Study in Ireland

Want to combine further study with tradition, culture, scenery and socialising? Ireland could be the perfect place for you to carry on learning

The Irish education system

There are numerous types of higher education institutions in Ireland:

• Universities - fully recognised internationally; seven universities are located in Ireland and two are in Northern Ireland.
• Institutes of technology - popular institutions due to the size of the software export and chemical and pharmaceutical production industries. They offer higher certificate awards, as well as undergraduate, postgraduate, Masters and Doctoral programmes.
• Colleges of education - teacher training institutions, separated into primary and secondary-level colleges.
• NUI-recognised colleges - The National University of Ireland (NUI), a federal university, recognises five colleges, including the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the National College of Art and Design and the Institute of Public Administration.
• State-aided institutions - a range of establishments offering many different courses. They are given some funding from the state.
• Private colleges - mainly provide more vocational programmes for industries such as catering, business studies, law and art.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for postgraduate study differ from university to university, course to course. However, most courses require an undergraduate degree, usually a minimum of a 2:2, in a related discipline.

Make sure you understand the requirements for the specific course that interests you before applying and contact the institution to clarify if necessary.

Course fees

Citizens of the European Union (EU) are entitled to attend university in Ireland or any EU country (this means the 27 member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The same conditions apply to all EU citizens whether a national of the country or not. This means that you are not required to pay higher course fees than Irish students and you are entitled to apply for any grants available to help with tuition fees.

Average course fees in Ireland for EU students are approximately €5,000 and considerably higher for non-EU students.

Ireland also operates a free fees scheme for undergraduate study, which is available to EU nationals who meet a range of other criteria. For more information, see Citizens Information - Third-Level Student Fees and Charges .

Funding to study in Ireland

The Irish Student Grant Scheme is split into two parts: maintenance grants; and fee grants.

Maintenance grants go towards students' general living costs and are usually means tested. They also have a number of conditions based on nationality, residence and immigration status.

Eligibility of postgraduates for this kind of funding is prone to change and you may not be eligible if you are an EU student who hasn't lived in Ireland before. To check whether you can receive a maintenance grant, visit Citizens Information - Grants for Students in Further and Higher Education  or Student Finance Ireland .

Fee grants are designed to cover students' tuition fees, cost of field trips or student contribution. Eligibility of EU students is also subject to stringent requirements.

Other institutions may offer separate grants or bursaries.

Non-EU/European Economic Area (EEA) students are ineligible for Student Grant Scheme funding.

Irish exchanges and placements

Students attending UK universities can take part in the EU's flagship educational exchange programme Erasmus . The scheme offers work placements, study opportunities and language assistantships, which last from three months to one academic year in EU countries.

Financial support is also available to selected Masters and Doctoral students through the Erasmus Mundus initiative.

Your university must have a formal agreement with a partner university in Ireland. Check that your university is involved in the programme and offers the Erasmus scheme in your subject.

Speak to the Erasmus coordinator at your university about available opportunities.

Student visas

As an EU citizen, you are permitted to live in any EU country while studying as long as you:

• are studying for more than three months;
• are enrolled at an approved university/other educational institution;
• have sufficient income (from any source) to live without needing income support; 
• have comprehensive health insurance cover.

Some countries require you to register with the local authority after three months. Find out how to register at Europa - Rights, Conditions and Formalities .

If you are a non-EU student, find out your visa requirements for studying in Ireland at Citizens Information - Student Visas to Study in Ireland .