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Study abroad comparison

UK vs Ireland for Indian students

Visa rules and funds checked against official sources on 11 October 2026.

Both are English-speaking, both offer a post-study work visa without a job offer, and neither gives PR automatically. The differences are in cost, how long you can stay after graduating, and how settled the settlement rules are.

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Side by side

UK vs Ireland: the numbers that decide it

All money is shown in rupees first, with the local amount underneath. Rates used: £1 = ₹127.9 · €1 = ₹108.4 (ECB reference rates, 9 October 2026). Rates move daily, so treat rupee figures as a guide.

Side-by-side comparison of United Kingdom, Ireland for Indian students
FactorUnited KingdomIreland
Tuitionper year

₹20.5 lakh to ₹44.8 lakh£16,000 to £35,000 a year, bachelor's

₹21.7 lakh to ₹43.5 lakh£17,000 to £34,000 a year, master's

Estimates: each university sets its own fee. Glasgow's published 2026/27 undergraduate rate runs from £27,720 (arts) to £33,210 (science).

₹13 lakh to ₹32.5 lakh€12,000 to €30,000 a year, bachelor's

₹13 lakh to ₹30.4 lakh€12,000 to €28,000 a year, master's

Estimates. Trinity College Dublin's 2026/27 non-EU fees: bachelor's from €22,580 (most arts and social science) to €29,570 (some sciences); two-year master's €12,440 to €16,960.

Living costsrealistic monthly budget

₹1.8 lakh to ₹2.3 lakh£1,400 to £1,800 a month, Manchester to London

Immigration Health Surcharge for students: £776 a year.

₹1.7 lakh to ₹2 lakh€1,550 to €1,800 a month, Cork to Dublin

Private medical insurance is extra.

Money to show for the visaofficial minimum

₹13.5 lakh to ₹17.6 lakh£10,539 to £13,761 for 9 months: £1,171 a month outside London, £1,529 in London

Plus any tuition you have not yet paid. Student visa fee £558.

₹10.8 lakh€10,000 a year, on top of tuition, for every year of study

Shown as bank statements for the last six months. Credit cards are not accepted as evidence.

Main intakes

September is the main intake. Many universities also take students in January.

September is the main intake. Some courses start in January.

Part-time workwhile studying

Up to 20 hours a week in term time at degree level, full time in vacations. Self-employment is not allowed.

Up to 20 hours a week in term time and up to 40 hours a week during academic breaks.

Post-study work visa

Graduate visa: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027 (3 years after a PhD).

No job offer or sponsor needed. Fee £937 plus £1,035 a year health surcharge.

Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G): up to 12 months after a bachelor's (Level 8), up to 24 months after a master's or PhD (Level 9 or higher).

Route to PR

Switch from the Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa (usually a salary of at least £41,700, or £33,400 in some cases), then settle.

Settlement is currently 5 years on a work visa. Time on a Student or Graduate visa does not count. A 10-year "earned settlement" baseline is proposed but not in force, and no start date is confirmed (5 Oct 2026).

B2 English is needed for settlement applications from 26 March 2027.

Move to an employment permit: Critical Skills (job on the list, offer of at least 2 years, salary from €36,848 for recent graduates or €40,904) or General Employment Permit (from €36,605, or €34,009 for recent Irish graduates).

Long-term residence can be sought after 5 years on permits. Citizenship needs 5 years of reckonable residence in the last 9, and student years do not count.

Visa rules, work limits and visa-funds amounts come from the government pages listed at the bottom. Tuition and living costs are Kompass estimates because every university sets its own fees, so check the course page for the exact figure. Rules change often.

The verdict

Who each country suits

Bottom line: Choose the UK if you want the widest choice of courses and universities and can live with uncertainty about settlement rules. Choose Ireland if you are doing a master's and want the longer post-study stay (up to 24 months, against the UK's 18 months from January 2027), and can handle Dublin-level rents.

United Kingdom

The UK suits you if you want choice, brand and a big job market

Good fit if

  • You want the widest range of universities, courses and cities, from London to smaller university towns where living costs are lower.
  • You are doing a taught master's and want to keep the total bill down. Many UK taught master's courses run for one year.
  • You want to build UK work experience in sectors such as finance, consulting, engineering or technology.
  • You are comfortable that settlement rules may change before you get there.

