11 Tuition Free Universities In Ireland For International Students

The tuition free universities in Ireland for international students are tricky but in this blog post, we have made it as clear as crystal. These universities promote the educational status of students who apply to them by giving them free education. However, they have different conditions for which they are open to students.

Ireland is one of the four countries in the United Kingdom known for its rugged terrains and for its hospitality. It is known as the friendliest country in the world which makes it a top choice among international students because they are treated right and given the best treatment possible compared to other countries.

One of these “good treatments” that international students enjoy in Ireland is the provision of scholarships and tuition free universities. However, just as I mentioned above, the free tuition universities are quite tricky but you will understand it in a few minutes.

All public universities in Ireland are free to its citizens and permanent residents who are also referred to as domestic students. These domestic students are exempted from paying tuition fees but they pay application and health fees. Other students that are exempted from paying tuition fees are students from European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries.

So, if you are from any of the EU/EEA countries you can study for free in Ireland while students from non-EU/EEA countries must pay tuition fees. However, there are low tuition universities and scholarships in Ireland for international students.

So, while as a non-EU/EEA student you can still apply these scholarships to your degree program in any of the Ireland universities. These scholarships and low tuition universities in Ireland for international students have been discussed further below. For quick navigation, you may want to use the table of contents below.

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What Does It Mean To Attend School “Tuition Free”?

“Tuition free” is a phrase that describes the opportunity given to aspiring students to receive a degree from their respective institutions without paying any sum of money for the lessons learned. This type of opportunity is given by tuition free universities to students who are good in academics or cannot afford to pay their tuition fees themselves.

Tuition free universities do not charge students for taking courses. They do not charge students to enroll, to pay for books or other course materials. Tuition free universities in Ireland for international students are open to all students (residents and international) across the globe.

Are There Entirely Tuition Free Universities In Ireland?

Studying in the UK is quite expensive compared to studying in Ireland. There are tuition free universities in Ireland for international students that are also open to citizens of Ireland. However, they are open under certain conditions.

In the absence of scholarship programs, international students can also apply as the cost of education in Ireland is comparatively cheaper than other universities around the world. In terms of living expenses, prospective students can expect to pay within the range of EUR 600 to 1000 per month, depending on the location as well as the student’s requirements.

For international students, in public universities tuition fees range from 6,000 to 12,000 EUR per year. For postgraduate programs, tuition fees range from 6,150 to 15,000 EUR per year.

Can International Students Attend University In Ireland Tuition Free?

Yes. There are certain conditions that should be met for international students to enjoy tuition free education in Ireland. The condition is that you must be a student from any of the EU or EEA countries to enjoy tuition free education in Ireland.

Students from non-EU/EEA countries must pay the necessary tuition fees. However, there are scholarship opportunities provided for these students to offset their tuition fees. Below are the financial aid opportunities.

Six Scholarships in Ireland for International Students

The universities in Ireland are cheap, in fact, they are among the cheapest universities in Europe for international students. As an international student in Ireland, applying for the scholarships below will greatly decrease the cost of your education in Ireland.

The scholarships in Ireland for international students are:

  • National University of Ireland (NUI) Grant Scheme for Students with Disabilities
  • National Council for Blind Ireland (NCBI) Gerard Byrne Bursary
  • The Society of St Vincent de Paul Education and Training Bursary Fund
  • UVERSITY Higher Education Scholarships for Adult Learners
  • Erasmus+
  • Naughton Scholarships

1. National University of Ireland (NUI) Grant Scheme for Students with Disabilities

This scheme is one of the tuition free universities in Ireland for international students that provides financial support for undergraduate students who have serious physical and/or sensory disabilities and are in the first year of a primary degree program in the recognized colleges of the NUI.

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2. National Council for Blind Ireland (NCBI) Gerard Byrne Bursary

The annual Gerard Byrne Bursary is one of the tuition free universities in Ireland for international students with a vision impairment entering into or currently in full-time third-level education. The annual bursary is awarded to the value of €1,500 per annum for up the duration of their undergraduate degree.

Subject to the impact of Covid-19, NCBI may offer a 6-month internship to one bursary recipient annually, helping them to gain work experience to further prepare for employment.

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3. The Society of St Vincent de Paul Education and Training Bursary Fund

The Society of St Vincent de Paul Education and Training Bursary Fund is from the tuition free universities in Ireland for international students that supports students of all ages who may not be financially fit to access or stay in third-level education and training programs.

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4. UVERSITY Higher Education Scholarships for Adult Learners

Uversity’s Scholarships are from tuition free universities in Ireland for international students that are aimed at unlocking adult learners’ potentials. They do this by providing meaningful, multi-annual financial support. Uversity’s Scholarships aim to remove the financial barriers to pursue a bachelor’s degree for the first time.

Scholarships are not limited to particular subject areas and will enable recipients to complete a bachelor’s degree in one of the participating institutions in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.

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5. Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is the EU’s program to support education, training, youth, and sport in Europe. Erasmus+ is one of the tuition free universities in Ireland for international students that has opportunities for people of all ages, helping them develop and share knowledge and experience at institutions and organizations in different countries.

Studying abroad is a central part of Erasmus+ and has been shown to have a positive effect on later job prospects. Erasmus+ also gives the chance to combine studying abroad with a traineeship. Opportunities are available for students at bachelor, master or doctoral levels.

