Ireland · Bachelor's
University of Galway
BSc (Hons) in General Nursing
University of Galway
Course Overview
The BSc (Hons) in General Nursing at the University of Galway — a top-tier Irish university with a strong School of Nursing and Midwifery — is a four-year professional degree that leads to registration as a general nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The programme integrates university teaching with extensive supervised clinical placements in partner hospitals, plus a paid internship placement in the final year. Graduates are qualified, registration-ready nurses prepared for practice in Ireland's health service and internationally.
For Sri Lankan students, nursing in Ireland is one of the clearest study-to-career-to-residence pathways in Europe: nursing is a recognised critical-skills occupation, so demand for qualified nurses is high and stable. Ireland's Third Level Graduate Programme allows up to 2 years of post-study work for degree graduates, and NMBI registration plus employment leads toward long-term residence. An NMBI-registered qualification is also respected worldwide — including by the UK's NMC and the Gulf health systems — making it a globally portable career.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan A/Ls with strong grades including a science subject (biology preferred); Cambridge International / Edexcel A-Levels accepted (typically strong passes in relevant sciences).
- check_circle IB Diploma also accepted.
- check_circle Meets NMBI health, vaccination, and Garda vetting (background check) requirements for clinical placement.
- check_circle Interview or additional assessment may apply for some applicants.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall with no band below 6.5 (the standard required for NMBI registration) — a strong English standard is essential for nursing practice.
- check_circle This registration-level requirement means a formal IELTS/OET test is normally required even for English-medium applicants.
- check_circle OET (Occupational English Test) at Grade B is also accepted for nursing.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, 2026) | €26,000 | Rs. 8,970,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Galway) | €12,000 | Rs. 4,140,000 |
| Student Visa & Immigration Registration (IRP) (per year) | €600 | Rs. 207,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | €38,600 | Rs. 13,317,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Leads to registration as a general nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), and eligible for Ireland's Third Level Graduate Programme (up to 2 years post-study work). Nursing is a critical-skills occupation in Ireland with strong demand and clear routes to employment and long-term residence via the Health Service Executive (HSE) and private hospitals. NMBI registration is respected internationally (UK NMC, Gulf, Australia), making this a globally portable, high-security career. Irish staff-nurse salaries start around €35,000+.
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Ready to Start Your Journey?
Our counsellors have helped hundreds of Sri Lankan students secure placements in Ireland. We handle everything from applications to visa processing — and it starts with a free, in-person visit to one of our three offices.
ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.
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