Maynooth University admits Russian school leavers directly into year one with the school certificate and Unified State Exam (USE/EGE) results, with no foundation year. The least competitive programmes need a 60% average across Russian, maths and the best other exam; computer science, business and law need 70%; psychology needs 95% in Russian and maths. Non-EU applications for 2027/28 open on MU Apply on 14 October 2026. Undergraduate tuition for 2026/27 is $18,770–20,480 (€16,500–18,000) a year, below Galway and Cork for comparable programmes, and the university estimates the cost of living in Maynooth at about $17,140 (€15,068) for the academic year including campus housing.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Maynooth, a university town 25 km from Dublin |
| History | roots in the Royal College of St Patrick (1795); an autonomous university since 1997 and a constituent of the National University of Ireland |
| Students | over 17,000 from more than 100 countries (university figures) |
| Rankings | THE World University Rankings 2026: 501–600; law 251–300, psychology 201–250 |
| Russian school certificate | accepted with the USE; four bands at 60%, 70%, 80% and 95%/86% |
| Applying for 2027/28 | directly on MU Apply from 14 October 2026; each programme sets its own closing date |
| English | IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0; One Skill Retake not accepted |
| Non-EU fees, 2026/27 | undergraduate $18,770–20,480 (€16,500–18,000); most taught master's $18,200–20,480 (€16,000–18,000) |
| Campus housing | $6,320–11,240 (€5,556–9,880) per academic year including utilities; demand exceeds supply |
| Living budget | about $1,830–1,910 (€1,604–1,675) a month, per the university's estimate |
Who Maynooth suits
Maynooth University sits in a small town next to the capital. It teaches the humanities and social sciences, business and law, the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science and engineering, and education. The campus has two halves: the historic South Campus with the chapel and the old college buildings, and the 20th-century North Campus with the residences, sports centre, students' union and many teaching buildings.
Maynooth is a strong candidate if:
- you want direct entry after Russian school on USE results and relatively low Irish tuition, from €16,500 a year;
- you prefer a quiet university town close to Dublin;
- you are interested in psychology, law, mathematics and physics, computer science, business or the humanities.
Choose another university if:
- You want medicine or dentistry. Maynooth's international fee list has no such programmes; look at University College Cork or, in Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin.
- You want big-city life and daily access to Dublin employers. Compare Dublin City University on the capital's north side.
For the national picture, see universities in Ireland for international students and studying in Ireland.
Entry with the Russian school certificate and USE
Maynooth publishes separate requirements for Russia. You need the certificate of secondary education and USE results, which together must cover at least six subjects. Every programme is placed in one of four competitiveness bands.
| Band | Minimum USE and certificate results | Example programmes, 2027–2028 list |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 95% average in Russian and maths, 86% in the best other exam, one certificate subject at grade 5 | Psychology (BA and BSc), Theoretical Physics and Mathematics |
| 2 | 80% average across Russian, maths and the best other exam, one certificate subject at grade 4 | Data Science, Engineering (BEng), Robotics and Intelligent Devices, Biotechnology, Biomedical Science, Quantitative Finance, Economics (BSc), Sport Science and Health |
| 3 | 70% average across the same three exams, one certificate subject at grade 3 | Computer Science (Software Engineering, Interactive Digital Media), Computer Science with AI, Business (BBS), Accounting and Finance, Law (LLB, BCL), Criminology, Media Studies, BSc Science |
| 4 | 60% average across the same three exams, one certificate subject at grade 3 | BA Arts, Social Science, Music (audition required), Early Childhood |
How to read the table:
- Russian always counts. The average is taken over Russian, maths and your best remaining exam, not over your specialist subjects alone.
- Bands are minimums for consideration. Maynooth reviews them every year; the list above is for 2027–2028 entry.
- Some placements surprise applicants. Computer science sits in Band 3 (70%) while Data Science is in Band 2 (80%), and both psychology degrees are in the most competitive band.
Without the USE, or below the bands. Maynooth does not accept some national school qualifications for standard entry, and a foundation year is then needed; its recognised foundation partner is OnCampus Ireland. The wider choice of routes after school is explained in applying to Irish universities.
How to apply on time
Non-EU applicants use the MU Apply portal for both undergraduate and postgraduate study, not the CAO. Applications for 2027/28 open on 14 October 2026. Each programme page shows its closing date, and a programme can close early once it is full, so the university advises applying early.
Step by step:
- Prepare your documents before creating an account. For undergraduate entry the core is the school certificate and USE results. For postgraduate entry the university lists an in-date passport, official transcripts for every completed year (screenshots are rejected), a CV, a personal statement of at least 500 words and an English certificate.
