Study Abroad Programs in Dublin, Ireland

You are likely to get a lot of support from your university, and the lack of language barrier is definitely going to make things easier for you. Make sure you use all of the resources available to you to make the transition easier.

Study Abroad Course Types in Dublin

There are three ways you can enroll in an Irish university: direct enrollment (enrolling directly with the university), direct exchange (enrolling through an exchange program with your university, and third-party provider (paying a third-party organization to take care of application and enrollment). There are pros and cons to studying abroad through direct enrollment vs. a program provider.

Aside from this, pretty much any subject you could want to study will be offered in one of Dublin’s universities. These include Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Dublin City University, and the Dublin Institute of Technology.

Many students choose to study subjects such as art, history, business, politics, and more while in Dublin. Since the city has been the home of great literary figures such as Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett, taking writing-related courses is also popular.

Housing in Dublin, Ireland

Most universities have their own student accommodation. You will have your own private room (sometimes en-suite, sometimes not), and share a kitchen with other students. Places are limited, but some universities give priority to arriving international students.

There are also several companies offering private student accommodation for those studying abroad in Dublin. The arrangement is pretty much the same as a university dorm but tends to be more expensive. However, these private dorms are often more modern and have nicer facilities.

Alternatively, you can look for a regular flat to rent. Many people prefer this since they can feel much more at home than in student housing. Housing in Dublin isn’t cheap, so it's likely that you're going to be sharing with flatmates. A one-bedroom apartment in Dublin's city center costs about 1,700 € per month.

Transportation

Dublin is relatively small, and you will rarely need to walk more than half an hour to get anywhere within the city center. The main forms of public transport are the bus, the DART (suburban commuter train), and LUAS (city tram).

It’s a relatively bike-friendly city, and cycle lanes are growing, but cyclists should be careful -- most Dublin drivers aren’t too used to sharing the road yet.

Ask anyone what they like least about living in Dublin, and chances are they will say the cost. That said, there are ways to keep the expenses down and still have fun while studying abroad in Dublin.

Ireland Visas

After you are accepted at a university, you will need to apply for a long-term student visa to legally live and study in Dublin. This can be done online and can take up to 8 weeks to process, so make sure you give yourself enough time.

You will need to apply for a Single Entry visa (€60) to enter Ireland for the first time. Then, you can register with the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) as a resident as apply for a Re-Entry Visa so you can travel outside the country and come back.

EU and EEA Nationals do not need a visa to study in Dublin, Ireland.

Can You Work While Studying Abroad in Dublin?

EU and EEA Nationals can work freely in Ireland. For everyone else, your student visa entitles you to work up to 20 hours a week during term time and 40 hours a week during holidays. This means you can easily make some money to help you fund your studies.

Scholarships

There are plenty of study abroad scholarships and grants available to help students cover tuition and living costs in Dublin. Some of these are funded by the Government of Ireland, while most of them correspond to specific institutions in both Ireland and in countries around the world.

Several American colleges have connections with Irish universities, which is particularly useful for exchange students.