Study in Dublin, Ireland

About Dublin

Dublin is the capital of Ireland and its largest city, on the east coast where the River Liffey meets the Irish Sea. It is the country's political, economic and academic centre, and an international one: one in four people living in Dublin were born in another country, according to the 2022 census of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which counted 5,149,139 people in the whole State.

For international students the main draw is English. Ireland is the only English-speaking country in the eurozone, and Dublin combines old universities, newer technological and private colleges and a large number of English language schools.

Studying in Dublin

Irish higher education is made up of universities, institutes of technology and private independent colleges. Each institution sets its own entry requirements for international students, usually based on national exam results and English level. Our directory lists 20 schools in Dublin: seven universities and colleges, about ten English language schools, a vocational college and a training provider. Examples:

• Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, was created by royal charter in 1592.
• University College Dublin (UCD) and Dublin City University (DCU) are public universities; DCU's DCU International Academy also runs English and pathway programmes.
• Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) is Ireland's first technological university, with 28,500 students on five campuses.
• Griffith College, established in 1974, describes itself as Ireland's largest independent third-level institution and is a designated institution of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
• English language schools include The Linguaviva Centre, founded in 1977, and International House Dublin, founded in 1998 and accredited by ACELS and Eaquals, among many others.

Cost of living for students

Housing is the main cost and the main difficulty in Dublin. Most universities have halls of residence with shared apartments for four to eight students, each with a private bedroom, but places are in high demand, relatively costly and hard to secure; rent is usually paid in two instalments, in September and February. Other options are private rented rooms, usually with a one-month deposit, and homestays with a host family. Start looking as early as possible.

Students from outside the EU/EEA who apply for a study visa must show that their course fees are paid in full and that they have €10,000 to support themselves at the start of their stay, plus private medical insurance. With Stamp 2 permission they may work up to 20 hours a week during term and 40 hours a week in the holidays (June to September and 15 December to 15 January).

Visa and residence

Ireland is not part of the Schengen area, so a Schengen visa is not valid there. Non-EU students who need a visa apply online for a long stay "D" study visa for courses of more than three months; the course must be full-time, last an academic year and have at least 15 hours of classes a week. After arrival they register for an Irish Residence Permit (IRP). English language certificates must be no more than two years old at the start of the course.

Getting around and climate

Dublin Bus, the Luas tram, the DART coastal railway and commuter trains share one fare system. A TFI 90 Minute Fare with a Leap card costs €2.00 for adults and €1.00 for students in Zone 1, and a Student Leap Card gives 50% off public transport fares for full-time students.

The climate is mild and changeable. At Dublin Airport the average temperature is 5.2 °C in January and 15.4 °C in July, and rainfall is about 773 mm a year, spread over the whole year (Met Éireann, 1991-2020 normals).

Frequently asked questions

Is Dublin a good place to learn English?

Yes. English is the everyday language, and the city has many English language schools, several of them accredited by ACELS or Eaquals. Non-EU students on a study visa need a full-time course of at least 15 hours a week.

Which universities are in Dublin?

Dublin's universities include Trinity College Dublin (1592), University College Dublin, Dublin City University and TU Dublin, alongside private colleges such as Griffith College.

How much money do I need to study in Dublin?

Non-EU students applying for a study visa must show €10,000 for the first part of their stay, on top of fully paid course fees. Accommodation is the largest cost, so book early.

Can international students work in Ireland?

Non-EU students with Stamp 2 permission may work up to 20 hours a week during term and up to 40 hours a week in the holiday periods.