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Last modified: 2026-09-28

# Cost of Studying in Ireland in 2026/27: University Fees, Dublin Living Costs and Visa Funds

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For a non-EU student in 2026/27, a year of an undergraduate degree at an Irish university costs from $21,050 (€18,500) for Arts at UCC to $33,640 (€29,570) for engineering or computer science at Trinity College Dublin; medicine costs $59,280–68,270 (€52,100–60,000). A one-year taught master's usually costs $20,290–36,160 (€17,830–31,780), and UCD's full-time MBA $44,210 (€38,860). UCD puts median student living costs in Dublin at $2,780 (€2,445) a month, and the visa requires access to at least $11,380 (€10,000) a year on top of tuition. A first undergraduate year in Dublin with rent usually exceeds $55,000.

Below are faculty-level fees at named universities, what living costs are made of, the payments due before term, how fees change in later years, and three sample budgets. Amounts come from official university pages and Immigration Service Delivery (ISD); USD conversions use the ECB rate of 28 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1378), rounded to the nearest ten. To compare the institutions themselves, see [universities in Ireland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-ireland) and the country page [studying in Ireland](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-ireland).

The River Liffey and the Samuel Beckett Bridge in the Docklands, Dublin, Ireland. Photo: Christian David / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:River_Liffey_and_Samuel_Beckett_Bridge.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

## Undergraduate fees by university and faculty {#section-1}

Irish universities set a separate non-EU fee. There is no free tuition for these students: the Free Fees Initiative is for students assessed as EU fee payers. Fee status is decided by residence and university rules, not by citizenship alone.

| University | Arts, law | Business | Science, IT, engineering | Medicine |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Trinity College Dublin | $25,690 (€22,580) | $25,690 (€22,580) | $33,640 (€29,570) | up to $68,270 (€60,000) |
| University College Dublin | $25,710 (€22,600) | $26,360 (€23,170) | $33,570 (€29,500) | — |
| University College Cork | $21,050 (€18,500); law $24,690 (€21,700) | $24,690 (€21,700) | $30,720 (€27,000) | $59,280 (€52,100) |
| University of Galway | $22,060 (€19,390) | $22,060 (€19,390) | $31,450 (€27,640) | $62,580 (€55,000) |
| TU Dublin | level 7 $14,220 (€12,500); level 6 $13,260 (€11,650) |  |  | — |

Other rates exist within each university: nursing at TCD is $28,970 (€25,460), psychology at University of Galway $22,630 (€19,890), hotel management there $17,800 (€15,640), and pharmacy at UCC $25,260 (€22,200).

What the fee includes. UCD's published fees already include its Student Centre levy, with a €5 national students' union levy added separately. UCC charges a $240 (€210) capitation fee on top. TCD charges annual Student Levies and Charges in addition to tuition.

## Master's fees {#section-2}

| Programme | University | 2026/27 fee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Masters in International History | TCD | $20,290 (€17,830) |
| MSc Finance, LLM | UCC | $22,410 (€19,700) |
| LLM, MSc Quantitative Economics | UCD | $25,710 (€22,600) |
| Masters in Management, Marketing | TCD | $27,310 (€24,000) |
| MSc Data Science and Analytics, MSc Cybersecurity | UCC | $31,860 (€28,000) |
| Masters in Computer Science | TCD | $31,620 (€27,790) |
| MSc Advanced Artificial Intelligence | UCD | $36,160 (€31,780) |
| MBA, full time, year one | UCD | $44,210 (€38,860) |

A research master's is cheaper than a taught one: the annual rate for TCD's two-year computer science MSc by research is $19,300 (€16,960). See [master's degrees in Ireland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-ireland) for details.

## How fees change in later years {#section-3}

The first-year fee is not always the fee for every year:

| University | Fees for continuing years |
| --- | --- |
| UCD | a non-EU student who starts a multi-year programme keeps the fee of their entry year while staying on the same programme |
| TCD | fees for continuing students may rise each year under its College Fee Certainty policy |
| University of Galway | an annual inflationary increase for continuing students: 5% in 2024/25 and 3.4% in 2025/26 |

On a four-year degree the difference adds up, so check your university's rule before accepting an offer.

## Living costs in Dublin: two official estimates {#section-4}

UCD publishes a monthly estimate for a student in Dublin (updated April 2026, excluding tuition):

| Item | Low | Median | High |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accommodation | $940 (€830) | $1,370 (€1,200) | $2,560 (€2,250) |
| Utilities | $100 (€85) | $150 (€135) | $230 (€205) |
| Food | $400 (€350) | $560 (€490) | $760 (€670) |
| Local travel (Leap Card) | $70 (€60) | $90 (€75) | $140 (€120) |
| Books and copying | $110 (€100) | $140 (€120) | $220 (€190) |
| Clothing and hygiene | $110 (€100) | $170 (€150) | $230 (€200) |
| Internet and mobile | $30 (€30) | $50 (€45) | $60 (€50) |
| Personal and social | $90 (€80) | $140 (€120) | $230 (€200) |
| Miscellaneous | $110 (€100) | $130 (€110) | $170 (€150) |
| Monthly total | $1,970 (€1,735) | $2,780 (€2,445) | $4,590 (€4,035) |

UCD expects most students' costs to be closer to the median.

