Most master's programmes in Ireland are taught master's at NFQ level 9 that run for 12 months full time. For non-EU students in 2026/27, the programmes in our sample range from $20,290 (€17,830) for International History at Trinity College Dublin to $36,160 (€31,780) for computer science at UCD; UCD's full-time MBA costs more, at $44,210 (€38,860) for year one. Entry normally requires a bachelor's or specialist degree equivalent to a British 2:1; University of Galway equates that with a 4.2 average on the Russian five-point scale. After graduating, a master's holder can receive up to 24 months of Stamp 1G permission to look for work, twice the period available after a bachelor's.
This guide covers programme types, how a foreign degree is assessed, programme fees, how and when to apply, scholarships, a one-year budget and the route after graduation. Data come from official university and Irish immigration pages checked on 28 September 2026; USD conversions use the ECB rate of that date (€1 = $1.1378). For a country overview, see studying in Ireland.
Types of postgraduate programme
| Type | How it works | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taught master's (MSc, MA, LLM, MEngSc) | modules, projects, a final dissertation or project | usually 12 months full time | entering the job market or changing field |
| Research master's (MSc by research, MLitt) | an independent project under a supervisor | TCD lists its research MSc programmes as two years; other universities state the length per programme | preparing for a PhD |
| Postgraduate Diploma, Higher Diploma | shorter than a master's, no full dissertation | up to one year | a career change or a step towards a master's |
A master's and a Postgraduate Diploma sit at NFQ level 9, a Higher Diploma at level 8. The level decides the Stamp 1G period after graduation, so check it first on the programme page.
Most programmes start in September. Some admit in January too; UCD's fee table, for instance, lists separate January LLM intakes.
Degree requirements: what "2:1" means for a foreign graduate
Irish universities express the entry bar in British degree classes. TCD asks for at least a 2.1 honours degree from an Irish university or an equivalent result from another country; UCD asks for "second class honours, grade one (2:1)" for taught programmes.
University of Galway publishes a direct conversion for Russian bachelor's (bakalavr) and specialist diplomas:
| Degree class | Average on the 5-point scale |
|---|---|
| 2:2 | 3.8 or higher |
| 2:1 | 4.2 or higher |
| First | 4.6 or higher |
UCC assesses applicants case by case, considering qualifications equivalent to a UCC Bachelor (Hons) at First Class Honours or Second Class Honours Grade 1, depending on the programme.
Where an applicant falls short of 2:1, UCD may in some cases offer a year-long qualifying course such as a Higher or Graduate Diploma.
NARIC Ireland, hosted by QQI, offers a free database that compares foreign qualifications with the Irish framework. Its statements are advisory, and the admissions office makes the final assessment.
English requirements
| University | IELTS Academic minimum | Other evidence |
|---|---|---|
| UCD | 6.5 with no band below 6.0; some programmes higher | TOEFL iBT 90 (writing 21, others 19); a degree taught in English may be accepted |
| University of Galway | 6.5 overall, each component at least 6.0; higher for certain courses | other tests on its list; pre-master's courses available |
| UCC | set by programme | tests within two years, scores from one sitting |
The visa minimum is lower, IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 61, but that level will not secure a university offer.
What a master's costs: 2026/27 fees
Fees below are non-EU tuition for 2026/27. Because most taught master's last a year, the annual fee is close to the full programme price.
| University | Programme | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity College Dublin | Masters in Computer Science | $31,620 (€27,790) |
| Trinity College Dublin | Masters in Finance | $31,060 (€27,300) |
| Trinity College Dublin | Masters in Management, Marketing, HRM | $27,310 (€24,000) |
| Trinity College Dublin | Business Analytics & AI for Management | $27,250 (€23,950) |
| Trinity College Dublin | Masters in Law (LLM) | $25,520 (€22,430) |
| Trinity College Dublin | Masters in International History | $20,290 (€17,830) |
| University College Dublin | MBA, full time (year-one fee) | $44,210 (€38,860) |
| University College Dublin | MSc Advanced Artificial Intelligence, MSc Computer Science (Negotiated Learning) | $36,160 (€31,780) |
| University College Dublin | MSc Financial Data Science | $32,970 (€28,980) |
| University College Dublin | MSc Accounting & Financial Management, MSc Marketing Practice | $27,160 (€23,870) |
| University College Dublin | LLM (all listed streams), MSc Quantitative Economics | $25,710 (€22,600) |
| University College Cork | MSc Data Science and Analytics, MSc Cybersecurity | $31,860 (€28,000) |
| University College Cork | MSc Business Analytics, MSc Management & Marketing | $25,370 (€22,300) |
| University College Cork | MSc Finance, LLM | $22,410 (€19,700) |
UCC adds a $240 (€210) capitation fee, and TCD charges annual Student Levies and Charges. Research programmes cost less: TCD's two-year research MSc in computer science is $19,300 (€16,960) a year.
