Last updated 2026-07-22 · every rule below is sourced and dated
To study in Ireland from India you enrol at a recognised institution and register on a Stamp 2 student permission. After graduating, the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) lets you stay to seek work — 12 months for a Level 8 honours bachelor's, and up to 24 months for a Level 9 master's or Level 10 PhD.
Ireland has become a strong choice for Indian students on the strength of an English-speaking, EU-based system with a booming tech and life-sciences sector and a clear stay-back scheme. The one-year master's plus a two-year stay-back is the combination most Indian students target. This page sets out the route and the stay-back, traced to the Irish Immigration Service.
This page covers Ireland specifically. For how a degree level works across destinations — entry requirements, timelines and what we help with — see the level guides:
Student route (Stamp 2)
Non-EEA students enrol in an eligible course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes and register for a Stamp 2 immigration permission on arrival, which allows part-time work alongside study.
Irish Immigration Service Delivery — Studying in Ireland · verified 2026-07-22
Post-study stay (Third Level Graduate Programme)
The Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) lets non-EEA graduates remain to seek graduate-level employment: up to 12 months for a Level 8 award, and up to 24 months for a Level 9 or Level 10 award (granted as an initial 12 months, renewed for a further 12). You must apply within six months of getting your results.
Irish Immigration Service Delivery — Third Level Graduate Programme · verified 2026-07-22
Working during study
Stamp 2 students may work part-time during term and full-time in defined holiday periods, subject to the hours set by the immigration service. Confirm the current permitted hours before relying on them.
Citizens Information — Immigration rules for non-EEA students · verified 2026-07-22 · confirm before you rely on it
Proof of funds and IRP (guide)
You must show evidence of funds for the student visa, and on arrival register for an Irish Residence Permit (IRP), which carries a registration fee. The exact fund level and IRP fee are set by the immigration service — confirm the current figures at application.
Irish Immigration Service Delivery · verified 2026-07-22 · confirm before you rely on it
Tuition (guide)
Tuition is set per university and course; there is no single national figure for non-EU students. Take the tuition from your specific offer and budget Dublin's higher living costs if you study in the capital.
Per-university published fees · verified 2026-07-22 · confirm before you rely on it
A starting shortlist of well-known institutions — not a ranking, and far from exhaustive. The right university depends on your subject, budget and where you want to work after.
The main intake is September; a smaller January/Spring intake is available for some programmes.
We counsel Indian students end to end — course and university shortlisting, the application, the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) and the student-visa file. Tell us your subject and budget and we will map the realistic options.
Under the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G): up to 12 months after a Level 8 honours bachelor's, and up to 24 months after a Level 9 master's or Level 10 PhD, granted as an initial year and renewed for a second. You must apply within six months of receiving your results.
Tuition is set per university and course, so use the figure on your offer letter. On top of that, budget living costs — higher in Dublin than elsewhere — and the Irish Residence Permit registration fee you pay after arrival. Confirm the proof-of-funds level required for the visa on the immigration service site.
Because a Level 9 master's is typically one year and unlocks up to a two-year Stamp 1G stay-back — a short, efficient study period followed by a generous window to find graduate work full-time with no job offer needed first. It is the combination most Indian applicants we counsel are aiming for.
Tuition, fees, fund levels and work-rights rules are set by governments and universities and change. Figures here are dated and marked where they must be confirmed at application. This is guidance, not immigration or legal advice — confirm the current rules for your own case before you commit.