Why This Indian Student Chose Ireland Over Canada — And It Worked
When Gurpreet Sandhu's Canada application was delayed, an immigration counsellor suggested Ireland. Twelve months later she considers it the best decision of her life.
Gurpreet from Jalandhar — Ireland became home after Canada plans shifted
Gurpreet Sandhu had a plan: study Data Analytics in Canada. She had the IELTS score (7.0), the finances, and an offer letter from a college in Brampton. Then the January 2024 intake was oversubscribed and her LOA was withdrawn. She had four months to find a new path or lose a year.
A counsellor at an education fair in Jalandhar mentioned Ireland almost casually. "He said UCD — University College Dublin — has one of the best data analytics programs in Europe. I thought he was just trying to sell me something. I almost walked away."
What Ireland Offers That Most Indian Students Miss
Ireland is home to the European headquarters of Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Stripe, and dozens of other tech giants — all in a city of one million people. For a data analytics graduate, the job concentration is extraordinary. Ireland also offers a two-year Stay Back (Graduate) visa after a Level 9 (master's) degree, allowing graduates to work without needing employer sponsorship.
The Irish Stamp 2 student permission allows 20 hours of part-time work during term and full-time (40 hours) during holidays. Gurpreet worked at a coffee shop near Grafton Street during her summer break and cleared €2,400 in two months — enough to cover her next semester's accommodation.
I thought Canada was the only option for Indian students who wanted to work in tech. Ireland has Google, Meta, LinkedIn all in one small city. And no one talks about it back home.
— Gurpreet Sandhu, Jalandhar
The Application and Visa Timeline
- University: University College Dublin (UCD)
- Program: MSc Data Analytics — 1 year
- Tuition: €18,750 (international student fee)
- Irish student visa processing: 6 weeks from application
- Visa decision: Approved
- Internship during studies: Data Analyst intern at a Dublin fintech (€1,800/month)
- Post-graduation plan: Apply for 2-year Graduate Stay Back visa
One Year On
Gurpreet graduated in August. She applied for the Graduate visa immediately after her results confirmation. It was approved in three weeks. She now has a full-time role at a data company in Dublin's Silicon Docks area, earning €42,000/year — her first salary. She sends ₹40,000 home every month. Her parents, who were reluctant when Canada fell through, have stopped asking her to come back.