Spring Intake in Ireland 2026: Timeline, Eligibility, Universities , Benefits

There are two intakes in Ireland for students willing to apply. The major intake is the September intake in which all universities and courses are available. However, the spring intake in Ireland, also known as the January intake or the February intake is an alternative to the Sep intake in Ireland. 

Spring Intake (January/February) is the secondary intake in Ireland for international students. This intake offers a second chance to those Indian students who missed applying in the September intake in Ireland due to incomplete documents or any other reasons. Students can still apply to the Irish university of their choice during the Spring intake in Ireland, though only a limited number of colleges and courses are available for this intake. Mostly postgraduate (PG) or diploma courses are available during the spring intake in Ireland. This also means that lesser scholarships and fewer students on campus when the session starts.

Unlike the September intake, there is less competition for students if they apply during the Spring intake in Ireland. The deadlines for the January intake in Ireland fall in Oct-Nov of the year and the classes start in Jan-Feb. Students can get a place in their dream university with less hassle. Read this article to learn more about the spring intake in Ireland. 

What is Spring Intake in Ireland?

The spring intake in Ireland is the second most major intake in Ireland, classes for which typically run from January to May. This intake comes off as an alternate intake after the fall intake if the students could not prepare their university application, appear for the language and subject tests, manage funds and gather necessary documents on time.

While fewer courses are available for international students during the spring intake, it also generally provides a smoother entry to the university by posing less competition. Students can opt to get admitted to various PG and/or diploma courses in Ireland. 

Irish Universities Participating in the Spring Intake

If you missed the Fall intake then you need not to worry, and for good reasons. This is because most top universities and colleges in Ireland participate in the spring intake and open most of their courses for students. Universities/colleges participating in the Spring Intake in Ireland in 2026 are -

1. National College of Ireland
2. Dublin Business School
3. Griffith College
4. TU Dublin
5. Atlantic Technological University
6. Dublin City University

As far as the PG courses are concerned, all the above-listed universities offer almost all their master's courses during the Spring Intake, except TU Dublin. TU Dublin offers only 2-4 courses. 

Note:- There's also an "April Intake in Ireland"; but only Dublin Business School participates in it. 

Spring Intake in Ireland vs. Fall Intake: Which is Right for You?

Here is a brief comparison of both the September and the spring (January) intake in Ireland for international students. You can choose the intake right for you by balancing the factors given in this section as per your requirements. 

Application Timeline for the Spring Intake in Ireland 2026

Applying on time for the spring intake can save you lots of time and prevent you from missing out on other university deadlines. Here is the general timeline for the spring/January intake in Ireland for international students:

• May (of the previous year): Research programs and universities in Ireland that are available for the Spring Intake. Shortlist institutions and understand their specific entry requirements and deadlines.
• June (of the previous year): Begin preparing your application documents, including transcripts, Statement of Purpose (SOP), Letters of Recommendation (LORs), and English language test scores (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo).
• June - July (of the previous year): Submit your applications before priority deadlines. Some universities have rolling admissions; however, applying early is always recommended due to limited seats.
• July (of the previous year): After submitting your application, wait for the university’s decision on your application. At this time, if your application will be good enough for a scholarship, then the university will also provide you with a scholarship to study in Ireland along with your offer. However, you may receive conditional or unconditional offer letters, depending on the nature of your documents or the completeness of the list of documents submitted from your end. The university may ask you to submit certain documents and then offer you an unconditional offer. Check differences between a conditional and unconditional offer 
• August 2025: After you accept an offer, accept it, pay the required amount of tuition fees, and begin your Ireland student visa application process immediately. Apply for PCC (mandatory) and arrange your funds.
• October 2025: Apply for your Ireland Student Visa. 
• December 2025 - January 2026: Arrive in Ireland, attend university orientation sessions and start your studies.

Eligibility Criteria for the Spring Intake in Ireland

The general eligibility criteria for international students to study in Ireland include:

• Qualifications:
• Undergraduate: A class 12 marksheet with a minimum of 70% from a recognised school or educational board (for example, CBSE/ICSE/state boards). Students may also need to check the specific subject requirements for STEM courses (e.g., Mathematics and Physics) and the arts for arts and humanities-related subjects.
• Postgraduate: A 3 or 4-year bachelor's degree with a minimum of 60-65% of marks or 3.3 GPA is required for admission to the prestigious master’s courses in Ireland. 
• English Language Proficiency: Demonstrated proficiency tests like:
• IELTS: Overall score of 6.0-6.5 with no band less than 6.0 for UG and PG.
• TOEFL iBT: 79+ marks
• PTE: 58+ marks
• Duolingo English Test: Accepted by some universities only, if you’re willing to take DET, make sure it is accepted by the university of your choice before paying the exam fees..
• Age Criteria: 17+ for undergraduate programs; no strict upper age limit for PG programs.
• Gap Years: 1-2 gap year is generally acceptable with a valid explanation or relevant work experience only.
• Backlogs: Most universities accept up to 5 backlogs; some may accept 7-8 with a strong SOP. However, the same must be confirmed with the university. Check what is a backlog certificate here. 

List of Documents Required to Apply for the Spring Intake

• Updated Resume/CV (especially for PG applications)
• Proof of Work Experience (if applicable for PG courses like MBA)
• University Offer Letter (for visa and admission confirmation)
• Valid Passport
• Academic Transcripts (10th, 12th, Bachelor's/Postgraduate)
• English Language Proficiency Scorecard (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Letters of Recommendation (LORs - typically 2-3 from professors or employers)
• Gap certificate (if required)

Cons of Choosing the Spring Intake in Ireland

While there are many benefits like - students can have more certainty of getting a seat in their desired college rather than in the Fall Intake. But, there are cons of the January intake in Ireland as well. 

For example, the same master's course, which is of 1 year duration in the fall intake, may be of longer duration (1.5-2 years) when opted for during the Spring intake. Also, students get less time to prepare for the application during this intake. While there is almost an year to prepare for the fall intake, students hardly get 6 months to prepare for the spring intake. However, there is no change in fee noted for these courses during different updates.    

You can also check our other informative articles on studying in Ireland:

This was all about the spring intake in Ireland for international students in 2026. For assistance with studying inIreland, get Shiksha’s Counselling Services for free! Also, feel free to drop any query in the comments below.