Study in Dublin, Ireland
by Matheus Câmara da Silva
Designated as the City of Literature by UNESCO, Dublin's rich history, warm hospitality and distinguished architecture makes it one of the most sought-after destinations for students.
Dublin boasts a vibrant culture and a captivating landscape scene, offering a perfect blend of ancient charm and modern sophistication. On top of the bustling life, the city is also home to numerous world-class universities with a range of academic disciplines, and an inclusive learning environment.
Who wouldn’t want to study there?
Ireland's capital is a buzzing city that still retains a relaxed atmosphere. The city is known for the friendliness of the locals and for its lively pubs. Great beaches are a quick train ride from the centre, and many other natural attractions are within easy reach. It’s a busy student city, too, with a vibrant nightlife and tons of wonderful museums and galleries free to visit. Around thousands of students attend its four universities each year, and Dublin is also home to a lot of English language schools.
Dublin’s rich history fills every corner of the city, and its thriving cultural scene makes it a mecca for music and literature lovers. It is also a magnet for innovation, with startups and tech giants alike establishing their headquarters in the city. With all that it is offering, you may think that Dublin lacks in the nature department. However, that’s not the case. Thanks to its collection of green spaces –Phoenix Park being the most notable – it’s been named one of the world’s greenest cities.
As a prospective student, you should be aware however that the cost of living in Dublin can be fairly high. This is mostly due to pricey accomodation, which can also be quite challenging to find. But do not worry, universities offer support and guidance in finding the housing that suits your needs best, you just need to reach out and contact them.
Universities in Ireland can be a little more expensive than in other parts of Europe, but local and EU students can study tuition-free at undergraduate level.
Trinity College Dublin is the best university in the country and it is ranked among the top 200 worldwide. It was founded in 1592 and it is home to about 18,000 students. It is among the best 100 universities in the world for dentistry, ecology and biomedical engineering.
Another high-ranking institution is University College Dublin, which is younger than TCD (founded in 1854) and is among the top 200 worldwide as well. It ranks very high for food science and technology (27th in the world) and veterinary sciences.
Dublin City University and Technological University Dublin are the youngest of the group, the first founded in 1975 and the second formed in 2019 as a merger of older institutions. Both universities have a very dynamic and ambitious learning environment, heavily focused on research and innovation.
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While EU/EEA students don’t have restrictions on the number of hours they can work during their studies, other international students will have to stick to 20 hours a week during term time and 40 during holidays.
After graduation, non-EEA students can stay up to 12 months (for bachelor’s graduates) or 24 months (for master’s and above) to look for employment, and they can work up to 40 hours a week.
The job market in Dublin is performing very well and there are job opportunities everywhere. Ireland is overall known as the fastest country to increase its GDP in Europe since 2017. The tech scene is thriving, and so is the support for startups from government and various funding organizations. Many international companies, from tech to finance, have offices or headquarters in the city – the likes of Facebook, Airbnb, Google, Microsoft, and are known to often hire young talent.
Dublin has an excellent transportation infrastructure. You can reach the city by air as Dublin airport is one of the busiest in Europe. It has several daily direct connections with other cities in Europe, the US and beyond. It also hosts the headquarters of one of Europe’s most famous budget airlines, Ryanair.
There are also tons of convenient and affordable ways to arrive by sea or land. Visiting the rest of Europe from Dublin is a breeze, as the city is only a short flight away from most European destinations.
