Top Universities in Ireland for 2022 academic session. Ireland is a welcoming island with cosmopolitan cities and a strong history related to literature. The Irish government is committed to supporting students and invested 11.1 billion EUR in education in 2020 alone. To attract international students, hundreds of scholarship and funding programmes are available.

If you fancy the idea of studying abroad in Ireland, you should first know how much money you’ll need. To make things easier, we’ve done the research for you. Keep on reading as we’ll offer more details about tuition fees and living costs for international students in Ireland.

1. University tuition fees in Ireland

Tuition fees for EU/EEA students

In Ireland, undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degrees are free for citizens from Ireland, EU/EEA countries, and Switzerland. The costs are covered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

Keep in mind that not all undergraduate courses offered by public universities are free. Always check the official study programme page to see what tuition fees apply to students from your country.

To benefit from the “free fees initiative”, you have to apply for the government funding programme and prove that you are eligible. You are not eligible if:

  • You already have an undergraduate degree
  • You already have a postgraduate degree
  • You are repeating a year of study
  • Nationality, immigration status, residence and course requirements are other criteria that can qualify you for a tuition-free university degree.

For postgraduate (Master’s and PhD) studies, EU/EEA students should expect to pay tuition fees that range between 3,000 – 30,000 EUR/academic year. Business and Medicine courses are usually the most expensive.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students

  • Undergraduate courses: 9,850 – 55,000 EUR/year
  • Postgraduate Master’s and PhD courses: 9,950 – 35,000 EUR/year
  • All international students (both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA citizens) have to pay a student contribution fee of maximum 3,000 EUR/year for student services, like examination entries and support for clubs and societies. The fee varies from one university to another, and it can change every year.

Most affordable universities in Ireland

These Irish universities have some of the most affordable tuition fees:

  • University College Cork
  • Cork Institute of Technology
  • St. Patrick’s College
  • Dublin Business School
  • Universities we recommend in Ireland
  • University College Dublin
  • University of Limerick
  • Maynooth University
  • Check out the best Irish universities according to global rankings.

2. Student living costs in Ireland

The costs of living in Ireland are a bit higher than the average for the European area; you should expect to spend anywhere between 550 – 1,000 EUR/month.

Average costs of living in Irish cities (including accommodation costs):

  • Dublin: 1,100 – 1,800 EUR/month
  • Cork: 860 – 1,400 EUR/month
  • Galway and other smaller cities: 800 – 1,100 EUR/month

Accommodation costs for students in Ireland

Higher education institutions in Ireland offer accommodation in student residence halls, which usually costs above the European average of 200 – 300 EUR. It is often difficult to find a place because the number of places is limited in Ireland, and the demand is high.

Apart from residence halls in Ireland, you can rent/share an apartment in Ireland or choose to live with an Irish family.

The average accommodation prices for students in Ireland are:

  • Student living in Ireland alone: 400 – 900 EUR/month
  • Student living with partner/colleagues in Ireland: 450 – 550 EUR/month
  • Student living on University campus: 300 – 650 EUR/month

Other costs associated with accommodation:

  • Utilities: around 30 – 50 EUR/month
  • Internet: up to 60 EUR/month

Food costs in Ireland

Average monthly food costs are not high. You’ll spend around 250 – 350 EUR/month for grocery shopping in Ireland. You can find cheaper food products in supermarkets in Ireland such as Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Dunnes or Superquinn.

You can also dine in a small restaurant in Ireland and pay 15 EUR or enjoy a three-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant for 55 EUR.

Transportation costs in Ireland

Students can benefit from discounts for transportation if they use the Student Leap Card or the Bus Éireann services to travel around Ireland. Around 27% of the students use public transport in Ireland, and a monthly pass with a special discount for students is around 50 – 55 EUR/month.

The most popular mode of transportation is the bicycle, chosen by 38% of the students. You can rent a bicycle in Ireland to get around the city for around 20 EUR/day.

Extra costs in Ireland

Other expenses you need to cover during your study in Ireland:

  • Books and other study materials: 75 EUR/month
  • Social activities/entertainment: 60 – 100 EUR/month
  • Medical insurance: 45 EUR/month
  • You can also use the Numbeo website to check out other prices and costs in Ireland.

Top Universities in Ireland for 2022 academic session in a above article gives you a glimpse for career decisions in higher education.