The University of Galway, which until 2020 was known as the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway), is one of Ireland's oldest universities. It was founded in 1845 as Queen's College Galway and sits on the west coast, in a city with a large student population and a strong cultural scene. For international students, it offers a smaller-city alternative to Dublin, with lower living costs, and a broad undergraduate range that includes business, engineering, science and the arts.
This guide covers what the university does and does not publish about admissions, the cost of studying there, English-test requirements, and post-study work options.
Acceptance Rate: What the University Publishes
The University of Galway does not publish an acceptance rate for international undergraduate applicants, for its programmes, or for its overall intake. Figures online come from third-party aggregator sites. One site reports 86% for international applicants, but the university has not published that number, and the method behind it is not disclosed, so it should not be used for planning.
Admission depends on the programme's entry requirements and, for some courses, competition for places. Highly competitive programmes, such as some science and engineering routes, expect stronger academic profiles than others. Check the current programme page for the entry route that applies to you.
Tuition and Cost of Attendance
Official 2026/27 non-EU undergraduate tuition at the University of Galway is set by fee category:
| Fee category | Example programmes | Annual tuition (non-EU, 2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Business and Law | Business degrees | EUR 17,300 |
| Science and Engineering | Engineering degrees | EUR 20,850 |
The university notes that students who take two or more science or engineering classes are charged the science and engineering fee. The fee page we checked did not list a separate student contribution charge, so confirm with the fees office whether any additional compulsory charges apply in your year.
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 estimates are not verified against an official figure.
Admission Requirements
For international undergraduate applicants, the university generally asks for:
- A completed application through the appropriate 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.
- English proficiency that meets the university's minimum (see the English section below).
Entry requirements vary by programme and can change between intakes, so the current programme page is the authority.
How to Get Into the University of Galway
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Confirm how your qualification is assessed. Ask the international admissions office how your school-leaving results map to Irish entry standards, and keep the written reply with your application.
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Check the programme's subject requirements. Science and engineering routes often require specific subjects, particularly mathematics and physics. Check the programme page before you apply.
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Build an English score with a margin. The minimums are fixed, but first-year reading and written assessments are demanding. A score above the minimum makes the transition easier.
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Decide whether Galway's cost profile suits you. Tuition is the same kind of fee as Dublin's, but living costs in Galway are generally lower. Put your total budget together before you commit, including accommodation, travel, and the EUR 10,000 first-year funds requirement.
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Apply early and certify your documents. Certified translations for non-English transcripts take time. Keep a copy of everything you submit.
IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo Requirements
These are the University of Galway's undergraduate thresholds from its English-language requirements page, as we checked it. Scores should be confirmed on the official page before you book a test.
| Test | Requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, with no section below 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 88 overall, with section minimums of Listening 18, Reading 18, Speaking 21, Writing 22 on the legacy scale. For tests taken from 21 January 2026, the official page lists a minimum overall score of 4.5 (Listening 4, Reading 4, Speaking 4, Writing 4.5) |
| PTE Academic | 63 overall, with no less than 59 in any component |
| Duolingo English Test | Not listed as an accepted test on the official page we checked |
Some third-party sites state that Galway also accepts Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency. We did not verify this on the official page, so check before you rely on it.
For a side-by-side comparison with another Irish public university, see the Dublin City University guide, which sets different thresholds, including a Duolingo minimum.
Career Outcomes and Stamp 1G Relevance
Graduate employment. The HEA's Graduate Outcomes Survey asks graduates about their status nine months after graduation. The most recent national result we found reports 80.2% of graduates in employment. We did not find a verified University of Galway-specific employment figure, so check the HEA Graduate Outcomes data for the university's results.
Stamp 1G (Third Level Graduate Scheme). After a Level 8 honours bachelor's degree, graduates can apply for a Stamp 1G permission to stay in Ireland and look for work. For undergraduate degrees, the permission is 12 months and not renewable. The total time spent on student and graduate permissions is capped at seven years. Master's and doctoral graduates (Levels 9 and 10) receive 12 months initially, renewable for a further 12 months.
Some older summaries describe a two-year Stamp 1G for undergraduates. That does not match the current rule for Level 8 degrees, so check the Irish Immigration Service before you plan.
Is the University of Galway the Right Fit?
The University of Galway suits students who want an established Irish public university, a smaller city than Dublin, and a lower-cost base for their studies. It is a good fit if you want the Stamp 1G pathway after a Level 8 degree and are comfortable with a regional city.
It is a weaker fit if you want a Dublin-based employer network or a very large campus. The university is ranked 284th in the QS World University Rankings 2026, according to a third-party ranking summary, and it reports around 17% of its students as international, from more than 120 countries, based on figures cited in third-party sources.
Prepare for IELTS with Gabble or prepare for TOEFL so you know where you stand against the University of Galway's 6.5 IELTS or 88 TOEFL threshold before you book your test.