Dublin city should be your top priority if your idea of a perfect student city involves famously friendly socials and cracking social scenes with historic surroundings and top-class study facilities.
The bustling capital of Ireland is Dublin. Dublin is home to several great personalities who have passed out from Dublin’s Universities, offering exceptional amenities, activities, and opportunities for students.
The capital of Ireland is home to 4 of Ireland’s eight world-class universities, led by UCD (University College, Dublin) and TCD (Trinity College, Dublin), ranked at 185th and 108th in the World University Rankings last year. These historic educational institutions have produced popular names in an impressive and wide range of disciplines between them. Still, they are perhaps best known for their literary alumni – WB Yeats, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and many more.
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Dublin is referred to as the land of scholars and saints. The city has well-established high schools that have ranked for their global educational excellence. The quality of academics is excellent and top-notch.
Additionally, the colleges offer a wide range of support systems to ensure a smooth and efficient learning process for international students. The best part is, you can gain work experience inside the universities themselves as they offer it within the learning process. The universities provide the needed skills and knowledge that are required to showcase in the real world.
This is an excellent opportunity for studying in Dublin. The government came up with this scheme back in 2007. It enabled all the international students who graduated from the Irish universities to stay back in the country for another year after completion of UG studies. This is done to create more room for students to seek employment in Dublin or Ireland itself. This is a massive opportunity for all the students who aspire to study abroad as very few countries offer this scheme that provides such facilities for international students.
Dublin is a welcoming city with a strong history related to literature. The Government of Ireland will invest 11.1 billion EUR in education in 2021 and is committed to supporting students. Hundreds of funding programs and scholarships are available for attracting foreign, exchange and international students.
You should first know how much money you will need if you fancy the idea of studying abroad in Dublin. You need not worry as to make things easier for you, we have done the research part. Continue reading to find about living costs and tuition fees for foreign, exchange and international students in Dublin.
Dublin’s Bachelor (Undergraduate) degrees are free for citizens from Switzerland, EEA/European Union nations, and Ireland. The university tuition fees for such students are covered by the HEA, i.e. the Higher Education Authority.
It would help if you kept in mind that public universities offer not all bachelor degree courses for free. Keep checking the official study program page regularly to see which tuition fees apply to students belonging to your nation.
You have to apply for the government funding program and prove that you can benefit from the ‘free fees’ initiative. However, you are not eligible if –
Course requirements, residence, immigration status, and nationality are other criteria that can qualify a student for a tuition-free university degree.
For master and PhD (postgraduate) degree courses, EEA/EU students should expect to pay tuition fees ranging anywhere between 3000 EUR per academic year to 30000 EUR per academic year. Medicine and Business courses are typically the most expensive courses.
All foreign, exchange and international students (both non-EU/EEA and EEA/EU citizens) have to pay a student contribution fees of a maximum of 3000 EUR per year for student services, such as support for societies and clubs and examination entries. The fees can change every year and varies from one university to another.
The below-mentioned universities in Dublin have the most affordable tuition fees
The below-mentioned are some of the top-ranked universities in Dublin –
It would help if you made a note that at all these universities, typically non-EEA/EU students have to pay tuition fees that are 2x as high as those for EEA/EU citizens.
The costs of living in Dublin are a bit higher than the average for the European Union area, and therefore you should expect to spend between 550 EUR per month to 1000 EUR per month in Dublin.
The average costs of living in Dublin (including accommodation costs) is 1100 EUR per month to 1800 EUR per month.
Higher educational institutions offer accommodation in student residence halls, which typically costs above the European average of 200 EUR to 300 EUR. It is often very difficult to find a place because the demand is higher, and the number of places is limited.
You can choose to live with an Irish family or rent/share an apartment apart from the residence halls option.
The average accommodation costs for students in Dublin are –
Other costs that are associated with the accommodation are –
Although the Currency used in Ireland is Euro, most of the hotels, shops, etc., accept all the Visas and MasterCard widely. The ATMs are widely available at several places, and the banks are open on weekdays. (Mon-Fri) In case you wish to visit a public library, it is good if you carry some cash. You will also be required to pay some money for public transports that are reasonable and affordable.
If you are more comfortable studying in coffee shops or libraries, Dublin offers you plenty of good places to study. The Accents Coffee, Bald Barista, and the Tea Lounge are very close to the Dublin Business school and Trinity College. It provides a pleasant and calm atmosphere suitable for learning and studying, along with some delightful desserts and coffee.
