Can you clarify the overall budget including tuition and living expenses in Ireland/Germany for a Master's?

Your Master's budget will look very different depending on which country you choose: Ireland typically costs €22,000 to €50,000 or more per year, while Germany can run as low as €13,000 to €20,000 annually at public universities. The gap comes almost entirely from tuition, since German public universities charge little to no fees while Irish universities charge full international rates.

Ireland vs Germany Annual Budget

What Drives the Difference

• In Ireland, arts and humanities programs sit at the lower end (€10,000 to €15,000), while STEM, business and medical or data science programs often reach €20,000 to €35,000+
• Dublin housing drives costs up, with a realistic monthly budget of €1,200 to €1,800, versus cheaper cities like Galway, Cork or Limerick
• In Germany, most public universities charge only a semester contribution of €150 to €350, which usually includes a regional transport pass
• To get your German student visa, you must show €11,904 in a blocked account (Sperrkonto), which covers housing, groceries and mandatory health insurance

My Advice

If your budget is tight, prioritise Germany's public universities outside Baden-Württemberg, where your biggest cost becomes living expenses rather than tuition. If you choose Ireland instead, look beyond Dublin to cities like Cork or Galway to cut your monthly rent by several hundred euros.