Education USA Postgraduate Study

Types of Postgraduate Degrees

Master’s Degree: A Master’s typically takes two years in the U.S., although there are some one year programs. They will combine research and taught components and most likely will require a final thesis. A Master’s can be academic in nature (a Master of Arts) or professional (Masters in Business Administration). They are all Master’s degrees, but requirements and expectations may different. Read the course descriptions carefully to ensure you choose a program that is right for you.

Doctoral Degree: A doctoral degree, or PhD, is typically aimed at students who wish to pursue a career in academia. This is a research-led degree that will often include some taught components and teaching experience. A PhD typically is typically four years in length, but can take much longer. At the culmination of the degree a dissertation of publishable quality is required, plus an oral “defense” of the research.

JD/LL.M.: Law is a postgraduate degree in the United States. Students may complete a three year JD degree following undergraduate study. Upon completion of the JD, students sit a bar exam to become qualified to practice law in a given state. The JD degree prepares individuals to practice law in the U.S. More often international students do a LL.M. (Master’s in Law) if they have a first degree in law in Ireland. LL.M. degrees offer specialized study in a particular area of law, such as international law or tax law.

M.D./D.O.: Medicine is also a postgraduate degree in the U.S. Students typically complete a first degree in a science-related field before completing a four-year medical school degree. This is then followed by residency and internship programs.

Application Requirements

As with undergraduate degrees, U.S. universities will look at your postgraduate application holistically, considering academic performance, reasons for pursuing the degree at their institution, relevant work experience and coursework, and extracurricular involvement in the field.

It is important to take time to complete these applications. Postgraduate degrees in the U.S. are very competitive so research your options, develop your application, and apply to a range of schools to give yourself the best chance at being accepted.

Admission Exams

While you are completing your application to a postgraduate program, you also need to research and consider financial matters. Tuition and fees rates can vary significantly from university to university, as there are no standard government-set fees. The cost of living can vary drastically by location as well.

If college affordability is a key consideration for your university selections, you may wish to try some of these strategies for choosing universities:

• Consider public universities to minimize the initial tuition and fees rates charged.
• Choose universities at which there is a lower cost of living, such as universities in suburban or rural areas.
• Choose universities at which you will be a top student, as funding is often reserved for the most qualified applicants.
• Apply for a Fulbright Award, which are grants that help fund Irish students to study at the postgraduate level in the U.S.

As with the application, it is important to research your options and check all deadlines. Funding can be very competitive in the U.S. so the earlier you start the better chance you have at being successful in funding your graduate studies.

For more information on funding postgraduate studies please see: https://educationusa.state.gov/your-5-steps-us-study

EducationUSA does not endorse or promote any school over the other. However, we are aware of these Tuition Waiver opportunity specifically aimed at Irish students:

The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, USA offers a generous scholarship for Irish students to study at Notre Dame. Through the Naughton Fellowship Program, Irish students are eligible to apply for a fellowship that provides a full tuition waiver along with a $17,000 stipend and a full health insurance subsidy for living expenses.

For information see: esteem.nd.edu/admissions/naughton-fellowship

Fordham Law School offers a generous 40% tuition waiver for one student from Ireland to Fordham’s one-year full-time LL.M. program in New York City.

Specializations Include:
• Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law
• Corporate Compliance
• Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law
• International Business and Trade Law
• International Dispute Resolution
• International Law and Justice
• U.S. and Comparative Law

For more information on application deadlines and procedures, visit the Fordham LL.M. admissions page: law.fordham.edu/llm/apply

Funding

While you are completing your application to a postgraduate program, you also need to research and consider financial matters. Tuition and fees rates can vary significantly from university to university, as there are no standard government-set fees. The cost of living can vary drastically by location as well.

If college affordability is a key consideration for your university selections, you may wish to try some of these strategies for choosing universities:

• Consider public universities to minimize the initial tuition and fees rates charged.
• Choose universities at which there is a lower cost of living, such as universities in suburban or rural areas.
• Choose universities at which you will be a top student, as funding is often reserved for the most qualified applicants.
• Apply for a Fulbright Award, which are grants that help fund Irish students to study at the postgraduate level in the U.S.

As with the application, it is important to research your options and check all deadlines. Funding can be very competitive in the U.S. so the earlier you start the better chance you have at being successful in funding your graduate studies.

Finance your Studies

EducationUSA does not endorse or promote any school over the other. However, we are aware of these Tuition Waiver opportunities specifically aimed at Irish students:

Naughton Fellowships for ESTEEM Masters Programs

The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, USA offers a generous scholarship for Irish students. Through the Naughton Fellowship Program, Irish students are eligible to apply for a fellowship that provides a full tuition waiver along with a $17,000 stipend and a full health insurance subsidy for living expenses.

The Naughton Fellowship program allows students with a background in, or aptitude for, STEM fields to experience international research and educational opportunities through a funded exchange program involving the University of Notre Dame and some of Ireland’s leading research universities: Dublin City University, National University of Ireland, Galway, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, and University College Dublin.

Naughton PhD Fellowships

Two PhD fellowships, one for a Notre Dame student and one for an Irish student will be awarded. A total amount of $120,000 USD will be provided to the faculty advisor for the student’s full period of study.

Fordham Law School LL.M. Program

Fordham Law School offers a generous 40% tuition waiver for one student from Ireland to Fordham’s one-year full-time LL.M. program in New York City.

Specializations Include:
• Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law
• Corporate Compliance
• Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law
• International Business and Trade Law
• International Dispute Resolution
• International Law and Justice
• U.S. and Comparative Law