Applying for a Master’s degree in Ireland (2025)
World-class standards - warmest of welcomes
Cliffs of Moher by Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0, modified
 |
|
|---|---|
| 16 | universities offer Masters in Ireland in English |
| 1394 | Masters are available |
Getting a Master’s degree in Ireland is sure to be an unforgettable experience: The small country is home to surprisingly many world-class universities and attracts thousands of international postgraduate students every year.
At Irish universities, taught Master’s programmes are typically 1 year long (12 months). Most lead to a Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) degree.
Let’s look at how to apply for a Master in Ireland:
You can find well over 1,000 Master’s programmes in Ireland, completely taught in English. Find yours today!
Tuition fees for Masters in Ireland can be quite high, and it’s important you understand early what costs you should plan with.
Postgraduate fees vary depending on whether you are an EU or a non-EU student; EU fees are typically lower than those for non-EU. (For purposes of tuition fees, when Irish universities refer to “EU” students, they include not only the European Union but also the EEA, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. All others are “non-EU”.)
The fee status does not necessarily depend on your nationality (or nationalities, if you have dual citizenship). What’s more important is if your “ordinary residence” was in the EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK in three of the five years before admission, for example for studies or for work. Where you previously went to school or university also plays a role. The status classification can be complicated and if in doubt, it’s best you reach out to the university early to help you assess your individual circumstances.
The typical cost for Masters in Ireland are:
To apply for a Master in Ireland, you most commonly submit your application directly to the university or universities of your choice, through their own application platform. Irish universities charge non-refundable application fees of around €35 to €55. Note that this fee might have to be paid for each separate Master’s programme you want to apply to!
A few universities accept their applications via a platform called PAC. (PAC used to stand for “Postgraduate Applications Center” and now stands for “Processing Applications in the Cloud”.) When applying through PAC, there is an application fee of typically €50.
Generally, you will need to submit these documents:
For some universities or programmes you may need to submit additional documents and information.
Note: Ireland uses the 10-level National Qualifications Framework (NFQ) to describe how advanced academic qualifications are. Postgraduate courses that lead to a Master or a PG Diploma are at NFQ level 9. Admissions criteria to Master’s degrees might mention an NFQ level 7 degree (equivalent to an ordinary or 180 ECTS Bachelor’s degree) or NFQ level 8 (an honours or 240 ECTS Bachelor’s degree). If you’re unsure whether your undergraduate degree is sufficient to get admitted, best reach out to university staff before you invest time and money in your application.
At Irish universities, applications open very early compared to other European countries: For the September intake, some universities start accepting applications in October or November the preceding year. The deadlines are then often quite late, with some universities closing applications in May or June (typically 1 May, 31 May, or 30 June).
But: Some universities fill places in their Masters as applications are coming in; that means that competitive programmes at more renowned institutions may close early and well before the theoretical deadline. Also, some Masters may have much earlier deadlines than others at the same university.
Therefore, it pays off to apply early! That way you also have more time for finding accommodation and getting your student visa sorted, if you need one. (Or - to look for alternative study options, if your application should get rejected.)
When searching for scholarships and other funding options in Ireland, make sure to consider various types of opportunities, including government, university-specific, and industry-sponsored programmes.
If you are a national of the EU, EEA, Switzerland or the UK, you may also be eligible for a student grant through SUSI. These grants are income-based and meant to support those from lower-income backgrounds.
Ireland, and especially Dublin, can be quite expensive when compared to other European countries. If you are worried about being able to afford your studies, reach out to the university admissions office to learn more about options to finance your studies. Ask about paying tuition fees in instalments, discounts for early payment, scholarships and grants, and loans.
If you are a national of the EU, EEA, Switzerland, or the UK, you do not need a visa to study in Ireland. But after arrival, you may need to prove that you can support yourself financially; this usually means showing that you have at least €4,500 in your bank account. The university will help you with this.
Other international students may need to apply for a long stay student visa before coming to Ireland. Ireland’s Department of Justice has a helpful questionnaire that helps you figure out if you need to apply for a visa beforehand. Depending on the type of permit you should expect non-refundable visa processing fees of between €60 and €100.
As part of the visa application process, you must confirm that you are enrolled in a full-time course on the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). You must also prove that you have immediate access to at least €10,000, the estimated cost of living in Ireland for one academic year.
The first visa you will be issued is normally a single-entry visa. If you plan to leave Ireland during your studies - perhaps to visit your family during the holidays - then you may need to apply for another visa.
If you are doing your Master’s degree in Ireland as a non-EEA national, you must also register with the local immigration office after arrival in Ireland and after having registered at your university. You will then receive a Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) residence permit card (IRP). Note that this incurs a fee of €300.
Once you’ve accepted a place on a Master’s programme and applied for a visa, you should look for accommodation.
Irish universities usually offer places in student residences. Such accommodation is the cheapest option you’ll get, and also probably the best experience to choose as an international student: There’s no quicker way to make new friends!
Look into the available options as soon as possible. If none of them suit you, you can still check out the local rental market and, for example, try finding a room in a shared apartment. Note that housing in Dublin in particular can be quite expensive.
The admissions staff at your university will be more than happy to provide guidance so that you can find a place to stay.
Ireland is easy to reach via plane, especially via Dublin Airport, its largest hub. You’ll find plenty of flights from anywhere in Europe or the world. Note: Ryanair is the largest carrier to/from Ireland, but they do not offer connecting flights. If you don’t find a direct flight to Ireland from where you would depart, you should consult a flight comparison website to see if you can book two separate flights for a better option (for example: connecting via one of London’s airports). Also note that while you can fly to Belfast, this city is located in Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK); if you need a student visa to enter Ireland, this should be covered, but make sure to confirm the details before you book your trip.
Universities usually organise a welcome week for new students - and you don’t want to miss that! Ask the university for the dates and plan your trip accordingly.
Your adventure awaits: Best of luck! ☘️
Most Master’s degrees in Ireland last 1 year full-time, and longer for part-time studies.
Ireland Masters tuition fees are typically between €7,000 and €20,000 per year for students from the EU/EEA, and between €12,000 and €30,000 for non-EU/EEA international students.
Ready to study in Ireland?
