Study in Ireland for Indian Students : Universities, Courses, Costs, Scholarships & Placements

Studying in Ireland requires students to be proficient in English, with qualifications in GMAT, PTE, GRE, SAT, LSAT, IELTS, or TOEFL.  The tuition fees of the Bachelor’s courses range between €9,850 (₹10,11,515) and €25,500 (₹26,18,642), and for the Masters courses, they range between €9,500 (₹9,75,573) and €34,500 (₹35,42,869). The top universities in Ireland that received good global rankings are Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork, University of Limerick, etc. €12 - €2,200 (₹1,232 - ₹2,25,922) is the estimated monthly living expenses in Ireland, based on the city. Ireland has become an international research leader in fields such as nanotechnology, chemistry, agriculture, immunology, mathematics, and materials science.

Masters and Bachelor’s Courses in the non-medical fields offered by the top universities in Ireland include MSc Business Analytics, BA Business or Management Science, MSc Biotechnology, BSc Biotechnology, MSc Finance, BSc Computer Science, MSc Cybersecurity, BSc Software Engineering, MBA, etc. These courses are taught in English in the top universities in Ireland. The average yearly salary offered to individuals in Ireland ranges between €26,000 to €44,000 (₹26,62,192- ₹45,05,248).

Study in Ireland: Quick Highlights

Look at the table below to find the quick highlights of Study in Ireland.

Why Study in Ireland?

Studying in Ireland involves certain reasons that attract students to study in the Irish universities.

• Universities: The universities of Ireland have a combination of academic excellence along with transformative student experiences that enhance the skills, career readiness, and global exposure of the students.
• Global leader in respective fields: Ireland has become a global leader in areas like chemistry, immunology, nanotechnology, mathematics, and materials science.
• High-quality education: Ireland has received a global reputation for providing high-quality education, which is developed on the solid foundation of a commitment towards excellence. Ireland has a world-class education in English, a fun and active student life, and a solid support system.
• Academic quality: Besides the academic quality and choice, students in Ireland are drawn towards deep cultural traditions, a vibrant young population, and varied outdoor activities. Opportunities to discover the island rich in heritage as well as colourful contrasts, are provided when studying in Ireland.

Study in Ireland: Popular Courses

The popular Masters/Bachelor's Non-Medical Courses to study in Ireland are listed below.

Study in Ireland: Admission Intakes 2026

Irish universities and colleges usually offer 3 intakes per year, catering to different levels of education and programs. Here are the main options:

What are the Eligibility Criteria to study in Ireland?

To study in Ireland, the eligibility criteria for Bachelor's and Masters programs are mentioned below.

Study in Ireland: Admission Process

To study in Ireland, candidates have to follow a proper process, which includes choosing a university according to their course, comparing tuition fees, preparing for the entry test, submitting documents, applying for a visa, etc. Below is the short brief of the admission process with the help of the Central Applications Office in Ireland for foreign students in terms of undergraduate courses:

• Step 1: Choose your course to study: Research the available options in Ireland, focusing on your academic interests, career goals, and eligibility criteria.
• Step 2: List Potential Education Institutions: Once you have selected your course, create a list of universities or colleges in Ireland that offer it. Ensure they align with your academic requirements.
• Step 3: Shortlist top universities or colleges: Narrow down your list based on factors such as global ranking, faculty expertise, facilities, location, and tuition fees. Pay attention to students' reviews to make a good decision.
• Step 4: Explore official university or college websites: Visit the official websites of your shortlisted institutions to gather detailed information about the course structure, admission criteria, application deadlines, and required documents.
• Step 5: Give an English proficiency test: Most Irish institutions require proof of English proficiency for admission. Prepare for and take popular tests such as IELTS, TOEFL or PTE. Try to get really good marks so that your application won’t get rejected.
• Step 6: Submitting documents: Submit all the important documents required for admission, like SOP, LORs, academic transcripts, passport copies, etc.
• Step 7: Register with Central Applications Office (CAO): For undergraduate programs, candidates need to register with the CAO, which manages applications for most universities. Create an account, fill in your personal details, and submit your application.
• Step 8: Prepare for Interviews: Some universities may require an interview as part of the admission process, which could be done in person or online. Be ready to answer questions about your academic background, career goals, and reasons for choosing Ireland for your studies. Fill the online application form and upload all the required documents.
• Step 9: Get your admission letter: Once your application is reviewed and accepted, you will receive an official admission offer letter. Confirm your acceptance by paying the tuition fees.
• Step 10: Apply for an Irish Student Visa: After securing admission, apply for a student visa through any agent or directly to the Irish Embassy. Make a file for all the necessary documents, like admission letter, proof of financial resources and English language test score. Submit your application to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (Immigration Service Delivery (ISD)).