- Create an MU Apply account using your name exactly as in your passport, and choose a programme. Postgraduate applicants can add a second-preference programme, considered if the first is unsuccessful.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee. It is $60 (€50) for most postgraduate programmes; for undergraduate programmes the amount depends on the course and appears at payment.
- Pay the non-refundable deposit after receiving an offer, through TransferMate. International postgraduates pay $1,140 (€1,000) within 14 days, and the deposit counts towards tuition.
- Pay the full year's tuition before registration is completed. Maynooth does not offer instalments to international students; payment goes through TransferMate.
- Apply for your visa and start on housing at the same time.
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| MU Apply opens for 2027/28 | 14 October 2026 |
| On-campus postgraduate open days | 3 November 2026 and 2 March 2027 |
| International Office scholarship applications (2026 cycle) | February–March, some awards until late May or June |
| Offer accepted and deposit paid for the main scholarships (2026 cycle) | by 31 March |
| Postgraduate orientation (2026) | mid-September |
English language requirements
Your certificate must be issued within two years of the programme start date, and the requirements are reviewed every year.
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5, no band below 6.0; One Skill Retake not accepted |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 with writing at least 21 and other sections at least 19; on the new scale 5.0 with each section at least 4.5; Home Edition not accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 120, each subscore at least 110 |
| PTE Academic | 63, each skill at least 59 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70, each skill at least 65 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency, B2 First (grade A) | 176, each skill at least 169 |
| Oxford Test of English | 140, each skill at least 125 |
Note the new-scale TOEFL level: Maynooth asks for 5.0 overall, whereas several other Irish universities accept 4.5. If your English falls short, the university runs Pre-Session English Programmes.
Tuition fees for 2026/27
All amounts are annual non-EU fees. Maynooth increases fees each academic year, so allow for a rise if you start in 2027.
Undergraduate
| Programmes | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| BA Arts, Psychology (BA), Social Science, Media Studies, Music, Finance, Accounting and Finance, International Economics, Early Childhood, B.Ed | $18,770 (€16,500) |
| Business (BBS, BBA with languages), Law (LLB, BCL), Criminology, Creative Writing and English | $19,340 (€17,000) |
| All BSc programmes: Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Psychology (BSc), Biotechnology, Physics, Quantitative Finance, Economics (BSc) | $20,480 (€18,000) |
Master's and PhD
| Postgraduate programmes | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Humanities and social science MA, MSc Economics, MSc Climate Change, MSc Design | $18,200 (€16,000) |
| MSc Data Science and Analytics, MSc Psychology, MSc Mathematics | $19,340 (€17,000) |
| Business School MSc (Business Analytics, Finance, Digital Marketing, International Business and others), LLM, MSc Computer Science (Software Engineering), MSc Robotics and Embedded AI | $20,480 (€18,000) |
| MBA, MEngSc Integrated Circuit Design | $28,440 (€25,000) |
| PhD | $15,930–17,070 (€14,000–15,000) a year; continuation year $11,380 (€10,000) |
MSc Business Analytics also has a January start, useful if you miss the autumn intake.
Refund rules to read before paying:
- Visa refusal. The deposit is kept; tuition is refunded if you have not registered and can show the refusal letter.
- Accepting an offer and not registering. The deposit is kept and 10% of the remaining tuition paid is charged.
- Withdrawing after registration. Up to 31 October you lose the deposit plus 10% of the balance; between 31 October and 31 January the first-semester fee is not refunded; after 31 January there is no refund.
For a national comparison, see the cost of studying in Ireland. Legal payment routes from Russia are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Scholarships: competitive and limited
Unlike some Irish universities, Maynooth does not give every international student an automatic discount. International Office scholarships are competitive, need a separate application with a personal statement, and are few in number. The table shows the 2026 cycle; the university will announce 2027 dates separately.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Value and number |
|---|---|---|
| Vice President International Scholar Award | taught master's; First Class equivalent from a university in the QS or THE top 500 | $8,530 (€7,500), two awards |
| International Excellence Scholarship | taught master's; primary degree average of 80% or more | $5,690 (€5,000) for one year, six awards, one per region; Russia falls under "Rest of the World" |
| International Merit Award | undergraduate and taught master's (80% for master's applicants) | $1,710 (€1,500), 25 awards |
| Dean of Arts and Humanities Scholarship | taught master's in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities; 65% Irish-scale equivalent | $2,280 (€2,000), two awards |
| MBA Excellence Scholarship | MBA applicants | $5,690 (€5,000), competitive |
Nearly every award requires you to have accepted your offer and paid the deposit by a set date, which is 31 March for the larger scholarships. A programme application sent in March risks not being decided by then. Undergraduates can also look at sports scholarships. The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES), which Maynooth lists, is closed to citizens of Russia and Belarus. See scholarships in Ireland for other options.
