Journalism and Communications at Dublin City University sits apart from the Computer Science, Business, and Nursing programmes already covered elsewhere, and it is genuinely one of DCU's strongest and most recognized brands: DCU's School of Communications houses Ireland's most established university journalism programme, with graduates across Irish broadcast, print, and digital media.
This article covers admission requirements, cost, English-test requirements, and career outcomes for Journalism and Communications at DCU.
Acceptance Rate
DCU does not publish an acceptance rate for Journalism and Communications or for any individual programme. Third-party aggregator sites give widely different university-wide figures, from roughly 30% to over 50%, which should be treated as unofficial estimates rather than confirmed data. Journalism is historically one of DCU's most recognized and sought-after undergraduate programmes, so expect genuine competition for places; a specific numerical threshold was not independently confirmed from the sources reviewed for this article.
Tuition and Cost of Attendance
A specific tuition figure for the BA in Journalism was not independently confirmed from DCU's published fee schedule reviewed for this article, which listed Computer Science, Business, and Engineering programmes specifically.
| Programme | Annual tuition (non-EU), for reference |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | EUR 17,900 |
| Business programmes | EUR 17,000 |
| Engineering | EUR 17,900 |
| Journalism / Communications | Not independently confirmed; likely falls under DCU's Humanities and Social Sciences fee band, which was not separately listed in the schedule reviewed |
Every DCU student also pays a Student Contribution Charge of EUR 2,543 per year. Living costs: Ireland's student visa (Stamp 2) requires non-EEA applicants to show access to at least EUR 10,000 for the first year's living costs; third-party estimates put shared accommodation in Dublin at roughly EUR 700 to 1,200 per month. Confirm the exact current Journalism tuition figure directly on DCU's official fee schedule. For the full picture, see the Dublin City University guide.
Admission Requirements
For international undergraduate applicants:
- A completed application through DCU's international admissions route or the CAO, depending on the programme; confirm the correct route for Journalism specifically
- Secondary school results assessed against Irish entry standards, with non-Irish qualifications assessed for equivalence
- Evidence of English proficiency that meets the university's minimum (see below)
- Given Journalism's writing-intensive nature, a strong secondary-school record in English and humanities subjects is likely to matter more here than for a quantitative programme like Computer Science, though this is a general observation rather than a confirmed DCU admissions criterion
DCU's official English-language and admissions pages are the authority on current requirements for your specific programme.
How to Get Into DCU's Journalism Programme
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Confirm your qualification is assessed for equivalence early.
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Meet the English threshold with a genuine margin. Journalism's writing and reporting workload is more English-intensive than many other DCU programmes, so a score comfortably above the minimum matters more here.
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Build demonstrable writing or media experience before you apply. This isn't necessarily a formal published requirement, but it strengthens your profile for a practice-based programme like journalism.
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Apply well before the deadline, allowing time for document certification and translation.
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Get your documents certified, since missing or uncertified transcripts are a common cause of delayed applications.
IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo Requirements
A Journalism-specific English threshold was not independently confirmed from the pages reviewed for this article. DCU's general undergraduate thresholds are:
| Test | Requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Composite 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in any component |
| TOEFL iBT | Total 92 on the legacy scale; the official page also lists an overall score of 4.5 (no less than 4.5 per section) on the newer scale |
| PTE Academic | 63, with a minimum of 59 in all components |
| Duolingo English Test | Overall 120, with at least 110 in each subscore |
DCU also accepts Cambridge English, LanguageCert Academic, Linguaskill and Trinity ISE. TOEFL Home Edition is not accepted. Given Journalism's writing demands, consider aiming above the stated minimums, particularly in writing. For the full picture, see the Dublin City University guide.
Career Outcomes and Stamp 1G Relevance
DCU's careers materials cite about 81% of its graduates in employment in the most recent HEA Graduate Outcomes Survey, with about 12% in further study, a DCU-cited, university-wide figure. DCU's Journalism and Communications programmes are specifically aimed at Dublin's broadcast, print, and digital media employer base, and alumni are well represented across Irish national broadcasters, newspapers, and digital media organizations, though we did not verify a current, programme-specific employer list for this article.
Stamp 1G (Third Level Graduate Scheme): graduates of an Irish honours bachelor's degree (NFQ Level 8) can apply for Stamp 1G, a non-renewable 12-month permission for Level 8 graduates, capped within an overall 7-year combined student/graduate permission limit. For the full set of rules, see our Ireland Stamp 1G guide.
FAQ
Is Journalism competitive to get into at DCU? Likely yes, relative to some of DCU's other programmes, given its strong reputation and recognition, though a specific numerical threshold was not confirmed in this research.
How much does Journalism cost at DCU for international students? Not independently confirmed; DCU's confirmed programme fees (Computer Science, Business, Engineering) range from EUR 17,000-17,900/year plus the EUR 2,543 Student Contribution Charge, which gives a reasonable reference point.
What IELTS score do I need for Journalism at DCU? Not confirmed specifically for this programme; DCU's general undergraduate figure is IELTS composite 6.5, no less than 6.0 in any component.
Can I work in Ireland after a DCU Journalism degree? Yes. Level 8 bachelor's graduates can apply for Stamp 1G, a non-renewable 12-month work-seeking permission.