Study in Ireland: Admission, Cost, Visa and Scholarships (2027)

Ireland's higher education system is built around a mix of institutions: seven public universities (including Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University of Galway, University College Cork, University of Limerick, Dublin City University and Maynooth University), five technological universities formed from mergers of the older institutes of technology, a smaller number of private colleges such as Griffith College and Dublin Business School, and specialist institutions like RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Teaching is in English (Trinity and a small number of programmes elsewhere also offer some Irish-medium options), and degrees follow the National Framework of Qualifications: Level 6 higher certificates, Level 7 ordinary bachelor degrees, Level 8 honours bachelor degrees (the standard undergraduate qualification, normally three to four years), and Level 9 and 10 postgraduate qualifications, with taught masters typically one year and research masters and PhDs longer.

The main intake is September, when almost every undergraduate and postgraduate programme starts; a smaller January or February intake exists at some universities for specific taught masters and pathway programmes. Irish and EU school leavers apply for undergraduate places through the Central Applications Office (CAO), with a normal closing date of 1 February and a late closing date of 1 May for the year of entry. Non-EU international applicants generally do not use the CAO: they apply directly to each university's international office, and deadlines vary widely, from fixed dates around May, June or July to rolling admission that continues until courses fill, so checking each university's own international pages is essential.

Non-EU tuition fees vary by institution and subject: technological universities and some public universities charge as little as EUR 10,000 to 15,000 a year for many undergraduate programmes, while specialist fields such as medicine can exceed EUR 60,000 a year. English language tests (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic or Duolingo) are required unless an applicant was taught entirely in English. Non-EU students need a student permission (Stamp 2) to study for more than 90 days, can work part time during their course, and graduates of Irish degrees can apply to stay and work under the Third Level Graduate Programme after finishing.