Two-year stay-back visa
Masters graduates of eligible programmes can stay and work in Ireland for up to two years under the Third Level Graduate Programme; bachelors graduates get up to one year.

Globally ranked universities, a two-year stay-back visa and Europe's densest cluster of technology and pharmaceutical employers. Compare Irish programmes and apply online - free.
Ireland has become one of Europe's most popular study destinations - English-speaking, inside the EU, and unusually well connected to graduate employment.
Masters graduates of eligible programmes can stay and work in Ireland for up to two years under the Third Level Graduate Programme; bachelors graduates get up to one year.
Dublin, Cork and Galway host the European headquarters of a large share of the world's technology, pharmaceutical and medical-device companies - so study and work sit close together.
Irish universities rank consistently well worldwide, with particular strength in computing, pharmaceuticals, business, data science and the humanities.
You study in English, and an Irish qualification is recognised across the European Union and the wider world.
The Third Level Graduate Programme lets eligible masters graduates remain in Ireland for up to two years to find and take up employment, and eligible bachelors graduates for up to one year. That window is long enough to turn a degree into real professional experience - which is why a cheaper degree somewhere you must leave immediately after graduating often works out to be the more expensive choice.
Read: the stay-back visa explained
Compare the full total for a specific programme and city, not a national average - the gap between Dublin and the other cities is large.
Varies widely by programme
Business, computing and engineering sit at the higher end. Always check the figure on the specific course page.
Highest in Dublin
Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford are noticeably cheaper for rent and day-to-day spending.
Required for the visa
You must evidence you can support yourself for the year, on top of tuition already paid.
Mandatory
Private medical insurance must be in place before the study visa is granted.
Refusals are far more often about inconsistent paperwork than about the student. Make sure your name is spelled identically across your passport, transcripts and financial documents.
Browse Irish institutions on Admission Bravo, compare their programmes and entry requirements, and apply online.
Yes. Students from Nepal apply to Irish universities directly and then apply for an Irish study visa once they hold an unconditional offer and have paid the required tuition deposit. Ireland is one of the fastest-growing destinations for Nepali students.
Under the Third Level Graduate Programme, graduates of eligible masters-level programmes can remain in Ireland for up to two years to find and take up work. Eligible bachelors-level graduates can stay for up to one year.
Most Irish universities require evidence of English proficiency, commonly IELTS or PTE. Some accept alternatives, including prior study delivered in English. Check the requirement on the specific programme before you book a test.
Students on an eligible study visa are generally permitted to work part-time during term and full-time during official holiday periods. Treat any earnings as a supplement to your funding, never as the basis of it - the visa requires you to show funds regardless.
Total cost is tuition plus living costs, medical insurance and flights. Tuition varies substantially between universities and subjects, and Dublin is materially more expensive to live in than other Irish cities, so compare the full total for the specific programme and city rather than a national average.
Yes. Browsing programmes, applying and tracking your applications through Admission Bravo is free. You only ever pay official fees charged directly by the university.
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