Top Public Universities in Ireland for International Students in 2025

Top Public Universities in Ireland 2025: One of the main reasons to study in Ireland is its world-class universities which offer a variety of courses. The universities in Ireland rank among the top 5% in different world university rankings. Among the top listed ones, public universities in Ireland occupy a major proportion. Ireland public universities are known for their contribution to research, innovation, and skill development. There are three types of universities in Ireland- public universities, private universities, and institutes of technology. Students can choose from any of these universities to study in Ireland.

This Story also Contains

1. Top Ranking Public Universities in Ireland 2025
2. Intakes at Top Public Universities in Ireland 2025
3. Which Ireland Intake Should You Choose?
4. Eligibility to Study in Public Universities in Ireland
5. Benefits of Studying in Public Universities in Ireland?
6. Public Universities in Ireland for Masters 2025
7. Popular Public Universities in Ireland without Application Fee 2025
8. Application Process for Ireland Public Universities
9. Tuition Fees at Public Universities in Ireland 2025
10. Top Scholarships to Study at Public Universities in Ireland 2025
11. Student Visa to Study in Public Universities in Ireland 2025
12. Documents Required for Ireland Student Visa
13. Top 10 Public Universities in Ireland For MBA 2025
14. Popular Courses Offered by Public Universities in Ireland 2025

A few of the top universities in Ireland include Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin. Public universities in Ireland are owned by the state and receive public funds from the government. Read this article to learn more about Ireland's public universities, their benefits, admission requirements, and unique features.

Top Ranking Public Universities in Ireland 2025

Below is the list of the top Ireland public universities for international students as per the QS World University Ranking 2025. The given list helps you to find the best public universities in Ireland for master's degrees and for bachelors also.

Top Public Universities in Ireland 2025

Intakes at Top Public Universities in Ireland 2025

There are three admission intakes in public universities in Ireland for international students. These include Autumn, Sping, and a Rolling intake. Students can refer to the table below to know more about the intakes in Ireland.

Intakes in public schools in Ireland:

One must note that the exact application deadlines vary depending on the location and the requirements of the public universities in Ireland 2025. However, we have mentioned the common intakes in Ireland above.

Which Ireland Intake Should You Choose?

It completely depends on the personal profile and circumstances. Each intake in public universities in Ireland has its pros and cons. One must clearly understand these before making an informed decision. There are several factors to consider before deciding the intake. These include academic profiles, college preparedness, course availability, interests, documents gathered, and more. Indian education system aligns perfectly with the September intake; making it the top choice and the most popular one among all. However, sometimes students require more time to prepare application documents for the public universities in Ireland 2025, they can choose the January Intake instead of wasting the next whole year.

Benefits of September Intake

• Most popular intake in Ireland that offers the majority of courses. This helps international students to choose their preferred course of study.
• Thousand of applications, providing a more cultural and diverse campus life.
• This intake in Ireland provides more time for international students to adjust.
• Almost all the scholarships in Ireland deadlines come into the autumn admission intake in Ireland. This increases the chances of getting financial help or scholarships for international students.

• Students admitted during this intake in public universities in Ireland can complete their studies in time and even before.

Benefits of January Intake

• This Ireland intake is less competitive for international students.
• Students can apply for public universities in Ireland in a mid-year as per their convenience.
• Some scholarships are also offered during this intake.
• Smaller class size lead to more one on one interaction between faculty and student

Benefits of Rolling Intake

• It is the most flexible intake in Ireland which allows international students to start their studies as per their convenient timing.
• It is the least competitive as the admission are acceptable throughout the year.

Eligibility to Study in Public Universities in Ireland

• International students must have a minimum score of 60% in the qualifying exam.
• They must have completed 18 years to apply for an undergraduate course.
• Those applying for a postgraduate program must have finished a bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject.

Benefits of Studying in Public Universities in Ireland?

Studying in one of the public universities in Ireland for international students is very beneficial. Ireland is among the top countries renowned for top universities in the world, cheap & affordable 1 to 2-year master’s programmes, flexible post study work visa options, an abundance of career opportunities, and more. There are numerous reasons why study in Ireland. Moreover, the Iish strong economy is known to export technical instruments, medical pharmaceuticals & apparatus, perfumes, electrical machinery, and more providing enough career opportunities for students graduating from public universities in Ireland 2025. Here are some more advantages of public schools in Ireland.

• Top Notch Education: the public universities in Ireland are known fo their updated, rigorous, and prestigious courses that are also among the top universities in the world.
• Affordable Tuition in Public Universities in Ireland 2025: The country is quite affordable for students who get admitted to public universities to pursue a course of study. The public universities in Ireland are generally cheaper than private universities.
• Wide Range of Courses: The public colleges in Ireland offer international students diverse course options in different study disciplines such as Engineering, Medicine, Business, and Fine Arts.
• Career Opportunities: On graduating from one of the public universities in Ireland 2025, students get an option to stay back in the country to explore job opportunities. One of the post study work visa pathways for international students in Ireland is the Third Level Graduate Scheme which allows them to work for up to 2 years after completing their course of study in Irish public universities.
• Safe and Low Crime Rates: Ireland is one of the countries with the lowest crime rates and is considered to be the safest country for international students.
• Scholarships for students: Some of the top public universities in Ireland for international students offer numerous scholarships. There are several government-funded scholarships as well. It reduces the financial burden of international students in Ireland.

