EU Student Fees

If a student does not qualify for free fees, they may be eligible for the EU fee (this is the standard tuition & non-tuition fee), if they fall under one of the following categories:

• Holders of EU Nationality who do not meet the residency requirements (on Level 8 programmes)

• Persons whose principle residence for the purpose of taxation has been in an EU member state for a minimum of 3 out of the 5 years prior to entry to third level AND has spent 3 out of the last 5 years in full-time study, or work in an EU member state prior to commencement of the course.  If an applicant is under 23 years of age on commencement of the course then the principle residence for the purpose of taxation of the parents will be examined.  If an applicant is over 23 years of age on commencement of the course then the principle residence for the purpose of taxation of the applicant is examined.  Prior residence as a full-time student alone does NOT qualify a student for EU fee rates.

• Dependent children of Irish nationals whose principle residence for the purpose of taxation has been in an EU member state for a minimum of 3 out of the 5 years prior to the applicants entry to third level AND has spent 3 out of the last 5 years in full-time study or work in an EU member state prior to commencement of the programme.

• Dependent children of persons who have permission to remain in the state as the spouse of an Irish national.

• Persons who have permission to remain in the State as a spouse of an Irish national.

• Persons who have permission to remain in the State as parents of an Irish citizen or the children of such persons, not having EU nationality.

• Persons who hold EU/EEA/Swiss nationality but who were not resident in these states, and who have completed five academic years of study (at either primary or post-primary level) in an EU/EEA/Swiss State. This also must be their first undergraduate course of study. Persons must produce an EU/EEA/Swiss Passport and have a letter from a primary or post-primary provider of education confirming attendance for a period of five consecutive years of education.

The assessment of whether a student is liable for Standard, EU or NON-EU fees is determined at the point of registration for a programme and cannot be changed subsequent to registration to the initial year of a programme.

The following are not required to meet the residency clause to avail of the Free Fees Initiative.

• Child of Semi State Agency officials who are on assignment outside the EU
• Children of Department of Foreign Affairs officials who are on assignment in countries outside of the EU (subsequently a decision was made to also include children of Government officials on assignment outside the EU).
• Students and family members of volunteer development workers.
• Children of certain Irish officials working with the UN where such service was akin to that of a member of the Irish diplomatic service

PERSONS ON A STUDENT VISA MAY NOT BE DEEMED ELIGIBLE FOR EITHER FREE FEES OR EU RATE FEES.