For the full budget, see the cost of studying in Ireland.
How and when to apply
There is no central portal for master's programmes; you apply on each university's website. The Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC), once used by several institutions, ceased trading on 30 September 2024, so instructions that send you there are out of date.
| Stage | Details | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | paid online | UCD $80 (€70), covering several applications for the same session; UCC $57 (€50); TCD $63 (€55) per course |
| Deadline | set per programme | TCD states that each course has its own deadline |
| Documents | degree and transcript, translations, English test, CV, personal statement, references | the exact list is on the programme page |
| Offer | conditional or full | UCC accepts only a full offer for visa purposes |
| Deposit | paid on accepting the place | non-refundable at UCC |
Apply in the autumn or early winter a year before you start. UCD's Global Excellence Scholarships for 2026/27 closed on 31 March 2026 for most regions, and UCD advised applying for the programme as early as possible because decisions slow down in peak weeks.
UCC issues conditional offers on current grades to applicants who have not yet finished their degree. You will need a full offer, after graduating, for the visa.
Scholarships: what is realistic
- Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES). Sixty awards a year: a $11,380 (€10,000) stipend plus a full fee waiver for one year of a master's or PhD. HEA rules exclude Russian and Belarusian nationals; applicants from Kazakhstan and other CIS countries can apply. The 2026 deadline was 12 March.
- UCD Global Excellence Scholarships. 50% and 100% tuition awards for top undergraduate and taught master's applicants, available only after an offer.
- UCC College of Science, Engineering and Food Science (SEFS). International taught master's students with a First Class Honours equivalent receive an automatic 20% tuition reduction; no separate application.
- University of Galway Global Scholarships. Merit scholarships for non-EU students, published by college.
- Research Ireland Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship. For research master's and PhDs: a $28,440 (€25,000) annual stipend plus a fee contribution. "Category 2" applicants, meaning those who are not both a national and a resident of the EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland or Ukraine, rarely win: in 2025 their success rate was 2% in STEM and 3% in arts, humanities and social sciences.
Conditions and dates are covered in scholarships in Ireland.
A one-year master's budget
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $20,290–36,160 (€17,830–31,780) for the programmes in the table above |
| TCD's living-cost estimate for postgraduates in Dublin | $23,950–30,780 (€21,050–27,050) a year including accommodation |
| TCD's private rent estimate in Dublin | $10,240–12,520 (€9,000–11,000) a year |
| UCD's median monthly spend | $2,780 (€2,445) |
| Visa minimum | $11,380 (€10,000) per year on top of fees |
| IRP registration | $340 (€300) |
| Visa fee | $68 (€60) |
A taught master's year in Dublin with rent therefore comes to roughly $44,000–67,000, depending on programme and housing. This is our sum of TCD's published estimates and programme fees, not an official figure.
Work during and after the master's
Stamp 2 allows up to 20 hours of work a week during term and up to 40 hours from June to September and from 15 December to 15 January. If your summer is taken up by the dissertation, do not count on full-time hours then.
After graduation, the Third Level Graduate Programme applies:
- a level 9 graduate receives 12 months of Stamp 1G and can renew for a further 12 months by showing steps towards graduate employment, such as interviews or registering with recruitment agencies;
- the application is due no later than six months after the university confirms in writing that you have been awarded the degree;
- total time on the student pathway (Stamp 2 and 1G) must not exceed eight years for level 9 graduates;
- Stamp 1G allows up to 40 hours of work a week without an employment permit.
After that you need an employer and an employment permit. A Critical Skills Employment Permit for occupations on the critical skills list requires a salary of at least $46,540 (€40,904), or $41,930 (€36,848) for those who obtained their qualification in the previous 12 months. See working while studying and Stamp 1G.