Shifting to any corner of the world is a concern when it comes to food. Well, Dublin is home to exciting, innovative culinary dishes. You will be torn between selecting the best dish as you are offered plenty of delicious dishes and delicacies, including boiled bacon, Irish Stew, Shepherd’s Pie, etc. The chain of Irish fast foods includes Eddie Rockets and Supermac, which are worth checking. In case you wish to stick to familiar restaurants, you can even find KFC and McDonald’s there!
Average food costs per month aren’t high as you will only spend 250 EUR per month to 350 EUR per month on grocery shopping in Dublin. An individual can also find food products at a cheaper rate in supermarkets like Superquinn, Dunnes, Tesco, Lidl, and Aldi.
You can also dine in at a small restaurant for 15 EUR and enjoy a 3-course meal for 2 in a mid-range restaurant for only 55 EUR.
Foreign, exchange and international students can take advantage of transportation if they use the Bus Éireann Services or Student Leap Card to travel across the city.
Around 27 per cent of the students use public transport in Dublin, with a monthly pass for foreign, exchange and international students for 50 EUR per month to 55 EUR per month with a special discount.
The most famous transportation model by foreign, exchange and international students is the bicycle used by 38 per cent of the total students. You can rent a cycle for around 20 EUR per day to get around the city.
The other expenses that you need to cover during your stay and study in Dublin are –
There are 100s of funding programs and scholarships available to foreign, exchange and international students in Dublin. Some of these are offered by private organisations, some by universities, and other by the Government of Ireland.
Each educational institution is free to set the criteria for the programs of financial aid. That is why some scholarships are only available to students with excellent academic results, students from developing nations, and many more.
Some of the examples of scholarships are –
Well, if you know where to look from, Dublin is not costly. While the accommodation near the city center might be a bit costly, there are plenty of other inexpensive restaurants and stores that perfectly fit the budget of students. Along with food, cost of living, and accommodation, Dublin has expensive places and affordable places.
The best part? The Noodle Bar on Stephen Street offers excellent food along with student discounts. Moreover, with a student discount, you can get a Thai-style noodle and a drink only for €6.
College and university students have plenty of options when it comes to accommodation. Many students choose to stay in on-campus accommodation, which is available in many universities and colleges. On-campus accommodation is difficult to find, can be quite expensive, and is always in high demand.
All universities and colleges have halls of residences, typical apartments of 4 to 8 students, with a private bedroom and shared bathroom, living room, and kitchen. On-campus accommodation must be paid in two instalments – One in February and the other in September. It is not possible to pay your rent every month in most campus accommodations.
You will typically have to pay a deposit of a single month’s rent in advance, and it will be refunded when you leave the residence. Heating and other utilities are generally extra, although various residence halls include electricity and heat in their initial charge and deduct payments for usage over the average allowed for from the deposit when you leave colleges and universities.
The university’s official website or college you are interested in will have further information about how to apply and their accommodation.
Students who want to be 100 percent independent choose rented accommodation or self-catering and pay their rent in advance or monthly. You pay a deposit of rent for a single month at the beginning of the letting period, which will be refunded when you vacate the place (provided you have caused 0 damages to the premises).
The duration of a normal lease is nine months to twelve months, and you will lose your deposit if you don’t adhere to the conditions and terms of the lease or break a lease without notice. A notice of 30 days/31 days is provided before you vacate the place.
Other foreign, exchange and international students choose to live with a host family in their home. Choosing this housing option will provide you with your independence with home comforts (some rules) and a family to help you settle into a new way of life in a new nation. Staying with a host family can be a great choice for foreign, exchange and international students to find their feet in a new nation.
Most colleges and universities have an Accommodation office, a good 1st point of call for overseas, foreign, exchange and international students searching for suitable accommodation.
Students can also find suitable accommodation through the estate agents and local newspapers in Dublin. Websites such as MyHome. i.e. and Daft. i.e. also contain a big portfolio of rental properties. It is typically impossible to reserve long-term accommodation in advance, as property owners wouldn’t hold rooms without rent payment.
Some takeaway points that you must remember when looking for accommodation
Going back to study again or entering college or university is always exciting. However, you may always have worries about how you will find a good job and how you are going to complete your studies. Even that thought sets in as soon as you think about the refreshing college or university life.
