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What are the main intakes in Ireland that I can apply to as an international student?

06 Oct 2026 · Answered by Thaiba Nazreen · 1 min read
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Ireland typically has two main intakes for international students: the Autumn intake in September and the Spring intake in January or February. September is the primary intake with the widest choice of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, while January or February is a secondary option mainly for selected postgraduate programmes.

Thaiba Nazreen
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Ireland typically has two main intakes for international students: Autumn in September and Spring in January or February. September is the primary intake and has the widest range of programmes. The January or February intake is a secondary option mostly for selected postgraduate programmes.

Ireland's two main intakes

IntakeStartWhat it offers
AutumnSeptemberPrimary intake with the widest selection of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes; a broader range of scholarships
SpringJanuary or FebruarySecondary option, with selected programmes mainly at postgraduate level; January entry also exists for some undergraduate and foundation programmes, and intakes vary by institution

Who each intake suits

  • September suits you if you want the most course options and scholarship choice.
  • January or February suits you if you need more time to prepare your application or missed the September deadline.

My Advice

Choose September if you can be ready in time, because it keeps your options widest. If you need a few more months for results or documents, check which postgraduate programmes actually offer a January or February start.

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