Masters (MS) in Ireland: Cost 2026, Eligibility, Duration, Requirements, Jobs

Master's Degree in Ireland: Looking to advance your career? Masters (MS) in Ireland offers the perfect blend of academic excellence and industry relevance for International applicants. Ireland has emerged as a top-tier destination for international students pursuing Master's degrees. World-renowned universities, Vibrant culture, World-Class Architecture, etc. are some top reasons to study MS in Ireland. Often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley of Europe,’ - Ireland is home to Google, Microsoft, Facebook, PayPal, Twitter, Intel, and Apple. Regardless of its small size, the expansion and level of the Irish higher education system make Ireland a unique alternative for postgraduate studies abroad.

The duration of Ireland master programs is 12-24 months and it is available to students in full-time mode. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree with at least a 50-70% academic score to get admission at Ireland universities for masters. They also require a score on English language tests (IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE) as proof of English language proficiency. Applicants must submit other supporting documents such as a personal statement or essay LORs, passport, etc. apart from Ireland masters requirements.

Also read: Student Guide to Ireland

MS in Ireland Highlights

Around 7 universities in Ireland for masters available for Indian students. Studying MS in Ireland is a common post-graduation study pursued by individuals in topics mostly related to Engineering, Computer Science, General Sciences, etc. Candidates must complete their graduation to be eligible for MS studies. The table includes the highlights of Ireland masters:

Highlights for MS in Ireland	Stats
MS Colleges in Ireland	7+ (approximately)
Cost of MS in Ireland	INR 16 lakhs (approx.)
Cost of living in Ireland	INR 5 Lakhs (average)
Top Specializations	STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs, Computer Science & Engineering, IT & Networking, Geology, Health Science, and Business courses.
Admission Process (Subject to University)	Bachelor’s Degree + GMAT/GRE scores + IELTS/TOEFL score + SOP + Letter of Recommendation (LOR) + resume + work experience

Check the list of Top Universities and Colleges in Ireland

Top 10 Ireland Universities for Masters

Ireland has around 7 universities that offer quality master's programs for International students. Mentioned below is the list of the top 10 colleges in Ireland for masters:

University	QS World University Rankings 2026
Trinity College Dublin	75
University College Dublin	118
University College Cork, Cork, Ireland	246
University of Galway	284
Dublin City University	410
University of Limerick	401
Maynooth University	771
Technological University Dublin	781
National University of Ireland Galway	284

Also read: Top 9 Universities in Ireland

Best Ireland Universities for Masters

The table below includes the list of the best MS colleges in Ireland by Times Higher Education Ranking in 2025:

University	THE Higher Education Rankings 2025
Trinity College Dublin	139
University College Dublin	201
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland	251-300
Dublin City University	351
University College Cork, Cork, Ireland	351
University of Galway	351
Maynooth University	501
University of Limerick	501
Technological University Dublin	1001

Popular MS Specializations for Ireland

Ireland MS universities offer a plethora of courses from sub-disciplines of arts to technical science. The table includes popular MS specializations for Ireland:

Popular MS Specializations for Ireland
MS in Biology (Sciences) in Ireland	MS in Physics in Ireland
MS in IT & Networking in Ireland	MS in Engg (others) in Ireland
MS in Computer Science & Engineering in Ireland	MS in Health Science in Ireland
MS in Mathematics in Ireland	MS in Geology in Ireland

Also read: Study in Ireland for Indian Students

MS in Ireland Cost for Indian Students

Ireland MS fees for Indian students range from INR 7 L to INR 28 L annually. Applicants can choose from the list of MS Universities in Ireland under 10 Lakhs to complete their master's degree under INR 10 L. The average first-year masters in Ireland cost is INR 16 L. The average cost of living in Ireland is around INR 5 lakhs per year. The living cost would be subject to increase/decrease depending on the lifestyle and preferred accommodation of the candidate. 

Read more about the Cost of Living in Ireland for International Students

Student Visa Cost for Ireland

International students must have a valid Ireland Student Visa to study master's program. There are two types of Ireland Study Visas: ‘C Study Visa (for studying courses that are for a total duration i.e., 3 months or less)’ or ‘D Study Visa (for studying courses that have a total duration of more than 3 months).’ Students who want to apply for a long-stay D Study Visa are required to pay €60 which is valid for a single entry for 90 days and €100 for a long-stay D Visa valid for multiple entries.

Also read: Know all about Ireland Student Visas

MS Requirements for Ireland

International students must meet the general MS in Ireland admission requirements to apply. Mentioned below are the requirements to study master's in Ireland for overseas students:

• Must submit official academic transcripts
• Students must have completed a 3 - 4 years graduation degree in a related field
• Must appear in English proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOFEL, and PTE; followed by a personal interview conducted by some universities.
• 3 to 5 years of work experience is mandatory for getting enrolled in a few Irish universities.
• Provide a scanned copy of the passport
• CV/ Resume
• Letter of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose for MS
• Essays (if asked)

Also read: Exam Required to Study in Ireland for Indian Students

Check the below video for a comparison between the GMAT vs GRE:

Work Permit after MS in Ireland

Once you have completed your MBA in Ireland you may wish to stay back a little longer and consider taking up a job to gain invaluable work experience in your related field of study as part of your post-study work visa plan. Students can apply for a non-renewable extension of up to 2 years after course completion. This extension is granted to find suitable employment. Later on, you can apply for a green card (renamed Critical Skills Employment Permit) or work permit (renamed General Employment Permit).

MS Scholarships for Ireland

International MS students in Ireland can apply for many scholarships. Candidates seeking MS scholarships to study in Ireland can view the most comprehensive study-abroad scholarships mentioned on our website. A total of 44 Scholarships are mentioned on our website and these are specifically for MS in Ireland.

MS Jobs & Salaries for Ireland

MS in Ireland average salary is around €44k or INR 40.07 L annually as per unofficial sources. MS graduates can earn up to 70 L and more after completing the degree. The below graph includes MS in Ireland salary by degree:

Top Recruiters for MS in Ireland

MS graduates in Ireland get job offers from top employers across the world such as Amazon, Facebook, IBM, Google, Deloitte, KPMG, etc. Mentioned below is the list of top employers at the top Ireland university for masters:

University	Top Recruiters
University College Cork	HSBC | IBM | KPMG | IBM | SAP | Amazon.com | Apple | McKinsey | PWC | Deloitte | Xerox | Accenture | Dell
Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin	KPMG | Ernst & Young | Facebook | Deutsche Bank | Amazon | Accenture | Deloitte | Mercer | PWC | Microsoft | JP Morgan Chase | LinkedIn | Hewlett Packard
National College of Ireland	Ernst & Young | Google | LinkedIn | Microsoft | Accenture | Volkswagen | Lionbridge | Merrill Lynch | Deloitte | CITI Bank | PWC | Capita | fidelity
National University of Ireland Galway	Hewlett Packard | Amazon | ICC Networks Pune | Sanofi | Pfizer | IBM | Glaxo Smithkline | Johnson Johnson | SalesForce | Ernst & Young | PWC | Genesys | Cisco Systems
Dublin City University	Nestle | IBM | eBay | Tesco HSC | Deloitte | IBM | Accenture | Google | Grant Thornton | Oracle | Dell | Novartis | Intel | KPMG | JP Morgan Chase

Also read: What are the Job prospects in Ireland?

Tasneem Hoda08-12-2025 14:37