Boring lecturers, friends and fun are all part of student life in a university. Exploring new forms of cuisines, art, joining new clubs and getting new friends can be amazing, specifically when you have set afoot in a foreign land.
Dublin is known for its breath-taking landscapes and architecture. There are many nightclubs in the city, and Dublin offers something for all. Foreign, exchange and international students can socialize, eat and dance till the wee hours of the night.
Dublin’s social life can be expensive, but many social activities are both reasonably easy on the pocket and enjoyable as well. Participation in political societies, dramatic societies, academic societies, and sports clubs is a very cheap and effective way of getting involved in a university or a college’s social life.
There are many clubs in all the universities and colleges that you can be a part of, at any time of the year. The Students’ Union produces a Student Handbook that provides a guide to several societies and clubs.
Dublin offers discounts for student-oriented books, music and leisure. Bars and clubs often run student nights and discounted student events – typically midweek. Theatre and Cinema tickets are typically on sale to foreign, exchange, and international students at a slashed rate. Further savings can be made by opting for early screenings, matinees and preview performances.
Working while you study is a great way to increase your income, and you can even gain valuable life skills. Ensure that your visa has a stamp that allows you to work in Dublin on a part-time basis before you start applying for jobs and careers.
For most foreign, exchange and international students living on a student visa, the max number of hours you can work is twenty hours per week. The number of working hours has been restrained to twenty to ensure that your focus remains on studies and there is ample time for you to study.
There are various portals available when you are looking for part-time work opportunities as a student in Dublin. You can initiate by beginning to search at the college’s or university’s career portal.
The educational institutions have a portal with a list of all positions available off-campus and on-campus. You can also look for job and career opportunities in various job sites and apply for the same. You should also print a few copies of your CV to distribute to local businesses as not all positions are advertised online.
Dublin is a great option for those on the job hunt with the fastest growing economy in the EU, i.e. the European Union. The service sector dominates Dublin’s job market, and job and career opportunities can be found in several major industries, including the tech sector, where the demand for IT workers is super high.
Thanks to Dublin’s rising popularity as a holiday destination, the tourism and the hospitality industry need casual and skilled workers.
Dublin is home to various multinational organizations such as
The competition for skilled jobs and career opportunities is fierce, and your chances of securing work will significantly increase with 3rd-level qualifications and relevant work experience.
Typically, work will be easier to come by in Dublin. Dublin is known to be relatively expensive. However, living costs are cheaper than other big European cities like Zurich, Paris, London, and Copenhagen.
You can look for job and career opportunities in Dublin at websites such as –
The economy of Dublin has a skills shortage in several areas, which include –
Due to Dublin’s busy tourism industry, casual, seasonal, and summer jobs shouldn’t be hard to come by. Your chances of securing a job in this sector will increase in Dublin. Temporary jobs can cover anything from teaching and hospitality work to cleaning and promotions.
Volunteering is another great way to show prospective employers that you are dedicated to improving your skills, learning and boosting your CV. Ireland’s single national volunteering organization ‘Volunteer Ireland’ helps people who want to help out across the nation.
Dublin is a famous destination for those who want to learn the English language. Usual employers include public and private institutions, schools of higher education and commercial language schools.
Most English schools (as a foreign language) are situated in or around Dublin and are privately run, but work can also be found in relatively smaller cities such as Galway and Cork.
To become an ELT, i.e. an English language teacher in Dublin, the ACELS (The Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services) requires you to have a recognized ELT qualification and a bachelor’s degree, these include –
I-to-i qualifications and Online ELT are not recognized in Dublin.
Because of Dublin’s fierce and competitive job market, you are more likely to secure a role in the city if you have relevant work ex.
Depending on the industry you are interested in, you can contact a firm individually to see if they have a scheme in place. Alternatively, there are various other services for helping individuals secure work-ex, which includes –
Summer work placements and internships for foreign, exchange and international students can also be arranged by –
Dublin is home to more than 100,000 international students who are residing inside the city. This, in turn, means you get enormous opportunities to get along with the students of different cultures having similar interests.
Students from all over the globe come down to Dublin for excellent quality education. You will be stunned at the beauty of the diverse culture and tradition that Dublin experiences!
We hope you have got your top reasons why you should study in Dublin with this guide. Now that you know the basics, it’s time to secure a future and look for opportunities in Dublin!
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