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6. Naughton Scholarships

The Naughton Scholarships were brought into existence in 2008 to promote the study of engineering, science, and technology at the third level in Ireland. Each year a number of exceptional students are awarded scholarships to study at the undergraduate level at any publicly funded university or third-level institution in Ireland.

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Cheap Universities in Ireland for International Students

  • Trinity College Dublin
  • University of Limerick
  • The University College, Cork
  • Dublin Business School
  • Griffith College, Dublin

1. Trinity College Dublin
Which has its tuition fee to be EUR 17,000, which makes it appear more like a tuition free university in Ireland for international students.

Trinity College Dublin is one of the members of the University of Dublin, Trinity College is a popular and prestigious public research university that is sited in the capital of Dublin. It was established in 1592 and is one of the oldest surviving universities of Ireland. The university is also one of the seven ancient universities of Britain and Ireland.

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2. University of Limerick

Has its tuition fees as EUR 1200. The University of Limerick is based in the iconic city of Limerick in the Midwest region of Ireland. The University of Limerick is another prestigious public research university. It was established in 1972 and is one of the most top-ranked universities for international students in Ireland.

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3. University College, Cork
Tuition fees: From EUR 10,000

University College (UCC) which is located in the second largest city of Ireland, (Cork), is a constituent college of the National University of Ireland. It was founded in the year 1845 as one of the Queen’s Colleges of Cork, Belfast, and Galway.

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4. Dublin Business School
Dublin Business School has tuition fees to range from EUR 5000 to 7000.

The Dublin Business School is a private institution of higher education that was initially established in 1975.

Originally founded as the Accountancy and Business College, this college was established to meet a “more commerce-based education” need that seemed to be lacking in Ireland at the time of its establishment.

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5. Griffith College Dublin
Tuition fees: From EUR 12,000

Located in the capital city of Dublin, Griffith College Dublin is a private institution of higher education. Established in 1974, it is one of the largest and oldest private colleges established in the country. The college was created to provide business and accounting training to its students.

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However, entry into one of the low tuition fees universities in Ireland with one or more scholarship aids for international students can make education totally free. Therefore can become tuition free universities in Ireland for international students.

FAQs On Tuition Free Universities In Ireland for International Students

1. Is education free in Ireland for international students?

A: Undergraduate degrees are free for citizens from Ireland. The costs are covered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Not all undergraduate courses offered by public universities are free.

For international students to benefit from the “free fees initiative”, they have to apply for the government funding program and show that they are eligible. They are not eligible if:
– They already have an undergraduate degree
– They already have a post-graduate degree
– They are repeating a year of study.
Nationality, immigration status, residence, and course requirements are other criteria that can qualify a student for one of the tuition free universities in Ireland for international students.

2. How can I study in Ireland for free?
A: Have good grades before going to Ireland: We are often graded by our academic records. People and lecturers often base our performance and their expectations on previous precedents set by our academic trials.

This is true for all tuition free universities in Ireland for international students. Extra-curricular works are also checked while applying to one of the tuition free universities in Ireland for international students. This is the reason why we should endeavor to get outstanding academic records to gain easy application into tuition free universities in Ireland.

Building a good application via good tests, essays, and other requirements:
Every student is expected to build a good application to tuition free universities in Ireland for international students. Applying to these universities requires time, patience, and dedication because it may be used as a yardstick to get a glimpse into the type of student that you can be if accepted into their university.

Take your time on writing the best essay that shows who you really are as a student.

Ask for help on how to create a good application: Always seek help when writing your application as this has a way of providing you with the tools for better quality articles and portfolios. Help from other people who have knowledge of what to do and documents to be used for application should be met for ease of stress.

Apply for scholarships in universities in Ireland: University College Dublin located in Dublin and Trinity College Dublin are instances of the popular colleges that offer scholarships to their students. A scholarship program is a great way of attending free to any of the tuition free universities in Ireland for international students. Such scholarship programs are often uploaded on the university’s website.

Scholarship programs offer students scholarship fund that provides students with the capability to meet their financial requirements in the universities such as books and other fees.

Look for affordable universities in Ireland: This is for those who do not have scholarship funds. The average cost of tuition in Ireland is around $7,000 and it depends on the area of study. Students are generally advised to go for a more affordable university while applying to any of the tuition free universities in Ireland for international students.

Work part-time in Ireland: This is especially for students with student-visas, working in Ireland will be allowed only if you attend a course that is listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) listed on the government’s website, with a limited number of hours per week and per period.

These and many more are the ways to get into tuition free universities in Ireland for international students.

In conclusion, Ireland universities are cheaper and have quality education programs that accommodate international students as well as her citizens.

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3 comments

  1. Em, em, Ireland is not “one of the 4 countries in the United Kingdom”; it has been an independent republic for about 100 years!!!

    1. It’s hard to believe that someone could be that ignorant not to know that Ireland is a country.
      He surely could avail of our free education.

      1. De Republiek Ierland is een eigen land en hoort al heel lang niet meer bij het V.K.! Noord-Ierland hoort nog wel bij het V.K., maar het is een kwestie van tijd voordat het onafhankelijk wordt.

        Gr. Cathy

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