Ireland
Student Population
246,000
18,500 international
3 years
Standard Degree Length
Tuition Fees
Free (EU/EEA/Swiss/UK)
€9,850-55,000 (other international)
Academic Year
September - June
Education Model
Single Honours
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Double Degrees
Joint Honours
Funding
Grants available (EU/EEA/Swiss/UK)
Some Scholarships (international)
Good to Know
Ireland is an exciting place to learn in a culturally rich and curious environment. Universities encourage students to challenge, debate, imagine and create their own ideas. As Ireland is home to world known companies in agriculture, pharmaceutical and technology, some universities tend to specialise in subjects such as technology, natural sciences, economics, and the humanities. Irish universities also have great research links with universities around the world in these fields, meaning you will have plenty of opportunities to start building your professional network during your studies.
Degree Length
The standard degree takes 3 years to complete. However, some Science and Engineering degrees can take up to 4 years to complete. There has also been an introduction of 2 year fast-track degree for some courses.
Education Model
Ireland have two intakes per year - September and February.
The majority of courses are taught in English, apart from Irish Language courses, and you should expect a combination of classes and independent study.
Beside the standard undergraduate degree, there is also the option to take a joint or dual-honours degree. This enables you to split your time across two different subject areas and take on a larger range of modules. This has also seen an increased variety of job opportunities after graduation.
Ireland's grading system is as follows: 70%+ (1:1), 60-69% (2:1), 50-59% (2:2), 40-49% (Pass), 39%< (Fail)
Gap Years
Gap years are widely accepted in Ireland. You can either apply during IB2 and request a deferral once you have received your offer, or apply during your gap year. Please note that deferral requests are entirely at the institutions discretion, therefore it is not guaranteed that your request will be granted.
Placements
Placements within your degree are typically considered as a sandwich course and would increase the length of your degree to 4 years. You will spend one year on a work placement related to your field of study.
Institution Types
State/Public Uni
Most Common
Private Uni
Yes - there are 6
Undergraduate Only
No - most universities also offer Master's programs
Junior College
Arts Schools
Business Schools
American Schools
Research Focused
Major drivers of research and innovation with great links to research institutions around the world
Teaching Focused
E-Tutorials
The cost of university tuition in Ireland is dependent on your citizenship. If you are an Irish, EU, EEA, Swiss or UK national, then you may be eligible for the Free Fees Initiative under Ireland's Higher Education Authority. To be eligible for free tuition costs, you must meet all of the following criteria:
• You must have resided in a EU, EEA, Swiss state or the UK for at least 3 our of the 5 previous years.
• You must be attending an undergraduate course for the first time.
• You must be applying to a full time course that lasts for a minimum of 2 years.
• You must meet one of the nationality requirements.
If you not eligible for the Free Fees Initiative, you may still be eligible for EU fee rates. Eligibility criteria are set individually by institutions, so please check with the university for further details.
If you are not eligible for the Free Fees Initiative or EU fess, then you are expected to pay the non-EU international fee. These are set individually by institutions, so please check with the university for further details. You will also be required to pay your fees for the year upfront. Fees can range from €9,850-55,000.
You may also be required to pay an annual student contribution fee. This will vary between different institutions, however is is capped at a maximum of €3,000. This fee covers use of student services and examination fees.
Alongside tuition fees, you need to factor in the cost of living. Ireland is known for reasonable cost of living, making it a popular university destination for international students. A budget between €550-1,800 per month would be realistic dependent on your accommodation choices and geographic location.
The Government of Ireland offer finical support in the form of maintenance and fee grants for students of a Irish, EU, EEA, UK or Swiss nationality, those with a specific immigration status, or those with leave to remain permission. The grant supports students with cost associated with university. You can check you eligibility here https://www.susi.ie/
The Government of Ireland offer 60 scholarships per year to students from non-EU/EEA countries. If you are successful then you will receive €10,000 for one year's study and a full fee waiver for all tuition and registration costs. Applications must be submitted to the Higher Education Authority https://hea.ie/2021/12/02/government-of-ireland-international-education-scholarships-2022/
Institutions also award their own scholarships and bursaries for both domestic and international students. These are primarily based on academic merit, however some institutions award scholarships on the basis of nationality. You are advised to check with individual institutions for what they can offer.
If you are a resident in Northern Ireland and choose to study in the Republic of Ireland, you will be eligible for the Student Contribution Loan to cover the student contribution fee. You will need to apply through Student Finance Northern Ireland.
Funding
Costs
If you are an Irish, EU, EEA, Swiss, or UK national then you should apply through the Central Applications Office. To submit an application, you will be required to pay a €40 fee. You may also be required to provide proof of your English Proficiency, such an as IELTS or TOEFL certificate. Any other international students will need to apply directly to the institution and follow individualised processes.
Application Process
If you are a EU, EEA, Swiss or UK student then you can apply through the Central Applications Office.
If you are any other international student then you will need to apply directly to the institution.
Applications made through the Central Admissions Office do not require a personal statement.
When to Apply
Grade Conversion
IB is well known in Ireland and most universities will publish IB entry requirements, although it make take you a few clicks to get to it. However you can use this grade conversation table to convert your overall IB grade to the Irish Points System.
The Central Admissions Office awards 25 bonus points to any applicant who score a grade 4 or higher in IB higher level maths.
Universities
Explore the university profiles for this country on the CareersExplore Platform.
Irish Universities and Medical Schools Consortium
Ireland
City Campus, Suburban Campus
Large Institution 15,000-30,000
Trinity College Dublin
Ireland
Island Campus in a city
Large Institution 15,000-30,000
15000
Research Resources
Global Scholarships | Global Scholarships is a database holding lots of scholarships which are available to students who would like to study at university. This is a global database so holds scholarship information for a wide range of different countries. | |
GoToUniversity | This site is run by a company that supports university applications and whilst its university database is not exhaustive, within the application requirements tab on each university profile they have the average IB scores accepted and where available the application success rate.
They also have average living costs for the area, rankings overviews and some scholarship information.
Be aware that they list programs in all languages, not just English and the IB scores and success rate percentages are averages across the whole institution. However, they are a good indicator if the university does not publish more detailed information. | |
IUMC - Irish Universities & Medical Schools Consortium | Application portal for international (non-EU/UK) students to apply to 4 of Ireland's top schools for medicine and dentistry, on one application with support for the process. | |
Concourse Global Clearing | Concourse is a platform where universities search for candidates they want, rather than you completing lots of complex, time consuming and expensive applications. You complete one profile, which institutions view an anonymised version of. If they feel you are a fit for them, they will make you an offer and if you're interested, you can connect with them, share your full details and speak to them about what they can offer you. |