How to apply for university studies in Ireland

Application procedures to study in Ireland vary depending on whether you are an EU or a non-EU student and whether you participate in undergraduate (first cycle) or graduate studies (second and third cycle).

If you plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate studies (first cycle) at a public university or college in Ireland for the first time, you will have to submit your application through the Central Applications Office (CAO). The CAO does not take the final decision on whether you will be admitted to the study program you applied for. Instead, the CAO facilitates the application process by collecting student data through a centralized system.

You can apply either online or by filling in a paper form that can be downloaded from the CAO website. However, we recommend you apply online, as it speeds up the process of evaluating your application.

[Visit CAO website and view a demo of the online application]

Please, note that your educational background and grade point average from your upper secondary studies will determine whether you qualify for the studies you applied for.

You may use the European grades comparison chart to learn how you would score in Europe.

If you are a non-EU student and you are applying for either undergraduate (first cycle) or graduate studies (second and third cycle), or you are an EU student applying for graduate programs (second and third cycle), you have to send your application directly to the institution where you would like to enroll. In general, you can apply online through the institution website or download the application form from the study program or course website.

Sources: Department of Education and Science
Central Applications Office