Costs
Tuition
€10,000–25,000/year for non-EU. STEM and business at the higher end. Arts and humanities lower. EU/EEA: €3,000–8,000 (reduced fees).
Living Costs
Dublin: €1,200–1,600/month. Cork, Galway, Limerick: €800–1,100/month. Student accommodation is scarce in Dublin — apply early.
Total Annual Cost
€21,000–42,000/year. Dublin significantly more expensive than other cities.
Part-Time Work
20 hours/week during term, 40 hours during breaks. Average earnings: €500–800/month. Minimum wage: €12.70/hour.
Post-Study & Immigration
Post-Study Work Visa
Stay-back permission: 2 years for master's (Level 9), 1 year for bachelor's (Level 8). Can work full-time. Leads to employment permits.
Path to Permanent Residency
Critical Skills Employment Permit (for jobs paying €38,000+ in critical skills list, or €64,000+ in any field). After 2 years → Stamp 4 (open work permission). After 5 years → Long-term residency.
Language Requirements
English (all programmes). IELTS 6.0–6.5 typically required. Some universities accept Duolingo, PTE, Cambridge.
Visa Processing
4–8 weeks. Non-EU students apply for study visa (if required — some nationalities don't need one). Register with immigration (GNIB/IRP) after arrival.
Top Universities
| University | QS 2025 | Tuition (Int'l) | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity College Dublin | #81 | €18,000–25,000 | Computer Science, Business, Law, Health |
| University College Dublin | #126 | €15,000–23,000 | Business, Engineering, Agriculture, Health |
| NUI Galway | #259 | €12,000–18,000 | Sciences, Engineering, Arts, Medicine |
| Dublin City University | #436 | €12,000–16,000 | Computing, Business, Communications |
| University of Limerick | #426 | €12,000–16,000 | Engineering, Health, Business, Education |
Scholarships
GOI-IES (Government of Ireland)
Award: €10,000/year + tuition waiver
Eligibility: Non-EU/EEA · Deadline: March
60 awards for master's and PhD. Competitive but prestigious.
Eligibility: Non-EU/EEA · Deadline: March
60 awards for master's and PhD. Competitive but prestigious.
Walsh Fellowships
Award: €22,000/year stipend + fees
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Varies
For research master's and PhD at Teagasc-linked programmes.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Varies
For research master's and PhD at Teagasc-linked programmes.
Trinity Global Scholarship
Award: €5,000 fee reduction
Eligibility: Non-EU · Deadline: Varies
For international postgraduate students at Trinity College Dublin.
Eligibility: Non-EU · Deadline: Varies
For international postgraduate students at Trinity College Dublin.
UCD Global Excellence Scholarship
Award: 50–100% tuition
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Varies
For outstanding international applicants.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Varies
For outstanding international applicants.
Science Foundation Ireland grants
Award: Full funding + stipend
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Varies
For PhD in STEM fields. Through SFI research centres.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Varies
For PhD in STEM fields. Through SFI research centres.
2026 Policy Updates
What changed: Stay-back visa remains strong at 2 years for master's. Ireland's Critical Skills list regularly updated — tech, engineering, healthcare, finance consistently included. Housing crisis ongoing — government investing in purpose-built student accommodation. Ireland remains in the EU, giving Schengen-adjacent benefits.
Best For
Students wanting English-taught EU education. Tech professionals targeting Google/Meta/Apple/LinkedIn Dublin offices. Nursing and healthcare students (strong demand). Students wanting EU work rights. Those who prefer a smaller, English-speaking country.
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