TCD gives an annual estimate excluding accommodation of $13,370–17,920 (€11,750–15,750): utilities €1,000–2,000, meals €3,000–5,000, miscellaneous €2,500, commuting €1,000, immigration fee €300, health insurance €550, personal costs €2,000–3,000 and flights around €2,000. With accommodation, TCD estimates $22,680–33,050 (€19,937–29,050) a year for undergraduates and $23,950–30,780 (€21,050–27,050) for postgraduates.

| Dublin accommodation (TCD figures) | Annual cost |
| --- | --- |
| Trinity Hall, academic year September–June | $8,220 (€7,227) |
| Kavanagh Court, academic year | $14,050 (€12,350) |
| Other city-centre accommodation, calendar year | $10,240–14,790 (€9,000–13,000) |
| Private rent for postgraduates | $10,240–12,520 (€9,000–11,000) |

Cork, Galway and Limerick are usually cheaper than Dublin, but their universities do not publish comparable monthly estimates. For the regions, check current rental listings and the accommodation office of your chosen university.

## One-off and mandatory payments {#section-5}

| Payment | Amount | When |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Application fee | TCD $63 (€55) per course; UCC $57 (€50); UCD graduate $80 (€70) | on applying |
| Tuition before the visa | the full fee if the course costs under €6,000, otherwise at least $6,830 (€6,000) | before the visa application |
| Visa fee | $68 (€60) single entry, $114 (€100) multiple entry; not refunded on refusal | with the visa application |
| IRP registration | $340 (€300) | after arrival and at each annual renewal |
| Health insurance | TCD budgets $630 (€550), UCD up to $790 (€690) a year | before registration |
| Laptop, printer, bedding and kitchenware (UCD estimate) | $860 (€760), $180 (€160), $230 (€200) | before term |
| Accommodation deposit | $850 (€750) in UCD residences or one month's rent privately | on moving in |

Every non-EU student needs health cover. In the first year, travel insurance can be accepted instead of an Irish policy if it covers the full year, hospitalisation, and at least €25,000 for accident and €25,000 for disease. From the second year, ISD accepts only private medical insurance.

## Visa funds versus a real budget {#section-6}

ISD requires visa-required students, including Russian and Kazakh nationals, to show with the application:

- immediate access to at least €10,000 for the first year, which ISD describes as the estimated cost of living for one academic year;
- that you or a sponsor can provide €10,000 for each later year plus that year's tuition;
- six months of bank statements, with large or irregular lodgements explained; credit cards are not accepted.

Degree students at NFQ levels 7–10 may instead lodge an education bond of at least €10,000 with an approved provider such as TransferMate. The bond must be held until you register in Ireland and is released on arrival or if the visa is refused.

The visa figure is about 2.9 times smaller than UCD's median annual budget (€29,340 for 12 months at €2,445). It proves you can support yourself; it does not describe what you will actually spend.

## When and how tuition is paid {#section-7}

| University | Payment terms |
| --- | --- |
| TU Dublin | on accepting the offer: 50% of the annual fee or €6,000, whichever is greater; the balance by the end of January for September starts |
| UCC | a non-refundable deposit on accepting the offer; from second year fees can be paid in two instalments |
| TCD | only its two or three instalment options; other payment plans are not accepted |

ILEP providers may not take cash, according to ISD. If your visa is refused, the provider must process your refund request within 20 working days under its published refund policy, so read that policy before transferring money.

Transfers from Russia are affected by sanctions and currency controls. Use only legal payment routes and allow time for fees and payment checks; see [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

## Three sample first-year budgets {#section-8}

The totals below are our calculations from the universities' published figures, not official budgets.

| Scenario | Components | Total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| UCD Arts undergraduate, Dublin median | fee €22,600 + 12 months at €2,445 + IRP €300 + insurance €690 + purchases and deposit €1,870 | ≈ $62,350 (€54,800) |
| TCD engineering undergraduate, TCD living estimate | fee €29,570 + €19,937–29,050 living (including accommodation, insurance, IRP and flights) | $56,330–66,700 (€49,507–58,620) |
| TCD Management master's, TCD living estimate | fee €24,000 + €21,050–27,050 | $51,260–58,080 (€45,050–51,050) |

A lean Dublin option, a level 7 programme at TU Dublin (€12,500) with UCD's low-end spending (€1,735 a month) plus IRP and insurance, comes to about $39,040 (€34,310) a year. The low end assumes a cheap room and modest spending; it is not a typical budget.

## What you can earn {#section-9}

On Stamp 2 a student may work up to 20 hours a week in term and up to 40 hours from June to September and from 15 December to 15 January. From 1 January 2026 the national minimum wage is $16.10 (€14.15) an hour for workers aged 20 and over, so 20 hours brings about $320 (€283) a week before tax and 40 hours about $640 (€566).

