How many intakes does Ireland have?

Ireland has two main intakes: September (Autumn), the primary intake with the widest course choice, and January (Spring), a smaller postgraduate-focused window. A rare May (Summer) intake runs at a handful of institutions for select programmes and is not offered by most universities.

Is the May intake available in Ireland?

A May or summer intake exists at only a few Irish institutions and for a narrow set of programmes, often pathway or professional courses. Most universities do not run it, scholarships are rare, and the same EUR 10,000 funds and visa rules apply, so most Indian students are better served by September or January.

Which intake is best in Ireland for Indian students?

For most students, September is the strongest choice because it opens the full course range, more scholarships and the cleanest path into the graduate work scheme. January suits those who need extra time to finish English tests or arrange funds, or who received a borderline result in the previous cycle.

When should I apply for the September intake in Ireland?

Start eight to ten months ahead. Book your English test by autumn, apply to universities from October to March, secure your offer and acceptance, season the EUR 10,000 funds, then lodge the study visa with enough buffer for the New Delhi 4 to 8 week processing window.

Can I apply to Irish universities without my final-year results?

Yes. Most Irish universities issue conditional offers on the basis of your earlier transcripts and predicted or partial results, then convert them to unconditional offers once final marksheets and your English score arrive. Apply early with what you have rather than waiting for every document.

Which Irish universities have a January intake?

Selected universities such as UCD, University of Galway, DCU, University of Limerick, Maynooth, TU Dublin and NCI offer January options for certain postgraduate courses. UCC and Trinity College Dublin are limited or rare for the January intake, so verify course-level availability before planning around Spring.

Can I defer my Ireland offer to January?

Many universities allow a deferral from September to January or to the next year, but it is decided case by case and the same course must run in the later intake. A deferral can mean refreshing your funds proof and sometimes lodging a fresh visa application, so confirm both points with the university first.

Intakes in Ireland for Indian Students: January and September 2027 Deadlines

Last Updated on: November 4, 2026 by
Shiva Sai Bejawada

The intakes in Ireland for Indian students usually come down to two main starts: September 2027, with the widest course choice, and January or February 2027, with fewer courses. As of 2 November 2026, January has closed at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and National College of Ireland (NCI) for students who need a visa. Dublin City University’s (DCU) listed courses stay open until 4 December 2026, though some may fill sooner. If nothing’s ready yet, plan on September: an 18 January start needs your visa application at the Embassy well before 23 November.

Written by

Shiva Sai Bejawada

Senior Counsellor (British Council Certified) -UK & Ireland

Shiva Sai Bejawada is a British Council Certified overseas-education counsellor at AOEC India who guides Indian students through UK and Ireland university selection, admissions, and student visa documentation.

6 Years, 96% visa approval rate

Reviewed by

Sridhar Kongara

Managing Director

Mr. Kongara Sridhar, Director of AOEC India, has over 12 years of experience in overseas education consulting, admissions, and student visa guidance.

Over 12 years Experience

Key Takeaways

Default to September unless your exact course runs in January.
As of 2 November 2026, ATU and NCI have closed January for students who need a visa.
DCU’s listed January courses close on 4 December 2026; some may fill sooner.
New Delhi study visa decisions usually take 4-8 weeks, excluding the visa centre appointment and transit.
Show immediate access to at least EUR 10,000 (approx. INR 10.63 lakh), plus course fees.
Pay at least EUR 6,000 (approx. INR 6.38 lakh) in fees before applying for the visa, or all if lower or your college requires it.
With Indian Class 12 results, apply directly to universities, not the Central Applications Office.

Table of Contents

Which Ireland Intake Fits Your Situation Scroll here ↓ January vs September Intake in Ireland: Courses, Competition and Funding Scroll here ↓ Master’s Intake Deadlines in Ireland by University: January and September 2027 Scroll here ↓ September 2027 Bachelor’s Intake: Each University’s Direct Application Dates Scroll here ↓ Month-by-Month Intake Plan, Working Back From the New Delhi Visa Decision Scroll here ↓ Scholarship, Housing and Part-Time Work Timing by Intake Scroll here ↓ Frequently Asked Questions Scroll here ↓ What to Do Next Scroll here ↓

Which Ireland Intake Fits Your Situation

Your situation	Best intake	What to do now (status on 2 Nov 2026)
Missed September 2026	January or February 2027	Funds and documents ready? Apply to DCU now, or try University College Dublin (UCD) law courses, TU Dublin, Griffith College or Dublin Business School (DBS) courses with no printed date. Skip ATU and NCI. If not, plan on September.
Final-year student, results due mid-2027	September 2027	Apply now; some universities give a conditional offer (a place that depends on your final results), such as Trinity Business School. UCD recommends before 1 July if you need a visa.
Professional who needs a scholarship	September 2027	Target UCD Global Excellence, for September starters.
Graduate or working, no scholarship needed	September 2027, or January if your course runs then	Check your course below, then apply.
Class 12 student, 2027	September 2027	Apply directly; University College Cork (UCC) opens 1 December 2026. UCD has no January intake for full-time undergraduates.

