LeapScholar

Are there any options available for masters intake after September in Ireland for a Master's?

25 Aug 2026 · Answered by Smitha Satish S · 1 min read
Quick Answer verified

Yes, Ireland runs a secondary January or Spring intake for master's students who miss September. Dublin City University, University of Limerick, Maynooth, TU Dublin, University of Galway and National College of Ireland all offer select programs, mainly in computing, business and engineering, with applications closing around October or November.

Smitha Satish S
Smitha Satish S Verified
Leap Scholar's Counsellor
View Profile →

Yes, missing September does not close the door on Ireland. A smaller January intake exists specifically for postgraduate students, though your course choices will be narrower than the main autumn round.

Universities And Fields Open For January

UniversityPopular Fields Offered
Dublin City UniversityComputing, Business
University of LimerickEngineering, Business
Maynooth UniversityData Analytics, IT
TU DublinSoftware Engineering, Cyber Security
University of GalwayBusiness, Finance
National College of IrelandData Analytics, AI

Timeline You Need To Plan Around

  • Applications typically open in June to August and close between October and November.
  • Irish student visas take roughly 8 to 12 weeks, so submit yours by October or November at the latest.
  • You still get full access to the Third Level Graduate Programme, a 2-year post-study work visa for Level 9 master's graduates, even from a January start.

My Advice

Since Irish universities process January applications on a rolling basis, apply the moment your target course opens rather than waiting for the deadline, popular data, business and engineering seats fill up fast even in this smaller intake.

More expert answers

Abhishek Mehta
Abhishek Mehta Verified
Leap Scholar's Counsellor
View Profile →

For 2027, the main intake options for Master's programs are:

Germany:
- Winter Semester (October 2027): Main intake with the widest program choice. Typical deadlines: May - July 15, 2027.
- Summer Semester (April 2027): Fewer programs. Typical deadlines: December 2026 - January 15, 2027.

Ireland:
- September Intake (2027): Main intake for most universities. Typical deadlines: November 2026 - May/June 2027.
- January Intake (2027): Limited programs at select universities. Typical deadlines: October - November 2026.

For a January 2027 start, Ireland offers more options, but availability is limited to select universities. In Germany, most programs begin in October or April, with the next available start after January being April 2027 (Summer Semester).

Ireland Jan or Sep 2027: Which Intake Can You Still Apply For?

Get a personalised timeline before deadlines close.

4.7/5 Google 🎓 25K+ admits
Plan My Intake

More Universities & admissions questions

More Ireland questions

🎓 Ireland Jan or Sep 2027: Which Intake Is Still Open? Plan My Intake