Study in Ireland: Costs, Visa, Universities and Scholarships for Pakistani Students

A practical guide for Pakistani students on studying in Ireland: tuition, living costs, the Government of Ireland scholarship, the study visa and Stamp 1G post-study work.

Ireland is an English-speaking EU country with strong universities, a large technology and pharmaceutical sector, and a generous post-study work route called Stamp 1G. Many Pakistani students choose Ireland for a one-year master's in computing, data analytics, business or engineering, then use Stamp 1G to look for work. It is not a cheap country, especially Dublin, but there are real scholarships, and the one-year master's format keeps total costs lower than a two-year programme elsewhere.

Currency used in this guide: €1 ≈ PKR 310 (October 2026). Exchange rates move, so treat every PKR figure as approximate.

Quick facts	Ireland
Language of teaching	English
Academic year and intakes	September (main intake); some master's programmes also start in January
Typical tuition, public universities and technological universities	bachelor's approx. €10,000 to €30,000 a year (PKR 3.1m to 9.3m); taught master's approx. €10,000 to €35,000 (PKR 3.1m to 10.85m); medicine much higher
Private colleges	often €8,000 to €15,000 a year; check the course is on the government's approved list (ILEP)
Monthly living costs	approx. €900 to €1,800 (PKR 279,000 to 558,000) depending on city
Part-time work	up to 20 hours a week in term, 40 hours a week in official holidays
After graduating	Stamp 1G: 12 months for level 8 (honours bachelor's), up to 24 months for level 9 and above (master's and PhD)

Budget options: what you can do on every budget

Budget	Route	What it looks like
Fully funded	Research Ireland Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship (PhD and research master's); funded PhD posts through university research projects	€25,000 a year stipend (PKR 7.75m), fee contribution up to €5,750 a year plus an extra €4,000 for non-EU students. Very competitive.
Partly funded (strong)	Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) for one year of master's or PhD; Erasmus Mundus with an Irish partner	GOI-IES: €10,000 stipend (PKR 3.1m) and a full fee waiver for one year. About 60 awards a year across all countries.
Self-funded with a university scholarship	Master's at a university outside Dublin (Galway, Limerick, Cork, Maynooth) with a merit fee reduction	Many universities give international merit awards of approx. €1,500 to €5,000 off fees. Total year approx. €26,000 to €38,000 (PKR 8m to 11.8m).
Self-funded, premium	Master's or bachelor's in Dublin (Trinity, UCD, DCU), or medicine	Fees approx. €20,000 to €35,000 a year plus €1,300 to €1,800 a month living in Dublin. Medicine can exceed €50,000 a year in fees.

Ireland has very few fully funded options for bachelor's students. If you need full funding, aim at master's or PhD level.

University costs

Public universities and technological universities. Non-EU fees are set by each university and course. Examples for 2026/27 at the University of Galway: MSc Business Analytics €21,640 a year (approx. PKR 6.7m), MA Journalism €20,890, Higher Diploma in Business Studies €15,440. Dublin universities are often higher for computing, business and engineering master's degrees. Medicine, dentistry and veterinary science are much more expensive.

Technological universities and institutes (such as TU Dublin, Munster TU, Atlantic TU, South East TU) are often a few thousand euro cheaper than the older universities and have strong industry links.

Private colleges. Fees can be lower, but check carefully that the course is on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). Without ILEP, you cannot get a study visa.

Application fees. Postgraduate applications often cost approx. €50 to €75 (PKR 15,500 to 23,000); some universities waive this. Undergraduate applications through the CAO cost approx. €45 to €60. These change yearly.

Deposits. For the visa you must show that at least €6,000 of your fees (or the full fee if it is less) has already been paid to the university.

Bachelor's entry from Pakistan. Irish universities usually accept A-levels directly. FSc students may be asked for very high marks, a foundation year, or a first year of university in Pakistan. Check each university's country requirements page.

Living costs

Approximate monthly costs for a student (2026, changes yearly):

City	Rent	Food	Transport	Total per month
Dublin	€700 to €1,100 (room in a shared house or student residence)	€250 to €350	€50 to €100	€1,300 to €1,800 (PKR 403,000 to 558,000)
Cork	€550 to €850	€250 to €320	€40 to €80	€1,000 to €1,400 (PKR 310,000 to 434,000)
Galway	€550 to €850	€250 to €320	€30 to €70	€1,000 to €1,400 (PKR 310,000 to 434,000)
Limerick	€500 to €800	€230 to €300	€30 to €70	€900 to €1,300 (PKR 279,000 to 403,000)

Housing is Ireland's biggest problem. Rooms in Dublin are scarce and expensive, and rental scams are common. Never send money for a room you have not verified; use university accommodation offices where possible. The Irish government's own estimate of a student's annual living cost is €10,000, but in Dublin most students spend more.

Scholarships and need-based funding

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES)

Run by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

Value: €10,000 stipend for one year, plus a full tuition fee waiver from the host university for that year
Number: about 60 awards for 2026/27
Levels: taught master's, level 9 postgraduate diploma, research master's or PhD (at least one year, full-time, in person)
Who qualifies: non-EU/EEA, non-UK, non-Swiss students with an offer (conditional or final) from an eligible Irish higher education institution. Pakistan is eligible. You can apply only once and only for one course.
Deadline: 12 March 2026 for 2026/27, with results in early June. The 2027/28 call is expected to open in early 2027 with a similar deadline; confirm on the HEA site.

Because you need an offer before applying, apply to universities in the autumn and winter before.

