11 Best Colleges in Dublin for International Students
While Dublin houses some of the top globally-ranking universities, it also has a wide range of privately funded colleges.
These colleges in Dublin offer undergraduate, postgraduate, certificate, and diploma degree courses that come at a much more affordable price for all international students.
This blog contains a crisp overview of colleges in Dublin and information about their international-friendly Level-8 and Level-9 programs.
Colleges in Dublin
This is the list of 11 colleges in Dublin that are open to all international students:
- Dublin Business School
- Griffith College
- National College Ireland
- American College Dublin
- College of Computing Technology
- Hibernia College
- Independent College Dublin
- ICD Business School
- Dorset College
- IBAT College
- Holmes Institute Dublin
Dublin Business School
| Did you know? Dublin Business School is the only college in Dublin to offer more than 20+ level 9 programs to international students |
English Language Requirements: IELTS – 6.0, Duolingo – 95
Tuition Fees: €12,750 – €13,800
The Dublin Business School has over 9,000 students on campus, making it the largest third-level institution in Dublin and the entire country.
Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI) awards all programs at DBS.
The other awarding bodies include the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), and the Library Association of Ireland (LAI).
DBS has collaborated with industry and professional bodies in designing and developing its courses. This methodology is handled to provide the graduates with the skills and knowledge for a successful career.
Available Masters:
| MA Addiction Studies | MBA | MBA Cloud Computing | MBA Finance |
| MBA HRM | MBA Information Systems | MBA Marketing | MBA Project Management |
| MSc Supply Chain Management | MSc Human Resource Managemen | MSc Health Psychology | MSc Financial Analytics |
| MSc Cybersecurity | MSc Marketing | MSc in Artificial Intelligence | MSc International Accounting & Finance |
| MSc Applied Psychology | MSc FinTech | MSc Business Analytics | MSc Data Analytics |
| MSc in Digital Marketing and Analytics | MSc in Information & Library Management |
Highlights:
- Reputation as Ireland’s Leading Independent College
- World Class Teaching
- Dedicated Programme Management
- Low-level entry barriers to MBA programs
1. National College of Ireland
English Language Requirements: IELTS – 6.0
Tuition Fees: €15,000
The National College of Ireland – NCI – is a partly state-funded college located in Dublin.
The courses here are highly valued as career development is a strong point of the college’s reputation.
National College of Ireland has well-regarded and experienced faculties in business, computing, psychology and education.
Research is a crucial part of the academic culture at the National College of Ireland, which contributes to the college’s overall mission.
Available Masters (1-year courses):
| MA in Human Resource Management | MSc in Artificial Intelligence | MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Business | MSc in Cloud Computing |
| MSc in Cybersecurity | MSc in Data Analytics | MSc in Entrepreneurship | MSc in Finance |
| MSc in Fintech | MSc in International Business | MSc in Management | MSc in Marketing |
One of NCI’s distinguished courses is its MSc in Cybersecurity. This is the only cybersecurity Masters in Ireland with an internship component in this one-of-a-kind program.
Highlights:
- Ranked #17th in Unirank’s 2022 Irish University Ranking
- Small class-size
- Friendly atmosphere
- Highly relevant courses
2. Griffith College Dublin
English Language Requirements: IELTS – 6.0
Tuition Fees: €14,000
Griffith College in Ireland was established in 1974 and has four campuses educating 8,000 students.
Griffith College offers programs across various faculties such as business, journalism, design, marketing, accounting, administration, engineering, childcare & social studies, Computing, and IT.
Griffith College has developed partnerships with various validating bodies in Ireland and the UK. The international and national recognition of all programs is ensured in this manner.
Available Masters:
| MSc Accounting & Finance | MSc Big Data Management and Analytics | MSc Computing | MSc Digital Transformation (Life Science) |
| MSc International Business and Law | MSc International Business Management | MSc International Pharmaceutical Business Management | MSc International Business Management in Global Brand Management |
| MSc Procurement and Supply Chain Management | MSc Network and Information Security | MSc Pharmaceutical Business and Technology | MSc Network and Information Security |
| MA Scoring for Film, TV, and Interactive Media | MA Journalism and Public Relations | MA TV and Radio Journalism | MA Journalism & Media Communications |
3. American College Dublin
English Language Requirements: IELTS – 7.0, TOEFL – 79iBT
Tuition Fees: €10000 – €12000
The American College Dublin, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), was founded in 1933 by Lynn University as a non-profitable independent educational trust. Students at this college can get their training in Business, Music, Fine Arts, Fashion, Writing, and Performance Coaching.
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) certifies a few programs at American College Dublin, including baccalaureate liberal arts, international business, accounting and finance, and master’s programs in international business.
And do you know why students find this an interesting place of study? It’s because this college aims to impart a passion for education that facilitates the development of each individual’s talents and makes it possible to learn for the rest of one’s life.
