Cheap and Affordable Universities in Ireland

Cheap Universities in Ireland: Ireland is a promising study-abroad destination that is also one fo the most affordable European countries for international students. It is one of the few English-speaking European countries which makes it easier for international students to adapt to the new environment. This article provides complete details on the cost of living, the cost of studying and the cheap universities in Ireland for international students. 

In this article, we will explore some of the most affordable and popular universities in Ireland for Indian students. We will consider factors such as tuition fees, living costs, and the overall value proposition of studying in Ireland.
Whether you are looking to minimise expenses or maximise the return on your educational investment, Ireland's universities offer a range of options to suit different budgets and academic ambitions. Read on to discover how you can turn your dream of studying abroad into a reality in Ireland.

Ireland has over the years become one of the most promising destinations for studying abroad. One of the major factors affecting the studying abroad dream is the total expense incurred in its process and with the post-COVID-19 effects on the economies, purse strings are being held tighter than usual. So what do you do in such a scenario? Do you throw your dream of studying abroad? NO. You look for cheap and affordable universities for studying abroad. In this article, we are going to discuss the cheap and affordable universities in Ireland for Indian students.

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Cost of Studying in Ireland 2024-25

Before we jump into the individual university costs for studying in Ireland, let us understand the average cost of studying in Ireland. Candidates should note that the cost of studying is mainly made up of two parts, the tuition cost and the living cost.

Average Tuition Cost in Ireland

The higher education system in Ireland is primarily made up of 10 universities, 10 Institutes of Technology (IOTs) and nine private higher education institutions. The average tuition costs in Ireland are mentioned in the table below.

Cost of Studying in Ireland as per the Type of Institution
Type of Institution	Cost of Studying in Ireland/ year
Public Universities	UG courses: 13,231 euros PG courses: 5,512 - 27,564 euros
Private Colleges	UG courses: 5,512 - 16,538 euros PG courses: 12,128 - 25,000 euros
Institutes of Technology (IOTs)	UG courses: 11,026 euros PG courses: 9,482 - 13,782 euros

If we look at the costs of studying associated with various degrees at different levels, then the average tuition costs (as per degree) in Ireland are given below. 

Cost of living in Ireland

As is true in most cases, the cost of living in the capital would be higher than in areas further away from the capital. In Ireland too, candidates can expect a monthly expenditure of €1,240 - €1880 per month including accommodation. However, this would be higher or lower depending on the lifestyle of the student. Below are living costs in Ireland as calculated by two top universities in Ireland.

Cost of Living in Ireland 2024-25 as Indicated by TU Dublin 

The breakout of the total cost of living in Ireland is given in the table below. 

Cost of Living for Students Living away from home	Monthly (€)	Annual (€)
Rent and Utilities (National – for Dublin)	895	8055
Food	225	2025
Travel	48	432
Books  & Class materials	71*	639*
Clothes/Medical	39	351
Mobile	15	135
Social life/Misc.	85	765
Student Charge	222	2,000
Total	1600	14,402

 source: https://www.tudublin.ie/ 

*The costs of class materials (such as books) and equipments can vary greatly, particularly for Arts, Sciences and Catering students.

Cost of Living in Ireland as published by University College Cork, Ireland

Expense	Average Cost Range per month
Option 1 - On-Campus Accommodation	€700 - €900
Option 2 - Private Complex	€700 - €1,200
Option 3- Private rental (house share)	€500 – 800 (bills not included)
Utilities (Electric/Gas/Refuse)	€30 - €50
Food	€250 - €350
Travel (Monthly Bus Ticket)	€65 - €85
Textbook & Materials	€75
Mobile Phone	€20
Personal Expenses (Social/Sports)	€200 - €300
Overall Expense (excluding Accommodation)	€640 - €880
Average Overall Expense (including Accommodation)	€1,274 - €1847

 source: https://www.ucc.ie/en/ 

For the benefit of students wanting to study in Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland has also provided shopping costs of daily items for candidates to be more prepared for their stay in the country. The cost of daily items in Ireland is as follows. 

Sample Shopping Costs	Price
Apples / Bananas / Oranges	€0.30 - €0.50
Butter 250g	€1.80
Milk 1 litre	€1.15
Eggs 6 pack	€1.60
Bread Loaf 800g	€1.50
Cornflakes 500g	€3.00
Chicken Breast / Tuna 300g	€3.75
Coca Cola can 330ml	€0.85
Coffee 100g	€3.49
Pasta 500g	€1.75
Potatoes 1kg	€2.00
Rice 500g	€1.25
Toilet Tissue 4 Roll	€2.00
Toothpaste 100ml	€2.99
Washing Powder 3kg	€4.35
Cinema Ticket	€9.00
Bus Ticket – Single Ride	€2.10
Bus Ticket – Monthly Pass	€65.00
Nike Running Shoes	€70.00
McDonald's Big Mac Meal	€7.50

 source: https://www.ucc.ie/en/

Most Affordable and Cheap Universities in Ireland

Now let us take a look at the cheapest and most affordable universities in Ireland for students wanting to study abroad. This list also includes cheap universities in Ireland without application fees.   