Research Ireland Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship

For PhD and research master's students. €25,000 a year stipend, up to €5,750 a year towards fees, and non-EU students can request an extra €4,000 a year. Lasts one to four years. The 2026 call closed on 23 October 2025, so expect the next call deadline around October each year. You need a supervisor at an Irish university who supports your application.

University scholarships

Most Irish universities offer international merit scholarships, usually partial fee reductions (often €1,500 to €5,000, sometimes more for top applicants). Some are automatic based on grades; others need a short essay. Deadlines often fall between March and June. Check the scholarship page of each university you apply to.

Erasmus Mundus

Several Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters include an Irish partner. These cover tuition, travel and a monthly allowance and are open to Pakistanis. Deadlines are usually October to February.

Browse current options at /scholarships?country=Ireland and read how to avoid scholarship scams.

Student visa: steps, documents and fees

Pakistani students need a long-stay D study visa. Ireland does not have an embassy in Pakistan. You complete the application online (AVATS) and submit your documents and biometrics at VFS Global, which runs the only Irish visa application centres in Pakistan. The application is then decided by an Irish visa office outside Pakistan.

Steps

Get an offer for a full-time course on the ILEP list and pay at least €6,000 of the fees (or the full fee if lower).
Attest documents: IBCC for matric and intermediate, HEC for degrees, MOFA. See the HEC attestation guide and document checklist.
Complete the AVATS online form and book a VFS appointment.
Submit documents, pay fees, give biometrics.
After arrival, register with immigration within 90 days and get your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card with Stamp 2.

Main documents

Letter of acceptance and proof of fee payment
Proof of English (IELTS, PTE or similar, as the university requires; see the test guide)
Proof of funds: immediate access to at least €10,000 (approx. PKR 3.1m) for the first year, on top of tuition. This rule has applied since 30 June 2025 for courses over eight months. For shorter stays it is €833 a month. Fixed deposits only count with a bank letter confirming you can withdraw the money.
Bank statements covering the last six months, with explanations for large deposits, and sponsor letters if parents pay
Private medical insurance (often approx. €150 to €250 a year for students; varies)
Academic certificates and a gap explanation if you have breaks in study
A clear statement of purpose explaining your course choice and plans

Fees (changes yearly)

Visa fee: €60 single entry (approx. PKR 18,600), paid in PKR, plus the VFS service charge
IRP registration after arrival: €300 (approx. PKR 93,000)

Processing time: usually around four to eight weeks after your documents reach the visa office, longer in summer. Apply at least three months before your course starts. The visa and pre-departure checklist can help you prepare.

Working while studying and after graduating

With Stamp 2 you can work up to 20 hours a week during term and up to 40 hours a week during official holidays (June to September and 15 December to 15 January). The national minimum wage applies. Part-time jobs in retail, hospitality and warehouses are common, but do not count on wages to cover tuition.

Stamp 1G (Third Level Graduate Programme):

Level 8 (honours bachelor's) graduates: 12 months
Level 9 and above (master's, PhD): 12 months, renewable for a further 12 months if you show you have been actively looking for graduate-level work
You can work full-time on Stamp 1G. Apply within six months of being notified of your results, and pay the €300 IRP fee again.
Total time on student permissions has limits (seven years at levels below 9, eight years overall).

Many graduates move from Stamp 1G to a Critical Skills Employment Permit or a General Employment Permit once they find a qualifying job, which can later lead to long-term residence.

Month-by-month timeline (for September 2027 entry)

When	What to do
October to December 2026	Shortlist courses (check ILEP), take IELTS or PTE, start IBCC and HEC attestation. PhD applicants: contact supervisors before the Research Ireland deadline (around October)
November 2026 to February 2027	Apply to universities; many fill popular master's places early
January to March 2027	Get offers. Apply for GOI-IES (expected deadline around mid-March; confirm) and university scholarships
April to June 2027	Accept an offer, pay the deposit, arrange €10,000 proof of funds in your account
June 2027	GOI-IES results (expected early June)
June to July 2027	Submit the study visa through AVATS and VFS Global
August 2027	Book verified accommodation and travel
September 2027	Start your course, register for your IRP within 90 days

Common mistakes Pakistani applicants make

Choosing a private college course that is not on the ILEP list, which makes a visa impossible.
Showing funds that appeared suddenly in the bank. Visa officers look for a steady history and clear sources.
Applying for GOI-IES without an offer letter, or sending more than one application (both lead to rejection).
Underestimating Dublin rent and arriving without confirmed housing.
Paying for rooms online before viewing them. Rental scams targeting new students are common.
Assuming part-time work will pay the fees. 20 hours a week covers some living costs at most.

Official links

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships (HEA): https://hea.ie/policy/internationalisation/goi-ies
GOI-IES 2026 call document: https://hea.ie/assets/uploads/2026/01/2026-GOI-IES-Call-Document.pdf
Research Ireland Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship: https://www.researchireland.ie/funding/government-ireland-postgraduate/
Irish Immigration Service, student finance requirements from 30 June 2025: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/reminder-on-student-finance-requirements-from-30-june-2025/
Irish Immigration Service, Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G): https://www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/third-level-graduate-programme/
Irish Immigration Service, study in Ireland: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/
University of Galway postgraduate fees: https://universityofgalway.ie/student-fees/how-much/postgraduate-fees/
Education in Ireland: https://www.educationinireland.com/
Erasmus Mundus catalogue: https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/scholarships/erasmus-mundus-catalogue_en

Figures checked on 10 October 2026. Always confirm on the official sites before applying.