State Schools in Ireland for International Students

ISI Dublin works with a range of State secondary schools in Ireland for eligible international students. State School placements combine an Irish school experience with full-board host-family accommodation and the guardianship and student support included in the ISI High School Programme.

Who can join a State School programme?

ISI Dublin’s State School programme is available to students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland, subject to the student’s age, academic profile, preferred dates, school acceptance and current availability.

Students who require Irish immigration permission for secondary-school study should review the Private School route instead, as Irish Immigration requires visa applicants attending second-level school to be enrolled in a fee-paying private school.

What is an Irish State School?

State secondary schools are part of Ireland’s publicly funded education system. Depending on the school, students may attend Junior Cycle, Transition Year or Senior Cycle. The exact year group and subjects are confirmed by the school and cannot be guaranteed before placement.

Accommodation with an ISI host family

State School students normally stay with an ISI Dublin host family on a full-board basis. Host-family accommodation gives international students the opportunity to experience everyday life in Ireland while having a local home base outside school.

Learn more about High School accommodation options.

課程持續時間

State School placements may be available for selected school terms or a full academic year, depending on the school and the student’s profile. Exact dates and availability vary by academic year.

See the current programme options and dates.

Transition Year in a State School

Transition Year can be a particularly attractive option for international students aged around 15 to 16 because it is less exam-focused and often includes projects, practical modules and broader learning experiences.

Read our guide to Transition Year in Ireland for international students.

What ISI Dublin provides

  • Assistance with school selection and placement.
  • Full-board host-family accommodation in the confirmed programme.
  • Orientation and student welfare support.
  • Guardianship and an assigned ISI point of contact.
  • Regular student follow-up and school liaison.
  • English-language support as included in the current programme package.
  • 24/7 緊急電話支援。.

How school placement works

  1. Submit a preliminary enquiry.
  2. ISI reviews nationality, age, dates, academic profile and location preferences.
  3. Suitable school options are identified according to current availability.
  4. The selected school reviews the application and makes the final admission decision.
  5. Once confirmed, ISI coordinates the placement, accommodation and support arrangements included in the booking.

Browse State School profiles

ISI publishes school profiles to help families understand the types of schools available. Profiles are descriptive and do not represent live availability or guarantee admission.

Browse published State School profiles.

Related information

Interested in a State School placement? Send a preliminary enquiry and ISI Dublin can review the student’s eligibility and suitable options.