Studying at university in Ireland

How Irish higher education is organized

Ireland has a small number of universities, including technological universities created from former institutes of technology, plus specialist colleges in areas such as art, education and medicine. Most undergraduate study takes place at publicly funded institutions. Honours bachelor's degrees commonly take four years, though some are three, and professional programs such as medicine, veterinary medicine and architecture run longer.

Like the UK, Ireland expects you to choose a course at entry. Many universities, though, offer broad entry routes such as Arts, Science or Engineering common entry, where students sample several subjects in first year before specializing. These can feel closer to a Canadian or US first year.

Results are classified as First, 2.1, 2.2 or Third class honours. Some universities also report a GPA, which helps when applying to graduate programs in North America.

CAO or direct application: which applies to you

The Central Applications Office (CAO) processes first-year undergraduate applications for applicants with EU, EEA or UK fee status. University College Dublin, for example, states that the CAO route is determined by fee status, and it recommends a fee assessment for anyone who has lived outside the EU or EEA, was born outside it, or is not an EU or EEA national. Trinity College Dublin likewise directs non-EU students to apply directly to the university.

For most Canadian and US citizens living in North America, this means a direct application to each university, usually through an online portal run by its international office. A Canadian or American who also holds an EU passport (Irish citizenship by descent is common) may instead qualify for EU fee status and apply through the CAO. The fee difference is large, so settle this question first.

Direct application deadlines vary by university and course, so check each one on the international admissions page. Medicine for non-EU applicants has its own process and deadline, often with an interview; University College Dublin, for example, gives 31 January as the general deadline for US applicants to its undergraduate-entry medicine program.

Common entry and choosing a course

If you are unsure about your field, look for common entry or general entry programs, often called Arts, Science, Engineering or Business common entry. You take a range of modules in first year and choose your degree subjects later, sometimes subject to grades. This is the closest Irish equivalent to an undeclared first year in Canada or the US.

On the CAO form, you list up to ten level 8 (honours degree) courses and up to ten level 6 and 7 courses, in genuine order of preference. Offers are made to the highest preference for which you qualify, so never list a course above one you would prefer.

The points system and North American requirements

Irish school leavers sit the Leaving Certificate and are ranked by points from their best six subjects. The maximum is 625: up to 100 points for each of six subjects, plus 25 bonus points for Higher Level mathematics at grade H6 or above. Each course's minimum points float from year to year with demand, so a published "points" figure is a record of last year's cut-off rather than a fixed requirement.

North American applicants are not converted into Leaving Certificate points in a single national table for the direct route. Each university publishes what it expects from a US or Canadian applicant. Common ingredients are:

• a high school diploma with a stated minimum GPA or average;
• SAT or ACT scores, AP exam results, or both, for US applicants at many universities;
• grade 12 provincial courses and averages for Canadian applicants, with subject prerequisites for science, engineering and health programs;
• IB Diploma scores, with Higher Level subjects matched to the course.

For CAO applicants with non-Irish qualifications, each university also has rules for converting grades from other school systems. Check the course page and the international admissions page before choosing your senior year subjects.

Costs and funding

Students with EU fee status who qualify under the Free Fees Initiative pay a student contribution rather than full tuition. Non-EU students pay international fees set by each university, which vary by course and are published on each university's fees office pages. Expect science, engineering and health programs to cost more than arts and humanities.

Housing is the cost most students underestimate, especially in Dublin, Cork and Galway, where rental demand is high. Apply for university accommodation as soon as you accept an offer. Scholarships for international undergraduates are offered by individual universities and are usually partial awards. US citizens should ask whether their chosen university participates in the US federal Direct Loan program.

Language of instruction

Teaching is in English, with some courses and modules available through Irish. Universities set English requirements for applicants whose first language is not English; students who completed high school in English in Canada or the US usually meet them through their schooling. Ireland has no national French or Irish language requirement for international applicants, although some teacher education and Irish-medium programs require Irish.

If you want to sharpen academic writing before you go, the study skills for university flashcards cover note taking, reading and exam habits.

Immigration permission for students

Canadian and US citizens do not need a visa to enter Ireland. Non-EEA students staying for more than 90 days must register with immigration after arrival and are generally given Stamp 2 permission for full-time study on an eligible course. Registration requires proof of enrolment, medical insurance and access to funds, among other documents. The required amounts and the registration fee are set by the Irish Immigration Service and change over time.

Read the current rules on the Irish Immigration Service study pages before you travel. This guide is not immigration advice.

Tips for applicants from Canada and the US

1. Check your fee status first, especially if you have an Irish or other EU passport.
2. List the three or four universities you like and save their country requirement pages for the US or Canada.
3. If you take the CAO route, note the 20 January reduced fee and the 1 February closing date.
4. If you apply directly, confirm each deadline in autumn of your final year; popular courses can fill early.
5. After an offer, book accommodation and prepare documents for immigration registration.

Comparing several countries? The universities hub lists all our guides, including the United Kingdom, where the application timetable is similar but runs through UCAS. For the academic jump itself, see high school to university.