Master's and PhD study
Degree requirements. Maynooth publishes a direct conversion for Russia: a bachelor's or specialist diploma average of 3.8 out of 5 equals an Irish 2H2, 4.2 equals 2H1 and 4.6 equals 1H. The grade each programme requires is on its programme page.
Programme choice. The catalogue includes MSc Computer Science (Software Engineering), MSc Data Science and Analytics, MSc Robotics and Embedded AI, conversion Higher Diplomas in computer science and software development for graduates of other fields, business master's and an MBA, LLM programmes, and degrees in psychology, economics and the humanities.
Deferral. You can defer for one year only after accepting the offer and paying the deposit, and some competitive programmes do not allow deferral.
PhD. Fees are $15,930–17,070 (€14,000–15,000) a year, with $11,380 (€10,000) in a continuation year. Current research funding is listed by Graduate Studies.
A one-year taught master's is at level 9 of the Irish framework and leads to up to 24 months of Stamp 1G. For grade conversion and shortlisting, see master's degrees in Ireland.
Housing in Maynooth: campus and town
Nearly 900 students live on campus, and demand for rooms exceeds supply. The residences are on the North Campus: River Apartments, Courtyard, Rye Hall, Village and Buckley House. Licences run for a fixed academic-year term, from 13 September 2026 to 4 June 2027, and single-semester stays are not offered.
| Room (2026/27) | Academic year including utilities | Monthly instalment (October–April) |
|---|---|---|
| Single with shared bathroom: Rye Hall, Village | $6,320 (€5,556) | $610 (€539.50) |
| Single ensuite: River, Courtyard, Rye Hall | $8,170 (€7,180) | $820 (€720) |
| Single ensuite: Buckley House | $11,240 (€9,880) | $1,160 (€1,020) |
What is included and how you pay:
- The totals already include $800 (€700) for electricity, water, heating, Wi-Fi, security and reception; laundry is pay-as-you-go through an app.
- The first instalment is due on booking and the second before check-in, followed by seven monthly card payments. Many students pay a semester at a time.
- Cancelling or leaving early costs a non-refundable $110 (€100) administration charge.
- New non-EU postgraduates found every room (38-week licences in Buckley House, Courtyard and Rye Hall) booked for 2026/27, with applicants placed on a waiting list. Search in town in parallel.
Renting in town. The International Office estimates a room off campus at $680–1,250 (€600–1,100) a month, with utilities of $400–460 (€350–400) a month per household. The university runs Maynooth Student Pad for listings, and the Residence Office keeps lists of rooms in family homes and private flats.
| Maynooth's academic-year budget estimate | Per month | Academic year |
|---|---|---|
| Living on campus: rent, utilities, food, travel, study materials, phone, personal spending | $1,910 (€1,675) | $17,140 (€15,068) |
| Renting in town | $1,830 (€1,604) | $16,420 (€14,435) |
Example: a computer science undergraduate living on campus in 2026/27 spends about $37,620 (€33,068) for the year: $20,480 in tuition and $17,140 on living costs. Health insurance, flights and IRP registration come on top.
Visa, work rights and Stamp 1G
Russian citizens need a long-stay study (D) visa. The AVATS form is filled in online and documents go to the VFS Global visa centre, as the Embassy of Ireland in Moscow no longer accepts applications directly; VFS also handles Belarusian, Kazakh and Uzbek applicants. The visa fee is $70 (€60) plus the VFS service charge.
The Irish immigration service (ISD) requires you to:
- pay tuition before applying: the full course fee if under €6,000, otherwise at least $6,830 (€6,000); at Maynooth, international students pay the whole year before registration anyway;
- show access to $11,380 (€10,000) for the first year, with six months of statements, and confirm the same amount for each later year;
- prove your English and hold medical insurance.
After arrival you register Stamp 2 permission and pay $340 (€300) for the IRP card. Students may work 20 hours a week during term and 40 hours a week from June to September and from 15 December to 15 January. The document list is covered in the Ireland student visa and Stamp 2.
Graduates then receive Stamp 1G: 12 months after a level 8 bachelor's, and 12 months renewable for another 12 after a level 9 qualification or higher. Within that time you need an employer and a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit; ISD and the Department of Enterprise make those decisions. See working while studying and Stamp 1G.
