before you arrive
What you need to do before you start at DCU
We look forward to welcoming you to Dublin. Before you leave your home country, we recommend you go through our checklist and make sure you are well prepared for life and study in Ireland.
- Undergraduates: Email International.Office@dcu.ie to confirm you are accepting your offer
- Postgraduates: Accept your offer online and pay your deposit to secure your place
Click here for more information about fees and scholarships. Ensure you keep records of all payments you make.
See Visas & permission to remain below for more information.
Click here for more information on Orientation, where you’ll get vital information about studying at DCU.
- Undergraduates & postgraduates: please register online. Alternatively, you can register during orientation at DCU.
- Erasmus, exchange and study abroad students: we will register you so you don’t need to register.
- International Foundation Programme students: we will pre-register you so you don’t need to register.
Make sure you organise accommodation before you arrive. Visit DCU Accommodation to learn more about your options.
As an on-campus room is not guaranteed, we advise students to use the websites below to explore other options.
Before you leave home, check you have the documents you’ll need. You may be asked for them by the immigration officers at Dublin Airport when you arrive.
- Passport
- Entry visa (if applicable)
- Evidence of private health insurance
- Offer letter from DCU
- Evidence your fees are paid (Please note: DCU does not provide fee receipts for immigration purposes)
- Passport
- European Health Insurance Card
- Acceptance letter from DCU Registry
Make sure you plan your finances before you leave. We estimate the monthly cost of living for a student in Dublin is between €1,100 and €1,600, depending on lifestyle. Use the Numbeo site to learn more about the cost of living in Dublin.
You must have health insurance for your entire stay in Ireland. Immigration officers may ask you for proof of this when you arrive.
If you are from the EU, make sure you get a European Health Insurance Card before you leave your country.
Non-EU students must obtain private health insurance. You can purchase insurance in your home country, however you will need to ensure that it is valid in Ireland and in any other countries you plan to travel to. There are different levels of private health insurance available. Students are advised to read their policy documents carefully. Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) requires that, if you have health insurance from your own country it must cover you up to €25,000 for in-hospital treatment.
If you are coming to Ireland to study on an academic course of one year or less, basic medical expenses insurance is available for approximately €160 from Study and Protect. This insurance policy will satisfy the visa/immigration requirement for private health insurance and can be obtained before students arrive in Ireland.
If you are coming to Ireland to study on an academic course of more than one year, you are deemed ‘ordinary resident’ from the moment you arrive in Ireland, and therefore require more comprehensive health insurance.
Further details on health insurance plans available to students are available via the Study and Protect website: https://www.studyandprotect.com/Student-Medical.aspx
Comprehensive plans are also available from one of the three main private health insurance companies in Ireland: VHI, Irish Life or Laya Healthcare. Please note that in order to apply for a policy from one of these companies you will need to provide an address in Ireland and you may also require a PPS number. We recommend that you check the waiting periods on these policies. Further information on health insurance in Ireland is available through the Health Insurance Authority website.
Visit the Education in Ireland site for more information about international student health insurance.
You should have completed all immunisation courses appropriate for your age as recommended in your home country, at least eight weeks before you arrive in Ireland. The MMR and Meningitis C vaccines are specifically recommended for anyone coming to live in Ireland.
Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to live and study in Ireland. Most students from outside the EU or the European Economic Area (the EU, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) need a visa before they can enter Ireland. To see if you need a visa, please visit the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service(INIS).
Find out more about visas and permission to remain from the Irish Citizens Information Service. Your local Irish embassy or consulate can also advise you about study visas.
If you need a visa, you can apply online here. (INIS has published a guide to completing the visa application form, which you may find useful.)
Remember the visa application process can take between six weeks and three months, depending on the time of year, so apply as early as you can.
If you are from outside the EEA (whether or not you need a visa), you must:
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report to Immigration when you arrive at Dublin Airport
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register with the INIS in Dublin city centre after you arrive, even if you don’t need a visa.