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Ireland is one of the top choices for international students when it comes to studying in Europe. Ireland is also known for its warm and friendly environment, career opportunities, Idyllic green, and scenic landscapes. Ireland is also home to the headquarters of top companies like Amazon, Google, Linkedin, Apple, Airbnb, and many more, which leads to student job opportunities.
Ireland has many top universities. Some of them are Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork, University of Galway, Dublin City University, University of Limerick, Maynooth University, and Technological University Dublin.
List of Top Universities in Ireland
| University Name | QS World University Ranking | Average Program Fees |
| Trinity College Dublin | 87 | €11,000 – €49,000 |
| University College Dublin | =126 | €9,000 – €15,000 |
| University College Cork | =273 | €5,000 – €25,000 |
| University of Galway | =273 | €14,000 – €27,000 |
| Dublin City University | =421 | €9,000 – €25,000 |
| Maynooth University | 801 – 850 | €7,000 – €24,000 |
| Technological University Dublin | 851 – 900 | €7,000 – €27,000 |
How to Apply to Ireland?
Applying to Ireland involves various steps. It all comes down to which university and course you are applying for. Ireland has 2 intakes for the students – Autumn Intake (September) and Spring Intake (January).
International students can apply for any course of choice by submitting an online application to the Central Applications Office (CAO) for UG courses and the Postgraduate Applications Centre for PG courses. Documents required for applying to Ireland universities are as follows:
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Resume
- Academic Transcripts
- Letters of Recommendation (if you have work experience)
- IELTS or TOEFL Certificate
- Copy of Passport
- Portfolio (If applying for any Art / Design / Architecture courses)
- Proof of Funds
- Health Insurance
Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin is one of Ireland’s top and oldest universities. The university is known for its high employability rate, study abroad and exchange opportunities, campus life and much more. The university also has 17,000 students from over 122 countries.
Trinity College Dublin has UG, CPD, and micro-credential courses. The university also has taught and researched PG courses for its student body. The university is known for its majors in History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Performing Arts, Dentistry, Law and much more.
University College Dublin
University College Dublin is one of the top universities in Europe. The university is known for its urban campus, top rankings and faculty. The university has more than 10,000 international students from 152 different countries. University College Dublin offers UG and taught, researched, and online PG courses. Some of the highlights of the university are:
- Ranked within the Top 1% of Higher Education Institutions Worldwide
- 70+ Student Societies
- 55+ Sports Club
- Extensive Student and Employability Supports
- Award-winning Student Facilities
University College Cork
University College Cork, formerly Queen’s College Cork, is Ireland’s first five-star University. The university is situated in Cork, Ireland’s second-largest city after Dublin. The university has around 4,000 students from 104 countries and representative offices in India, USA, and China.
University College Cork offers UG, PG, CPD, short and micro-credential courses. The university’s top majors are Arts and Humanities, Science, Engineering, Business, Law and Medicine.
University of Galway
The University of Galway is a public research university situated in Galway, Ireland. There are 18,000 students enrolled at the university, including 3,000 international students from 110 foreign countries. The university is known for its high employability rate, with 96% of students working within 6 months of graduating.
The University of Galway offers 50+ UG, 200+ PG, PhD and research master programs in Science and Engineering, Arts, Medicine, Business and Law.
Dublin City University
Dublin City University (DCU) is home to more than 19,000 students from 122 countries. The university is known for its rich campus life, vibrant community and high employability rate. DCU offers various UG and PG courses in education, business, science and health, engineering and computing and humanities and social science. Some of the highlights of the DCU are as follows:
| Particulars | Details |
| Campuses (3) | Glasnevin Campus; St Patrick’s Campus; All Hallows Campus |
| Courses | UG and PG |
| International Students | 3,400 |
| Ranking | Ranked 1st for Graduate Employment Rate by QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022 |
Maynooth University
Maynooth University is an internationally recognised Institution situated in Ireland. The university offers study-abroad opportunities due to its partnerships with almost 200 universities in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North & South America.
Maynooth University provides its students with a range of UG, PG, Certs and Short Courses. The university has an international reputation for research in Humanities, Social and Spatial Sciences, Mathematics, Communication and Computation and Human Health.
Technological University Dublin
Technological University Dublin, aka TU Dublin, is Ireland’s 1st Technological University. The university has over 3,000+ International students from 100+ countries. The university is known for its small batch size, strong connections with top organisations, international study visits and much more. TU Dublin offers various UG, PG, Part-time UG and Micro-credentials courses. Some of the highlights of TU Dublin are given below:
| Particulars | Details |
| Campuses (5) | Grangegorman, Aungier Street, Bolton Street, Blanchardstown and Tallaght |
| Programs | 200+ |
| Staff: Student Ratio | 1: 15 |
| Academic Collaborations | 1,000+ |
| Disciplines | Creative Arts, Humanities, Built Environment, Engineering, Business, Sciences, Tourism, Food and Sports |
| Specialist Programs | Optometry, Human Nutrition, Transport & Logistics, Environmental Health and Tourism Marketing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stay in Ireland after my graduation?
Yes, every master’s student in Ireland automatically gets a 2-year stay-back option, where students can search for a full-time or part-time opportunity.
How much would it cost to study in Ireland?
The annual tuition cost for international students might vary between €10,000 – €25,000 for any UG or PG course. For PhD students, the annual tuition cost can be between €10,000 – €30,000.
Which are the top universities in Ireland?
Among the top universities in Ireland, some of them are:
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Dublin
- University College Cork
- University of Galway
- Dublin City University
- Maynooth University
- Technological University Dublin
Can I go to Ireland without any IELTS score?
Yes, you can go to Ireland without any IELTS score. Regardless, some universities may require you to submit an IELTS score to check your English language proficiency.
Why should I choose to study in Ireland?
As an international student, you can choose any country of your choice. However, choosing Ireland can be a good choice for many reasons. Some of them are tabulated below:
- Some of the Best and Top Universities in the World
- Affordable Cost of Living in Comparison to Many EU Countries
- Can Work Part-time while Studying (20 Hours per Week)
- High-Quality Education
- Great Career Opportunities
