Ireland 2016/17 - student fees and grants

National student fee

Full-time first cycle students pay a 'student contribution' of EUR 3 000 per academic year. First-time undergraduates who are EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and have been resident in EU/EEA/Switzerland for at least three of the five years are exempt from full tuition fees. Those who do not meet the 'free fees' criteria must pay a consolidated fee covering both tuition fee and student contribution – the average EU consolidated fee is EUR 6 000.

For the second cycle, the majority of students pay tuition fees that are set by higher education institutions, and that may reach EUR 30 000 per year.

Fees for short cycle higher education programmes are set by individual higher education institutions. No information is available on the fee range.

Part-time fees are generally half of full tuition fees for full-time programmes.

International student fees are generally two to three times higher than those of full EU fees and are set by the higher education institutions.

Student grants

Need-based grants are provided to full-time students by the Department of Education & Skills, depending on means, family size and distance from institutions. For first cycle students, the grant ranges from EUR 305 to 5 915 per academic year. Students who qualify for grants also have the student contribution or tuition fees paid on their behalf. Second cycle students may receive a grant of EUR 2 000 to cover their study fees. The income threshold for this payment is EUR 31 500 for the 2016/17 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents. Alternatively, students who meet certain qualifying conditions are eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to EUR 6 270. The bursaries of EUR 2 000 may also be awarded based on merit- and need- based criteria. Students need to satisfy specific conditions of residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment to be eligible for grants. Short cycle students are not eligible.

Loans

No loans or family allowances.

Tax benefit for student's parents

Tax relief is available for the expenses paid for tuition fees at a recognised higher education institution. Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of certain full-time and part-time courses of higher education.

Family allowances

No loans or family allowances.