TOP 11 Cheap Universities In Ireland   

The impact of COVID-19 on global travel and international study is gradually fading out. But in Ireland, many universities have resorted to remote education and online learning techniques to keep education still accessible.

In this view, and among other considerations, queries like “What are cheap universities in Ireland” has emerged as the top among frequently asked questions on international study.

In this article, you will see an extensive review of the cheap and affordable famous universities in Ireland for domestic and international students wanting to study abroad.

It is essential to admit that the cost of living and studying in Ireland is much more affordable, especially compared to the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

The average yearly tuition fee for inexpensive Irish universities is 14,000 EUR to 21,000 EUR, with the average annual cost of living for students dancing around 5,265 EUR. But there are still a handful of low tuition fee universities in Ireland for prospective students on a tight budget.

List of 11 Cheap Universities in Ireland

The cheapest universities in Ireland share similar economic advantages with the luxurious ones, such as work opportunities. This is peculiar to institutions located in Ireland’s capital, Dublin.

Companies like Google, Facebook, Airbnb, PayPal, Microsoft, and LinkedIn are also headquartered in the city, further expanding the internship and job opportunity potentials for students who study in Ireland at these affordable universities. In no particular order, here are some of the best, inexpensive universities in Ireland:

1. St Patrick’s College, Maynooth
2. ATU Galway University
3. Trinity College Dublin
4. Carlow College
5. Institute of Public Administration
6. Dundalk Institute of Technology
7. South East Technological University Waterford
8. Letterkenny Institute of Technology
9. Griffith College Dublin
10. National University of Ireland
11. SETU Carlow

Undoubtedly, the total expense incurred for schooling is one of the significant factors for studying abroad.

If you are looking for cheap and affordable universities for studying in Ireland, then any of these institutions is your best bet.

St Patrick’s College, Maynooth

• Tuition fees: 5,779 EUR for both domestic and international bachelor’s tuition.
• St Patrick’s College, Maynooth Admission Requirement Page 
• St Patrick’s College, Maynooth Tuition Details Page 

St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, doesn’t have the lowest tuition fee among all the universities in Ireland. Still, it is coming as our first recommended institution for cheap universities in Ireland primarily because of its quality on par with the low tuition.

St. Patrick’s College is a pontifical university that focuses on the fields of theology and philosophy. Established in 1795, the university offers programs from diplomas to doctorate degrees.

It is located in Maynooth, Ireland, and houses historic buildings on its campus. The environs of St Patrick College are a sight to behold, thanks to the gardens and the national science museum.

For international or domestic bachelor’s programs, prospective students can expect to pay as low as 5, 779 EUR annually for tuition.

ATU Galway University

• Tuition fees: 6,950 EUR and 0 EUR for international and domestic bachelor’s tuition, respectively.
• ATU Galway University Admission Requirement Page 
• ATU Galway University Tuition Details Page 

International students studying a bachelor’s program at Atlantic Technological Univesity (ATU) are expected to pay 6,950 EUR as a tuition fee. But this institution is government-owned, indicating that domestic students would pay much less. 

The institution started in 1971 and comprised four campuses based in Galway and Mayo, Ireland.

Students are offered Certificate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s programs at ATU with state-of-the-art facilities, including parking lots, libraries, and sports amenities.

It is one of Ireland’s best, cheapest universities, especially for international students.

Trinity College Dublin

• Tuition fees: Range from 20,609 EUR to 37,613 EUR, depending on the course you choose
• Trinity College Dublin Admission Requirement Page 
• Trinity College Dublin Tuition Details Page 

Despite the low tuition, students at Trinity College Dublin can choose among various available courses, including Business, Engineering, Social sciences, Medicine, Art, Management sciences, Law, and other martial sciences.

Aside from being Ireland’s most affordable university, the school is well-known for offering a wide range of practical and cost-effective courses to non-EU students.

Trinity has been operating since 1592 and offers many undergraduate and postgraduate courses, which would determine your aggregate tuition fee. But on average, it ranges from 20,609 to 37,613 EUR.

Carlow College

• Tuition fees: 4,750 EUR and 9,750 EUR for domestic and international bachelor’s tuition, respectively.
• Carlow College Admission Requirement Page 
• Carlow College Tuition Details Page 

Carlow College is another cheap university to consider in Ireland. It has been in existence since being the country’s second oldest university.

Located in Carlow, Ireland, the institution offers programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The first-year international students at Carlow College are expected to pay a total of 9,750 EUR as tuition fee, which is a little higher than the charge of the domestic student. But the brighter side is that both prices are affordable compared to most other schools in Ireland.

Regardless of the incredibly affordable tuition cost, Carlow College still offers Student services Such as career advising, healthcare, counseling, and even pastoral Consultation.

Institute of Public Administration

• Tuition fees: 3,200 EUR for domestic and international bachelor’s tuition.
• Institute of Public Administration Admission Requirement Page 
• Institute of Public Administration Tuition Details Page 

If you are particular about pursuing undergraduate studies in Ireland, then this is your sure place to be in. Dublin’s Insitute of Public Administration is one of Ireland’s most affordable institutions. 

The school doubles as a public service agency that serves undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Here, you will receive training courses from professional specialists. It is a recognized institution that specializes in Consultation, research, and publishing services are other services through respective departments.

Incoming international bachelor’s students can enjoy the advantages of schooling in this prestigious institution in Ireland for as low as 3,200 EUR as tuition.

