DCU is 410th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2026, a rise of 11 places compared with the previous edition, which places it 4th among Irish universities. It is fair to call it a young university (university status only since 1989), not one that is centuries old like Trinity College Dublin, but it has grown steadily in academic reputation, employer reputation and citations. Its strong point is not historical prestige, but employability and links with industry, realised through the INTRA work placement programme.

As an EU citizen who meets the residency criteria, you are eligible for the Free Fees Initiative: the Irish state covers tuition fees, and you pay only the student contribution of around EUR 2,500 per year (plus a Student Centre Levy of about EUR 43). A non-EU student instead pays full tuition, between EUR 15,000 and over EUR 25,000 per year, depending on the programme.

Adding the cost of living in Dublin (accommodation EUR 700-EUR 1,200/month, food EUR 300-EUR 450/month, transport EUR 30-EUR 50/month), the estimated total per year for a Romanian is around EUR 13,000-EUR 18,000, drastically lower than the UK or the USA.

The Free Fees Initiative is an Irish state scheme through which the government covers the cost of tuition fees for eligible undergraduate students, and the student pays only the student contribution, currently around EUR 2,500 per year. Eligibility usually requires EU/EEA/UK citizenship plus meeting the residency criteria.

For Romanians it matters enormously: as an EU citizen, you pay a fraction of what a student from outside the EU would pay (EUR 15,000-EUR 25,000+ per year). It is one of the biggest financial advantages of studying in Ireland compared with the UK (where, after Brexit, Romanians pay international rates) or the USA.

Yes, all programmes at DCU are taught in English. Ireland is a natively English-speaking country, with English an official language spoken in everyday life. This means that, unlike Spain, Germany or the Netherlands, you do not need to learn an additional foreign language in order to study and live there.

As a Romanian applicant you may be asked for proof of your English level, usually IELTS Academic 6.5 or equivalent (TOEFL iBT ~90, Cambridge C1). Check the exact requirement for your chosen programme, as some also accept your English grade from high school or the Baccalaureate.

Applying for a bachelor's degree in Ireland is centralised through the CAO (Central Applications Office), not directly with the university. You create a single account on cao.ie, valid for all Irish universities (DCU, Trinity, UCD, UCC, Galway), and select up to 10 programmes in order of preference.

The CAO converts your Romanian Baccalaureate average into a Leaving Certificate points equivalent. With this points score you compete alongside all the other candidates for each programme, which has a points requirement (the cut-off in points) set annually. The higher your Baccalaureate average, the more CAO points you have. Check the DCU website for the equivalence table for Romania.

INTRA (INtegrated TRAining) is DCU's work placement programme, the first of its kind in Ireland and part of the DCU experience for more than 40 years. It is an accredited placement and, for many programmes, a mandatory component of the degree.

In practice, you typically spend 6 to 8 months actually working in a company in Ireland or abroad, before graduating. INTRA is the main reason DCU has a reputation as an employability-focused university: you leave with real work experience on your CV, industry connections and, often, a job offer from the company where you did your placement.

Yes, as an EU citizen you have the automatic right to work in Ireland during your studies (part-time) and after graduation (full-time), without a visa or work permit. Unlike the post-Brexit UK, where Romanians need a work visa, in Ireland you work freely on the basis of EU citizenship.

Ireland hosts the European hubs of major tech and financial companies (Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, LinkedIn, Pfizer, Accenture), many headquartered right in Dublin. DCU's profile, focused on business, computing and engineering, plus the INTRA placement experience, positions you well in this market. In addition, with an EU degree you can work anywhere in the Union without a visa.

DCU is organised into 5 faculties and has clear strengths in: business (DCU Business School, with international accreditations), computing and data science, electronic and mechanical engineering (Faculty of Engineering and Computing), communications and journalism (DCU has a recognised tradition in media communications) and education (DCU Institute of Education is the largest provider of teacher training in Ireland).

For a Romanian student interested in an applied, employment-focused career, especially in tech, business or engineering, DCU's profile plus the INTRA placement are a very good fit. All of these programmes are taught in English.