Here we look at two questions:  

1. Are you designated as an EU or Non-EU student? 
2. Are you eligible for Free Tuition Fees (known as Free Fees Initiative)? 

 1. Being designated as an EU or Non-EU student (also called an International student) determines ...

(a) how you apply for a place at university and

(b) what fees you will be quoted. 

Typically, to be considered an EU student you are required to be:

• a national of an EU/EEA member state 
• a national of the Swiss confederation or the UK 
• and have been ordinarily resident in these areas for three of the last five years.   

NOTE : If you apply and are accepted into a university as a Non-EU (International) student it can be very difficult / sometimes impossible to be re-classified as an EU student even if you receive refugee status or attain three years during your degree.  Universities have different ways of dealing with this situation so always check with the Admissions office before accepting a place as an International / Non-EU student.  The problem with this designation is that you may be stuck paying very high fees (about €15,000 per year) for all three or four years of your degree even if you receive status mid-way through. 

Funding for International Protection Applicants / Person seeking asylum:

Once you are three years in the protection system in Ireland you are eligible to apply for funding from the state and in that case, it does not matter that you are not a national of the EU/EEA/Swiss confederation/UK or that you do not have Refugee status.  If you go back to the Education homepage you will see a link to ‘Funding’ where we explain this in more detail. 

2. Eligibility for Free Tuition Fees (also called Free Fees Initiative (FFI)

To be considered eligible for Free Tuition Fees you are required to be … 

• a national of an EU/EEA member state 
• a national of the Swiss confederation or the UK
• have Refugee status / Permission to Remain or similar (scroll down to the ‘Nationality’ section HERE for more details on eligible stamp 4 permissions, because they are not all eligible)
• and have been ordinarily resident in these areas for three of the last five years.   

NOTE : Each citizen in Ireland is eligible for the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) for one undergraduate degree in a public university, it does not apply to private colleges. The same rule applies to refugees and people seeking protection/asylum.  So if you came to Ireland with a degree, you will not be eligible for the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) to do another degree here. 

What are the fees for university (Undergraduate Degree)? 

Fees are divided into three parts:

1. Tuition Fees 
2. Student Contribution 
3. Student Levy / Capitation 

i.  Tuition Fees  

• Typically between €2,500 and €5,500 per year (EU rate) 
• The Higher Education Authority (HEA) will pay the EU Tuition Fee to the University on behalf of the student where the student is eligible for the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) - we explained that above.

ii.  Student Contribution 

In 2022 the Student Contribution was cut from €3,000 to €2,000 per year.  We await confirmation regarding what this will be for September 2023, it is expected to be €2,500.  This is usually paid for by a state grant – SUSI grant or International Protection Student Scheme (more information about those on the funding page). 

iii.  Student Levy/ Capitation 

Typically between €138 and €254.  The FFI or the state grants will not pay for this, and so the student is usually liable to pay this amount. 

Examples of approximate costs: (per year)

1. €15,000 - €20,000 - International student fee 
2. €4,000 - €8,000     - EU fee when you are not eligible for the Free Fees Initiative 
3. €2,000 - €3,000     - EU fee when you are eligible for the Free Fees Initiative 
4. €138 - €254           - when you are eligible for the FFI, and you receive a state grant (SUSI) 

You can learn more about available state funding by clicking here and Sanctuary Scholarships here.