Think twice if

  • The Graduate visa drops from 2 years to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
  • Settlement is 5 years today, but a 10-year baseline is proposed and could apply to people already in the UK who do not yet have settlement.
  • London adds about £400 a month to your budget compared with Manchester or Leeds, and the visa money rule is higher too.

Ireland

Ireland suits you if you want a longer post-study stay after a master's

Good fit if

  • You are doing a master's or PhD and want up to 24 months to find a job, which is longer than the UK's 18 months for applications from 2027.
  • You want a smaller, English-speaking system with a defined employment-permit route.
  • You can work 20 hours in term time and up to 40 hours in breaks, which helps with living costs.
  • You are targeting roles that can meet the Critical Skills permit salary of about €40,904.

Think twice if

  • A bachelor's graduate gets only 12 months after studying.
  • Dublin is the priciest Irish city on our estimates, at roughly €1,800 a month.
  • Student years do not count towards Irish citizenship, so the clock starts when you move to a work permit.

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FAQs

UK vs Ireland: your questions answered

Which is cheaper for an Indian student, the UK or Ireland?
Tuition is in the same band, so city choice matters more than country. Our estimate for a realistic monthly budget is £1,400 to £1,800 in the UK (about ₹1.8 lakh to ₹2.3 lakh) and €1,550 to €1,800 in Ireland (about ₹1.7 lakh to ₹2 lakh). London and Dublin are the expensive ends. Fees are set by each university, so check the course page.
How much money must I show for the visa?
For the UK you need £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London, for up to 9 months, so £10,539 to £13,761 (about ₹13.5 lakh to ₹17.6 lakh), plus unpaid tuition. For Ireland you need access to at least €10,000 (about ₹10.8 lakh) for each year of study, in addition to course fees. The rule in Ireland is a minimum, and real living costs are higher.
How many hours can I work while studying?
In the UK, degree-level students can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time in vacations, but self-employment is not allowed and your university may set a lower limit. In Ireland you can work up to 20 hours a week in term time and up to 40 hours a week in academic breaks. Do not plan to fund your degree from part-time pay.
How long can I stay and work after graduating?
The UK Graduate visa gives 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027 (3 years after a PhD). Ireland's Third Level Graduate Programme gives up to 12 months after a bachelor's and up to 24 months after a master's or PhD. Your application date, not your course end date, decides which UK rule applies.
Do I need a job offer for the post-study work visa?
No. Neither the UK Graduate visa nor the Irish graduate permission needs a job offer or a sponsor. You need one when you move to a Skilled Worker visa in the UK or an employment permit in Ireland.
What salary do I need to move to a work visa?
In the UK the Skilled Worker visa usually needs a salary of at least £41,700, or £33,400 in some cases, and the job must be eligible. In Ireland a Critical Skills permit needs a job on the list with an offer of at least 2 years and a salary from €36,848 (recent graduates) or €40,904. The General Employment Permit starts at €36,605, or €34,009 for recent Irish graduates. Thresholds are updated often.
Which country gives an easier route to PR?
Neither gives PR automatically, and both depend on a job. UK settlement is currently 5 years on a work visa, but time on a Student or Graduate visa does not count, and a 10-year baseline is proposed (not in force, no start date confirmed as of 5 October 2026). In Ireland, long-term residence can be sought after 5 years on employment permits, and citizenship needs 5 years of reckonable residence in the last 9. Student years do not count in either country.
When should I apply, and what are the intakes?
September is the main intake in both countries, with January available at many UK universities and some Irish courses. Start 9 to 12 months before your intake so that you have time for admissions, funds evidence and the visa. Book free counselling and we will shortlist courses against your budget and goal.

Sources

Where these figures come from

Checked on 11 October 2026. Pages marked as summaries are secondary sources that quote the official rule.

Information on this site is general guidance only and not legal, migration or investment advice. Rules, fees and occupation lists change frequently — always confirm current requirements with the relevant government authority before acting.

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