Requirements to Study in Ireland for Indian Students 2026-27

  • Last Updated on: November 4, 2026 by
  • Shiva Sai Bejawada
Requirements to Study in Ireland for Indian Students
Requirements to Study in Ireland for Indian Students

To meet the requirements to study in Ireland for Indian students in 2026-27, you need a Class 12 or bachelor’s result each university sets and an approved English test. Your course must be full-time and on the ILEP (Interim List of Eligible Programmes, Ireland’s list of visa-eligible courses). Irish Immigration’s student finance rules also ask you to show at least EUR 10,000 in first-year living funds on top of fees. If you’re on a Telangana or Andhra Pradesh board, the first table shows whether your board counts at eight universities. More is in our guide to studying in Ireland. Work in this order: board row, approved English test, then funds moved early and left untouched.

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

  • CBSE or ISC student: 80% overall meets DCU’s bar and the low end of Trinity’s 80% to 85%.
  • State-board student: DCU, UCC, Maynooth and Galway treat state boards the same as CBSE; Trinity lists HSC at 80% to 85%; UCD’s published route is CBSE and CISCE only.
  • Graduate going for a master’s: 65% = 2:1 and 55% = 2:2 (lower second-class) at Galway and Maynooth; UCC normally wants first class from a good institution.
  • Hoping to skip IELTS: every New Delhi student visa needs an approved test.
  • Parent arranging funds: show EUR 10,000 (approx. INR 10.62 lakh) for first-year living, plus fees paid: all of them up to EUR 6,000 (approx. INR 6.37 lakh), at least that much if higher.
Table of Contents
Class 12 Requirements for an Irish Bachelor’s Degree Scroll here ↓ Bachelor’s Degree Requirements for a Master’s in Ireland Scroll here ↓ English Language Requirements: University Scores vs Visa Minimums Scroll here ↓ Application Documents and How to Apply Scroll here ↓ Proof of Funds, Fees and Insurance for the Study Visa Scroll here ↓ Frequently Asked Questions Scroll here ↓

Class 12 Requirements for an Irish Bachelor’s Degree

In 2026, DCU’s undergraduate admissions rules set an overall Class 12 average of 80% from CBSE, CISCE (the ISC exam board) or any recognised state board. Each university sets its own minimum and accepted boards, so your board’s row below decides eligibility.

UniversityClass 12 minimumBoards coveredClass 12 English instead of a test
Trinity College Dublin80% to 85% average in six Grade XII subjectsGrade XII, HSC, CBSE and CISCE (ISC)No
University College Dublin (2027 entry)70% to 90% by course, best 5 subjects; Computer Science and Engineering 80%CBSE and CISCE only; other boards must contact UCDYes, 80% in English, CBSE or ISC only
University College Cork75%, 80% or 90% by band, best 5 subjectsCBSE, CISCE and state boards alikeNot listed
University of Galway65%, 70%, 75%, 80% or 85% by bandState boards, CISCE or CBSEYes, 70% in English, six named boards
Dublin City University80% overall averageCBSE, CISCE or any recognised state boardYes, 80% in English, CBSE or CISCE only
University of Limerick70% combined average of Class X and XII, with first divisionCBSE, CISCE and Metro State BoardsNot listed
Maynooth University (2027-28)70%, 80% or 85% by band, best 5 subjectsCBSE, CISCE or a recognised State BoardNot listed
TU Dublin (Level 8, honours bachelor’s)70% CBSE, ICSE, Kolkata or Tamil Nadu; 75% Maharashtra or Gujarat; 58% West Bengal; 80% all other state boardsAll boards; Telangana and Andhra Pradesh not named separatelyNot listed

INR figures use the live Google-published rate captured on 2026-10-17: EUR 1 = INR 106.18. Rates fluctuate intraday; figures are indicative.

Every figure is a minimum: at Trinity and UL it doesn’t guarantee a place, many UCC courses ask more, and TU Dublin’s figures are general guidelines that vary by course. UCC, Galway and Maynooth group courses into competitiveness bands, so your minimum depends on the course. University figures are for the next entry each states, such as UCD’s 2027 entry; visa rules are current for 2026-27.

Galway’s English route covers CBSE, CISCE, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal boards, rising to 75% where a course needs IELTS 7.0. Students from several listed states, including Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, can’t use it. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh boards aren’t among the six accepted boards, so plan on a test.