Restrictions that are rarely mentioned
- Family. ISD states that students are typically not permitted to bring family members, except in very exceptional circumstances.
- Changing course. You cannot move from a master's to an undergraduate degree, and changing programme in the first year is allowed only exceptionally.
- Failed exams. ISD will not extend permission to repeat a full year; a four-month extension is possible if you missed exams for reasons beyond your control.
- Fee status. Each university applies its own rules, and for applicants living in Russia residence is usually decisive: TCD states that it classifies them as non-EU on residency rather than nationality.
A short selection process
- Define the goal: work in Ireland, work elsewhere in the EU, a PhD, or a career change.
- Shortlist level 9 programmes on the ILEP and check how many modules build on your previous degree.
- Compare your average with the bar: 4.2 out of 5 is the 2:1 reference in University of Galway's table.
- Check fee and deadline on the programme page, and scholarship deadlines before applying.
- Budget the year including rent, and allow about eight weeks for the visa decision.
The application and visa steps resemble those for undergraduates; the difference is in the degree requirements. See universities in Ireland and the Ireland student visa and Stamp 2 guide.
Common mistakes
- Choosing by programme title. Similar programmes differ in modules and price: TCD's Business Analytics & AI for Management costs €23,950, UCC's MSc Business Analytics €22,300.
- Using old fees. Tariffs are revised every year; TCD's fee page has an academic-year filter.
- Applying through PAC, which closed on 30 September 2024.
- Counting on GOI-IES with a Russian passport, which HEA rules exclude.
- Confusing a Higher Diploma with a master's. A Higher Diploma is level 8, so Stamp 1G afterwards lasts 12 months, not 24.
FAQ
Yes. University of Galway's table for Russia covers both bachelor's and specialist diplomas and converts the average grade into a degree class. Other universities assess equivalence from your documents.
A taught master's usually takes 12 months full time. Research programmes are longer; TCD lists its research MSc programmes as two years.
Yes, if the programme is designed for graduates from other disciplines. Some universities offer Higher or Graduate Diplomas for this purpose; the entry section of each programme explains the conditions.
There is no general requirement. Individual programmes, mostly in business, may ask for a test, and the course page will say so.
Up to 24 months on Stamp 1G: 12 months at first and another 12 after renewal, provided you are actively seeking graduate work. The overall student-pathway limit for level 9 graduates is eight years.
Generally no. ISD permits it only in very exceptional circumstances, so a partner or children need their own basis to stay.
Sources
- TCD: postgraduate fees 2026/27, requirements for Russia, postgraduate applications and cost of living — checked September 28, 2026
- UCD: non-EU graduate taught fees 2026/27, graduate entry requirements, application fee, English, living costs and Global Excellence — checked September 28, 2026
- UCC: postgraduate fees 2026/27, non-EU applications and offers and SEFS taught master's scholarship — checked September 28, 2026
- University of Galway: requirements for Russia, English and Global Scholarships — checked September 28, 2026
- PAC: closure notice — checked September 28, 2026
- HEA: GOI-IES and Research Ireland: Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship — checked September 28, 2026
- QQI: NARIC Ireland — checked September 28, 2026
- ISD: FAQs for students, Third Level Graduate Programme and English for visas — checked September 28, 2026
- DETE: Critical Skills Employment Permit — checked September 28, 2026
- USD conversions use the ECB reference rate of September 28, 2026: €1 = $1.1378.
Master's programme shortlisting, assessment of your degree against university requirements, document preparation, applications and the visa file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission decisions are made by the university; scholarship decisions by the university or funder; visa decisions by Irish immigration authorities.
Next steps
- Cost of Studying in Ireland in 2026/27: University Fees, Dublin Living Costs and Visa Funds
- Scholarships in Ireland for International Students: Who Is Eligible, Amounts and 2026/27 Deadlines
- Working While Studying in Ireland and Stamp 1G: Hours, Pay and Staying After Graduation
- Universities in Ireland for International Students: Types, 2026/27 Fees and Entry Routes
- Studying in Ireland for international applicants
- Ireland Student Visa and Stamp 2: Documents, the €10,000 Rule, Applying from Russia and IRP Registration
