Why Studying Abroad in Ireland Makes Business Sense

Sponsored by Trinity Business School

Studying for an MBA in another country widens your experience and provides an introduction to another culture you might not be familiar with, so it’s no surprise if this is something you’re already considering. The experience you gain could be invaluable to your future business aspirations.

When choosing where to study, you really could do a lot worse than Ireland. Apart from just how beautiful the country is – it’s packed with history and artistic heritage, as well as natural wonders often used as film locations – Ireland has the benefit of being English-speaking. With Brexit looming, the plucky Emerald Isle will soon be the only English-speaking country in the EU, and this fact alone is attracting businesses to Ireland’s shores.

“As uncertainty on the right to work in the UK has risen, so too have the numbers of jobseekers coming to Ireland's shores,” says EMEA economist, Mariano Mamertino.  On course to become the fastest-growing economy in Europe for its fourth consecutive year, Ireland is now also, "seen as a natural alternative to the UK by EU jobseekers."

This is reflected in the way Ireland is already becoming a more attractive destination for MBA students, as institutions like Trinity Business School at Trinity College Dublin are finding.

“Coming from India, I was committed to gaining international experience and moving industry from the technology sector to financial services,” says Trinity MBA alumni Amrit Chaturvedi. “The strong network of Trinity's professors, alumni and the MBA career development team helped me to pursue my commitment towards my career, gaining employment in Europe in the financial services sector.”

There are other reasons to consider Ireland. The KOF Globalization Index ranked Ireland as the second most globalized country in its list in 2017, which might explain why several of the world’s biggest corporations have chosen to base themselves in there. Both Apple and Twitter have made Ireland their hub for European operations.

Employment prospects for graduates from an institution like Trinity College Dublin are another draw. "The job opportunities for MBA graduates are second to none,” says Conor Edwards, the school's MBA career services manager. “87 percent of our 2016 cohort were in employment within three months, and as much as half of our students secured job offers outside of Ireland." One of the top recruiters of Trinity’s MBA is Microsoft, alongside financial consulting firms McKinsey & Company and State Street Corporation.

An added benefit of doing your MBA somewhere like Trinity is that you’ll be based in Dublin. The vibrant capital city is full of historic buildings, top museums and culture, while it’s also one of Europe’s most exciting technology and business hubs right now. You’ll find global finance, agricultural and pharma multinationals all based here.

What’s more, Dublin has been growing into a vital startup hub, with a wave of startups popping up on the Silicon Docks. Dublin is now home to around 1,500 startups, partly thanks to the likes of Trinity College, which has invested €70 million into an innovation and entrepreneurship hub. From 2010 to 2015, 106 new companies were founded raising $655 million of capital in the process.

Trinity MBA graduate Michael Kennedy loved studying in Dublin, listing: "A beautiful and historic campus setting, classmates from many different cultures and backgrounds, lecturers with interesting insights into current best industry practice and academic thinking,” as just some of the highlights of his time there.

Another reason students are increasingly attracted to Ireland is that non-EU residents studying an officially recognized MBA in Ireland are now entitled to remain for two years after graduating – previously they could only stay for one – thanks to the Third Level Graduate Scheme being extended. After the two years have passed, graduates may even be eligible for a green card, or be able to join the country’s work permit scheme.

Lastly, if you’re keen on studying abroad in an English-speaking country but are stuck between North America and Ireland, there’s another reason to think of choosing the latter. It’s likely to be more cost-effective.

For example, an MBA at Trinity runs for 12 months, while in the US the MBA is typically two years. While an MBA in the US can cost $100,000 in total, the price tag is little more than $40,000 at Trinity. With the additional bonus of the ‘stay-back option’ for graduates with an eligible student visa, the chances of getting a fair return on your investment are high.

There are innumerable benefits to studying an MBA abroad. And right now, Ireland is looking like the hot ticket – not least thanks to Dublin’s growing global clout.