Public Universities in Ireland for Masters 2025

The top public universities in Ireland for master courses include:

Top Public Universities in Ireland for Masters:

Popular Public Universities in Ireland without Application Fee 2025

One must note that almost all the top public universities for international students require an application fee. However, these affordable public universities offer very low tuition fees for international students. So, technically, students looking for public universities in Ireland without application fee for international students can apply here. Some of these include:

• Dublin Business School
• University of Limerick
• Griffith College Dublin
• National University of Ireland
• Trinity College Dublin
• Cork Institute of Technology
• Maynooth University

Application Process for Ireland Public Universities

To apply for courses in government universities in Ireland, international students must apply through the Central Applications Office(CAO) which is an online enrolment system for admission to public universities in Ireland. Here are the steps involved to study master's in Ireland:

• Register at the CAO portal and create an account.

• Scan and submit the required documents in the portal.

• Submit your scores in the IELTS or TOEFL exam.

• Pay the application fee.

• Apply through the CAO for courses at your selected universities.

• Get all the information about your application and different stages through this account.

However, you cannot apply to all public universities in Dublin through the CAO website which also includes public universities in Ireland for international students. So please check with the university before you make your application. You can go to the individual website of the university and check on the admission requirements.

Application fee: The application fee also varies for each university. The Ireland public universities fees depend on the college and the course you are applying for. Check the application fee amount on the university website. But there are some Ireland universities without application fees. Dublin City University and Dublin Institute of Technology are some of the universities in Ireland without an application fee. Students can also check some cheapest universities in Ireland offering affordable education to international students.

English language requirements: The English language requirements for public universities in Ireland are getting the required score in English language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL as per the university. However, you can get an exemption from English language tests if you have done your previous education or bachelor's degree in an English medium institution even if your native language is not English in these Ireland public universities for international students.

It is possible to study in Ireland without IELTS or other English language tests even at Ireland public universities for international students. Trinity College Dublin is one of the public universities in Ireland for international students without IELTS.

Tuition Fees at Public Universities in Ireland 2025

It is a popular misconception that students are exempted from paying tuition fees at Ireland public universities. The truth is there is no tuition fee for EU and EEA citizens in Ireland but citizens of other countries have to pay tuition fees. EU and EEA citizens are exempted from tuition fees only for undergraduate courses. Given below are the average tuition costs for different course levels at a public university in Ireland.

Average Tuition Fee in universities in Ireland

On average the Ireland public universities fees for international students ranges from Euros 5000 to 45,000 per year. The Ireland public universities fees will vary depending on the course and the university. You can choose the cheap public universities in Ireland for international students to reduce the education expenses in this country.

Top Scholarships to Study at Public Universities in Ireland 2025

Public universities in Ireland also offer scholarships to international students. These are offered by the government or the public university in Ireland themselves. They can apply for these scholarships in Ireland after checking the eligibility criteria. Some of the scholarships offered by public universities include:

• NUI Galway International Student Scholarships

• DCU International Student Scholarships

• Maynooth University Scholarships

• UCC Excellence Scholarships

• UCD Scholarships

• UCD USA scholarships

• UCD Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship- USA

• UCD Sutherland School of Law

• University of Limerick Scholarships

• Trinity College Dublin Scholarships

  • Trinity College Dublin Undergraduate Scholarships

  • Trinity College Dublin Postgraduate Scholarships

  • Trinity College Dublin Study Abroad Scholarships

Student Visa to Study in Public Universities in Ireland 2025

Once you have secured admission to a public university and paid a tuition fee for one year, you must apply for a student visa. There are two types of student visa for Ireland:

1. C study visa: You must apply for this visa if you plan to study in Ireland for less than three months. This short-stay visa is for training programs or courses that are of 90 days duration or less.

2. D study visa: You must apply for this visa if you enrol for a course that is longer than three months.

Documents Required for Ireland Student Visa

• Valid passport
• Two passport-size photos
• A letter stating your acceptance into a college
• Receipt as proof of payment of the registration and tuition fees
• Proof of having adequate funds
• Certificate proving proficiency in the English language such as IELTS or a similar test
• Medical insurance policy with a value of at least Euros 25,000
• Additional requirements as stated by the university

Top 10 Public Universities in Ireland For MBA 2025

Ireland has a thriving academic scene, with many Master of Business Administration (MBA) programmes available at prestigious public universities. The top 10 Ireland public universities renowned for their rigorous MBA programmes are as follows:

• Trinity College Dublin

• University College Dublin

• University of Limerick

• Dublin City University

• Technological University Dublin

• University College Cork

• Dublin Business School

• Maynooth University

• Griffith College Dublin Main Campus

• UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

Popular Courses Offered by Public Universities in Ireland 2025

Ireland has attracted thousands of international students by ensuring a top-tier education and diverse programme offerings. Many of the Ireland universities are among the top educational institutions worldwide according to the QS world rankings 2025 for providing a wide range of academic specialisations. Some of the popular courses offered by Ireland's public universities include the following:

• Computer Science
• Accounting and Finance
• Data Science
• Cyber Security
• Data Analytics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cloud Computing
• Business Analytics
• Pharmaceuticals
• Digital Marketing.

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