A Reddit post by an Indian tech graduate has triggered fresh concern over Ireland’s shrinking job prospects for non-EU students, particularly those who arrive on education loans hoping to secure long-term work visas. The post, written by a computer science graduate from the University of Galway, paints a bleak picture of the country’s tech hiring landscape and visa realities.
The user said he completed a Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Galway in 2025 and had nearly five years of prior industry experience in London and Dubai before moving to Ireland. Despite this advantage, he managed to secure a tech role only after significant effort, and even then, the job does not come with visa sponsorship. According to him, none of the limited number of graduates from his batch who found tech jobs received sponsorship either.
Sharing details from his cohort, the user said that out of roughly 130 graduates, only about 15 were able to land roles in the tech sector. The majority, he claimed, are now working in supermarkets, restaurants, bars and other non-technical jobs to sustain themselves while their visas run down. He added that more than 500 graduates from the same programme across previous years have already been forced to return to India after failing to secure sponsorship before their visas expired.
The Redditor also pointed to a recent policy change that has worsened the situation. The Irish government’s decision to raise the minimum salary threshold required for visa sponsorship, he said, has made employers even more hesitant to hire non-EU candidates. As a result, companies prefer EU nationals who do not require sponsorship, regardless of skill level.
Warning prospective students, the user said coming to Ireland on an education loan carries a high risk of financial distress. He cautioned that students whose parents act as co-sponsors could be putting their family’s retirement security at stake. “Realistically, over 95% of non-EU graduates are forced to leave Ireland within three years,” he wrote, urging students to reconsider studying there and advising them to stay in India unless they can absorb the financial risk.
The post drew strong reactions in the comments. One user claimed they faced accusations of “gatekeeping” after sharing a similar warning, adding that HR teams at large tech firms increasingly use AI-based resume screening that allegedly filters out Indian names or Indian graduates. Another commenter advised students not to expect jobs abroad after graduation and to plan for returning home, stressing that taking unmanageable loans for overseas education is a gamble that can permanently damage one’s financial future.