Universities in Ireland

If you are looking to study in one of the countries of the English speaking world, Ireland might be the right choice for you as it is both safe and a popular tourist destination. Located in the North Atlantic, it is considered to be one of the happiest places on Earth.

Some of the Irish student cities are Dublin, Limerick, Galway, and Cork. What are you waiting for? Join more than 25,000 foreign students currently in Ireland and let your study abroad dream begin!

Studying in Ireland: Key Considerations

Jump To:

• Visa Requirements
• Student Accommodation
• How to apply
• Tuition Fees
• Studying Business
• Cost of living
• Culture
• Language

Student Visa Requirements

If you are an EU national or a citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) you are not required to obtain a visa to study in or to travel to the Republic of Ireland.

On the other hand, if you are from a country that does not have EU/EEA membership, you will need to apply for an entry visa along with your student visa. All non-EU/EEA country residents must obtain permission to enter Ireland at their port of entry by reporting to an immigration officer.

There are two types of student visa required depending on the amount of time you need to stay in Ireland – a ‘C’ visa for stays of less than 3 months and a ‘D’ visa for longer stays. In order to consider your application successful, you will need to provide supporting documents. These are usually a letter of confirmation of your enrollment in an Irish university, evidence that your tuition fees have been paid, evidence that you are able to financially support yourself (€7,000 initially) and also confirmation of medical insurance.

All documentation must be original documents and be written in English or be an officially notarised translation in order to be accepted by the admission departments of the universities you intend to study at.

Student Accommodation

All Irish universities have student accommodation in the form of halls of residence which are offered to both international and domestic students. These halls usually include 6 to 7 other students and have shared facilities like bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms.

There are also plenty of private accommodation options in Ireland, especially in larger cities like Dublin and Limerick. The cost of these varies depending on what kind of accommodation you are looking for and if you are looking to share your flat or house with other students or not. On average, students can expect to pay around €400 per month for a shared room or around €850 for a private room in a shared apartment.

Your university will likely have an accommodation service that will be able to help you find the ideal accommodation for your specific needs given that you are a student coming from abroad and might not be familiar with Irish regulations and contracts.

Applying to IRISH Universities

Ireland uses the Central Applications Office to handle all university applications in the Republic of Ireland, allowing prospective students to apply for all of their university choices and programmes using only one platform rather than having to apply to each university separately.

That said, some universities may have separate admissions procedures that run concurrently with the CAO so you should double-check the admissions process with your university before applying.

All programmes at Irish universities are conducted in English, so if this is not your native language you will need to provide evidence of proficiency in English alongside your supporting documents. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) are the two most recognized English certifications worldwide.

Tuition Fees and Finance

Ireland has the free fees initiative that supports fee tuition for students domestic and international that meet the correct criteria. This criterion includes being a first-time applicant to a course that is more than 2 years long, being a citizen of or resident in an EU/EEA country or have family that are, or if you have been granted refugee status in Ireland. The university you apply to will determine if you meet these criteria upon application.

If you do qualify for the free fees scheme then there is a fee that students have to pay to take part in it, but this is capped at €3,000 and varies between universities.

If you do not qualify for free fees then you may qualify for EU fees, another scheme to help international students. However, if you don’t qualify for either, you will need to pay the international student fees as defined by the chosen university. These will need to be paid upfront before your first year begins.

There are several student loan options for domestic and international students to study in Ireland which include low-interest loans, grants and bursaries.

Lifestyle

Irish people are considered friendly, family-oriented, but also very patriotic. Quality of life in Ireland is good. The country is not very crowded and the air’s quality is considered to be better there than in other European countries.

The Irish population plays a large variety of sports, including Gaelic games, handball, motorsports, hockey, cricket, and golf. Moreover, Ireland counts more than 300 golf courses.

Studying Business in IRELAND

Ireland is considered to be one of the best places in Europe to open a business. That said, it goes without saying that studying business in Ireland makes sense. In addition, Ireland is considered to be an important international hub. In fact, many companies, like Accenture and Ryanair just to name a few, are headquartered in Dublin. Read about The best business schools in Ireland.

Cost of Living

Ireland is considered to be an expensive country to live in. Rent prices have increased by 50% in the last eight years. Galway is considered to be slightly more affordable than other Irish student cities. In addition, on average, services and products cost more than other European countries.

On the other hand, wages only increased by 4% during the same time period. Foreign students can work in Ireland up to 20 hours per week during their studies and up to 40 hours per week during recognized holiday breaks.

Culture

The Irish culture is very much one of tradition, with a long and tumultuous history of conquering and being conquered leading to influences from Normans, Scots and English. One of the most famous holidays worldwide is the Irish St. Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated all over the world every year in March. Irish culture is for the most part Gaelic and counts a number of factors from language to literature, folklore, cuisine and sports.

Music plays a large part in the Irish culture, going hand in hand with the societal pub culture and sense of community that pervades many towns and villages. Ireland is also famous for its dark beer Guinness which was first introduced in 1759 and it is now sold in over 120 countries. Folklore is also something Ireland is famous for. The Leprechaun, an elf looking person, is probably the most recognizable figure of Irish folklore. Irish literature has also contributed worldwide. Some of the most celebrated writers are Oscar Wilde and James Joyce.

Religion plays a significant role in Ireland, with the majority of the Irish republic belonging to the Catholic church and its denominations. Religious festivals and practices are still common today although it won’t feature in an educational setting. The shamrock is Ireland’s more recognizable symbol even though it’s not its official one. The three-leaf clover symbolizes the holy trinity and it is a sign of good luck. The harp instead is the official emblem of the Republic of Ireland.

Language

There are two recognised official languages in Ireland, with English being the one that is spoken throughout the country and by almost all of the population. Even though Irish is recognised as the constitutional first language of the country, only 36% of the population can speak it fluently.

The areas that speak most Irish are largely rural and, although there has been an increase in passive-Irish speakers and Irish media to try and revive the language, it is still relatively rare in larger population areas.