If you’re on a Telangana, Andhra Pradesh or other state board, rank DCU, UCC, Maynooth and Galway first. Their published Class 12 routes take state boards on the same terms as CBSE. Trinity also lists the Higher Secondary (HSC) examination, but at its 80% to 85% bar. UCD, UL and TU Dublin are harder for you. UCD’s published route covers CBSE and CISCE only, so you must contact UCD directly. UL lists CBSE, CISCE and “Metro State Boards” without naming them, so ask UL to confirm your board first. TU Dublin doesn’t name Telangana or Andhra Pradesh, so both fall under its 80% bar for all other state boards.

Subject marks can still rule you out, even when your average meets the requirements to study in Ireland for Indian students. UCC wants 85% in Maths where a course requires it. TU Dublin wants 75% in Maths where it’s required, and 80% for Engineering, Computing or Science. UL asks 70% in any required subject. At DCU, if your course doesn’t require Maths, you may show Class 10 Maths at 70%, but only from CBSE or CISCE. Compare the schools in our list of top universities in Ireland.

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements for a Master’s in Ireland

Your degree is judged against an Irish grade, not an Indian one. Trinity and UCD ask for a 2:1 (upper second-class honours) or its equivalent, and UL asks for first or second-class honours. Only UCC, Galway and Maynooth turn that grade into an Indian percentage.

University2:1 equivalent2:2 equivalentOther conditions
University College Cork65%55%Normally first class; departments may accept high second class from top universities
University of Galway65%55%62% / 52% from NIRF (India’s national university ranking) top-100 institutions, 2025 list
Maynooth University65%55%60% / 52% from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Calcutta, Anna and NIRF top-100, 2024 list
Trinity College Dublin2.1, no India % givenBelow Trinity’s 2.1 minimumNot published
University College Dublin2:1, no India % givenBelow UCD’s normal 2:1 standardYear-long qualifying diploma may be available if below the standard
University of LimerickFirst or second-class Level 8 honours, no India % givenNot publishedNot published

UCC normally wants a first class from a good Indian institution, but your department may accept a high second class if your degree is from a top university such as Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta or Pune. So at UCC, check the first-class rule with your department, not just the 65% conversion. IIT graduates should ask UCC’s International Office.

Master’s and PhD applicants can also try for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship: 60 awards a year, each a EUR 10,000 stipend plus a full fee waiver for one year. Our scholarships in Ireland guide covers other funding.

Take a 58% graduate: that clears the 2:2 line at Galway and Maynooth but misses the 2:1 line, and UCC normally wants first class. So if you sit between 55% and 65%, check whether each course asks for a 2:1 or a 2:2 before you shortlist it, as Galway’s courses differ. See our guide to a master’s in Ireland.

English Language Requirements: University Scores vs Visa Minimums

A university English waiver doesn’t waive the visa test. Every student visa through New Delhi needs an approved English test under the Embassy of Ireland’s study visa rules, whatever your university accepts.

Who sets itIELTS AcademicTOEFL iBTPTE AcademicDuolingo
Trinity, UG and PG (Band B, most courses)6.5 (6.0 each)90, or 4.5 on the new 1-6 scale from Jan 202669120
UCD, all levels6.5 (6.0 each)90, or 4.5 on the 1-6 scale63120
UCC, undergraduate6.5 (6.0 each)4.5, or 90 before 21 Jan 202663120
Galway6.5 (6.0 each)8863Not listed
UL, postgraduate6.5 (6.0 each)9061120
Maynooth, UG and PG, 2027-286.5 (6.0 each)9063120
DCU, undergraduate6.5 (6.0 each)9263120
Visa minimum, degree courses5.0613075

The visa row follows Irish Immigration’s English language requirements for study visas. Trinity’s Band C needs IELTS 7.0 or PTE 75, and UCC Medicine and Health needs 6.5 in every band. UCC Speech and Language Therapy needs 7.0 overall.

Book an approved test early, even if your university waives it. The certificate must be issued within 2 years of your expected course start. Master’s waivers for an English-medium degree differ:

  • Trinity considers a request on a complete application, with a formal letter that your degree was taught wholly in English.
  • UCD may accept a degree taught in English, at its discretion.
  • UL accepts certified proof of an English-taught degree from a country where English is an official language. Ask UL whether your Indian degree qualifies.
  • Maynooth: India isn’t on its exemption list.

Application Documents and How to Apply

Build the university and visa files together:

  • Academic records: Class 10 and 12 marksheets, plus degree marksheets for a master’s. Galway asks for official DigiLocker (the government’s online document locker) verification of Class 12.
  • Passports and offer: all passports and your college’s unconditional offer letter go in the visa file.
  • Statement of purpose (SOP): why you chose Ireland, the college and the course; the visa checklist asks for it too.
  • References and personal statement: UCD graduate applications may ask for these, depending on the course.
  • CV: many master’s and MBA applications ask for one.