Cheap Universities in Ireland
Universities, Type	Application Fee (Euro)	Average Tuition Fees (First Year Fees, INR)
IBAT College Dublin, Private	€00.00	UG: INR 4.01 L - 5.42 L PG: INR 1.27 L - 11.38 L
National College of Ireland, Private	€00.00	UG: INR 5.01 L - 9.11 L PG: INR 10.93 L - 13.66 L
Dublin Business School, Private	€45	UG: INR 5.46 L - 9.15 L PG: INR 8.97 L - 13.2 L
ICD Business School, Public	€00.00	UG: INR 6.83 L PG: INR 5.46 L
Dundalk Institute of Technology	€00.00	UG: INR 6.87 L - 9.97 L PG: INR 9.11 L - 15.1 L
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Private	€00.00	UG: INR 9.06 L - 9.56 L PG: INR 5.92 L - 10.93 L
Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Public	€20	UG: INR 9.11 L - 9.56 L PG: INR 2.73 L - 13.11 L
Technological University Dublin, Public	€43.9 - 50	UG: INR 9.32 L - 19.93 L PG: INR 3.6 L - 19.81 L
Cork Institute of Technology	€00.00	UG: INR 10.93 L - 12.29 L PG: INR 10.93 L - 13.66 L
Griffith College	€45	UG: INR 10.93 L PG: INR 10.02 L - 34.6 L
Maynooth University, Public	€50	UG: INR 12.29 L - 16.39 L PG: INR 4.33 L - 16.39 L
Trinity College Dublin, Public	€40 - 65.3	UG: INR 12.53 L - 50.08 L PG: INR 5.55 L - 45.2 L
University of Limerick, Public	€35-50	UG: INR 13.9 L - 24.5 L PG: INR 6.28 L - 22.7 L

Details on Cheap Universities in Ireland

The details on some of the most affordable universities are given below. 

Dublin Business School (DBS)

Established in 1975, Dublin Business School has grown to become one of the biggest independent colleges in Ireland. Candidates can check out top courses offered at the Dublin Business School or take a look at our carefully crafted Admission FAQs for DBS, for candidates looking to apply to the university.

Cost of Studying at Dublin Business School

Level of Study	Tuition & Fees per annum
Undergraduate	12,000 euros
Graduate	12,000-12,500 euros
MBA	12,000-12,500 euros

Griffith College

Founded in 1974, Griffith College is one of the largest colleges in Ireland and remains to be a centre for learning excellence since its inception. Candidates can check out the popular courses available at Griffith College, Dublin.

Cost of Studying at Griffith College

Level of Study	Tuition & Fees per annum
Undergraduate	12,795 Euros
Graduate	Masters-14,000 euros
	PG-12,000 euros
MBA	14,000 euros

National College of Ireland (NCI)

Started in 1951 as a joint venture between Irish Jesuits and Irish Trade Unions, the National College of Ireland (NCI) is a non-profit state-supported advanced education institution located in Dublin. The college offers a wide variety of courses for students looking to apply to the National College of Ireland.

Cost of Studying at National College of Ireland (NCI)

Level of Study	Tuition & Fees per annum
Undergraduate	10,000 euro
Graduate	15,000 euro
MBA	10,000 euro ( higher diploma)
Cost of Living	10,000 euro

Letterkenny Institute of Technology 

Established in 1971, Letterkenny Institute of Technology is a third level institution offering over 130 programmes that range from one to four years in computing, design, engineering, science, the "social science" of business, law, nursing and veterinary practice.

Cost of Studying at Letterkenny Institute of Technology 

Level of Study	Tuition & Fees per annum
Undergraduate	10,000 euros
Graduate	15,000 euros
Cost of Living	10,000 euros

Maynooth University

Established in 1997, Maynooth University of Ireland is one of the fastest-growing universities in the country. The universities offer a variety of programmes largely focused on the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and are equally committed to research, teaching and engagement. Read: Maynooth University Ranking 2021

Cost of Studying at Maynooth University

Particulars	Cost of Studying
Fee Structure (all courses)	14,000-16,000 euros
Living Expenses	10,000 Euros

Dundalk Institute of Technology

 Founded in 1971, Dundalk Institute of Technology based in Dundalk within County Louth, Ireland is a research-intensive institute. The university offers various programmes for candidates looking to pursue research-intensive courses.

Cost of Studying at Dundalk Institute of Technology

Programme Name	Total Fee (indicative)
International Foundation Programme	7,250 euros
Pre-Sessional English Programme	2,000 euros
Bachelor Degree/Higher Diploma	9,950 euros/ annum
Master Degree	12,000 euros/ annum
Mandatory Facilities Fee	125 euros annually

Cork Institute of Technology

Established in 1973, Cork Institute of Technology is one of the leading universities in Ireland offering learning opportunities to a vast student community. Candidates can check out the various courses being offered at the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).

Cost of Studying at Cork Institute of Technology

Level of Study	Annual tuition fee
Undergraduate	12,000 euro
Graduate	12,000 euro

Trinity College Dublin

Established in 1592, the University of Dublin is a public research university and one of Ireland’s oldest universities. Candidates can check out of the top courses offered at the university and also at our carefully crafted Trinity College Dublin Admission FAQs for candidates looking to apply to the university. Read: Trinity College Dublin University Ranking 2021

Cost of Studying at Trinity College Dublin

Level of Study	Annual tuition fee
Undergraduate	20,000 euro
Graduate	16,000 euro

University of Limerick

Founded in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick. The University of Limerick (UL) got its university status only in 1989 after the University of Limerick Act 1989 accord. It is one of the top universities in Ireland offering popular programmes for all candidates looking to pursue quality higher education.  Read: University of Limerick Admission FAQs

Cost of Studying at the University of Limerick

Level of Study	Annual tuition fee
Undergraduate	12,514 euros
Graduate	13,140 euros

Candidates looking for more information about studying among the affordable universities in Ireland can get in touch with our Shiksha Counselors for admission guidance on the same. 

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