Business is one of the largest undergraduate areas at the University of Galway, sitting in the Arts, Business and Law fee category. For international students, it offers an established Irish public university degree in a city with lower living costs than Dublin, along with the Stamp 1G post-study work pathway for graduates of Level 8 honours degrees.
This guide covers what the university publishes about business admissions, the cost of studying business there, what it asks of applicants, and what outcomes look like. It covers undergraduate business degrees only.
Acceptance Rate: What the University Publishes
The University of Galway does not publish an acceptance rate for its undergraduate business degrees, or for international applicants in general. A third-party site reports an overall figure of 86% for international applicants, but the university has not published it and the method is not disclosed, so do not use it to judge your chances.
We did not find a published comparison of competitiveness between business and engineering at the university, and any such comparison would be a relative judgement, not a published rate. The most reliable way to judge competitiveness is to read the current entry requirements for the specific business programme and ask the admissions office about the entry profile of recent intakes.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
The University of Galway's official 2026/27 non-EU undergraduate tuition for business degrees, in the Arts, Business and Law category, is EUR 17,300 per year.
The fee page we checked did not list a separate student contribution charge or other compulsory charge alongside tuition. Confirm the full list of charges with the university's fees office, since they can change from year to year.
| Cost item | Amount (EUR/year) |
|---|---|
| Business tuition (non-EU, 2026/27, Arts, Business and Law category) | 17,300 |
| Other compulsory charges | Not listed on the fee page we checked; confirm with the fees office |
Living costs. Non-EEA students applying for a Stamp 2 student visa must show access to at least EUR 10,000 for the first year's living costs. Third-party estimates put shared accommodation in Galway at roughly EUR 550 to 900 per month, which is lower than Dublin. These are not verified against an official figure.
Admission Requirements
For international applicants to an undergraduate business degree, the university generally asks for:
- A completed application through the international route for your programme. Confirm the correct route on the university's site.
- Secondary school results assessed against Irish entry standards, with non-Irish qualifications assessed for equivalence.
- Any programme-specific subject requirements, which vary by degree.
- English proficiency that meets the university's minimum (see the English section below).
Requirements can change between intakes, so the programme page is the authority.
How to Get Into a Galway Business Degree
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Choose the specific degree. Business programmes at the university differ in focus and module structure. Read the programme page and choose the one that matches your career direction before you apply.
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Confirm your qualification is assessed for equivalence. Ask the international admissions office how your school-leaving results map to Irish entry standards, and keep the written reply.
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Build an English score with a margin. Business degrees involve heavy reading, group work, and written assessment. A score above the minimum helps in the first year.
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Budget for the full year. Tuition is EUR 17,300, and you must show access to at least EUR 10,000 for first-year living costs. Plan for accommodation, travel, and any charges the fees office confirms.
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Apply early and certify your documents. Certified translations take time, so start early and keep a copy of everything you submit.
English Proficiency Requirement
The university's undergraduate English thresholds apply to business degrees:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, with no section below 6.0
- TOEFL iBT: 88 overall on the legacy scale (Listening 18, Reading 18, Speaking 21, Writing 22); for tests taken from 21 January 2026 the official page lists a minimum overall score of 4.5
- PTE Academic: 63 overall, with no less than 59 in any component
- Duolingo English Test: not listed as accepted on the official page we checked
For the full policy and a comparison with another Irish university, see the University of Galway guide.
Career Outcomes
The most recent HEA Graduate Outcomes Survey figure we found reports 80.2% of graduates nationally in employment nine months after graduation. We did not find a verified University of Galway business figure, so check the HEA Graduate Outcomes data for business graduates directly.
Post-study work. A Level 8 honours degree is eligible for a Stamp 1G permission. For undergraduate degrees, that permission is 12 months and not renewable. Combined student and graduate permission is capped at seven years.
Where business graduates work. Business graduates from the university typically look for roles across Ireland's finance, consulting, retail, and multinational sectors. We did not verify a current employer list for Galway business graduates, so check the university's careers service for programme-specific recruiter information.
FAQ
Does the University of Galway publish an acceptance rate for business? No. It does not publish an acceptance rate for undergraduate business degrees. Third-party figures exist but are unofficial.
How much does a Galway business degree cost for international students? Tuition is EUR 17,300 per year for non-EU business degrees in the Arts, Business and Law category for 2026/27, before living costs and any charges confirmed by the fees office.
What IELTS score do I need for a Galway business degree? The university's undergraduate threshold is 6.5 overall, with no section below 6.0.
Does the University of Galway accept the Duolingo English Test? The official English requirements page we checked does not list the Duolingo English Test as accepted, so check the current policy before you book the test.
Can I work in Ireland after a Galway business degree? A Level 8 honours degree is eligible for a Stamp 1G permission of 12 months. Check the Irish Immigration Service for the current rules.
Is Galway cheaper to live in than Dublin? Third-party estimates suggest shared housing in Galway is lower than in Dublin, but these are not verified against an official figure, so budget with current listings.