FAQs

We hope that we have answered any questions that you may have about studying at NUI Galway below. However, although we have documented the most common questions we receive on a regular basis, it is impossible to be fully exhaustive.

Therefore, if you any additional questions, please contact us at: internationalnuigalway.ie.

Does the university have representatives in my home country to assist me with my application?
NUI Galway has a number of representatives in India and China who give advice to students planning on studying abroad and you can apply through these representatives to attend an undergraduate/post-graduate programme of study in our university. You will find full details of our representatives here.

If you prefer not to use a local representative in your country of residence, then you should make your application in the following way:
Undergraduate students -  undergraduate applications
Postgraduate students -    Postgraduate applications

Can I get a scholarship?
NUI Galway runs an International Scholarship Programme which is targeted at offering educational opportunities to post-graduate students from developing countries who require financial assistance in order to attend University. We are currently providing a number of postgraduate scholarships for outstanding students from Ethiopia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, who would otherwise be unable to finance their studies in Ireland. Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate that the knowledge they acquire from their studies will be utilised subsequently to support development in the students’ home countries.
The scholarship amount will be up to € 15,000 for one academic year towards the cost of travel and accommodation. Selection criteria will be based on academic merit and financial need. For information on scholarships outside the International Scholarship Programme visit www.nuigalway.ie/international/fees.  

What is the cost of living in Galway?
The following information will give you an indication of the cost of living in Galway. These costs are an approximate only and will depend on each student’s individual needs. These costs are comparable to the costs associated with living in Limerick or Cork (2 other major cities in Ireland), but significantly lower than the cost of living in Dublin.

Do I need a visa to come to Ireland?
There are certain countries which require an entry visa for Ireland. Full details of countries whose citizens do not require an entry visa is available from the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service.
Once you have applied and been offered a course of study in NUI Galway you should apply for this entry visa. students should submit evidence that the annual tuition fee has been paid in full with their study visa application. You should also submit evidence that the annual tuition fee has been paid in full with your study visa application.
Visa applications should be made to the Irish Embassy or Consulate in the Country in which you reside. If there is no embassy or consulate you can make the application to your nearest Irish Embassy or consulate or direct to the visa Office, Dept. of Foreign Affairs, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Although you may apply for your visa through the Department of Foreign Affairs, the decision on visa applications is made by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Important: You should allow 6-8 weeks for your application to be processed if applying from abroad.

Full information on applying for a visa is available from the  Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice.

Will I need to register with Immigration?
Non EU/EEA nationals are subject to immigration control at the point of entry to the Irish State. Students should ensure that they have their NUI Galway offer letter available to show to immigration officials to prove that they are entering the state with the intention of pursuing a course of study in Ireland.  Students’ passports will then be stamped noting the reason for entering the state.  Students from non-E.U. countries must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau within 30 days of arrival in the State.

Upon registration students will receive an immigration certificate of registration (Registration Card).  A fee of €150 will be charged in respect of the registration certificate.

For immigration registration students require:

• Passport
• Student Identity Card (issued once tuition fees have been paid and student registration process completed)
• Evidence of financial support e.g. an original bank statement showing the account name or a letter from sponsoring body/university confirming financial status. Students must show they have a minimum of €1000 euro available to them. Documentation must be original as photocopies are not accepted.
• Personal credit card for payment of immigration fee of €150.  If you do not have a credit card, you will be issued with a bank giro form by the Immigration Officer and requested to return with the completed bank giro form, confirming payment of the fee. Payment may be made at the student’s bank on campus.
• Proof of comprehensive medical insurance which includes hospitalisation cover.
• Study abroad students must present original letter of offer from NUIG

Can I work in Galway while studying here?
If you are from an EU/EEA country, you can work in Ireland without a work permit.
EU/EEA countries are the 25 EU countries and Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland plus Switzerland.

However, if you are from outside of these areas, you must be registered as a full-time student on a course leading to a recognised qualification in order to work legally in Ireland on a part-time basis i.e. up to twenty hours per week and full-time during holiday periods. Full details of recognised courses are available on the Department of Education website in the Internationalisation Register section.

To work in Ireland you will require a PPS number.  This is a Personal Public Service Number which you will require for tax purposes.  Applications for a PPS number can be made at the Social Welfare Office, Hynes Building, St. Augustine St. Galway.  Telephone: 091 566191.  After application your PPS number should issue by mail within 3-5 working days. Full information on how you apply for a PPS number are available here.

Once you have received a PPS number, you may apply to the Revenue Office for a  tax certificate.  This allows you to earn a fixed amount per week without paying tax.

What are the fees?
Full details of the fees for all our courses are available on our fees website.

I do not understand the system of grades in your country. What are your entry requirements for undergraduate programmes?
The requirements for applying to NUI Galway are that you have completed the equivalent of the Irish Leaving certificate or GCE A levels. This is the school leaving examination taken by students completing their second level education.
You will also require a degree of fluency in the English language. You will require a score of 6.5 in the IELTS Exam ( http://www.ielts.org/for information on IELTS tests). This equates to a score of 580 in TOEFL and 750 in TOEIC.
The following TOEFL Equivalency Table provides comparisons between various English language test scores, so you can see how your result eqates with other English language tests.

NUI Galway also accepts ETAPP (English Test for Academic and Professional Purposes) qualifications. You will require a C1 for Arts, Commerce, Law and Medicine or a B2+ for Science and Engineering programmes.

What are your entry requirements for postgraduate programmes?
NUI Galway offers two kinds of post-graduate programmes. They are:
-Research-based programmes normally involving two years on campus for masters degrees and a minimum of three years for doctoral degrees
-Higher Diploma and Master level taught programmes.

