How much money do I need for an Irish student visa?

From 30 June 2025, students on courses of a year or more must show access to €10,000. Immigration Service Delivery also says you need enough money to pay your programme fees and all other living expenses. For stays of six to eight months, the figure is €833 a month.

Can international students work in Ireland?

Yes. On Stamp 2 you can work in casual employment for up to 20 hours a week during term and 40 hours a week during holidays. The holiday periods are June, July, August and September, and 15 December to 15 January.

Can I stay in Ireland after I graduate?

Eligible graduates can apply for the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G). Level 8 graduates get 12 months; Level 9 graduates get 12 months, renewable for another 12. You must apply within six months of being notified of your award, and you can work full time on Stamp 1G.

Do I need health insurance to study in Ireland?

Yes. All non-EEA students coming to Ireland need private medical insurance, and you will be asked for proof when you register your immigration permission. Registration costs €300.

Study in Ireland - ScholarRadar

Study in Ireland

Ireland is an English-speaking EU country where non-EEA students can work 20 hours a week in term and 40 in holidays, then stay on after graduating on a Stamp 1G. Undergraduate fees run from €10,300 for business to €62,500 for medicine, and from 30 June 2025 you must show access to €10,000 for a year's study.

Facts checked on official websites on October 31, 2026

Why international students choose Ireland

Ireland is an English-speaking country in the EU with a clear set of rules for non-EEA students: you can work part time during your course, and graduates of degree-level programmes can stay on under the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G). You can spend up to seven years in Ireland as a student, and any earlier time studying there counts towards that limit (Irish Immigration Service Delivery).

What it costs

Fees are set by each institution. Education in Ireland lists these undergraduate ranges for 2025/26 (Education in Ireland):

Business: €10,300 to €29,000
Engineering, and science and technology: €14,500 to €28,500
Arts and humanities: €13,500 to €28,200
Medicine and health sciences: €50,135 to €62,500

For non-EU postgraduates in 2025/2026 it lists, for example, €14,000 to €40,000 for business and €12,000 to €23,000 for arts and humanities, and advises confirming current fees with each university or college (Education in Ireland). No official living-cost figure is given on these pages.

The student visa and proof of funds

You must show you have enough money to pay your programme fees and all other living expenses (ISD). From 30 June 2025, students on courses of a year or more must show access to €10,000, and visa-required nationals must show the same level of ready access for each later year. For stays of six to eight months the figure is €833 a month (ISD).

Other requirements:

Health insurance: all non-EEA students need private medical insurance, and proof is requested when you register (ISD).
Registration: the fee to register your immigration permission is €300 (ISD).

Working while you study

On a Stamp 2 permission you can work in casual employment for up to 20 hours a week during term and 40 hours a week during holidays (ISD). The holiday periods are June, July, August and September, and 15 December to 15 January (ISD).

After you graduate

The Third Level Graduate Programme gives eligible graduates a Stamp 1G. Graduates with a Level 8 award on the National Framework of Qualifications get a twelve-month permission. Level 9 graduates start with 12 months, which can be renewed for a further 12 months if you show steps towards graduate-level work. You must apply within six months of being notified of your award, and the registration fee is €300 (ISD). On Stamp 1G you can work full time, but you cannot run a business or be self-employed (ISD).

Scholarships for Ireland

The main national scheme is the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships, run by the Higher Education Authority. Each award gives a €10,000 stipend and a full fee waiver for one year of full-time study at master’s, postgraduate diploma or PhD level, and 60 scholarships are awarded each year. The 2026 call closed at 5pm Irish time on 12 March 2026 (HEA). Irish universities also run their own scholarships for international students.