Maynooth: strengths and trade-offs
| In Maynooth's favour | Keep in mind |
|---|---|
| Direct USE-based entry; computer science, business and law from 70% | Russian is always in the average; psychology needs 95% |
| Undergraduate from $18,770 (€16,500), BSc $20,480 (€18,000) a year | The full year is paid before registration, with no instalments for international students |
| Most master's $18,200–20,480 (€16,000–18,000) | Scholarships are competitive and few; the big ones close by 31 March |
| Campus rooms from $6,320 (€5,556) a year including utilities | Fewer rooms than applicants and no semester licences |
| A quiet student town 25 km from Dublin | Dublin employers mean a commute |
For comparison: University College Cork and University of Galway also accept USE results, while Dublin City University sends Russian school leavers to a foundation year first. TU Dublin is another option in the capital.
Common mistakes
- Averaging without Russian. At Maynooth the Russian exam is always part of the calculation.
- Applying to psychology with 90%. It is Band 1: you need 95% in Russian and maths and 86% in your best other exam.
- Counting on an IELTS One Skill Retake. Maynooth does not accept it.
- Leaving the application until spring. The larger scholarships require an accepted offer and paid deposit by 31 March.
- Expecting instalments. International students pay the full year before registration.
- Relying on campus housing alone. In 2026, new non-EU postgraduates only reached the waiting list.
- Treating Maynooth as Dublin. The university is in its own town 25 km away, so plan any Dublin job or placement around the journey.
FAQ
Can I enter Maynooth University straight after Russian school?
Yes, with USE results. Band 4 programmes need a 60% average across Russian, maths and your best other exam, plus at least a grade 3 in one certificate subject. Between the certificate and the USE you need at least six subjects.
What USE score do I need for computer science at Maynooth?
Computer Science (MH604) and Computer Science with AI (MH605) are Band 3: at least 70% on average across Russian, maths and your best other exam. Data Science (MH207) is Band 2 and needs 80%.
How much does a year at Maynooth cost?
In 2026/27 undergraduate tuition is €16,500–18,000 a year, most master's programmes are €16,000–18,000, and the MBA is €25,000. The university estimates living costs on campus at about €15,068 for the academic year.
Are there scholarships for Russian students at Maynooth?
Russian applicants can compete for International Office scholarships worth €1,500–7,500, but places are few and you must accept your offer and pay the deposit by the deadline. GOI-IES is closed to Russian citizens.
How is Maynooth different from the Dublin universities?
It is a separate student town 25 km from Dublin, with nearly 900 students living on campus. The university puts living costs at roughly €1,600–1,700 a month, and undergraduate tuition starts at €16,500. The trade-off is that you do not live in the capital and travel in for placements and jobs.
Can I apply before I have an IELTS result?
You can start the application, but a recognised test result is still required for admission, and IELTS results built from a One Skill Retake are not accepted. Students who fall short can take the university's Pre-Session English Programmes.
How do international students pay Maynooth fees?
Through TransferMate, by card or bank transfer, paying the whole year before registration is completed. The deposit is also paid through TransferMate and counts towards tuition.
How can StudyU help?
Under a service agreement we check which Maynooth bands your USE results reach, prepare your MU Apply application, personal statement and visa file, and plan around scholarship and housing deadlines. Admission and scholarship decisions rest with Maynooth University, and visa decisions with the Irish immigration service.
Sources
- Maynooth University: entry requirements for Russia and non-EU Europe, programme bands 2027–2028, international applicants — checked 28.09.2026
- Maynooth University: postgraduate applications, fee and deposit, degree requirements for Russia, postgraduate key dates, MU Apply fees and deposits — checked 28.09.2026
- Maynooth University: English language requirements — checked 28.09.2026
- Maynooth University: international fees, payment and refunds, including the 2026/27 undergraduate and postgraduate fee lists (PDF on that page) — checked 28.09.2026
- Maynooth University: International Office scholarships — checked 28.09.2026
- Maynooth University: accommodation, 2026/27 bookings, 2026/27 rates and payment schedule, money and budgeting for international students, living expenses planner — checked 28.09.2026
- Maynooth University: about, International Office, THE World University Rankings: Maynooth University — checked 28.09.2026
- Higher Education Authority: GOI-IES — checked 28.09.2026
- ISD: long-stay study visa, student finances, student FAQ, Third Level Graduate Programme, visa fees — checked 28.09.2026
- Embassy of Ireland, Moscow: visas and VFS Global — checked 28.09.2026
Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 28.09.2026 (€1 = $1.1378), rounded to the nearest $10.
If you want to know which Maynooth bands your USE results reach and how to meet the scholarship deadlines, send us a request.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- University College Cork (UCC): Admission, Fees and Life in Cork
- Dublin City University (DCU): Admission, Fees and Housing in Dublin
- Universities in Ireland for International Students: Types, 2026/27 Fees and Entry Routes
- Applying to Irish Universities After School: Entry Routes, Exam Thresholds, Documents and Deadlines
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Dublin (UCD)
