MBA Admissions in Ireland: Deadlines, Intakes, Interviews, Decisions, Requirements

Home to top colleges like UC Dublin, Trinity College, etc, Ireland attracts a large number of international student population. MBA in Ireland gains traction from these students owing to its rolling admissions policy. For most of the business schools in Ireland, MBA admissions are accepted throughout the year.

The spring semester applications begin from the month of April and fall semester applications start from October. To get admission into MBA courses in Ireland, you will be required to have at least 500 on your GMAT exam and around 3 years of experience. Though these requirements may vary per university, getting European style education at affordable prices is one of the biggest perks of pursuing MBA in Ireland.

MBA Admission in Ireland Timeline

Most applications are reviewed on a rolling basis at various universities and follow no strict admission deadline policies. There are typically two intake seasons- January or the Spring intake and September or the Autumn intake sessions and students need to apply accordingly based on their preferred intake season.

MBA Admission in Ireland: Spring Intake

MBA Admission in Ireland: Fall Intake

The Fall intake is the main season for international applicants so it must be prioritized, since the Spring intake is not offered in many colleges.

MBA Admission in Ireland Deadlines

Most popular business schools in Ireland have a rolling admissions deadline, which means applications can be submitted at any time of the year and the admissions office will allocate them for the next intake season, if accepted.

The admission deadlines for the most popular MBA colleges in Ireland are given below.

MBA Admission in Ireland: Entrance Exams

To be eligible for MBA Admission in Ireland, standardized scores are a basic requirement for international candidates.

• Most reputed Irish business schools require a GMAT score of 550-600. A GRE score of 300 or above will suffice as the minimum requirement as well.
• Most colleges require an aggregate of 60% or 6.0 CGPA from the undergraduate course of the applicant. There are two types of GMAT scores: unofficial and official.
• The GMAT scores must be sent directly to the targeted institutes in Ireland from the exam centre where the candidate sat for the examination.
• English proficiency must also be established, and the Irish institutes accept TOEFL, IELTS or PTE. A TOEFL iBT score of 90 or an IELTS score of 6.0 with no section lower than 5.5 is considered the minimum requirement for getting admission for MBA in Ireland.

Students should always aim to earn a scoring significantly higher than 600 to get into the top Irish institutes for an MBA. Trinity Business School in Dublin, Ireland, one of the most sought out and popular institutes in the country and globally, requires a GMAT score within 600-650.

A GRE score above 320 should also be targeted for GRE test takers. In some cases, a higher GMAT score can fetch scholarships or fee waivers for candidates which can result in a reduction of tuition fees. It can also be noted that some universities do not require GMAT or GRE as a prerequisite for applying and accept applications from students without standardized test scores.

MBA Admission in Ireland: Entrance Exam Schedule

There are no specific dates or deadlines for giving GMAT, and they can be given based on the student’s schedule since the examination is conducted throughout the year. In fact, because of the current situation, students can take the GMAT online 7 days a week or 24 hours a day.

However, it must be noted that the test centres give out specific dates to be followed in a month and the student must get registered to book the available examination slot. They can choose their desired time and date for giving the exam according to their preference and targeted date of enrollment at an Irish business school.

The following steps should be followed to register for the GMAT exam:

• The student should create the mba.com account to start registering for the GMAT examination.
• Then they should search their desired business schools, compare them and save them on account for researching further later on.
• Then they should opt for the ‘Register for GMAT Online Exam’, select preferred time and date and proceed further.
• They can enter optional personal information and verify all of them once they are filled in.
• Applicants also have the option of contacting the GMAT Customer Service to book slots for their appointment.
• Then after completion of all the steps above, they can pay the GMAT exam fee through credit card/debit card/money order or personal check.

MBA Admission in Ireland Eligibility Requirements

International aspirants who want to get enrolled in an MBA course in Ireland must meet eligibility requirements and provide all the necessary documentation. The requirements must be fulfilled if an international student wants to be considered for admission. They are stated below.

• A relevant bachelor’s degree or diploma
• Applicants should hold a 2.1 honours degree or 60% aggregate in their bachelor’s courses
• English proficiency test scores and interviews.
• 3 years of professional work experience
• Leadership quality and communication skills.
• Knowing other languages or having additional qualifications can have an impact on the candidate’s resume

Supporting documents for MBA Admission in Ireland

Apart from the requirements stated above, some documents which are mandatory for admission to MBA courses in Ireland are given below.

