Interested in applying to NCI as an international student? Read this page for advice and guidelines on applying, including key cut-off dates.

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Research and choose your programme

You will find details on courses available to international students located here. In addition, you can visit our downloads section and read our international brochure. Make sure to thoroughly review the programmes you are interested in, understand the modules and decide on your first preference programme.

Check entry requirements

You should check entry requirements in three areas: 

  1. Country requirement: We accept a wide range of qualifications from universities around the world. For guidance on our international requirements visit your country page.
  2. Programme requirement: Entry requirements vary depending on the course and are detailed in our international brochure and on individual course pages.
  3. English requirement: English language requirements are available on our English language requirements page.

Check deadlines

Applicants from some countries may have early deadlines due to a range of factors, most notably visa processing times. Please contact international@ncirl.ie or one of our approved agents for deadlines for your country.

We will open September 2025 applications in early November 2024. 

September 2025 Application Deadlines
1st July 2025 Students requiring an entry visa for Ireland
1st August 2025 Students not requiring an entry visa for Ireland
22nd August 2025 Students resident in Ireland at the time of application
January 2025 Application Deadlines
25th November 2024 Students that need an entry visa for Ireland
13th December 2024 Students that don’t need an entry visa for Ireland
3rd January 2025 Students living in Ireland

Important Notice:

Programmes may close prior to the listed deadlines if they have reached maximum capacity. We advise students to apply and confirm their places as soon as possible due to strong demand for NCI’s programmes. Places are only confirmed on receipt of full fee payment on a first come, first served basis.

It is important to remember that if you are applying close to a deadline, we usually only accept full and complete applications which demonstrate that you have met both the academic and English language requirements of the course. Also, you should ensure that you have researched the visa application timelines for your country (if applicable) to ensure that you have sufficient time to apply for your visa.

Submit an application

It is preferred if you submit your application through one of our trusted agents. You can find an agent near you by searching our country pages. If you wish to apply without an agent you can do so by using the "Apply Now" button on your chosen programme. Please note you can only be assessed for one programme at a time.

For all applications, we require the following:

  1. Official transcripts of all study you have completed so far in both original language and English translation.
  2. Official graduation certificate of recent study (if you have completed your study) in both original language and English translation.
  3. English language certificate (if available – if not this can be uploaded at a later date) 
  4. CV/Resume
  5. Passport (if you are currently residing in Ireland we also require a copy of your immigration card)

For some programmes you will require the following: 

  • A personal statement (required for all bachelor degree programmes, MSc in Fintech and the MSc in AI for Business)

Each application is reviewed individually by our admissions team and is come cases by the Course Director. You may be required to submit additional information to them.

Apply for scholarships

Each student is automatically assessed for a range of scholarships during the application assessment. Your initial scholarship will be stated in your offer letter should you receive one. For high performing students, we also offer a small number of larger scholarships. Students already in receipt of an existing scholarship and who have strong academic results, may choose to apply for one of our other scholarships. Details of all scholarships and bursaries can be found in our Fees and Funding section

Do you have questions about applying to NCI?

We have developed an International Student FAQ page with questions we receive from applicants about what courses you can study, how to apply, language requirements, and more. If you require further assistance, don't hesitate to get in touch with international@ncirl.ie.