Why study in Ireland?

Ireland has a proud tradition of excellence in university education, dating back to the founding of Trinity College, Dublin *, in 1592, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st of England, when Ireland was under English rule.  Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin *, founded in 1854, are Ireland's historic, prestigious universities, and attract students from across the world who are looking for a distinguished university experience in the English-speaking world, similar to that in the UK.

Since the UK's withdrawal from the EU, Ireland's university offering has become especially attractive to EU citizen students wishing to study in English, who can study and settle in Ireland freely, without the need for the post-Brexit student visa arrangements which have come into force in the UK since the start of 2021.

The prestige and heritage of Ireland's two historic universities set the tone for newer establishments in the country, all of which offer a good quality of education in the style of the better-known universities in the UK and the USA.

Many students are attracted to Ireland due to the famously friendly ambience of this small country.  Whilst Ireland's historically wet climate is the stuff of legend, students will find in reality that the country's temperate climate with its fair share of sunshine is in fact something to which they easily become accustomed.

Ireland is a rich country, and is thus a costly place in which to be a student, with rent and living costs particularly high in Dublin, the country's capital, so this is a factor which should be explored when looking at university study in the country.

Cultural snapshots

Due to Ireland's complex history, the island is divided into two separate political entities: the republic of Ireland, an independent EU member state, and Northern Ireland, a province of the United Kingdom.  This means that, despite an 'invisible' border between the two entities, there are completely separate education systems in each of the two parts of the island, as well as entirely separate laws, currencies, political structures and so forth.  Two examples of difference are that in Northern Ireland the British pound sterling is the currency, whilst in the republic of Ireland the Euro is used; in Northern Ireland speed restrictions on roads are indicated in miles per hour, whilst in the republic of Ireland they are indicated in kilometres per hour.

(This section features universities in Ireland / Éire, not Northern Ireland, whose universities are featured in the UK universities section.)

What’s special about universities in Ireland?

Ireland's universities exist within the English-speaking world and its university culture.  Therefore degree courses at Irish universities tend to feature strong teaching and a strong sense of university life.  Given the small population and welcoming culture of the country as a whole, a friendliness and student-facing culture permeates university life, meaning that studying at Irish universities is an inclusive, holistic experience.

What courses are of particular interest to English-speaking international students?

Despite the fact that Irish is the official language of Ireland, nearly all courses are taught in English, the first language of most of Ireland's people.  Therefore, the offering in English is comprehensive.

A selection of Ireland's best-known universities

• University College Cork *

• Trinity College Dublin *

• University College Dublin *

• Dublin City University *

• University of Galway *

• University of Limerick *

Useful websites & links

The Central Applications Office *

This website is where applications to universities in Ireland can be made.

Follow this link * for Times Higher Education World University rankings for Ireland.

A league-table of Ireland's 'top 10' universities *

To find out more - go to your Unifrog account, and log in.  

Then search for these pages (for British School students with Unifrog access):

Why study in Ireland?

Preparing to apply

Making an application

Student life in Ireland

Cost of studying