Ireland usually has two main intakes, Autumn (September) and Spring (January). For intakes in Ireland for Indian students, default to September unless your exact course runs in January and your plan doesn’t depend on a scholarship. Our study in Ireland guide has more.

Will you qualify? UCD’s normal bar for a taught master’s is a 2:1 or equivalent, with IELTS Academic 6.5 and no strand below 6.0, and some courses ask more. Galway treats 65% from an Indian bachelor’s degree as a 2:1 for postgraduate entry, or 62% from a top 100 institution in India’s 2025 NIRF ranking. See our requirements guide.

January vs September Intake in Ireland: Courses, Competition and Funding

September usually has more courses and scholarships; January usually has less competition and starts sooner.

Factor	January or February 2027	September 2027
Courses	Usually a shorter list, in the table below	Wide: most UCD taught master’s; undergraduates too
Scholarships	Usually fewer; no UCD Global Excellence	UCD Global Excellence; 2026 Government of Ireland scholars: September or October start
Course length	DCU MEng Electronic and Computer Engineering: 18 months	Same course: as little as 12 months

September usually lines up better with internships and graduate hiring.

In our 2026 counselling cycle, most families who moved a borderline student back to January did so for one of two reasons:

A borderline English score and a likely retake.
Funds that needed more time in the account.

Master’s Intake Deadlines in Ireland by University: January and September 2027

Master’s courses on the DCU January 2027 Intake list close on 4 December 2026, or earlier if a course fills. That date applies to one university, not Ireland as a whole, so a plan depends on your university’s own row below.

University	January 2027 master’s courses (2 Nov 2026)	January status if you need a visa (2 Nov 2026)	September 2027 closing date (status on 2 Nov 2026)
Trinity Business School	Lists September 2027 starts; no January master’s listed	No January date printed	31 July 2027, rolling, may close early; opens November 2026
Trinity, other courses	Check the course page	Check the course page	Each course has its own deadline
UCD	LLM Law, LLM International Commercial Law, LLM Intellectual Property and Information Technology (all full-time)	Apply button showing; no closing date printed	No fixed date; before 1 July recommended if you need a visa. Open since 1 October
UCC MSc Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences	January 2027 start: part-time and online	Not usable for a study visa	Check the course page
UCC MSc Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences	Starts 31 August 2027	Not a January course	Non-EU: 6 December 2026
UCC, other courses	Check the course page	Check the course page	See each course page
UCC MSc Physiotherapy	Starts 6 September 2027	Not a January course	Non-EU: 11 January 2027
University of Galway, most courses	Postgraduate Prospectus 2027 lists no January 2027 taught course	No date in that prospectus; course pages may differ	No set date; rolling, close when filled; open since 1 October
Galway MSc Health Psychology	September 2027 start	Not a January course	28 February 2027
UL	Applied Physics MSc is the one full-time course on the Spring 2027 list; the rest are online or blended	5 January 2027 generally; visa date earlier, not printed: confirm it	Not published yet. The 2026 visa date was 1 July 2026 at 12pm
DCU	MSc Management (Strategy), MSc Finance (non-EU fee EUR 23,500, approx. INR 24.99 lakh), MEng Electronic and Computer Engineering, MSc Electronic and Computer Technology, MEng Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (general entry only), MSc Computing (Data Analytics; Artificial Intelligence)	Open to 4 December 2026; several may fill sooner. MSc Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence: closed	Non-EU: 1 July 2027 on the MEng and MSc Computing pages, rolling until full
Maynooth University	No January date on its how-to-apply page	Not stated on that page; confirm by course	Open now; date varies by programme, and a programme may close early if full
TU Dublin	MSc Management (non-EU fee EUR 15,000 total, approx. INR 15.95 lakh), MSc Computing in Human Centered AI (mixed online and on campus), Event Management	Non-EU January route open; no 2027 date printed. Spring 2026 date: 12 December 2025	Not published; Autumn 2026: 26 June 2026; may vary by course; some may close early
ATU	MSc Computing (Galway), MSc Engineering Management, MSc Healthcare Innovation and Technology, MSc Supply Chain Analytics (Donegal Letterkenny)	Closed 2 October 2026 (see note)	Students who need a visa: 1 May 2027 (open since 20 October 2026)
NCI	January list includes MSc International Business, MSc Business Analytics for Decision Makers, MSc Artificial Intelligence, MSc Artificial Intelligence for Business, MSc Cybersecurity, MSc Data Analytics (starts 18 January 2027), MSc Cloud Computing	Closed 31 October 2026; payments should reach NCI by 6 November 2026	Not accepting applications yet
Griffith College Dublin	MSc International Business and Law: February 2027, full-time; induction 27-28 January, lectures start 2 February 2027	No closing date printed	September 2027 intake listed; no closing date printed
DBS	Accepting applications for January 2027 courses, including the MBA (full-time only)	No closing date printed	Accepting applications; no closing date printed

