Ireland Services Money

Services for Students
Studying in Ireland

As an international student you will be charged the international student rate for fees. These could be between € 7,500 and € 20,000 per year (you will need to check with each institution what their fees are for a particular course). In addition, you will also need to have enough money for your accommodation and maintenance.

Please note that in Ireland, tuition fees are strictly payable in advance. Fees must be paid in full before students can be registered on any course or before your Student Visa will be issued.

Being able to finance your studies in another country is one of the most important considerations to take into account when applying to study overseas. One of the requirements of the immigration rules for students asking permission to enter Ireland is that they can prove they have enough income to support themselves whilst they are studying in Ireland.

The amount you will need in order to support yourself will not only depend on your lifestyle, but also on where you are studying. For example, if you are based in a city, the costs will be much higher than compared to a university in a smaller town. Dublin, for example is the most expensive place for students.

Have a look at the literature the universities send you, and at their websites, to get a general idea of the cost of living. You will then be able to work out a budget for your stay in Ireland. For a nine-month academic year, an international student living in Ireland will need approximately €10,500.

The first thing you should do is look into any possible funding opportunities in your own country as you may be eligible for financial support from a private trust, a private company, or your home government. Occasionally Irish universities and Institutes of Technology have partial scholarship schemes. Usually you can only apply for such scholarships after the university/institute has offered you a place. You should contact the institutions directly for more information.

There are also a number of educational trusts and charities that may be able to offer additional financial help:

International Education Financial Aid www.iefa.org

Irish Fulbright Commission (for US students) www.fulbright.ie

Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences www.irchss.ie

As an international student, you may be eligible for a basic bank account with a number of different banks in Ireland. You can use the links below to do some research before you get to Ireland to help you choose a bank account. When you arrive in Ireland, you will then be able to visit the local branch of the bank you have chosen.

These are some of the banks you will come across in Ireland (the University you are attending may even have a bank on campus):

Allied Irish Bank www.aib.ie

Bank of Ireland www.bankofireland.ie

Ulster Bank www.ulsterbank.com

You will need two forms of identification to open a bank account. One should have your photograph on it and the other one should show your home address in your own country.

If you wish to open an account in one of these banks before you arrive in Ireland, your own bank may be able to arrange this.