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Ireland

English-speaking, in the EU, and the one place a Chinese high-school certificate can be enough on its own.英语国家、欧盟成员，也是少数中国高中毕业证本身就可能够用的地方。

Figures are for 2027 entryLast checked

At a glance

Who it suitsStudents who want an English-taught EU degree at below British fees, and Gaokao students, who are treated very differently from one Irish university to the next.适合想以低于英国的学费读英语授课欧盟本科的学生；也适合高考生——不同爱尔兰大学对高考的处理方式差别很大。

Tuition, non-EU
€15,900 to €29,570 a year across the universities here, 2026/27; medicine runs €52,100 to €60,000本页各校 2026/27 年每年 15,900 至 29,570 欧元；医学为 52,100 至 60,000 欧元 [1]
How you apply
Directly to each university, not through the CAO — the CAO's 1 February date is for EU applicants直接向各大学申请，而不是通过 CAO——CAO 的 2 月 1 日截止针对欧盟申请者 [10]
Money you must show
€10,000 for each year of study, at the visa stage签证阶段须证明每学年 10,000 欧元 [11]
Work during term
20 hours a week, and 40 in June to September and 15 December to 15 January每周 20 小时；六至九月及 12 月 15 日至 1 月 15 日为 40 小时 [6]
Stay and work after
12 months on Stamp 1G after a level 8 degree, with full-time work allowed第 8 级学位毕业后可获 Stamp 1G 12 个月，允许全职工作 [7]
A cap worth knowing
Your total time in Ireland as a student is limited to 7 years以学生身份在爱尔兰停留的总时长上限为 7 年 [11]

Which qualification leads where

  • A-LevelGood route

    Trinity scores your best three A-Levels on a points table, with 25 extra points for a pass in Mathematics, and asks for six subjects at grade C or better overall.圣三一按分数表折算最好的三门 A-Level，数学及格额外加 25 分，并要求共六门科目达到 C 或以上。 [12]

  • IB DiplomaGood route

    Three higher-level subjects at 5 and three standard-level at 4, including English, mathematics and another language, all in one sitting.三门高级课程（HL）达 5 分、三门标准课程（SL）达 4 分，须含英语、数学和另一门语言，且须一次考完。 [12]

  • AP and a US high-school diplomaPossible

    No Irish university publishes a required number of APs. The route is the diploma plus a GPA plus SAT or ACT — Trinity asks for a 3.2 unweighted GPA and 1250 SAT or 27 ACT — with APs counted as supporting evidence.没有爱尔兰大学公布所需的 AP 门数。途径是文凭加 GPA 加 SAT 或 ACT——圣三一要求未加权 GPA 3.2、SAT 1250 或 ACT 27——AP 仅作为辅助材料。 [12]

  • GaokaoGood route

    Accepted, but the three universities treat it differently: Galway prices entry off your Gaokao percentage, from 60% to 80% by band; Trinity wants an 80% school average AND your Gaokao; Cork does not mention the Gaokao at all.被接受，但三所大学做法不同：高威按高考百分比分档录取，60% 至 80%；圣三一要求高中均分 80% 并提交高考成绩；科克则完全不提高考。 [13]

  • Chinese high-school diploma onlyPossible

    Cork admits on the senior secondary certificate alone, at an 80% to 90% average depending on the band — one of very few places in this section where that is enough. Trinity additionally requires the Gaokao.科克大学仅凭高中毕业证即可录取，按档次要求均分 80% 至 90%——这是本栏目中极少数如此的地方。圣三一则另需高考成绩。 [15]

English you need

IELTS
6.5 [8] Prepare for IELTS →
TOEFL iBT
4.5 [8] Prepare for TOEFL →

Trinity asks for 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band; on the old TOEFL scale, 90. Galway and Cork ask the same 6.5, and nursing and midwifery ask 7.0.圣三一要求总分 6.5、各单项 6.0；对应旧托福分数为 90。高威与科克同样要求 6.5，护理与助产要求 7.0。

Universities to look at

  • Trinity College Dublin Dublin

    Accepts Requires an 80% school average and your Gaokao results; offers a foundation programme for students who have not sat the Gaokao.要求高中均分 80% 并提交高考成绩；未参加高考者可读其预科课程。

    Tuition a year €22,580 for law, business and humanities, €29,570 for computer science and engineering (2026/27); medicine up to €60,000法律、商科与人文 22,580 欧元，计算机与工程 29,570 欧元（2026/27）；医学最高 60,000 欧元

    Admissions page → [2]

  • University College Cork Cork

    Accepts Admits on the Chinese senior secondary certificate alone — 80% to 90% by band, with 82% in maths or a lab science where the degree needs it.仅凭中国高中毕业证录取——按档次 80% 至 90%；若专业要求，数学或实验科学须达 82%。

