Welcome to Ireland!
It is not a coincidence that the national color of Ireland is green: the country has one of the most vivid green landscapes in the world. Rainfalls and a pretty constant temperature throughout the year gives the Irish grass the perfect conditions to flourish. Yes, you read it right, temperature in Ireland is quite steady. That’s because of the Atlantic currents that warm up winter (snow is pretty rare in Ireland) and mitigate the summer hotness.
Ireland is a quite recent country. Before that it was a non-state or an occupied territory. However, Irish culture is quite eradicated and is most of the times a factor of pride. The country is now a member of the European Union and adopts the Euro as a national currency. Favorable economic conditions and low taxes revamped the immigration numbers, with a booming housing market in Ireland’s major cities.
Irish are fanatic pub attendants: it represents a sociable and lighthearted place to pass time in, where their vibrant and lively folk culture can be expressed thoroughly. Irish are also passionate about rugby, hurling and Gaelic football, which is a mixture between football and rugby. Last but not least, higher education is pretty affordable compared to other English-speaking countries.
What are the best universities in Ireland for semester students?
Are you still undecided whether or not Ireland might be an appealing destination for you? On wearefreemovers you can find a selection of 8 academic institutions offering you the possibility of spending a semester or a full academic year in Ireland. Let’s check some statistics about them.
Here you can see the positions of the Irish institutions among the world’s best universities rankings.
| NAME | QS | THE | ARWU | CWUR | CWTS | Eduniversal palmes | U.S. News & World Report's Best Global Universities Rankings | Webometrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity College Dublin | 101 | 155 | 151-200 | 213 | 390 | 5 | 244 | 164 |
| Trinity College Dublin - Department of Economics | 101 | 155 | 151-200 | 213 | 390 | 5 | 244 | 164 |
| University College Dublin - Lochlann Quinn School of Business | 177 | 251–300 | 301-400 | 283 | 346 | 4 | 226 | 198 |
| University College Cork (non-EU students) | 286 | 301–350 | 401-500 | 509 | 501 | 3 | 437 | 314 |
| NUI Galway | 238 | 301–350 | 601-700 | 622 | 648 | 2 | 599 | 448 |
| Dublin City University | 439 | 501–600 | - | 1026 | 1080 | 3 | 838 | 598 |
| University of Limerick | 511-520 | 501–600 | 701-800 | 948 | 792 | 3 | 898 | 555 |
| University College Cork (EU students) | 286 | 301–350 | 401-500 | 509 | 501 | 3 | 437 | 314 |
| Dublin Business School (EU students) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
That is a pretty solid positioning for Irish universities. You can’t go wrong with one of these institutions that you see here. Dublin Business School seems to be ignored by international rankings, probably because of its young age.
Costs and fees
Ireland is an expensive country. Monthly costs of living for a single person are close to 850€. Keep in mind that, as a student, you could have access to various discounts which can include food, travel, and accommodation expenses.
When it comes to university’s fees, Ireland is quite expensive, with a median 3100€/semester for EU free mover students and 6000€/semester for non-EU free mover students.
Which Irish cities are available to free movers?
Currently there are some cities that accept free movers in Ireland. Have you ever dreamt of studying in Dublin or any other city in Ireland? Here you can find institutions divided by city:
