Dublin · Europe

Ireland

English-speaking, EU member, and home to the European headquarters of Google, Meta, Apple and Pfizer. A two-year stay-back visa makes it the easiest route from a degree into a European career. Rent in Dublin is the price.

Tuition / yr: $10k – $25k
Living / mo: ~$1,400
Work rights: 20 h/week
After study: 2-year Stay Back
Intakes: September · January
Language: English

Why Ireland

Europe's tech capital, in English.

01 EU headquarters of Google, Meta, Apple
02 Friendly, safe cities
03 Strong pharma & finance

The honest take

What we tell our own families about Ireland.

Why students love it

Two-year Stay Back visa for master's graduates

Tech and pharma employers on your doorstep

Small classes, friendly campuses, famous nightlife

EU degree in English

One-year master's programs

What to plan for

Dublin rent is the highest in Europe after Zurich

Rain, on most days, in small amounts

Tuition €10,000–25,000 for non-EU

Limited public transport outside Dublin

Housing search must start early and can be stressful

Getting around

Leave the car at home.

Dublin runs on buses, the Luas tram and DART trains; a Student Leap Card caps daily and weekly fares. Cork, Galway and Limerick are walkable.

Dublin Bus, Luas, DART

Student Leap Card with 90-minute fares and weekly caps.

€1 per ride (student) · €20 weekly cap

Cycling

Dublin Bikes scheme; the city is flat.

€35 / year

Intercity trains

Dublin to Cork, Galway or Belfast in 2–3 hours.

€15–40 per trip

Add Student Leap Card to my budgetAbout €70 a month

Food & groceries

What a week of eating really costs.

Tesco, Lidl and Aldi cover groceries at UK-like prices. Dublin cafes are expensive; campus canteens and Asian and Middle Eastern places in Dublin 1 are not.

Irish stew

Lamb, potatoes, and a winter evening.

Full Irish breakfast

With black and white pudding, served all day.

Chicken fillet roll

Deli-counter lunch, the true national dish.

Seafood chowder

On the west coast with brown bread.

Build your cart

Supermarket prices in Dublin, EUR. Quantities per week.

Milk (1 L)€1
0
—
Bread (loaf)€2
0
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Eggs (12)€4
0
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Rice (1 kg)€2
0
—
Chicken breast (1 kg)€10
0
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Pasta (500 g)€1
0
—
Apples (1 kg)€3
0
—
Bananas (1 kg)€2
0
—
Tomatoes (1 kg)€3
0
—
Cheese (500 g)€5
0
—
Coffee (250 g)€5
0
—
Yogurt (500 g)€2
0
—

Your weekly cart

€0 ≈ $0

Per month

€0

Eating out

Chicken fillet roll€5
Cafe cappuccino€4
Campus lunch€8
Restaurant dinner€25

Where to live

Dorm, shared flat or studio: pick one and watch the budget.

On-campus rooms exist but are limited; most students share houses in Rathmines, Drumcondra or Phibsborough. Start in June for September and treat any 'too good' listing as a scam.

Where students actually live

Rathmines, Dublin
Student central, ten minutes to Trinity.
€800–1,100 room
Drumcondra, Dublin
Near DCU, quieter, good buses.
€700–950 room
Salthill, Galway
Seafront, students, live music.
€500–700 room
Wilton, Cork
UCC students, walkable, cheaper.
€450–650 room

Before you pay anyone

Daft.ie and the university accommodation office are the safe channels
Rent-a-room: Irish homeowners can earn €14,000 tax-free renting a room, so digs are plentiful
Never pay a deposit to secure a viewing
Deposits are capped at one month's rent by law

Student life as an international

Irish campuses have clubs and societies for everything, a pub culture that is more social than heavy, and an easy warmth that international students mention first.

Most part-time jobs are in hospitality and retail.

Societies Fair in September

Trad music sessions, GAA matches, the Cliffs of Moher on a weekend

Short flights to the whole of Europe from Dublin

Career fairs with Google, Meta, Accenture and Pfizer

Work: 20 hours a week in term, 40 hours in holidays, on a Stamp 2 permission. Minimum wage €13.50 an hour.
Healthcare: Private student health insurance is mandatory for non-EU students, from about €150 a year through the university.
Safety: Safe cities; keep an eye on bags in Dublin's centre.