Ireland is becoming a top study-abroad destination for many Indian students looking to pursue higher education abroad.

Ireland is known for its top universities, cutting-edge research facilities, and supportive learning environment. It also has a booming tech industry and a vibrant cultural scene.

In this blog, we will share the top five best universities in Ireland, eligibility criteria, programs, and tuition fees to help you find the right university to fulfil your career goals.

Best universities in Ireland

Here are some of the best universities in Ireland for International students recognised globally for their high-quality education, especially in fields like Technology, Business and Science. Many Irish universities rank among the top universities globally.

Trinity College Dublin (TCD)

This university was established in 1592, and it is one of the oldest higher education institutions and one of the seven “ancient universities” in the territory of the UK and Ireland.

It ranks #87 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. It has over 120 undergraduate and 131 postgraduate programs; its average tuition fees are 11,364 euros/year.

It has over 18,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in three areas: Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; engineering, Mathematics, and Science; and Health Sciences.

It also offers international students an Executive MBA (part-time and flexible executive MBA), a full-time MBA program, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology and Counselling Psychology.

General admission requirements

You should have an IELTS band score of 6.5 or more.
You should have a score of 90 or higher in TOEFL.
You should score 180 or higher on the Cambridge CAE Advanced Test.
You should have a PTE Academic score of 63 or higher.
You should have GMAT and GRE scores of 550+ or 306+, respectively.
You should have a GPA of 3.2 or higher in your bachelor’s.

University College Dublin (UCD)

University College Dublin was established in 1854 and is one of the leading research universities in Europe and is one of the best universities in Ireland.

It ranks #=126 in the QS World University Rankings, #31 in Europe University Rankings-Northern Europe, and #51 in Europe University Rankings and offers over 148 undergraduate and 238 postgraduate programs with average tuition fees of 20,500 Euros/year.

It has over 38,000 students from 152 countries, including over 5000 students based at locations outside Ireland.

UCD offers programs in various disciplines such as Arts and Humanities, Business and Management, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management.

General admission requirements

You should have an IELTS band score of 6.5 or more.
You should have a score of 90 or higher in TOEFL.
You should score 176 or higher on the Cambridge CAE Advanced Test.
You should have a PTE Academic score of 63 or higher.
You should have GMAT and GRE scores of 646+ or 299+, respectively.
You should have a GPA of 3 or higher in your bachelor’s.

University College Cork (UCC)

University College Cork (UCC) is the next best university in Ireland for International students. It was established in 1845, and in 1998, it was renamed as University College Cork- National University of Ireland-Cork.

It was the first university in the world who has received an international green flag for enviornment sustainability in 2010.

This university ranks #=273 in QS World University Rankings 2025, Ranked in Europe’s top 50 for teaching excellence as measured by Times Higher Education, Ranked 8th in the world by Times Higher Education impact rankings for sustainable social and economic impact, #=48 in Europe University Rankings- Northern Europe, and #105 in Europe University Rankings.

This university is situated in Cork, and offers 119 undergraduate and 156 postgraduate programs baked in its four colleges:

Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences
Business and Law
Medicine and Health
Science, Engineering, and Food Science

Dublin City University (DCU)

Dublin City University (DCU) was established in 1975, but it gained its university status in 1989. It is a much younger university in comparison to two historic universities we have discussed above.

This university ranks #=421 in the QS World University Rankings 2024, #=63 in Europe University Rankings-Northern Europe and #152 in Europe University Rankings.

DCU has three academic campuses, a sports campus, and an innovation campus, situated just 15 minutes from Dublin City Centre. This university offers various research opportunities in Technology, Engineering, Business, Communications, Humanities, Science and Health.

This university offers three postgraduate programs- three in Business and Management and one in Engineering and Technology.

The average Dublin City University fees is 15,500 euros/year and you require GPA of 2.6 or higher in your bachelor’s to take admission at this university.

University of Galway

Before this university was recognised by the name National University of Ireland, Galway, later it was renamed as the University of Galway.

It is one of the oldest and best universities in Ireland for international students, situated in the city Galway, West Coast of Ireland.

This university ranks #=273 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. This university is renowned for its unique culture, creative industries, medical technologies, marine ecology and economy, and innovation.

It offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines such as Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, Science and Engineering, Health Sciences and Law.

This university has four Colleges (Colleges of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies; Business, Public Policy & Law; Engineering & Science; and Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences) and five Research Institutes ( Data Science Institute (DSI), Ryan Institute , Institute for Lifecourse and Society (ILAS), Institute for Clinical Trials).

Factors to consider when choosing a university

As you are aware about the best universities in Ireland, you might be on the next step to choose the university that aligns with your career goals.

When you choose a university you have to look at many factors, on the basis of those you decide a university from where you will pursue either your bachelor’s or master’s program.

Here are some of the factors:

Make sure that the university you are selecting offers the specific courses or fields you’re passionate about. Some universities excel in particular disciplines, so researching their strengths is essential.
Studying abroad is expensive, so consider not only the tuition fees but also the cost of living, including accommodation, food, and transportation. This will help you to plan your studies properly. You can research about the scholarships offered by the university.
Do research about the post-graduation work visas and internship opportunities offered by the university, as you also have to earn along with your studies. A strong connection to industry will be an advantage for your career.

Ireland study visa requirements

If you from EU, EEA, or Switzerland then you do not need to apply for an Ireland study visa. You just need to bring proof of acceptance onto your course when you land in Ireland.

If you aer from countries like India, you need to apply for an Ireland student visa. You can apply for the study visa online via Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.

You have to submit the following documents at the time of applying for your Ireland study visa:

A letter of acceptance onto a course offered by a recognized institution
Evidence that fees have been paid
Evidence of medical insurance
Evidence of sufficient funds to cover living expenses – currently set at a minimum of €7,000 (~US$7,900) per year
Two recent passport-sized photographs
Evidence of proficiency in English
Passport which is valid for at least six months after the course will end