10 Cheap and Affordable Universities in Ireland in 2026

Ireland is a promising and one of the most affordable European countries for international students. It is one of the few English-speaking European countries which makes it easier for international students to adapt to the new environment. This article provides complete details on the most affordable universities in Ireland for international students.  

In this article, we will explore some of the most affordable and popular universities in Ireland for Indian students. We will consider factors such as tuition fees, living costs, and the overall value proposition of studying in Ireland.
Whether you are looking to minimise expenses or maximise the return on your educational investment, Ireland's universities offer a range of options to suit different budgets and academic ambitions. Read on to discover how you can turn your dream of studying abroad into a reality in Ireland.

Ireland has over the years become one of the most promising destinations for studying abroad. One of the major factors affecting the studying abroad dream is the total expense incurred in the process, and with the current battle among the world economies, purse strings are being held tighter than usual. So what do you do in such a scenario? Do you throw your dream of studying abroad? NO. You look for cheap and affordable universities for studying abroad. In this article, we are going to discuss the cheap and affordable universities in Ireland for Indian students.

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Top 10 Cheapest Universities in Ireland for Indian Students 2026

Let us take a look at the cheapest and most affordable universities in Ireland for students wanting to study abroad. These universities wide range of courses with various specialisations to choose from so that students do not have to compromise with the course of their dreams due to wanting to choose a cheap university in Ireland. This list also includes cheap universities in Ireland without application fees.   

Popular Universities in Ireland with Low Tuition Fees

The details on some of the most affordable universities in Ireland are given below. 

Dublin Business School (DBS)

Established in 1975, Dublin Business School has grown to become one of the biggest independent colleges in Ireland. Candidates can check out top courses offered at the Dublin Business School or take a look at our carefully crafted Admission FAQs for DBS, for candidates looking to apply to the university.

Cost of Studying at Dublin Business School

Griffith College

Founded in 1974, Griffith College is one of the largest colleges in Ireland and remains to be a centre for learning excellence since its inception. Candidates can check out the popular courses available at Griffith College, Dublin.

Cost of Studying at Griffith College

National College of Ireland (NCI)

Started in 1951 as a joint venture between Irish Jesuits and Irish Trade Unions, the National College of Ireland (NCI) is a non-profit state-supported advanced education institution located in Dublin. The college offers a wide variety of courses for students looking to apply to the National College of Ireland.

Cost of Studying at National College of Ireland (NCI)

Letterkenny Institute of Technology 

Established in 1971, Letterkenny Institute of Technology is a third level institution offering over 130 programmes that range from one to four years in computing, design, engineering, science, the "social science" of business, law, nursing and veterinary practice.

Cost of Studying at Letterkenny Institute of Technology 

Maynooth University

Established in 1997, Maynooth University of Ireland is one of the fastest-growing universities in the country. The universities offer a variety of programmes largely focused on the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and are equally committed to research, teaching and engagement. 

Cost of Studying at Maynooth University

Dundalk Institute of Technology

 Founded in 1971, Dundalk Institute of Technology based in Dundalk within County Louth, Ireland is a research-intensive institute. The university has various programmes for candidates looking to pursue research-intensive courses.

Cost of Studying at Dundalk Institute of Technology

Cork Institute of Technology

Established in 1973, Cork Institute of Technology is one of the leading universities in Ireland offering learning opportunities to a vast student community. Candidates can check out the various courses being offered at the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).

Cost of Studying at Cork Institute of Technology

Trinity College Dublin

Established in 1592, the Trinity College Dublin is a public research university and one of Ireland’s oldest universities. Candidates can check out of the top courses offered at the university and also at our carefully crafted Trinity College Dublin Admission FAQs for candidates looking to apply to the university.

Cost of Studying at Trinity College Dublin

University of Limerick

Founded in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick. The University of Limerick (UL) got its university status only in 1989 after the University of Limerick Act 1989 accord. It is one of the top universities in Ireland offering popular programmes for all candidates looking to pursue quality higher education.  

Cost of Studying at the University of Limerick

Candidates looking for more information about studying among the affordable universities in Ireland can get in touch with our Shiksha Counselors for admission guidance on the same. 

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Most Affordable Tuition Fees for Indian Students in Ireland

The most affordable tuition fees in Ireland for international students comes from the Institutes of Technology or the Technical Universities. Some of these are ATU, MTU, SETU, and TU Dublin. Their fees may range from €9,500-€10,000 for some courses, which is even less than the fees at the top public universities in Ireland, i.e. €10,000-€15,000 annually. Some of these budget-friendly institutions in Ireland and their average annual fees are given in the table below-

Where can I Find Free Tuition in Ireland?

Though Ireland has Free Fees Initiative for EU and EEA students, which can help them study free of tuition charges for an eligible number of years on eligible courses, there is no such scheme for other students of other nationalities currently. International students can study with 0% tuition fee by means of getting scholarships to study in Ireland and grants. They can also do part time jobs to further add to their budgets. 

International students can work on funded PhDs which give them the opportunity to study and work without tuition fee. While they can also apply for the university-specific scholarships or government-funded scholarships (GOI-IES).

Why Study in Ireland at Public Universities?

The public universities in Ireland charge very less tuition fee and inspite of this fact, they provide world class education and research facilities. Students can choose from a wide range of specialisations and the degree acquired from Ireland universities are accepted worldwide. It must be noted that the fee at universities in Ireland, in general, are lower than the fees at US or UK universities. The 1-year post study work visa in Ireland also help students to live in the country and look for work after their graduation. 

Cheap Universities in Ireland Without IELTS

There are two ways to study at any university abroad without the IELTS exam, one is - by studying a non-English-taught program and the second is - choosing alternate English exams that are also accepted by your university and visa authorities. Hence, to study in Ireland without IELTS, you will either have to study a course that is not taught in English or choose to go with the TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo exam. Hence, the cheap universities in Ireland without IELTS include Maynooth University, University College Cork (UCC), Dublin City University (DCU), University of Limerick (UL), Griffith College, and National College of Ireland (NCI). 

This was all about the cheap universities in Ireland for Indian students to study abroad. If you seek assistance in studying abroad at Ireland's most affordable universities, then you can reach out to Shiksha's Counselling Services for free.