Dundalk Institute of Technology

• Tuition fees: range from 7,250 EUR to 12,000 EUR per year for international students.
• Dundalk Institute of Technology Admission Requirement Page 
• Dundalk Institute of Technology Tuition Details Page

The Dundalk Institute of Technology may be among Ireland’s cheapest universities, but it is not among the ones with the highest acceptance rate.

We can’t be sure of this because the school needs to provide acceptance rate information. In other words, the school has strict admission requirements which do not require competition.

Well, Annual tuition fees at Dundalk Institute of Technology range from 7,250 EUR to 12,000 EUR per year for international students.

Otherwise known as DKIT, the institution is one of Ireland’s foremost Institutes of Technology due to its high-quality teaching and innovative research programs, regardless of the tuition cost.

This should really not come as a surprise since the institution is government-funded. With more than 5,000 students, Dundalk Institute of Technology offers courses on Arts & Humanities, Business, Management & Marketing, Computing, and Creative Arts & Media.

Other courses include Early Childhood Studies, Engineering & Built Environment, Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Arts, Music, Drama & Performance, Nursing & Midwifery, and Science, Agriculture & Animal Health.

South East Technological University Waterford

• Tuition fees: 0 EUR and 10,250 EUR for domestic and international bachelor’s tuition, respectively.
• South East Technological University Waterford Admission Requirement Page 
• South East Technological University Waterford Tuition Details Page 

This is the youngest university among all other cheap universities in Ireland. The South East Technological University Waterford was founded in 2023 with a focus on research and continuous investment in cutting-edge facilities and laboratories.

It is a public university that offers degree programs in various disciplines. The South East Technological University holds several international research partnerships.

So, if you need an institution that would expose you to collaborating with experts around the globe, this is a good one.

Letterkenny Institute of Technology

• Tuition fees: 10,000 EUR per year for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses (Non-EU students)
• Letterkenny Institute of Technology Admission Requirement Page 
• Letterkenny Institute of Technology Tuition Details Page 

Letterkenny Institute of Technology was designed to address the labor shortage of skilled technicians. Students are offered courses in Science, IT & Software, Medicine & Health Sciences, Business & Management Studies, Engineering, Design, Animation, Hospitality & Travel, Accounting & Commerce, and Architecture & Planning.

Other exciting courses offered in this cheap university in Ireland are Teaching & Education, Nursing, Law, Mass Communication & Media, and Arts.

As indicated earlier, the tuition for Undergraduate Courses is around 10,000 EUR annually for Non-EU students. It also applies to demographics pursuing Postgraduate programs.

Letterkenny Institute of Technology provides cutting-edge facilities to supplement their education despite the low tuition charges.

Griffith College Dublin

• Tuition fees: 12,000 EUR and 12,000 ~ 14,000 EUR for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Annual Tuition Fees, respectively. (Non-EU)
• Griffith College Dublin Admission Requirement Page 
• Griffith College Dublin Tuition Details Page 

The above Annual Tuition Fees for Griffith College are for international students coming from Non-EU countries. EU students must pay between 4,000 and 7,000 for undergraduate tuition and 6,000 to 8,000 for postgraduate programs.

Griffith College Dublin is recognized as the largest third-level institution in the country of Ireland. The institution offers International-accredited courses and programs which attract many international students who want to complete their academic journey.

The college has many student members, which explains why the school’s campuses are established in Dublin, Cork, and Limerick.

Aside from the undergraduate and postgraduate courses, Griffith College also offers third-level courses for Irish people.

National University of Ireland

• Tuition fees: 16,000 EUR – 25,000 EUR and 13,000 EUR – 24,000 EUR for Undergraduate and Postgraduate annual tuition, respectively
• National University of Ireland Admission Requirement Page 
• National University of Ireland Tuition Details Page 

Another cheap university in Ireland is the National University of Ireland, popularly called the NUI. The university is significant among other affordable options, primarily for its education quality and strategic location.

It is located in Galway, a place many people consider Ireland’s friendliest city that beckons tourists worldwide.

The school houses some of the best professors, and a graduate from NUI is always highly regarded.

For students within EU countries, the Undergraduate Annual Tuition Fee ranges between 6,000 EUR and 8,000 EUR, while that of the Postgraduate Annual Tuition Fee is between 5,000 EUR and 8,000 EUR.

SETU Carlow

• Tuition fees: 0 EUR and 10,250 EUR per year for Domestic and international Bachelor’s Tuition, respectively.
• SETU Carlow Admission Requirement Page 
• SETU Carlow Tuition Details Page 

Here, local and international students are offered undergraduate and postgraduate programs for low tuition rates.

The SETU Carlow university stands out for its research output. On top of the affordable academic expense, the school still offers students services on campuses, such as health centers and career services.

Conclusion 

The Ireland government sponsors nine major universities in the country, which are generally cheaper for international students. On the other hand, private universities, colleges, and higher education institutions would cost more, but you can still find inexpensive ones among them.

The best part is that Ireland nationals aren’t the only ones to take advantage of the cheap tuition offered by most of its universities. Numerous institutions in Ireland are fully open and welcoming to international students.

The cheap universities we have reviewed in the above article have been ranked for giving high-quality education at reasonable tuition rates.

If you have chosen to study in Ireland, I congratulate you on your choice because this is one of the safest places to learn since it is a part of the European Union.

Aside from that, the cost of living is among the cheapest in Europe because studying in Ireland is less expensive.

Are there some other cheap universities in Ireland that you think would make this review list? Feel free to share in the comments.