    Tuition a year €18,500 for arts (2026/27)文科 18,500 欧元（2026/27）

    Admissions page → [15]

  • University of Galway Galway

    Accepts Bands entry directly on your Gaokao percentage, from 60% to 80%.直接按高考百分比分档录取，60% 至 80%。

    Tuition a year €19,390 for arts and commerce, €27,640 for computer science and engineering (2026/27)文科与商科 19,390 欧元，计算机与工程 27,640 欧元（2026/27）

    Admissions page → [13]

  • Dublin City University Dublin

    Accepts Its faculty scholarships are automatic fee reductions of €1,850 to €6,100, the largest proportional award found here.其学院奖学金为自动学费减免 1,850 至 6,100 欧元，是本页比例最高的奖学金。

    Tuition a year €15,900 to €23,000 (2026/27) — the cheapest of the universities here15,900 至 23,000 欧元（2026/27）——本页最便宜的大学

    Admissions page → [1]

  • University of Limerick Limerick

    Tuition a year €17,500 for arts, business and law, €22,700 for computer science and engineering (2026/27)文科、商科与法律 17,500 欧元，计算机与工程 22,700 欧元（2026/27）

    Admissions page → [16]

Your checklist

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Choose and apply

Scholarships

Visa and permission

Before you fly

Timeline

  1. May 2026 16 months before passed

    Check how each university treats your qualification — they differ more than in any other destination here.查清各大学如何看待你的学历——差异比本栏目任何其他目的地都大。 [15]

  2. Sep 2026 12 months before now

    Sit an English test; you will need the certificate for the visa as well as the offer.参加英语考试；成绩证明既用于录取，也用于签证。 [20]

  3. Dec 2026 9 months before

    Apply directly to your two chosen courses at each university.在各大学直接申请你选定的两个课程。 [5]

  4. Feb 2027 7 months before

    Apply for the Claddagh scholarship if you are eligible; it closes 31 May and is assessed on a rolling basis.若符合条件，申请 Claddagh 奖学金；5 月 31 日截止，滚动评审。 [18]

  5. May 2027 4 months before

    Accept your place and pay the fees the visa application requires.接受录取，并缴纳签证申请所需的学费。 [20]

  6. Jun 2027 3 months before

    Apply for the study visa with your funds evidence and English certificate.连同资金证明与英语成绩提交学生签证申请。 [20]

  7. Sep 2027 At the start

    Arrive, register for your residence permit and open a bank account.抵达、办理居留许可并开设银行账户。

Money

Compare all destinations →
A year
¥280,000 – ¥450,000
Whole degree
¥1,100,000 – ¥1,800,000 over 4 years

Converted to RMB at two significant figures — the rate moves and the ranges are wide. Rate: European Central Bank: euro foreign exchange reference rates, 18 September 2026, checked .

Tuition, non-EU
€15,900 at DCU up to €29,570 for Trinity science and engineering (2026/27)都柏林城市大学 15,900 欧元，至圣三一理工科 29,570 欧元（2026/27） [1]
Living costs in Dublin
€19,937 to €29,050 a year including accommodation; €11,750 to €15,750 without it含住宿每年 19,937 至 29,050 欧元；不含住宿为 11,750 至 15,750 欧元 [3]
Accommodation
€7,227 in a Trinity hall, €9,000 to €13,000 in the city centre圣三一宿舍 7,227 欧元，市中心 9,000 至 13,000 欧元 [3]
Money to show for the visa
€10,000 a year — a visa test, not a budget每年 10,000 欧元——这是签证门槛，不是生活预算 [11]
Application fee
€55 a course at Trinity, €50 at Cork, €35 at Galway圣三一每个课程 55 欧元，科克 50 欧元，高威 35 欧元 [10]

Scholarships and funding

  • ⛔ Trinity Global Excellence excludes Chinese students [17]

    €2,000 to €5,000 off the first year's fees, by region.按地区减免第一年学费 2,000 至 5,000 欧元。

    Trinity states plainly that students from China are not eligible. This is the scholarship most often recommended to international applicants, so check it before you plan on it.圣三一明确说明中国学生不符合资格。这是最常被推荐给国际申请者的奖学金，做打算前请先确认。

  • Trinity Claddagh Undergraduate Scholarship, for China [18]

    €2,000 to €5,000, for Chinese nationals resident in China holding a first-year offer.2,000 至 5,000 欧元，面向在中国居住、已获第一年录取的中国籍学生。

    ⚠️ It excludes medicine, dentistry, acting, engineering, natural sciences and computer science — most of STEM. Closes 31 May, assessed on a rolling basis.⚠️ 不覆盖医学、牙医、表演、工程、自然科学与计算机——即多数 STEM 专业。5 月 31 日截止，滚动评审。

