireland boasts a strong reputation for its high-quality education system, drawing a significant influx of international students annually. Typically, school hours in Ireland span from 8:45 am to 3:45 pm, offering a range of both mandatory and optional subjects.

All students are required to pay for their school transport prior to arrival so this will be invoiced in advance. The fees are NZ$640 per Academic Year and NZ$395 per Academic Semester.

Language criteria

Not applicable

Visa

Limitations to program lengths may apply unless travelling on an EU visa. Your Program Coordinator will provide further information.

Students traveling on Australian & New Zealand passports, with programs up to 90 days, generally travel as “tourists” and do not need to apply for a visa prior departure. However, for programs extending beyond the 90-day period (including Semester & Academic Year programs), students are usually required to apply for the necessary visa.

Program Coordinators will provide the essential visa documents so students can lodge their visa application. Please note that Program Coordinators are not Registered Migration Agents and cannot represent the applicant. Program Coordinators will provide “guidance” where possible, however the responsibility of lodging the visa falls upon the student/parents. Visa application requirements differ per destination and, on top of the visa documents provided by your Program Coordinator, students will need to provide additional documents such as birth certificate, bank statements, police check certificate, passport photos, letter of parental consent, etc.

Visa application fees (set by the foreign Authority) fluctuate depending on the destination and may vary from $180 to $700. These costs exclude expenses such as translations, official stamps (Notary Public stamp, Apostille stamp), national police certificate, passports photos, express post envelopes, etc. In some cases, students must attend an in-person consulate / visa agency appointment, which may incur additional personal expenses for travel such as purchasing flights (Interstate flight or international flight if no representation in your home country), petrol costs, tolls, accommodation, etc.

Canada:
Students must have received their routine childhood vaccinations appropriate for their age. In addition, Canada requires full vaccination against Meningococcal (MenACWY). The Covid-19 vaccine is recommended but not mandatory.

USA:
Students must be up to date with their routine childhood vaccinations for their age group. Additionally, your host school in the USA will require further immunisations to meet national guidelines, such as the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine and a TB test conducted within six months before arrival. While Covid-19 vaccination is recommended, it is not mandatory.

Other Countries:
Students must be up to date with their standard childhood vaccinations. While the Covid-19 vaccine is recommended, it is not compulsory.

Select Program Prices for Ireland

School	Area	Gender	Academic Year NZD	Academic Semester NZD
Monaghan Collegiate School	Monaghan Town Co. Monaghan	Co-Ed	$37,995	$31,995
St Joseph of Cluny	Killiney, Co.Dublin	Female	$43,495	N/A
John Scottus School	Dublin 14, Co.Dublin	Co-Ed	$43,995	$32,995
Loreto Foxrock	Dublin 18, Co.Dublin	Female	$43,995	N/A
Rosemont School	Sandyford, Co.Dublin	Female	$46,995	$38,495

Each destination has a budget for flights included in the fee. If flight costs are above this budgeted amount, a Flight Surcharge may apply. Please see our Money Matters page for program inclusions, the flight surcharge policy and other important pricing information.

Program start dates are indicative arrivals in the destination & students attending the Soft Landing Camp (if available) will depart earlier. Program start dates serve as approximate arrival dates at the destination and subject to change. We will notify you of your confirmed program dates ahead of time to prevent any confusion or inconvenience.

Scholarship & Early Bird Discount Application Deadlines
March 31, 2025: classic programs departing between October 2025 – March 2026
October 31, 2025: classic programs departing between April 2026 – September 2026
Find out more about Scholarships and Early Bird Discounts.

Soft Landing Camp in Dublin

Additional fee of NZ$1,195

Our Soft Landing Camp is located in the picturesque Irish capital of Dublin, and is an optional extra for long-term program students. During this enriching experience, you will spend three nights in Dublin and have the opportunity to connect with fellow exchange students from diverse backgrounds. The agenda includes a Welcome, Irish Dancing, on campus activities, exploring Dublin and dinner at the Hard Rock Café. Students also have an Irish farm experience, and a quiz night before they depart to meet their host families.

This Soft Landing Camp is exclusively available for students commencing their exchange in August.

LIVE Online sessions

If you would like to find out more information on our programs, please attend one of our free LIVE Online Information Sessions to:

Meet our staff
Hear comprehensive information on all aspects of exchange
Ask questions
See questions asked by other students and parents

Information evenings run for about an hour.
They are friendly, free and are the best way for us to address your specific questions in person.

“Exchange has been an experience I wouldn’t replace for the world. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. The amazing people and experiences have made me more confident and I’ve learnt things I otherwise wouldn’t have the chance too. I will never forget the months I spent in Ireland, or the amazing things I was able to do.“

Ellie – Australia to Ireland

“Going on exchange is the best thing I have ever done! So far it has opened my mind up to so many new things and has given me a new perspective on life. It has helped me to truly find my passions and myself and has given me the most amazing family and friends in Ireland.”

Amy – Australia to Ireland