General employment visa

I currently hold a General Employment Permit a Stamp 1 permission. I have been working full-time (40 hours per week) as a HCA since January 2023. I was granted my first General Employment Permit in October 2023 for two years, and in 2025 my employer successfully renewed it for a further three years.

I have recently been offered a place at university to begin a Nursing degree, starting this September. I am very excited about this opportunity, but I am concerned about how starting full-time studies may affect my immigration status.

My husband’s immigration permission is dependent on my current employment permit. If I switch from my current Stamp 1 to a Stamp 2 student permission, he may lose his right to remain and work in Ireland.

I would greatly appreciate any guidance if someone had similar situation before.