February Intake 2025 - Best Ireland Universities
With the February intake in 2025 right around the corner, now is the perfect time to consider the top universities to study abroad in Ireland. The Emerald Isle hosts some of the best universities in Europe, with many of these Irish universities offering a secondary intake in spring, during the months of January and February. Applying for this intake means you get to enjoy Ireland as it takes a turn towards more pleasant, warm weather without setting your degree back by a year.
The spring intake has some great benefits, including the lower competition in comparison to the more competitive Autumn semester. On the other hand, you may have fewer programs to choose from during this intake. Have a look at your options to start a program in Ireland at the start of 2025.
Why Study in Ireland in 2025?
If you are not familiar with Ireland as a study abroad destination, the first item on our agenda is to build a case for what makes it such a fantastic higher education hub. Apart from lush green landscapes and wonderful historic and cultural heritage, Ireland also packs quite the punch as a higher education leader.
Ireland currently hosts more than 35,000 international students, a number which is staggering when considering the country and population size. Chinese, Indian, and American students make up the largest groups of international students in the country, with experts projecting greater inbound student mobility in the coming years.
Some of the reasons behind Ireland’s growing popularity among international students include:
World-Ranking Universities
Ireland, as a small country, has a relatively small number of universities – but a majority of these universities rank among the best higher education institutes in the world. These include four of the world’s top 300 universities, according to QS World University Rankings 2025:
• Trinity College Dublin
• University College Dublin
• University College Cork
• University of Galway
Affordable Tuition
Another factor contributing to Ireland’s popularity as a higher education destination for the February intake and beyond is its affordability. Irish universities offer world-class education comparable to the best universities in Europe at lower tuition costs on average.
For example, if you choose to study abroad after 12th grade in Ireland, you can expect an average tuition fee range between €9,850–€19,500. In comparison, tuition fees fall between £11,400–£38,000 for most programs in the UK.
Great Career Opportunities
Ireland has a thriving economy, currently the fastest-growing in the EU, creating exciting graduate opportunities. Irish universities are very responsive to industry trends and demands, developing and introducing programs aligning with job market requirements. As a result, Ireland enjoys one of the highest youth employment rates in Europe, with graduates securing job opportunities within 4 months of completing their programs.
Safety and Community
International students find Ireland to be a very welcoming country and enjoy exploring its unique culture and communities. You will enjoy a great quality of life here, thanks to the safety and sense of community you will find on and around university campuses.
Intakes in Ireland
The Irish academic calendar runs similarly to most of its European neighbors. Ireland has two intakes every year: Autumn and Spring.
Autumn Intake
The Autumn intake is the primary intake in Ireland. Typically, around September or October, the volume of applicants is the highest during this time. All universities in Ireland offer admissions for the autumn or fall intake with almost all courses available. This also means that class sizes are much larger, with the campus at its liveliest during these intakes.
Spring Intake
The spring intake is the secondary intake in Ireland and kicks off in the months of January and February at most Irish universities. Irish universities offer fewer courses during the February intake than they do during the fall. Some universities, like Trinity College Dublin, do not offer the spring intake at all. The spring intake, however, can be a good opportunity for international students to apply if you missed the opportunity during the autumn intake.
How to Choose the Right Intake
Choosing the right intake can make the difference in not only between acceptance and application rejection but also making the right program choice. While you may not be willing to delay your degree by another year by waiting for the following Autumn intake, it’s important to consider whether your ideal program is available during your chosen intake. Factors to guide your choice in intake include:
Courses Available:
Not all Irish universities will offer programs for the January or February intake. Typically, opting for the spring intake will limit your course options. It may also limit the universities you can apply to. To discover whether the programs you are considering have a spring intake option, browse through our course matcher, GRADSearch. Here, you will be able to preview not only key course information but also the start dates of each program.
Visa Processing:
Visa processing can take time, extending up to a few months. You need to manage your timeline for the Irish student visa application so there is enough time on hand for this to come through. The Irish government urges applicants not to prepare for travel before visa applications are complete. You will need to factor visa application timelines into your decision-making when choosing the right intake.
Application Deadlines:
It is important to figure out if you can gather your documents, collect transcripts, sit tests, and so on, to send out your application before deadlines. Application deadlines depend on the intake you wish to apply to. So, it is important to contact the university beforehand and prepare your documents with the deadline in mind. Sending incomplete applications or submitting an application too close to the deadline risks rejection.
Competition:
Since autumn is the primary intake, it typically sees a higher number of applicants. This translates to higher competition during admission, which can decrease your chances of admissions and scholarships. On the contrary, the spring intake may have lower competition, which, together with a strong application with time to spare before the deadline, can improve your admission opportunities.
