International Students

Please see our Registration website for full details.

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(1)   Pay your fees online here.

(2)   Payment via recognised agent TransferMate:  Non-European Union (EU) students are strongly advised to pay their tuition fee through TransferMate for the duration of your studies.

Use TransferMate to:

• Pay from your home country in your local currency so removes the need to transfer funds to your Irish bank account to pay fees.
• Ensure you send the exact amount billed.
• Track your payment anytime via the web or by contacting TransferMate directly. In addition, TransferMate offers 24/7 multilingual support by phone, email, and live chat.

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The TransferMate receipt is accepted as proof of payment of tuition fees by the Irish National Immigration Service (INIS) for study visa applications and at the point of entry to Ireland.   With TransferMate there is no international bank transfer fee and the entire transaction takes just 48 hours from start to finish. TransferMate is also recommended by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for the purposes of study visa applications.

In compliance with University Policy and immigration control, international student fees may be paid in full prior to Registration* or 50% of fees may be paid before Registration* and the balance paid in full before 31st of January.

*Depending on Visa requirements, students may need to pay €6,000 or 50% as part of the Visa approval/application and therefore should look to have this instalment paid as soon as possible in advance of the semester commencing. International undergraduate medical students must pay their fees in accordance with the condition pertaining to their route of entry.

Students who have successfully applied for a course / programme at University of Galway will have been allocated a pre-registration 8 digit student ID number which should be quoted on all fee transactions and correspondence.

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International students who have paid some or part of their fees to the University but are subsequently unsuccessful in their visa application will be refunded the amount they have paid, less an administrative fee of €190 within 60 days of formal withdrawal. They must provide documentary evidence of visa refusal. The University requires confirmation from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (Visa Section) that the visa has been refused.

See QA282 NUI Galway withdrawal and QA307 Student Fee Liability policy documents.

Please see also QA306 - Fee Refund Policy

Registered students who wish to withdraw must do so officially by contacting the Student Registry Helpdesk.

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The definition of an EU student for fee purposes:  EU nationals (i.e. holding an EU Passport/or Birth Certificate) who have been ordinarily resident* in an EU member state for at least three of the five years immediately preceding their entry to the third level course.

a.     *ordinarily resident excludes residency for educational purposes.

b.    The EU/Non-EU fee status determined on entry to a course will be applied for the duration of the course.  NON EU fees are payable in full prior to registration.

c.     An EU student who is dependent on financial assistance from a source outside of the EU will be treated as a Non-EU student for fee purposes, and accordingly, the full Economic Fee will be payable.

In order to be eligible for EU (as opposed to the higher Non EU) fee rates, applicants must qualify through Nationality or Residency – see below.  (N.B. Eligibility for EU fee rates does NOT confer entitlement to ’free fees’. You should contact the Fees Office if in doubt).

Nationality - Postgraduate: If the student holds EU Nationality or official Irish refugee status, and has received ALL of his/her full-time post-primary education in the EU / EEA / Switzerland (whilst parents were resident as tax payers), they are eligible for the EU rate of fees. This applies even if the student has not been resident in the EU for three of the five years immediately prior to university entry.

Undergraduate:  If the student is a new entrant undergraduate, holds EU nationality at the time of entry to the course and has completed five academic years of study in the EU / EEA / Switzerland (whilst parents were resident as tax payers), at either primary or post primary level, they are eligible for the EU rate of fees.  This applies even if the student has not been resident in the EU for three of the last five years immediately prior to university entry.

Residence: Irrespective of above, if the student’s principal residence for the purpose of taxation has been in an EU / EEA / Switzerland member state for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately prior to university entry, they may be eligible for the EU rate of fees. Prior residence as a full time student does not ensure eligibility for the EU rate of fees.

For all applicants aged under 23 on 1st September of year of entry to a program:
*   Parent(s) must have been resident as tax-payer(s)*** in the EU / EEA / Switzerland for three of the five years prior to the applicant commencing a programme at NUI Galway and (***principal residence for the purpose of taxation).
*   Applicant / Student must have been ordinarily resident in the EU / EEA / Switzerland for three of the five years immediately prior to commencing a programme at NUI Galway.

For all applicants aged 23 or over on 1st September of year of entry to a program:
*   Applicants over 23 are considered independent, mature applicants.  The applicant / student must have been resident as a tax-payer in the EU / EEA / Switzerland for three of the five years immediately prior to commencing a programme at NUI Galway.

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Please visit our International Fees Section for details on tuition fees .  Please note all fees listed are per annum fees.

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The dependents of non-EU diplomatic staff based in the EU are entitled to EU (not free fees). This includes the minor/dependent adult children who are in full time post-primary education and the spouse/the civil partner of the non-EU diplomatic staff. They must present a letter from their Embassy to verify their entitlement.

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