Trinity’s India entry rules normally treat you as non-EU, based on where you live, not your passport. As a non-EU applicant, you usually apply directly to each university through its own portal. At UCD, only applicants granted EU fee status apply through the CAO (Central Applications Office, Ireland’s school-leaver application system).

Check Ireland’s intakes before you fix a test date.

Families we counsel in Hyderabad often bring one SOP for every university. Write one per course, naming it, because the visa officer reads it too. Our Ireland study consultants in Hyderabad check each board row and document list with you.

Proof of Funds, Fees and Insurance for the Study Visa

The 2026-27 Irish study visa checks two sums. Fees up to EUR 6,000 (approx. INR 6.37 lakh) are paid in full before you apply; higher fees need at least EUR 6,000 paid, unless the college wants it all. You also need EUR 10,000 (approx. INR 10.62 lakh) for first-year living costs in an account you can use right away.

Parents, the money is your part of the requirements to study in Ireland for Indian students. Price tuition with our cost of studying in Ireland guide, then check the bank file against Irish Immigration’s Information on Student Finances page. These points get a file refused or questioned:

  • No approved English test: the visa is refused.
  • Six months of statements must show money in and out, whether you or a sponsor is paying.
  • Any large or irregular deposit, such as a loan or property sale, must be fully explained.
  • No credit cards, and no crypto, stocks, shares, mutual funds or chit funds.
  • No gold valuations: turn gold into a bank balance or a gold loan first.

You also need private medical insurance covering accident, disease and hospital stays. Only a newly arrived first-year student may use travel insurance instead. It must cover the whole year or stay, with at least EUR 25,000 for accident and EUR 25,000 for disease, plus hospital stays.

Your course must be on the ILEP, and Irish Immigration grants your permission to stay as a student only once you’ve enrolled and started the course. Apply within the Embassy’s five-month window before the course starts, ideally as soon as you hold an unconditional offer. Our Ireland student visa process guide covers the steps:

  1. Fill in a Long Stay D visa form (for stays over 90 days) on AVATS (the online visa form).
  2. Print, sign and submit it through VFS (the visa application centre).
  3. Pay the Embassy of Ireland visa fee in New Delhi: INR 5,300 single entry, INR 9,000 multiple.
  4. Wait for a first decision: the Embassy of Ireland’s usual processing time is 4-8 weeks from receipt of your file, not guaranteed.

From our counselling desk: Families most often leave the money too late. Move funds into the account early and leave them untouched for the whole statement window, because every large or irregular deposit inside it must be explained.

Get in Touch

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, through a foundation route. TU Dublin takes Standard XII at 50%, or Standard XI at 55%, if you then pass a recognised foundation programme with 60%-65% in relevant subjects. Standard XI alone doesn’t meet its minimum. Galway’s foundation level asks 50% in Class 12. Our studying in Ireland after 12th guide covers other routes.

At some universities, yes. Maynooth accepts Indian bachelor’s degrees of 3 or 4 years for postgraduate entry. At UCC, a three-year degree is judged on the standard of the institution that awarded it, so ask UCC about your own university first.

Show first-year fees plus at least EUR 10,000 (approx. INR 10.62 lakh) for living costs, in immediate access. Later years need ready access to each year’s fees and living costs. Under an Irish Immigration pilot, only degree students may use an education bond for at least that sum instead, held from application to registration, and officers may ask for more.

For a stay over 90 days, register your Irish Immigration student permission for EUR 300 (approx. INR 31,850). On Stamp 2 (the student permission stamp), you can work up to 20 hours a week in term. That rises to 40 in June to September and 15 December to 15 January. Read more on part-time jobs in Ireland.

Some can: in some cases a graduate may work in Ireland for up to two years with no employment permit. Graduates with a Level 9 award or above, such as a master’s, can get up to 24 months under the Third Level Graduate Programme. Our post-study work visa in Ireland guide covers who qualifies.

AOEC India brings more than 10 years and 12,000+ visas, with offices in Hyderabad and Tirupati. We’ll check your marksheets against each university on your list.

Sources

Official sources.

Show 26 more sources

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.

See other Study guides
Ireland Student Visa

Ireland Student Visa

Ireland Student Visa for Indian Students 2026-27: Documents, Fees, Funds For 2026-27 entry, the Ireland student visa for Indian students