ATU: its MSc Computing page prints 5 January 2027 and doesn’t separate students who need a visa. Go by the earlier date, 2 October, and confirm with ATU.
“No date printed” can mean rolling or until full. Email admissions before you pay.

January 2027: what hasn’t closed

Courses not shown as closed as of 2 November 2026 include these, by subject:

Business and finance: DCU MSc Management (Strategy) and MSc Finance, TU Dublin MSc Management, Griffith MSc International Business and Law (February), DBS MBA.
Computing and data: DCU MSc Computing (Data Analytics; Artificial Intelligence), TU Dublin Human Centered AI.
Engineering: DCU MEng and MSc courses.
Law: UCD’s three LLMs.
Events: TU Dublin Event Management.

Missed your January course? Don’t rush a weak application: September 2027 is open, as of 2 November 2026, at UCD, Galway, Maynooth and ATU.

September 2027: why earlier beats the closing date

With rolling admissions (offers go out as applications arrive, until places run out), a master’s course can fill before its closing date. TU Dublin advises applying 9-10 months before the course starts, which for September 2027 means by December 2026.

September 2027 Bachelor’s Intake: Each University’s Direct Application Dates

University College Cork’s non-EU undergraduate applications for 2027/28 open on 1 December 2026 and close on 31 May 2027 for most courses. Indian students with Class 12 results make a direct application to the university, not through the Central Applications Office (CAO).

University	How you apply	September 2027 date (status on 2 Nov 2026)
UCC	Direct	31 May 2027 for most; Pharmacy 1 March, Applied Psychology 20 March; Medicine and Dentistry through designated agents only; some competitive programmes may close earlier
UCD	UCD’s site	Recommended before 1 July if you need a visa
DCU	Direct if your exams are from outside the EU	Up to 1 July, no year printed (Computer Science page)
University of Galway	Direct	No 2027 date; page still shows September 2026 and portal re-opening 1 October 2026; can close on short notice; decision usually within 4-6 weeks
Trinity	Direct	Not published; 2026 general date: 30 June 2026
TU Dublin	On the course page	Not published; 2026 date: 26 June 2026
UL	Direct	No non-EU date printed

The CAO is for EU-exam applicants at DCU and EU-fee applicants at UCD, not Indian Class 12 students on non-EU fees.

Month-by-Month Intake Plan, Working Back From the New Delhi Visa Decision

In 2026, study visa decisions at the New Delhi Visa Office usually take 4-8 weeks, counted in working days from receipt at the Embassy and not guaranteed. The count excludes the VFS (visa application centre) appointment, document transit and delivery home.

January or February 2027: from 2 November

NCI’s MSc Data Analytics starts on 18 January (closed to visa applicants by 2 November), and DCU’s January page gives no start date. With an 8-week decision, an 18 January start needs your visa application at the Embassy well before 23 November 2026, and your offer, fee payment and funds must be ready before that. Applying to the university near DCU’s 4 December closing date leaves about 6 weeks to 18 January, so apply to the university now.

Offer: ask your university how long a decision takes.
Fees: pay at least EUR 6,000, or the full fee if it’s EUR 6,000 or less, unless your college wants it all first.
Proof of funds: have at least EUR 10,000 you can reach immediately for year one, on top of course fees, and at least that again, ready to access, for each later year.
Documents: an unconditional offer (no conditions left) stating fees are paid, proof of payment and six months of bank statements for you and your sponsor, and your English certificate. So we think January is tight if your funds aren’t in place. Loans can count, but a loan sanction letter alone won’t. Applications commonly ask for a statement of purpose (SOP) and letters of recommendation (LORs), so check your course page. More in our student visa guide.

