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Posted May 14, 2025

Dublin – Student City Guide

With the Irish capital experiencing something of a tourist boom of late, it’s no wonder that the city of Dublin has caught your eye as a place to study as a postgraduate. Its history, love for the arts, thriving culture and friendly welcome are as world renowned as its universities.

Whether travelling from near or far to study part time or full time in Dublin, knowing what to expect from living as a local, not a tourist, in this iconic city is important.

Study

There are five universities in Dublin – namely Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Dublin City University, Technological University Dublin, and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Maynooth University is another institution based a stone’s throw away from Dublin and well known for its research excellence as Dublin City Council explains:

“With seven cutting-edge research institutes and an excellent record for commercialising its research, Maynooth provides many opportunities for students to further their academic and professional careers. Maynooth University is home to three academic faculties – Arts, Celtic Studies and Philosophy; Social Sciences; Science and Engineering. Within each one, students can choose programmes from undergraduate to doctorate level across a range of disciplines…”

When it comes to university rankings, it’s Trinity College Dublin that comes out on top, placing first as the best university in Ireland in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences takes third place. Trinity’s research facilities and culture are second to none, with the institution’s passion for research quality, intensity, depth, diversity and openness recognised all over the globe. 

University College Dublin is also one of Europe’s leading research intensive universities, ranking just shy of the top 50 in the QS World University Rankings 2025.

Work

As one of the most visited cities on the planet, you won’t be surprised to hear that Dublin offers no shortage of part-time employment opportunities for postgraduate students looking to balance work with their studies. From campus jobs and hospitality positions to retail roles and internships in your chosen profession, there’s plenty to explore.

Live

It’s expensive to visit Dublin, and it’s also a pricey place to live. While living on-campus can shave these costs down slightly – students living on-campus pay between €600 to €1,000 or more per month for their accommodation – those looking to truly live like locals should go off-campus.

Renting off-campus may be higher in cost, with the average three-bed apartment in the city centre setting you back €3,523, but this cost can be cut by house sharing. Alternatively, you can move further out of the city to find more reasonably priced accommodation.

You’ll also need to cover the cost of utilities, broadband, phone, groceries, transport and entertainment, so be sure to budget realistically for these expenses.

Play

Living and studying in Dublin offers a vibrant mix of history, culture and modern city life, a combination that makes it an exciting place for postgraduate students from all walks of life and with all budgets.

When you’re not studying, you get to explore iconic landmarks like Trinity College’s Long Room Library, the historic Dublin Castle, and the lively Temple Bar district. The city also boasts a rich literary heritage, with connections to writers like James Joyce and Samuel Beckett. Delve deeper into the city’s bigger story by whiling away those days in the many museums, art galleries and theatres that call the Irish capital their home.

Dublin is a fantastic base to explore nature too. Students often fill their weekends with walks along the River Liffey, hikes in the nearby Wicklow Mountains National Park, or a well-deserved rest in Phoenix Park – which just so happens to be one of the largest enclosed public parks of any capital city in Europe.

Dublin’s cafe culture also offers the perfect way to spend your downtime, with the city’s traditional pubs (complete with live music) and diverse food scene promising plenty of spots to unwind and strike a balance between study and socialising.

Search

There are hundreds of postgraduate programs accessible at Dublin-based universities, and you can explore all those right here at Postgrad. See all Dublin courses to discover the program for you.

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