Are you trying to figure out the costs of studying abroad? If you’re looking for an affordable place to study abroad, Ireland might be the right choice for you. With a combination of world-renowned institutions, reasonable costs as well as job and settlement opportunities after graduation, Ireland has become one of the promised lands for international students. Here’s our list to help you understand more about the costs of studying in Ireland!

What are the costs of studying in Ireland?

1. Tuition fees

Unlike studying in countries such as the US, UK, Australia or Canada, where tuition fees have been rising over the years, higher-education tuition fees in European countries are  more affordable. You can totally earn a top-notch degree at a world-class institution in Ireland with economical costs of studying.

However, tuition fees in Ireland vary hugely depending on which country you’re from and your chosen field of study. Here’s an overview of tuition fees in Ireland:

Tuition fees for EU/EEA students

European governments have always been known to spend multi-million euros to subsidise higher education. Therefore, if you’re an EU/EEA student, your tuition fees for undergraduate degree will be covered 100% by the HEA. You can check for the eligibility requirements to see if you’re a qualified applicant for free tuition in Ireland here.

Also, note that not every public institution of higher education offers free tuition for all of the programmes. So, remember to check the latest information from your school before applying.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students

For international students who want to study in Ireland, tuition fees vary depending on the field, program of study and the university you choose. Here are average tuition fees per year of popular majors for non-EU/EEA students in Ireland for your reference:

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

Overall, the average tuition fees in Ireland are around €9,850 – €25,500/ year. You can expect higher amounts if you choose specialised majors such as medicine, dentistry or architecture, etc. that often charge from €39,500 – €55,000/ year. In sum, Ireland’s tuition fees can be considered at a moderate level compared to other countries.

Furthermore, you have to be mindful of an additional fee of up to €3,000 for student services such as application processing or membership fees at clubs. The fee varies from university to university and it can change annually.

2. Accommodation fees

Aside from tuition fees, housing can be the highest monthly expense in the costs of studying in Ireland that you need to be aware of. There are 3 types of study abroad housing that you can choose from:

Homestay (€700 – €800 on the monthly basis)

The fees for living with local families are often low to moderate, which is a great start for first-year international students. Staying with the locals will be an extraordinary chance to experience the most legitimate local cultures. And of course, it will help you to fit it into the life there faster.

Dormitory (€1,100 – €1,300 on the monthly basis)

Some friendships and connections made abroad may last for a lifetime. Dormitories are places in which you can find like-minded friends, to relieve you from homesickness. You can also get access to classes, faculties and libraries without travelling too far. The price of dormitories vary for different universities, but overall, they shouldn’t be too expensive.

Shared or private apartments (€550 – €1000 on the monthly basis)

This is the most expensive type of housing while studying abroad for international students. However, if you’re very comfortably off and you’re used to living in Ireland for 1-2 years, you can start searching for your own apartment. You can find roommates to save money but it really depends on your preferences.

Nevertheless, you should ask your university to recommend reputable places, since schools often have a department for international students for these things. Or you can come to reliable student housing companies. 

For instance, at Studenthouse.com, we’re a housing company that offers student accommodation finding service. You can find many types of private rooms within a shared apartment that suit your style.

If you’re heading to Ireland to study abroad, why not call us to see what we can do for you? Contact us to find your dream room in Ireland now!

3. Application fees

When you decide to take a big step in your study path by pursuing higher education in Ireland, there are a lot of steps in the application process and a long list of documents you need to prepare. From writing your admission essay, collecting letters of recommendation to applying for a student visa and providing proof of income, all of these take a great deal of effort.

Depending which country you’re from, the application process varies from country to country. Here are common costs of application for studying abroad in Ireland:

Student visa

If you’re a non-EEA/non Swiss national, you’ll likely have to apply for a student visa to be eligible for studying in Ireland. However, there are non-visa required countries, so make sure you check the full country list here. Requirements for a student visa in Ireland can also be found on the website of INIS (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service). The fees for single-entry visa is €60 (for single-entry visa) and €80 (for multiple-entry visa)

Proof of available funds

According to Education in Ireland, you need to prove that you have a minimum value of €7,000 living funds for every year of your study in Ireland. The amount of funds depends on the city you live in and the institution you choose.

GNIB Registration

Whether or not you’re from a non-visa required country, if it’s a country outside the EU or not Switzerland, you’ll have to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) when you travel to Ireland for more than 90 days. The registration fee is €300 per person and you also need to submit required documents when you register with the GNIB. After the registration, you’ll receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP), which is a card that allows you to travel to the state.

4. Living expenses

Tuition and housing fees can be considered fixed expenses in your total costs of studying in Ireland. As for the living expenses in Ireland, such as utilities (internet, electricity, mobile phone) bills, as well as meals, groceries, clothing and entertainment fees, they can be different month to month. You should be careful with these spendings since they might get you in trouble if you don’t follow a budget.

Similar to any country in the world, if you live in a big city such as the capital, the cost of living would be high. Overall, the cost of living in Ireland

Dublin is the capital of Ireland, so obviously you’ll spend more on your living if you reside here while studying abroad. You can take Dublin as the benchmark for the cost of living in Ireland, with the monthly fees for the following categories:

	Monthly	Yearly
Food	€220	€1980
Utilities	€55	€495
Mobile & Internet	€50	€450
Social life/Entertainment	€75	€648

With that being said, you should plan your budget every month of your living expenditures to avoid overspending. Overall, the costs of living in Ireland for an international student can be up to €400 per month (indicative number) depending on the city you choose to stay.

