Is it worth an Indian ABAP developer with 16 months of experience pursuing a master's in computing in Ireland to transition into the Irish job market?

For a candidate with existing IT experience, the case for a master's in Ireland is stronger than for someone with no experience at all. The master's degree provides two things: first, the academic credential that many Irish technology employers set as a baseline for mid-level and senior roles, and second, more practically, the Stamp 1G post-study work permission that allows you to live and work in Ireland for 24 months after graduation while looking for and starting employment.

• Without the master's route, a direct work permit from India requires a pre-existing job offer and employer sponsorship, which is harder to obtain as an unknown candidate.
• With 16 months of ABAP development experience already on your CV, you are entering the Irish master's with a professional baseline that makes you more employable than a fresh graduate, and the master's gives you the Irish residency foundation to access the job market directly.
• The combination of technical experience and an Irish degree from an institution that produces employable graduates is a viable entry strategy into the Irish tech ecosystem, provided you are also willing to put in the job search effort that the Irish market requires.