Applying for a Bachelor’s degree in Ireland (2025)
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Cliffs of Moher by Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0, modified
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| 16 | universities offer Bachelors in Ireland in English |
| 1646 | Bachelors are available |
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Ireland is a fantastic choice: It’s a modern, safe country with lots of world-leading universities and institutes of technology, with a thriving economy that welcomes international graduates.
Bachelors in Ireland typically take 3 or 4 years. Most undergraduate programmes lead to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) or Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), and in case of 4-year degrees, followed by “Honours” (= B.A. Hons or B.Sc. Hons).
Let’s look at how to apply for a Bachelor in Ireland:
You can find well over 1,500 Bachelor’s programmes in Ireland, completely taught in English.
Undergraduate tuition fees vary depending on whether you are a citizen of the EU, EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom; or whether you’re a student from another country.
Citizens from the EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK can study tuition-free for a Bachelor in Ireland when they meet certain criteria (laid out in the Free Fees Initiative); but that’s not quite the whole picture as there will be other costs.
The state will pay the tuition fees if
(See the full list of criteria here.) You will still have to pay what is called the “student contribution” of €3,000 per year and the “student levy” of typically €150 per year. These amounts are the same for any Bachelor, meaning you will always pay ca. €3,150 per year for your studies. So it’s not actually free, but still cheaper than in many other countries in Europe.
If you don’t qualify according to the Free Fees criteria, then depending on university and programme you should expect annual tuition fees in the range of €2,000 to €8,000 without that discount.
If you’re not from the EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK, you generally do not qualify for the Free Fees Scheme and will have to pay the Bachelor tuition fees in Ireland; and the fees are also higher than for European students. Depending on the institution and subject they can range from €12,000 to €25,000 per year.
While tuition fees for Bachelors in Ireland can be quite high, they also qualify for tax relief. This is relevant if you plan to work during your studies, or stay and work in Ireland after your Bachelor’s.
There are two different ways to apply for Bachelors in Ireland, and which one is right for you depends on your nationality (and possibly your age):
If you are an applicant from the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or UK, you apply via the CAO platform, regardless of which institutions you want to enrol at.
Mature students from the EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK: Things are slightly different if you are 23 years or older (=“mature student”). For example, with some universities, instead of going through the CAO, you can also apply directly to the institutions. That might be preferable if the grades on your high school diploma / school leaving certificate are below admissions requirements. For all details, refer to the CAO’s guide.
If you are not from the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or UK, then you apply directly to the university in Ireland at which you want to study. They will have their own process, application platform, and requirements, so best do your research early to know what to expect.
As part of your Bachelor application in Ireland, you typically have to submit these documents:
The CAO also expects these as paper copies via post within 10 days of submitting your application.
If qualifications are not originally issued in English or Irish, you will need to provide a copy of the original as well as a certified English translation.
If you apply via CAO, which is usually the case if you’re a student from the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or the UK (see above), then the general Bachelor application deadline is 1 February. It is also possible to submit a late application by 1 May but this only works if the programme you’re applying for is not already full by that time.
The normal CAO application fee is €45, and there is a discounted rate of €30 if you apply by 20 January. Late online applications cost €60.
If you apply to the universities directly, which is usually the case as a non-European international student, they accept applications until later in the year - often around June. But you should definitely apply earlier, well before this deadline, because in these cases, eligible students are accepted on a rolling basis. That means that courses can fill up much earlier in the year. Each university sets its own rules, so best inquire with the admissions office.
While studying in Ireland can get expensive, there is a range of financial opportunities that international students have access to.
Many universities offer scholarships, bursaries and grants to their students. You should inquire with the admissions office ideally before you submit your application.
If you are a national of the EU, EEA, Switzerland or the UK, and your household income falls below specific thresholds, you might be eligible for a SUSI grant. Their Eligibility Indicator will help you figure out if you qualify and what you should do next.
Application deadlines for scholarships and grants can vary. As always, do your research and don’t be afraid of asking for help if needed!
Depending on your nationality and country of residence, you may need a student visa to get your Bachelor in Ireland.
If you are a national of the EU, EEA, Switzerland, or the UK, a study visa is not necessary; but after you’ve arrived in Ireland, you will need to prove sufficient financial means to support yourself. Effectively, you will have to show that your bank balance amounts to at least €4,500. Ask your Irish university for guidance, they will be happy to help.
There are numerous other countries from where students also do not need a visa to enter Ireland for their studies. This includes, for example, the USA, Canada, and around 90 other countries worldwide. Check the questionnaire of Ireland’s Department of Justice - and the country list - to learn which rules apply to you.
If you do need a visa, processing fees are between €60 and €100 depending on the type of permit you need. Note that they are non-refundable even if you get refused.
Initially, you will get a single-entry visa, meaning you can only enter Ireland with it once. You’re likely going to want to leave Ireland during your three or four years of study: To do so, apply for another visa that allows entering and leaving the country.
Regardless of your visa status, if you are doing your Bachelor’s degree in Ireland as a non-EEA national, you are required to register with the local immigration office once you’ve arrived in Ireland and registered at your university. You will get a Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) residence permit card (IRP). The fee for this is €300.
Important to know: Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area. That means if you want to explore other countries in Europe during semester breaks, you’ll need to have a look at those countries’ rules and visa requirements.
As soon as you’ve accepted a place on a Bachelor’s programme and submitted your visa application, you should start looking for a place to live.
Irish universities typically offer rooms in student residences. That will be the cheapest and easiest option you’ll find, and it comes with the advantage that it will be easy to make friends even outside your own course.
The earlier you look into your accommodation options, the better. If you don’t like the idea of student dormitories then be sure to check out other rental options like a room in a shared apartment or house, or even your own place (if you can afford it). The latter is a key point because accommodation in Ireland is expensive, especially in Dublin. Also, if you’re deciding against university accommodation, be aware that scams do happen and that scammers like to prey on international students in particular.
If in doubt, reach out to the admissions team at your school to get help.
All set? Then it’s time to plan your trip! Flying to Ireland, you’ll most likely go to Dublin Airport, with plenty of direct connections within Europe and around the world. One tip: Ryanair offers the most connections to and from Ireland, and at low prices, but through them, you cannot book connecting flights. If there’s no direct flight from your nearest airports, check a flight comparison website to see if you can book separate flight legs for an affordable option. For example, first going to London with any airline would provide you with many connecting options.
One thing you don’t want to miss is the welcome week at your new university! Ask the admissions staff for the dates so you can plan your travel to be there in time.
Good luck!
Bachelor programmes in Ireland typically last 3 or 4 years. The 4-year programmes are also referred to as Honours degrees (“Hons”).
Students from the EU, EEA, Switzerland or UK generally do not pay any tuition fees at the undergraduate level, but they pay a student contribution and student levy of just over €3,000 per year. For non-EU/EEA international students, Ireland Bachelor tuition fees are typically between €12,000 and €25,000 per year.
Ready to study in Ireland?