To apply for the postgraduate courses at Irish universities, candidates have to follow the steps below.

• Step 1: Select the chosen course that you desire to study and the university.
• Step 2: Check that you fulfill all the academic criteria, scores of English proficiency such as IELTS or TOEFL, or PTE, as well as any course-specific prerequisites.
• Step 3: Be prepared with all your documents that you need, like the academic transcripts, Bachelor’s degree certificate, SOP, LORs, English test scores, Resume, and Passport copy.
• Step 4: Apply with the help of the online application portal of the university directly.
• Step 5: Application fee payment.
• Step 6: Some programs might need interviews, such as in business, law, and IT.
• Step 7: Get the offer that is conditional or unconditional.
• Step 8: Accept the offer as well as the deposit payment.
• Step 9: Finance arrangement, and then apply for the student visa.

What are the Top Exams to Study in Ireland?

The top exams that need to be taken by students to study in Ireland are listed below.

Study in Ireland: Documents Required

The documents which are a part of the application requirements for Ireland are listed below:

• Resume
• Passport Copy (front page as well as last page)
• All marksheets (from 10th standard to the final year of studies)
• Degree certificate or provisional degree certificate (if candidates are currently studying, like in their final year, then they can submit this later)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Work Experience Letter (s) (if any)
• Certificates of Extracurricular Activities (if any)
• Birth Certificate Copy (might be needed by only some Universities in Ireland)
• Bachelor’s transcripts (not mandatory for all Irish Universities) – do not wait to submit your application if you are going to get these afterwards
• IELTS (Academic) score report (if candidates have yet to take the test, they can submit this later after it arrives)
• Two Recommendation Letters (from College or Employer – on the letter-headed paper of the Institution or Organisation)

Study in Ireland: Visa Application Process

Candidates must apply for a long-term study visa till 3 months before their date of travel to Ireland. They should apply from their home country or where they are a legal resident. If the candidates are visiting another state before their travel to Ireland, they need to have a valid visa for that state in their passport before applying for an Irish visa.

For a visa application, follow the steps below:

Create a visa application online

• Use the Automated Visa Application and Tracking System (AVATS) for applying for their visa online.
• Answer all the questions in AVATS honestly and fully.
• Follow the guidelines on the Summary Application Form developed by the online system. This summary form includes the information on where the candidates must submit their supporting documentation.
• Print, sign as well as date the summary form and then submit it with all the supporting documentation.

The visa officer considers every application on its merits and might require additional documentation or information.

Pay the fee of visa application

The details of the present visa fees are available on the official website of Immigration Service Delivery.

• The fee involves the administrative cost to process the applications of students. This is not refunded if they withdraw their application or if the Immigration Service Delivery team refuses their application.
• Some applications are exempt and do not have to pay their visa fees. The details of checking if the candidates are exempt from paying their visa fees can be found on the official website of Immigration Service Delivery.
• The candidates will get an Application Summary Form after completing their AVATS online application. This will help them know the ways to submit their application for processing, along with paying their visa fee.
• Methods of payment and currency options might vary between the offices. Extra charges might apply for some of the applications, including consular fees.

Send your supporting documents

Candidates must prepare their documents in a careful manner. They include information that the Immigration Service Delivery team needs to decide on their visa application. It is the responsibility of the candidates to include all accurate information so that their application is processed fairly and quickly. However, candidates must remember that these documents do not guarantee that their application will be successful.

Required Documents

The signed and dated Summary Application Form and appropriate fee (if applicable) of the candidates need to be accompanied by supporting documentation.

If the candidates do not submit the needed documentation, their application might be refused.

• Candidates must not submit documentation on USB sticks, CD-ROMS, or memory cards, as documents on these devices are not accessible.
• Candidates must not submit documentation on the file-sharing platforms like Dropbox, Sharefile. Documents in the hardcopy format are acceptable only.

The documents needed are:

• Passport
• Passport Photographs
• Private Medical Insurance
• Application Letter
• Visa Refusals
• Letter of Acceptance
• Gaps in Educational History
• Fee Payment Proof
• Evidence of English or Irish language ability
• Finances
• Summary of Finances
• Extra Documentation for Unaccompanied Students below 18 Years of Age
• Accommodation as well as a Vetting Certificate

Note: Further details of the visa process in Ireland can be checked on the official website of the Immigration Service Delivery.

What is the Education System in Ireland?

Ireland is widely divided into three types of education: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. Ireland follows the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Further education, along with training and Higher Education Awards, has been mapped against the 10 levels of the framework.