Available Masters:
| Master of Fine Arts in Performance | Master of Fine Arts in Motion Pictures and Contemporary Media | Master of Fine Arts in Fashion Design | Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing |
| General MBA | MBA in Oil and Gas Management | MB in International Business (QQI Accreditated) | MSc in Performance Coaching |
Highlights:
- Small classrooms
- Education that adheres to the American liberal arts model
- 60% of the International Population
- Student-centric teaching that caters to different abilities and background
| People Also Read: 3 Top Colleges in Ireland for Masters |
4. College of Computing Technology (CCT)
English Language Requirements: IELTS – 6.5, TOEFL – 85iBT, Duolingo – 125
Tuition Fees: €14,000
Established in 2005, CCT College Dublin is ideally located on Westmoreland Street in the heart of Dublin city centre.
They specialize in courses like Computing, ICT, and Business programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
At CCT, students are provided with a quality education beyond academic development to professional and personal development.
Courses at this institution are career-aligned and delivered to help students gain a solid blend of theoretical, practical, and current knowledge, skills, and know-how.
Available Masters:
| MA in International Business | MSc in Data Analytics | MSc in Applied Software Development |
The MSc Data Analytics is a unique Master’s program at CCT that has been designed and developed with Microsoft Ireland to have a practical and industry-aligned structure.
QQI, NFQ, Enterprise Ireland, Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA), and the Irish Computer Society are the bodies that recognize the programs at CCT College.
Highlights:
- Small class sizes
- Students and staff interact in a caring environment with a personal touch
- Industry-aligned courses
- High-Tech IT Lab
- Dynamic Careers Advisory service
- ICT Industry certification assessment
5. Hibernia College
English Language Requirements: IELTS –
Tuition Fees: €9,000
Hibernia College is an award-winning college in Dublin with 20+ years of milestones.
Known for its slogan, “For Teachers by Teachers,” the college is well known for its dedication to professionals in the teaching industry. Their academic programs are validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
Available Masters:
| MA in Inclusive and Special Education |
This 2-year Master’s program is designed in collaboration with Hibernia College and the Institute of Child Education and Psychology (ICEP) Europe.
These modules are intended to assist professionals involved in education and support learners with special needs.
6. Independent College Dublin
English Language Requirements: IELTS – 6.5
Tuition Fees: €8,800
Independent College Dublin has been offering contemporary Business and Law courses since 2007.
It is located in the heart of Dublin city and on the edge of the financial district, the Silicon Docks.
To represent the commitment to quality and high standards, courses at this college are accredited and recognized by QQI, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACCA), and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Available Masters:
| MA in Dispute Resolution |
This 1-year level-9 program is designed for law, business, or related disciplines graduates.
This program equips the students with the knowledge to handle positions in management, human resources, negotiation skills, community relations, and public affairs.
Lecturers and tutors in this institution are highly respected academics and provide the most rewarding, professional, and career-focused education.
7. ICD Business School
English Language Requirements: IELTS – 6.0
Tuition Fees: €12,000
As a leading business school since 2001, ICD Business School offers high-quality business and accounting courses.
This college values diversity and is committed to ‘Quality’, ‘Consistency’, and ‘Caring’ as watchwords for its organizational philosophy.
Available Masters:
| MA in Accounting and Finance |
This 2-year program provides the opportunity to study both for a Master’s degree and the ACCA Final Professional Stage simultaneously.
Becoming an ACCA member unlocks the widest number of career opportunities, including very senior positions such as a financial manager, chief financial officer, or partner in a professional firm.
Highlights:
- Boutique college – education to small groups of dedicated students
- Learners are given individual attention
- Academic fees are set up irrespective of nationality or EU citizenship
- Students in the MA Accounting & Finance program also receive ICT training to fill in-demand skill shortages
8. Dorset College
English Language Requirements: IELTS – 5.5
Tuition Fees: €6,950 – €7450
Dorset College is one of the oldest independent private colleges in Dublin, dating back to 1983.
While this college doesn’t offer a level-9 degree, there are several undergraduate faculties including,
- School of Business
- School of Computing
- A variety of other professional and healthcare courses
All these courses are accredited by NFQ Framework, CIPD, and Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA).
Highlights:
- Average student-to-lecturer ratio is 21:1
9. IBAT College
English Language Requirements: IELTS – 6.0
Tuition Fees: Not disclosed
IBAT College is the last on our list of colleges in Dublin.
There are currently no level-9 courses available for international applicants at this private college, but they have a wide variety of other options.
Students can choose courses from Professional diplomas, Financial trading courses, Undergraduate degrees, or English language courses.
Highlights:
- Graduate salaries start as high as €33,000
- Connects you with iBAT alumni who are in their dream jobs to – get insights into a course before you pick for study, career opportunities, and much more.
10. Holmes Institute Dublin
English Language Requirements: IELTS – 6.5
Tuition Fees: Not revealed
Holmes Institute Dublin is a member of the Holmes Education Group that boasts 30+ years of education excellence.
Dated back to 1983, it is a popular Australian institution spread across 16 locations worldwide with 85,000+ students.
Holmes Institute Dublin is their education group’s new start and offers an Honours degree in BA Business with QQI as its awarding body.
Need more information?
Sarem Education houses some of India’s leading study in Ireland experts with 20+ years of experience in the industry.
If you are confused about the benefits in Ireland that are heaped for international students, don’t sit back and hesitate.
Getting assured admission to universities in Ireland for masters in 14 days is as easy as booking your FREE profile scanning session with us.