  • DCU faculty scholarships [19]

    An automatic fee reduction of €6,100 in science and health, €5,000 in engineering and computing, €2,800 in business, €1,850 in humanities.自动学费减免：理科与健康 6,100 欧元，工程与计算 5,000 欧元，商科 2,800 欧元，人文 1,850 欧元。

    Against DCU's own fees this is the largest proportional award in this guide, and it needs no separate application.相对于该校学费，这是本指南中比例最高的奖学金，且无需单独申请。

Visa

  • Pay your course fees before applying: in full if they are under €6,000, or at least €6,000 if they are above it.申请前先缴学费：低于 6,000 欧元须全额缴清，高于则至少缴 6,000 欧元。 [20]
  • Submit an English test certificate from the provider with the visa application.签证申请须附考试机构出具的英语成绩证明。 [20]
  • You must show access to €10,000 for each year of study.须证明每学年可支配 10,000 欧元。 [11]
  • Your total time in Ireland at degree level is capped at 7 years, so plan any postgraduate study inside that.以学位课程身份在爱尔兰停留的总时长上限为 7 年，研究生规划须计入其中。 [11]

Work during and after studies

  • On Stamp 2 you may work 20 hours a week during term.持 Stamp 2 者学期中每周可工作 20 小时。 [11]
  • 40 hours a week is allowed only in June to September and from 15 December to 15 January.仅在六至九月及 12 月 15 日至 1 月 15 日可每周工作 40 小时。 [6]
  • After a level 8 degree the Third Level Graduate Programme gives 12 months on Stamp 1G, with full-time work allowed and no employment permit needed.第 8 级学位毕业后，第三级毕业生计划给予 Stamp 1G 12 个月，可全职工作且无需工作许可。 [7]
  • Apply within 6 months of being told you have the award, and you may use the programme at most twice.须在获知学位结果后 6 个月内申请，且该计划最多可使用两次。 [7]

When you arrive

  • Register for your Irish Residence Permit at your local registration office.到当地登记处办理爱尔兰居留许可（IRP）。
  • Open a bank account and get a local phone number in the first week.第一周内开设银行账户、办理本地电话卡。
  • Buy health insurance if your course does not include it; Trinity budgets about €550 a year for it.若课程不含医疗保险则自行购买；圣三一的估算为每年约 550 欧元。 [3]

Common mistakes

  • The CAO's 1 February deadline is not yours. As a non-EU applicant you apply directly to each university, on its own timetable.CAO 的 2 月 1 日截止与你无关。作为非欧盟申请者，你直接向各大学申请，按各校自己的时间表。 [10]
  • Trinity's headline Global Excellence scholarship excludes Chinese students outright, and the China-specific one excludes most of STEM.圣三一的招牌全球卓越奖学金完全不向中国学生开放，而面向中国的那个又不覆盖多数 STEM 专业。 [17]
  • Dublin is much dearer than the rest of Ireland. Cork, Galway and Limerick charge less in fees and much less in rent.都柏林比爱尔兰其他地方贵得多。科克、高威和利默里克学费更低，房租低得更多。 [3]
  • An Irish honours degree is often four years, not three — a year more tuition and living costs than the same subject in England.爱尔兰荣誉学位常为四年而非三年——比在英格兰读同一专业多一年的学费和生活费。 [4]

Sources

  1. Dublin City University: undergraduate fees 2026/27 checked
  2. Trinity College Dublin: undergraduate fees checked
  3. Trinity College Dublin: cost of living checked
  4. QQI: the National Framework of Qualifications checked
  5. University College Cork: undergraduate programmes for international students checked
  6. Workplace Relations Commission: employment entitlements of Stamp 2 students checked
  7. Irish Immigration Service: Third Level Graduate Programme checked
  8. Trinity College Dublin: English language requirements checked
  9. University of Galway: entry requirements checked
  10. Trinity College Dublin: how to apply checked
  11. Irish Immigration Service: guidelines for degree programme students checked
  12. Trinity College Dublin: undergraduate admission requirements checked
  13. University of Galway: entry requirements for China checked
  14. Trinity College Dublin: entry requirements for China checked
  15. University College Cork: entry requirements for China checked
  16. University of Limerick: undergraduate fees 2026/27 checked
  17. Trinity College Dublin: Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships checked
  18. Trinity College Dublin: Claddagh Undergraduate Scholarship for China checked
  19. Dublin City University: international faculty scholarships checked
  20. Ireland: study visa checklist checked

Rules and fees change. Everything here was checked against the official pages on the date shown. Confirm on those pages before you apply or pay.

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