About the university
University College Dublin traces its history to the Catholic University of Ireland, founded in 1854 with John Henry Newman as its first rector. James Joyce studied here. Today it is Ireland's largest university, with its main campus at Belfield in the south Dublin suburbs.
UCD is strong across engineering, business, science, agriculture and food, and law. Its graduate business school, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, is on a separate campus in Blackrock and runs the MBA and many specialist MSc courses.
For Indian students the main draws are engineering master's degrees (ME and MEngSc), business and finance, and the scholarships UCD offers non-EU students, including awards worth up to 100% of tuition. Most one-year engineering MEngSc courses cost €29,500 for 2026/27.
Dublin hosts the European headquarters of many technology, pharmaceutical and finance companies. Master's graduates can usually stay for up to 24 months on Stamp 1G to look for work, but rent in Dublin is high, so plan housing early.
- Founded
- 1854, as the Catholic University of Ireland
- Type
- Public research university, Ireland's largest
- Total students
- About 24,200 (24,189 in THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- International students
- 32% of students (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 19.3 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Main intake
- September; some LLM programmes also start in January
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=100 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
=212 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
MEngSc Electronic & Computer Engineering
- Fee / year
- €29,500
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- See course page
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €29,500
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- See course page
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €29,500
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- See course page
- Postgraduate
MEngSc Robotics & Intelligent Manufacturing
- Fee / year
- €25,350
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- See course page
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €38,860
- Duration
- Full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- See course page
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €23,870
- Duration
- Full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- See course page
- Postgraduate
LLM International Commercial Law
- Fee / year
- €22,600
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- September or January
- English
- See course page
- Postgraduate
MEngSc Electrical Power Networks
- Fee / year
- €29,500
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- See course page
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEngSc Electronic & Computer Engineering | 1 year (full time) | €29,500 | ≈ ₹31.3 lakh |
| MEngSc Engineering Management | 1 year (full time) | €29,500 | ≈ ₹31.3 lakh |
| MEngSc Structural Engineering | 1 year (full time) | €29,500 | ≈ ₹31.3 lakh |
| MEngSc Robotics & Intelligent Manufacturing | 1 year (full time) | €25,350 | ≈ ₹26.9 lakh |
| MBA (full time) | Full time | €38,860 | ≈ ₹41.2 lakh |
| Master of Accounting (MAcc) | Full time | €23,870 | ≈ ₹25.3 lakh |
| LLM International Commercial Law | 1 year (full time) | €22,600 | ≈ ₹24 lakh |
| MEngSc Electrical Power Networks | 1 year (full time) | €29,500 | ≈ ₹31.3 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at University College Dublin with similar universities in Ireland.
Scholarships
- Full-time undergraduate or postgraduate
UCD Global Excellence Scholarship
Value: 50% or 100% of tuition
Eligibility: Non-EU fee payers holding an offer for an eligible programme. A separate application is needed.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Most programmes
UCD International Student Scholarship
Value: 10% to 35% off tuition
Eligibility: Non-EU fee payers; applicants are assessed automatically when an offer is made.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate STEM
UCD Aryabhata Science Scholarship
Value: 50% to 100% tuition fee waiver
Eligibility: Students from India starting an undergraduate STEM degree.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master's, postgraduate diploma or PhD
Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES)
Value: €10,000 stipend plus a full tuition fee waiver for one year
Eligibility: Non-EU students with an offer from an Irish institution. The next call is expected early in 2027.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Non-EU applicants apply directly to UCD. Each course page lists the Indian Class 12 standard needed; competitive courses often expect around 75–85% or more.
- Maths is usually needed for engineering, computing and business degrees.
Postgraduate
- Master's courses ask for a relevant bachelor's degree, often with around 60–70% or more; many Irish universities accept three-year Indian degrees. Check the course page.
- Engineering ME programmes run for two years and MEngSc programmes for one year; choose according to your first degree.
- UCD reviews scholarship eligibility (International Student Scholarship) automatically when it makes an offer.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Degree transcripts and certificate
- Statement of purpose
- English test score
- References
- CV (MBA and business courses)
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Typically around 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 for master's study in Ireland; UCD sets the exact score on each course page. |
| Other tests | UCD accepts other tests such as PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT at equivalent scores; see its English language requirements page. |
Accommodation and living costs
UCD has on-campus residences at Belfield, but places for postgraduates are limited and Dublin rents are high. Apply for residences as soon as you can and budget for private housing. The figure below is the living budget Irish immigration expects you to show for the visa.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Money you must show for living costs (visa)Minimum set by Irish immigration, on top of tuition | €10,000per year | ≈ ₹10.6 lakh |
Campus and location
UCD's main Belfield campus is a large parkland campus about 5 km south of Dublin city centre.
- Belfield campus: most faculties, the James Joyce Library, sports facilities and student residences.
- UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School is in Blackrock, a few kilometres from Belfield.
- Frequent buses link Belfield with the city centre.
- Dublin's tech and pharma employers are within reach for internships and graduate jobs.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Master's graduates can usually apply for Stamp 1G under the Third Level Graduate Programme: 12 months, renewable once for a further 12 months, while looking for graduate work.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stay-back after a master's (Stamp 1G) | Up to 24 months | Irish Immigration Service Delivery |
| Students per staff member | 19.3 | THE World University Rankings 2027 |
Studying in Ireland
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Ireland. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much is a master's at UCD?
For 2026/27, one-year MEngSc engineering courses cost €29,500 for non-EU students, LLMs €22,600 and the Master of Accounting €23,870. The full-time MBA lists €38,860 in Year 1.
Does UCD offer scholarships to Indian students?
Yes. The Global Excellence Scholarship covers 50% or 100% of tuition, the International Student Scholarship gives 10% to 35% off, and the Aryabhata Science Scholarship is for Indian undergraduates in STEM.
What is the difference between ME and MEngSc?
At UCD, ME programmes are two-year professional engineering master's degrees, while MEngSc programmes take one year.
Where is the campus?
UCD's main campus is at Belfield in south Dublin, about 5 km from the city centre. The Smurfit Graduate Business School is in Blackrock.
Can I work after graduating?
Usually yes. Master's graduates can apply for Stamp 1G for up to 24 months to look for work in Ireland.
Sources
- UCD: Non-EU graduate taught fees 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- UCD: scholarships for international students (opens in a new tab)
- Higher Education Authority: Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: University College Dublin (opens in a new tab)
- Irish Immigration Service Delivery: Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) (opens in a new tab)
- Irish Immigration Service Delivery: student finance requirements (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.ucd.ie (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details