Weather:
Harsh weather can be harder to adjust to than you think. Many international students struggle to adjust to the weather and climate of a new country as soon as they arrive. Choosing an intake that lets you transition slowly into a harsher climate may be easier on you than trying to adjust to rough winters abruptly.
Pros of the Spring Intake
Lower Competition
The spring intake typically sees a lower number of applicants in Ireland. This means competition will be lower, increasing your chances of acceptance. This also helps you in getting scholarships, which can also see less competition during the February intake.
Better Weather
Better weather might be a bigger deal than you think. Applying to start your program in February gives you the comfort of a warmer Irish spring than working your way into a harsh winter. You will have the opportunity to ease yourself into the climate instead of going headfirst into rough weather that you are not familiar with.
Smaller Class Sizes
Spring intakes also see smaller class sizes. Since the number of applicants and available courses are lower, the number of students in each class is also lower. This means there will be a better teacher-to- student ratio. You receive more one-on-one guidance as your instructors are able to personalize your learning journey for you.
Best Universities with Spring Intake Options in 2025
Dublin Business School
In the Irish capital of Dublin, the Dublin Business School stands out as one of the top colleges in Ireland. You can enroll in a Bachelor’s or a Master’s program at DBS during the spring intake. The course options are also quite wide, giving you the highest number of courses to choose from among Irish colleges. Programs are available to international students in the areas of Business, Arts, Law, Psychology, Computing and more. Besides these, you can also enroll for an ACCA or higher diploma course during this intake. Some of the undergraduate and graduate programs available for the spring intake are:
Bachelor’s Programs:
● BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance
● BA (Hons) Business (Cloud Computing)
● BA (Hons) Business (Law)
● BSc (Hons) Computing (Data Analytics and Big Data) etc.
Master’s Programs:
● Master of Arts in Contemporary Criminology
● Master of Business Administration (MBA)
● Master of Science (MSc) Applied Psychology
● Master of Science (MSc) in Data Analytics
● Master of Science (MSc) in Digital Marketing and Analytics etc.
Griffith College
Griffith College is another of the prestigious colleges in Ireland, with over 200 programs and a great student-to-lecturer ratio. You enjoy hands-on education and guidance in your classes with the close attention of subject-matter experts and specialists.
Griffith College also has a huge global alumni network of over 40,000 students. The February intake at Griffith offers a number of Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. You can also opt for foundation, certificate, and higher diploma programs. Popular programs you could consider for the spring intake are:
Bachelor’s Programs:
● BA (Hons) in Business
● BA (Hons) in Communications and Media Production
● BA in Communications
● LLB (Hons) in Law
● BSc (Hons) in Computing Science etc.
Master’s Programs:
● MBA in International Business
● MSc in International Business and Law
● LL.M. in International Law
● Master of Science in Computing
● MSc in Big Data Management and Analytics etc.
Dublin City University
Dublin City University ranks among the top 60 young universities in the world and is one of the best universities in Ireland and Europe as a whole. Despite being relatively young in comparison to other Irish universities, it is already developing a solid legacy in higher education leadership.
DCU stands out for incorporating inclusivity and progressiveness in its curriculum and teaching methods. During the spring intake, you can enroll for one of several of the Master’s programs DCU offers. Bachelor’s programs are, unfortunately, only available during the autumn intake. Programs you can choose from for the spring intake in 2025 are:
Master’s programs:
● MEng in Electronic and Computer Engineering
● MSc in Electronic & Computer Technology
● MSc in Finance
Dorset College Dublin
Dorset College in Dublin is another great college you can opt for in Ireland. Dorset College holds accreditations from QQI, along with CIPD, PMI and Acels. These accreditations represent the quality of education and experience at this college as well as the value of these qualifications within Ireland and globally. The February intake at Dorset College offers some popular Bachelor’s programs you may consider applying for:
● BSc in Computing
● Bachelor of Business
● Bachelor of Business (Honors) in International Business
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is one of the most prestigious and top-ranking universities in Ireland. It ranks as one of the top 500 universities in the world, according to QS World University Rankings 2025. While most of its programs are available during its autumn intake, you can also apply for a few Master’s programs in January. Programs you can choose from for the spring intake in 2025 are:
Master’s programs:
● Sports Performance – MSc
● Digital Health Transformation, MSc
Rounding Up
Applying for the February intake in Ireland helps you get in with relatively less competition for both admission and scholarships. However, you will have fewer options in terms of universities and courses. So, it is of utmost importance to search for the best programs and take all factors into consideration before making your decision. You can use GRADSearch to speed up this process by quickly discovering the programs available for the spring intake in Ireland.