ISD expects you to support yourself without relying on casual work, so earnings do not count towards the €10,000. Work helps with day-to-day spending but will not cover Dublin tuition and rent. Details are in [working while studying and Stamp 1G](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-and-stamp-1g-ireland).

## Legitimate ways to spend less {#section-10}

- City and university. Arts at UCC ($21,050) costs about $4,600 a year less than in Dublin, and rent outside the capital is generally lower.
- Level and type of programme. Level 7 programmes at technological universities cost about half as much as level 8 university degrees, but a level 7 award does not qualify for Stamp 1G.
- First-year residence. TCD prioritises first-year non-EU undergraduates who apply for housing before its deadline, and Trinity Hall is cheaper than private city-centre rent.
- University scholarships. UCD Global Excellence covers 50% or 100% of tuition, and UCC automatically reduces fees by €2,000 a year for international undergraduates in its College of Science, Engineering and Food Science. See [scholarships in Ireland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-in-ireland).
- Currency buffer. UCD advises allowing for exchange-rate swings, since fees are charged in euro.

## FAQ {#faq}

### How much does a year of study in Ireland cost?

Undergraduate tuition is $21,050–33,640 (€18,500–29,570) depending on university and faculty, with medicine higher. Including living costs in Dublin, a first year usually costs $55,000–67,000.

### Can international students study in Ireland for free?

Non-EU fee payers cannot: public universities have no free places for them. University scholarships can cover part or all of the fee.

### How much money do I need to show for a student visa?

At least €10,000 for the first year, supported by six months of statements, and the same for each later year plus tuition. Before applying you must pay the full fee for courses under €6,000, or at least €6,000.

### Which city is cheapest for students?

There is no official city comparison. Dublin is the most expensive, with UCD's median at €2,445 a month; Cork, Galway and Limerick are usually cheaper, especially for rent.

### Is accommodation included in tuition?

No. Housing is paid separately: TCD's Trinity Hall costs €7,227 for the academic year and Kavanagh Court €12,350.

### Do fees rise every year?

It depends on the university. UCD keeps non-EU students on their entry-year fee, while University of Galway and TCD raise fees for continuing students.

## Sources {#section-12}

- [TCD: undergraduate fees](https://www.tcd.ie/courses/undergraduate/fees/), [postgraduate fees](https://www.tcd.ie/courses/postgraduate/fees/) and [cost of living](https://www.tcd.ie/study/international/welcome/cost-of-living/) — checked September 28, 2026
- [UCD: non-EU fees](https://www.ucd.ie/students/fees/noneucoursefees/), [undergraduate 2026/27](https://www.ucd.ie/students/fees/noneucoursefees/internationalnon-euundergraduatefees202627/), [graduate taught 2026/27](https://www.ucd.ie/students/fees/noneucoursefees/non-eugraduatetaughtfees202627/), [living costs](https://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/scholarshipsfinances/livingcosts/) and [Global Excellence](https://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/scholarshipsfinances/scholarships/globalexcellencescholarships/) — checked September 28, 2026
- [UCC: undergraduate fees 2026/27](https://www.ucc.ie/en/financeoffice/fees/schedules/internationalundergraduatefees202627/), [postgraduate fees 2026/27](https://www.ucc.ie/en/financeoffice/fees/schedules/postgraduateeuandinternationalfees202627/), [non-EU terms](https://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/undergraduateprogrammes/) and [SEFS undergraduate scholarship](https://www.ucc.ie/en/scholarships/internationaltable/sefsinternatugsch/) — checked September 28, 2026
- [University of Galway: fees](https://www.universityofgalway.ie/courses/fees-and-funding/fees.html) — checked September 28, 2026
- [TU Dublin: international fees](https://www.tudublin.ie/study/international/fees--registration/fees---funding/) — checked September 28, 2026
- [ISD: student finances](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/what-are-my-study-options/a-fee-paying-private-primary-or-secondary-school/information-on-student-finances/), [medical insurance](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/what-are-my-study-options/a-fee-paying-private-primary-or-secondary-school/private-medical-insurance/), [visa fees](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/preclearance-and-entry-visas-fees/), [study visa](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/what-are-my-study-visa-options/how-to-apply-for-long-term-study-visa/) and [student FAQs](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/frequently-asked-questions-for-students/) — checked September 28, 2026
- [Citizens Information: minimum wage](https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/pay-and-employment/minimum-wage/) — checked September 28, 2026
- USD conversions use the ECB reference rate of September 28, 2026: €1 = $1.1378.

Programme-specific budgets, requirement checks and the financial part of the visa file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission decisions are made by the university; visa decisions by Irish immigration authorities.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Universities in Ireland for International Students: Types, 2026/27 Fees and Entry Routes](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-ireland)
- [Master's Degrees in Ireland: One-Year Programmes, Degree Requirements, 2026/27 Fees and Post-Study Work](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-ireland)
- [Working While Studying in Ireland and Stamp 1G: Hours, Pay and Staying After Graduation](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-and-stamp-1g-ireland)
- [Scholarships in Ireland for International Students: Who Is Eligible, Amounts and 2026/27 Deadlines](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-in-ireland)
- [Studying in Ireland for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-ireland)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)

Updated: September 2026