• Academic transcripts from all universities/colleges attended along with their notarized english translations.
• Score reports from colleges and higher secondary institutions
• English proficiency test results must be submitted.
  • IELTS- 6.5
  • TOEFL iBT- 90
  • PTE- 63
• Standardized test scores
• Letters of recommendation or references
• A professional CV/Resume is required.
• A statement of purpose and/or a self written essay on a specified topic must be submitted.
• Passport and immigration documents.
• Interviews will be conducted for shortlisted candidates.
• Financial proof
• Medical records and health immunization form.
• Health insurance.
• Additional documents can be required based on the institute.

MBA Admission in Ireland Process

The MBA admission process varies for different institutes. The most popular colleges like Trinity Business School and Dublin University have their own set of instructions. However, the steps to apply for an MBA in Ireland might be generalized based on the country’s higher educational system. An international aspirant must keep the following guidelines in mind.

• The online application must be completed
• Professional CV/Resume, academic transcripts from previous colleges, score reports from standardized exams, english proficiency test scores, references/recommendations must be uploaded.
• Then the applicant will be shortlisted and asked to attend an interview with the admissions office.
• After that, the student will receive a confirmation from the institute if they are selected.
• Lastly, the candidate should pay a deposit to secure their admission at the business school.

MBA Admission in Ireland: Interviews

The interview determines the student’s chances at getting admission at that particular institute and is very crucial, since it gives a peek into the candidate’s personal characteristics and motives.

The following questions are commonly asked at the most popular institutes in Ireland to students opting for an MBA.

• The candidate will be asked to tell them something about themselves and explain their resumes in their own words.
• The candidate will be asked for reasons for enrolling in an MBA.
• Why do they want to get enrolled at that particular university?
• Long and short term goals.
• Key strengths and weaknesses along with real-life examples.
• They will be asked about their possible contribution towards the program.
• Questions about additional interests and hobbies.
• Some situational and behavioural to test the candidate’s decision-making skills.
• Case based questions which are common in the MBA field.
• If they can work in a team, how will they manage teamwork?
• Lastly, the candidate will be asked if they have their own questions for the interview panel.

Candidates are advised to go through their own documents, resumes and other submissions to be properly prepared for MBA interviews.

Also check: How to Write An Effective Resume?

MBA Admission in Ireland Decision

After submission of all the admission materials, and the completion of the interview round, most business colleges revert within 2 to 3 weeks with an admission decision. The candidate’s interview round is also one of the biggest factors influencing their chances at admission. Work experiences, letters of recommendations and essays are also checked thoroughly since they strengthen the candidate’s application.

Some of the qualities that the admissions office looks for an international applicant are as follows.

• Noticeable leadership skills.
• Integrity and ethics.
• Analytical intelligence in qualitative as well as quantitative factors.
• Communication skills and community spirit.
• Willingness to incorporate learning with real-life situations.
• Creative and intellectual approach to business.
• Global awareness.

Apart from the qualities mentioned above, the candidate should also display an air of professionalism and display emotional intelligence to be selected.

MBA Admission in Ireland: Tips and Tricks

Performing well in standardized and English proficiency tests are very important to determine one’s chance of getting into an MBA program in Ireland, but there are some additional tips and tricks they can follow to pose a worthy challenge to their competitors. The following tips and tricks can be followed by an international student seeking admission at an MBA program in Ireland.

• Appear for the standardized tests in Ireland like GMAT/GRE and reappear if required.
• Keep the statement of purpose/essays crisp and to the point, highlighting important points.
• References/Recommendation letters should be from academic teachers.
• Be in formal attire for the interviews.
• Be honest about your skills and experiences, mentioning your past achievements formally so it doesn’t seem like boasting.
• The MBA application should be submitted after thorough checking and rechecking.
• Any questions or gaps should be filled in the application letter without fail. All details must be relevant.
• Offer your professional insights and present yourself properly as a prospective candidate.

Ireland is an excellent place for pursuing an MBA since it not only gives a global exposure and encourages community engagement, but also well developed locations and an incredible academic atmosphere. Most institutes are culturally diverse and therefore result in broad-mindedness as well as interpersonal relationships that assist in personal growth of an individual.

After an MBA in Ireland, candidates get access to a wide market of jobs, further education opportunities at reputed institutes and resources to even start their own companies. Therefore, a large number of international students apply for an MBA at renowned Irish institutes every year.