5. Transport

As a student, you might rent a place that’s farther away from your school, in this way, you’ll have to commute daily 1-2 hour per day. That’s why you have to note down transport fees as one of your costs of studying in Ireland as well.

However, you don’t have to worry much about this expense, as you can benefit from the public transportations in your host country. Public transportation in Ireland is favoured by not only local people, but also international students because it’s a cheap and convenient way for commuting. We suggest that you should apply for a student leap card, which offers student discounts on fares of public transport services in Ireland.

With the student leap card, you can enjoy discounts up to 32% across all public transports in Ireland, such as Dublin bus, Bus Éireann, DART and Irish Rail.You can refer to Transport for Ireland to know more about fares for other transports.

6. Textbooks and school supplies

Some majors require you to spend more on course materials or textbooks compared to other majors. For example, if you’re an art/design student, you might need certain school supplies for your major. As for textbooks, you can expect to pay up to €44 per month, according to The Irish Times.

Nevertheless, you can rest assured that you can buy used books or borrow books from the library easily while studying abroad. Some e-books can be cheaper than the physical ones, so make sure you do your research and choose what’s best for you.

7. Medical insurance

Private medical insurance proof is one of the mandatory documents required for non-EU students to study in Ireland. There’s no specific price range for study abroad insurance plans but you can’t expect to pay from €30-€400 per month depending on the type of insurance.

If you have a scholarship, make sure to check if the scholarship covers your health insurance, if not, you have to buy one. You can get your study abroad insurance from your university, insurance providers or study abroad agencies. Some reliable health insurance providers in Ireland are: Irish Life Health, VHI Healthcare, Student Insure, GloHealth Insurance.

Ready to plan your studies in Ireland? Contact us to find your ideal student room!

Popular universities in Ireland

Irish universities have always ensured their top rankings in the world thanks to the Irish government’s multi-million euro investments every year. Universities in Ireland, although there are only 7 of them, are always in the top 1% of research universities.

Irish universities offer bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral (PhD) and degree courses. Most undergraduate courses are held in the form of lectures and on-campus tutorials, while master’s and doctoral programs are more self-directed.

Here are some popular universities in Ireland:

Ireland rank 2022	WUR Rank 2022	University	City
1	146	Trinity College Dublin	Dublin
2	201-250	RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences	Dublin
3	201-250	University College Dublin	Dublin
4	251-300	University College Cork	Cork
5	351-400	National University of Ireland, Galway	Galway

How to finance your study abroad in Ireland

Choose a city with low costs of studying in Ireland

Many international students choose Dublin as their destination for studying abroad in Ireland. However, keep in mind that as the capital of Ireland, the costs of studying and living in Dublin is somewhat more expensive than other cities. You can find out more about other cities, which are affordable destinations for your studying abroad in Ireland, as follows:

·  Cork: Ireland’s second biggest city

·  Limerick: Ireland’s third biggest city

·  Galway: considered a lovely and hospitable city

·  Urban areas: Maynooth, Sligo and Waterford

Scholarships

Scholarships are one of the most common ways to finance your studying abroad. There are types of scholarships, such as government scholarships, university scholarships or sports scholarships or even grants for you to choose from. You should start your search for these scholarships early, as there’s a lot of things for you to prepare if you’re determined to win a scholarship.

In Ireland, one of the most popular scholarships for non-EU/EEA students is the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships Programme. For successful applicants, they’ll receive €10,000 as stipend for one’year study, of course, tuition fee and administrative costs at higher education institutions will be covered by this scholarship as well.

In addition, you should keep an eye on all universities’ websites, as detailed information about university scholarships funded will be updated regularly. For instance, Some outstanding scholarships of Irish universities can be mentioned as:

• Trinity College Dublin

• Global Excellence Postgraduate Scholarships
• Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships
• Trinity Business School Postgraduate Scholarships

• University College Dublin

• Global Excellence Scholarships

• UCD Smurfit School Excellence Scholarships

• University College Cork

• Food Security Policy and Management Scholarship

• National College of Ireland

• Future Leaders Scholarship and Entrepreneurship Scholarship

Get a job while studying abroad at Ireland

Working while studying abroad can be a good source of income for you to fund a small portion of your costs of living in Ireland. The good news is, as an international student, you don’t need a work permit to be able to get a job in Ireland. The Irish government allows international students up to 20 hours per week during school time and 40 hours a week in the holidays.

Ireland’s minimum wage is from €9.15-€10.1 per hour. You can’t fund your studies with this income, but it can help you to buy essentials while living in Ireland. In addition, you’ll have a chance to be exposed to cultures and learn new skill sets.Remember to read the latest information about working in Ireland at Citizens Information and INIS.

Bottom line

We hope that this article can be a guide to help you plan your budget for the costs of studying in Ireland. Pursuing your higher education in Ireland will definitely be a unique experience with many challenges for your personal development. Make your studies plan now and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone!

(*) Disclaimer: All information in this article was obtained from multiple sources, all numbers are indicative, please use this article for reference only.