Entry requirements vary depending on the individual programme, so you should consult the individual programme descriptions in the faculty prospectuses.

Do I have to provide evidence of English Language competency?
If your education prior to attending a university has not been through the medium of English, you must satisfy the following English language requirements:
For all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (excluding science and engineering):
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - 580
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - 6.5
Computer Based TOEFL - 240

Science and Engineering:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - 550
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - 6.0
Computer Based TOEFL - 213

NUI Galway also accepts ETAPP (English Test for Academic and Professional Purposes) qualifications. You will require a C1 for Arts, Commerce, Law and Medicine or a B2+ for Science and Engineering programmes.

If you wish to attend an English Language Course in Galway, we would recommend the Atlantic Language School. The school has developed a reputation for its friendly and personal atmosphere, together with its attention to high academic standards of English teaching. Further information on the range of courses available from the Atlantic Language School.
They also offer a Pre-Foundation Programme (PFP) and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) for High School leavers who do not meet the required 5.0 IELTS.

The university also offers english language courses to help you improve your english. Full details are available here.

There will be two courses available: International Foundation Year (IFY) for students who wish to study on undergraduate courses and Pre-Masters Programme (PMP) for graduates who wish to study on post-graduate courses.

What is the procedure for applying to your university?
If you are applying to attend a course of study from outside the EU, please check this list to see if we have a representative in your country. If we do, please contact them to make your application or you can download the application form here.

If we do not have any representatives in your country you should follow the instructions below to make your application.

Undergraduate Programmes of Study
Non European Union (EU) Applicants:
All non EU applications for undergraduate applications are made directly to the International Affairs Office. Further details and an application form are available at: www.nuigalway.ie/international/undergrad/how_to_apply.html.

EU Applicants:
If you are from an EU country, you must apply directly to NUI Galway through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Further information is available at http://www.cao.ie/. You will find full details of our undergraduate courses of study from our Admissions Office. Please note that all applications to the CAO must be received by 15th December, of the year prior to which you wish to commence your studies.

Postgraduate Programmes of Study
If you are interested in applying for a postgraduate course in our university,  you will find more information here on the choice of taught and research programmes we have to offer and application forms for all our courses.

Applications are made online via the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC). PAC manages the application process for NUI Galway and NUI Galway makes the decision on admission to programmes.You can access the system at http://www.pac.ie/ (the online form is easy to use and you will be guided through the system step-by-step).You will require an active email account to use the system.  

What support services does your university offer during my stay?
NUI Galway has an excellent reputation for the provision of pastoral care and support services to our international students.We believe that the quality of the education experience is not confined simply to the academic standards of a programme. It should also encompass wider dimensions of the individual's educational experience, based on the quality of of wider supports and services.
From finding accommodation to learning about the choice of clubs and societies on offer, you will find all the information you require to make your university experience enjoyable and fulfilling  at student services.

Does NUI Galway provide student accommodation?
Students have a choice of private rented accommodation or student residences.  Links to NUI Galway student residences can be found on the Accommodation website at www.nuigalway.ie/accommodation. Students booking accommodation with a student residence should ensure they specify their undergraduate or postgraduate status and request that their accommodation allocations are made accordingly.

The Accommodation Office will also be able to provide students with a list of available private rented accommodation. This list can be viewed online at http://www.nuigalway.ie/student_services/accommodation_office/accommodation_search.html . Another useful source of accommodation listings in Galway City is the local Galway Advertiser newspaper which can be viewed at http://www.galwayadvertiser.ie

Temporary accommodation can be arranged in one of Galway’s youth hostels or bed and breakfast establishments for a few days to allow time to find more permanent accommodation.  Recommended short term accommodation can be found at http://www.nuigalway.ie/student_services/accommodation_office/temp_accommodation.html

Students who have not booked accommodation in a student residence are advised to arrive in Galway at least a week prior to the start of term to look for accommodation in the private rented sector.

Are your propsectuses available online?
Yes. You can download our undergraduateand postgraduate prospectuses here.

Is there a large community of international students at NUI Galway?
At NUI Galway we have a long tradition of welcoming international students to our university. Currently there are approximately 1,200 international students pursuing their studies here out of a total student population of 15,000. International students are very important to us as we see them as essential in creating a campus where international and Irish students are mixed, reflecting economic globalisation.  The Irish economy is integrated in the global economy, and many of our students will work in global companies, so they need to have international experience.
Our main objective is to create a good learning and life experience for international and Irish students.

Will it be easy to find my way around the campus?
The following link will give you a map of the campus with all relevant buildings marked, so that you can find your way around  - campus map.

I am interested in attending your university as an Erasmus student. How do I apply?
The first thing you will need to do is to find out if there is an agreement in place between your university and NUI Galway. You can find this out from your own university or you can check the list of universities we have agreements with on (Erasmus/incoming students/Socrates Erasmus links).
If there is an agreement in place, you should then contact the Erasmus Co-ordinator in your home university to find out how you can apply to get on the programme. Further information on the application process is available here.

I am an EU student and my university does not offer an Erasmus Programme. What are my options if I wish to study at your university?
If your university does not offer an Erasmus Programme, you have the option to apply to NUI Galway as fee paying student, to attend here for a semester or for a year. Application dates are as follows:
30th April for Semester 1 & year long applications
31st October for Semester 2 applications.
See attached  sheet for further information.

Are there summer classes available at NUI Galway?
Yes. We have a wide range of summer course on offer to cater for all interests.They include courses on Irish Studies, Creative Writing, and English Languages Courses. For full details visit summercourses.ie 

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