If it goes wrong: providers must publish a refund policy and tell you before you pay or enrol about any charges or share of fees they keep. The policy lists when you may not get a refund. If your visa is refused or you’re refused entry, your refund request must be processed within 20 working days. Visa and VFS fees aren’t refunded if the visa is refused or the application withdrawn. If your offer’s start date has passed when your visa application is assessed, it’s withdrawn.

September 2027: from now to arrival

Now to January: shortlist and sit your IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or Duolingo test.
Now to February (earlier for some courses): apply for courses and scholarships. Your statements should start about December if you’ll apply in June.
March to August: collect offers, pay fees, start on housing, and apply for your visa in June, about 90 days before you travel.

Which visa dates to trust

Four official pages give four answers on how early you can apply for your visa: up to 90 days before travel, up to 3 months before travel, up to 4 months before travel (April 2026 checklist), or five months before the course starts (April 2025 leaflet). Apply within 90 days of travel, which all four allow, once your unconditional offer and documents are ready.

New Delhi says 4-8 weeks, but Galway warns of 6 to 12 for students from visa-required countries. For September, plan on 12 weeks; January has no room for that. Don’t plan on last year’s closing date or book flights before the visa.

Scholarship, Housing and Part-Time Work Timing by Intake

If a full scholarship funds your plan, aim for September and apply for the course first.

UCD Global Excellence: as of 2 November 2026, 2027/28 applications open in November, dates to be confirmed. These limited 100% and 50% tuition awards are for taught-course September starters on non-EU fees with an offer or conditional offer. Last cycle closed on 28 February 2026 for South Asia graduate-taught applicants.
Government of Ireland scholarship (GOI-IES): as of 2 November 2026, no 2027 call is published; Galway says it typically opens towards the end of November.
January awards: DCU considers January applicants automatically for partial Merit Scholarships.
Housing: if you’re a January postgraduate at DCU, plan on private housing. Start once your offer is confirmed, not after the visa.
Part-time work: Stamp 2 (the student permission) allows up to 20 hours a week in term and up to 40 in June to September and 15 December to 15 January.

From our counselling desk: When two official closing dates disagree, go by the earlier one and confirm with the university. If your funds aren't in place, we'd move that application to September.

Our Ireland study consultants in Hyderabad check whether a January application can still get its visa in time before you pay.

Get in Touch

Preferred Intake

Preferred Contact Timings

Name

Contact no

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the January 2027 intake in Ireland still open?

Partly, as of 2 November 2026. DCU’s listed courses run to 4 December 2026, though some may fill sooner, and UCD law, TU Dublin, Griffith and DBS courses print no closing date. ATU and NCI have closed for students who need a visa.

Do Irish universities have a May intake?

Rarely. A May start usually comes from a few colleges for selected programmes, not most public universities. As of 2 November 2026, Dublin Business School is accepting applications for January, April and September 2027 courses, and its MBA lists April 2027 as full-time only.

Can I defer my place to the next intake?

It depends. Maynooth allows a one-year postgraduate deferral only: accept your offer through MU Apply first, terms apply, and some programmes don’t permit it. Trinity Business School decides case by case, by email, if you hold an unconditional offer and have paid your deposit.

Does the intake change my Stamp 1G post-study time?

No. Stamp 1G is the post-study work permission, and Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications is master’s level. Graduates who qualify, with Level 9 or above, get 12 months first, renewable for 12 more if they show appropriate steps to find graduate-level work, within the eight-year limit.

Do I need GMAT or GRE for an Irish master's?

Usually not, though some business courses and MBAs ask for one, so check your course page. An approved English test is different: it’s compulsory for all student visas, whichever intake you choose, and your university may ask for more than the visa minimum.

What to Do Next

To choose between the intakes in Ireland for Indian students:

Your January course is open and, for an 18 January start, your visa application can reach the Embassy well before 23 November: apply now.
Otherwise: make September 2027 your plan and apply early.

Ardent Overseas has 10+ years in overseas education and 12,000+ students guided from Hyderabad, with offices in Hyderabad and Tirupati. Bring your exact course name and we’ll check its closing date and your visa timing before you pay any fee.

Sources

Official sources first, then reputable third-party.

Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi, Visa Information, times and decisions, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ireland.ie
Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi, NDVO VAC Checklist April 2026 (Apr 2026), retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ireland.ie
New Delhi Visa Office, Study visa information leaflet (Apr 2025), retrieved 02 Nov 2026, assets.ireland.ie
Immigration Service Delivery, English language requirements for study visas, retrieved 18 Oct 2026, irishimmigration.ie

Show 52 more sources

Immigration Service Delivery, Frequently asked questions for students, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, irishimmigration.ie
Immigration Service Delivery, Information on Student Finances, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, irishimmigration.ie
Immigration Service Delivery, How to apply for long term study visa, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, irishimmigration.ie
Immigration Service Delivery, Third Level Graduate Programme, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, irishimmigration.ie
Higher Education Authority, 2026 GOI-IES Call Document (Jan 2026), retrieved 02 Nov 2026, hea.ie
Higher Education Authority, Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, hea.ie
Central Applications Office, Timetable of Events, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, cao.ie
DCU Business School, MSc in Finance, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, business.dcu.ie
University College Dublin, LLM General programme page, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, hub.ucd.ie
University College Dublin, LLM programme pages, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, hub.ucd.ie
Atlantic Technological University, MSc Computing Galway, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, atu.ie
Atlantic Technological University, How to Apply (Non-EU Students), retrieved 02 Nov 2026, atu.ie
Atlantic Technological University, January 2027 Masters (Non-EU Students), retrieved 02 Nov 2026, atu.ie
Dublin City University, MSc in Computing, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, dcu.ie
Dublin City University, MEng in Electronic and Computer Engineering, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, dcu.ie
Dublin City University, BSc Computer Science, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, dcu.ie
Dublin City University, DCU January 2027 Intake, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, dcu.ie
Dublin City University, International Students, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, dcu.ie
Maynooth University, Postgraduate Applicants, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, maynoothuniversity.ie
Trinity College Dublin, Masters Programmes, Trinity Business School, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, tcd.ie
Trinity Business School, Masters FAQs, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, tcd.ie
Trinity College Dublin, Making an Application, Postgraduate, retrieved 18 Oct 2026, tcd.ie
Trinity College Dublin, Direct Applications, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, tcd.ie
TU Dublin, How to Apply, Postgraduate, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, tudublin.ie
TU Dublin, How to Apply, Undergraduate, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, tudublin.ie
TU Dublin, Event Management, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, tudublin.ie
TU Dublin, MSc Human Centered AI TU471, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, tudublin.ie
TU Dublin, MSc Management TU421, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, tudublin.ie
University College Cork, MSc Physiotherapy, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ucc.ie
University College Cork, Undergraduate courses for international students, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ucc.ie
University College Cork, MSc Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ucc.ie
University College Cork, MSc Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ucc.ie
University College Dublin, How to Apply: FAQs, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ucd.ie
University College Dublin, UCD Global Excellence Scholarships, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ucd.ie
University College Dublin, Graduate admissions: entry requirements, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ucd.ie
University of Limerick, How to apply, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ul.ie
University of Limerick, Applications FAQs, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ul.ie
University of Limerick, Spring Starts, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ul.ie
University of Galway, Health Psychology (MSc), retrieved 02 Nov 2026, universityofgalway.ie
University of Galway, Undergraduate Applications (Non-EU Full Degree), retrieved 02 Nov 2026, universityofgalway.ie
University of Galway, India: entry requirements, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, universityofgalway.ie
University of Galway, Scholarships for Global Students, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, universityofgalway.ie
University of Galway, Postgraduate Prospectus 2027, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, universityofgalway.ie
University of Galway, Key Dates for Postgraduate Applications, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, universityofgalway.ie
Dublin Business School, International Programmes, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, dbs.ie
Griffith College, MSc International Business and Law, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, griffith.ie
National College of Ireland, Application Process for International Students, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ncirl.ie
National College of Ireland, January Courses, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ncirl.ie
National College of Ireland, MSc in Data Analytics, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, ncirl.ie
Griffith College, Academic calendar, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, griffith.ie
Dublin Business School, Master of Business Administration, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, dbs.ie
University College Dublin, LLM Intellectual Property and Information Technology, retrieved 02 Nov 2026, hub.ucd.ie

Everything you need to study abroad, in one place.

Explore articles and guides that help you prepare with confidence, covering scholarship applications, financial planning, and tips for adapting to a new culture. We have built comprehensive resources to get you ready for your educational adventure.

Top Universities in Ireland for Indian Students

Top Universities in Ireland for Indian Students: 2027 Ranks and Latest Fees In the QS World University Rankings 2027, the

Masters in Ireland

Masters in Ireland for Indian Students 2027: Fees, Entry and Jobs A masters in Ireland for Indian students costs EUR

Best Courses to Study in Ireland for Indian Students

Best Courses to Study in Ireland for Indian Students 2027 The best courses to study in Ireland for Indian students