Study in Ireland: Cost & Living Expenses in Ireland

The main costs that students can expect to incur while studying in Ireland include tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses. These vary considerably depending on the course, the institution and the lifestyle of the student. The figures given below provide a guideline for budgeting. Costs do not remain static, so it is important to double check fees with the Institution(s) you are considering applying to, and to ask their advice on other living costs.

Fees:

Tuition fees vary depending on the institution and the study programme. An example of tuition fees for 2008/2009 for undergraduate, non-E.U. students at a third level institution are as follows:

Course	Average Fees (Euro)*
Medicine and related	€29,000 - €45,000
Engineering	€9,100 - €20,300
Science & Technology	€9,100 - €20,300
Business and related	€9,100 - €16,500
Arts & Humanities	€9,100 - €15,500

These figures serve as an approximate guide only, for exact fee details contact the relevant institution directly.

All prices are given in Euro, the currency in use in Ireland. You can check exchange rates on www.onbusiness.ie (go to the currency converter).

Fees for Masters programmes can vary depending upon the type of programme.

Living Expenses

Living expenses will differ depending upon the location of the institution, the type of accommodation preferred and on the personal expenditure of the student. To give some idea of the total cost involved, the following approximate figures - at 2008 rates - are given as a guide to overall expenses On average we estimate that a student will spend between €7500 and €12,000 per year depending on location and lifestyle.

Expenses	Euros
Textbooks	€650
Accommodation	€3000- €5150
Food and Household	€2500-€3500
Other Living Expenses Travel, Health,Insurance, Social life, Communications Miscellaneous expenses	€1500- €2500 (depending on location and lifestyle)

Please note that all the above figures are approximations as some students will live on less and some on more depending on their allowance.

Accommodation 

All third level institutions will have an accommodation officer or advisor who can provide information for you about accommodation on, or close to your campus. The following options are generally available:

Self catering accommodation includes a large number of options from a room in a shared house to a large private apartment. While self catering accommodation can offer full independence, the prospective student should be aware that there can be significant set-up costs associated with self catering accommodation. You will be required to pay the first month's rent and a deposit in advance. The deposit is normally the same amount as the monthly rental figure. Minimum lease period is usually 1 year and if you vacate prior to this period you will be liable to pay rent for the remaining period. Please note that miscellaneous items might have to be purchased e.g. crockery, cooking utensils, bed linen etc.

Most universities and a number of other colleges offer on-campus accommodation. This can range from a single, or shared room in a large apartment to a one-bedroomed apartment. Your institution of choice will be able to provide you with full details of the options on offer.

Many international students, particularly in the first year, opt to choose family based accommodation. This means a private room in a family home where two meals (generally breakfast and evening meal), utility costs and laundry services are provided. Again the institution you are applying to will have lists of experienced families in the area who provide approved accommodation for international students.

Other Costs

There are a number of other costs associated with studying in any country and these include food, laundry, household expenses, clothes, textbooks, transport & travel, communication, health care, and of course socialising! These costs vary form area to area and from person to person.