The Basics

Ireland is predominantly English-speaking. 

In Gaeltacht areas of the country (parts of Galway, Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Mayo, Meath and Donegal for example) the Irish language, Gaeilge, is the first language. 

The Euro (denoted by € or EUR) is the unit of currency in Ireland. One Euro is equal to one hundred cents.

Currency exchange services are available at some banks, post offices and credit unions but only if you have a bank account with them. We advise students coming to Ireland to bring some cash (Euro) or preferably use cards.  All major credit and debit cards are accepted throughout Ireland. 

There will be many factors determining an international student's personal expenditure while studying at Mary Immaculate College. Please note the costing below is an estimate only for academic year 2024-25.

• Accommodation* (including utilities) - €5863 per academic year = €651/month = €147/week *Costs are averaged based on different accommodation options ranging from student apartments (which are usually booked early) to private housing and it would not be unusual to pay up to €850-900 per month in some circumstances.  
• Food – €2707 per academic year = €300/month = €67/week
• Other Expenses – €3,849 per academic year = €427/month = €96/week  (clothing, mobile phone, hygiene products, social life, sports, travel in Ireland, etc.)
• Textbooks and materials – €463 per academic year (academic books, stationery, materials, computer equipment etc., that need to be bought for the purpose of completing the coursework. It allows for €1,389 spend over a 3-year course of study.)
• Tuition – Please visit our Fees page.
• Insurance – Depends on individual needs. Please follow the link to our Insurance page.
• Visa / Irish Residence Permits (IRP) – IRP cost is €300 for each registration/renewal. Visa costs depend on individual circumstances. Please follow the link to our Visa & Immigration Information page.

To open a bank account with Bank of Ireland, you will need to present your passport and a supporting status letter from the College. Bank accounts can be set up online with Bank of Ireland once you are registered as a student with MIC. Contact international@mic.ul.ie for further information on the documents required to open the account online.

Advice on foreign currency exchange can be provided on request. It is advisable to have contact details for your home bank account while in Ireland, in case you need to get in touch. All major credit and debit cards are accepted throughout Ireland. 

In Ireland and the UK, we use different plugs and voltage to the rest of the world. If you are bringing any electrical goods with you, you should purchase an adapter in your home country, as it may be cheaper there but check the voltage! Voltage in Ireland is 220V AC, at 50Hz. Most European appliances should work no problem. The plug in Ireland is a standard 3-pin plug so you will need an adapter to suit this.

The climate in Ireland tends to be mild and temperate, though rainy, for most of the year. Temperature extremes in summer and winter are rare but not completely unheard of. The term 'four seasons in one day' can be said of Ireland, meaning that the weather here can be changeable and unpredictable. It is a good idea to purchase an umbrella and either bring/buy a waterproof jacket/coat/poncho, suitably warm clothing and footwear.

Weather forecast can be checked on Met Éireann.

Bedding/Towels/Homewares

Some student accommodation provide bedding – but not all do. You should be able to find reasonably priced homewares, bed linen and towels in the following stores:

• Dunnes Stores, Henry Street, Limerick City
• Guineys, William Street, Limerick City
• Shaws Department Store, Crescent Shopping Centre, Dooradoyle, Limerick
• Penneys, O’Connell Street, Limerick City & Crescent Shopping Centre, Dooradoyle

It is a good idea to purchase an umbrella, a waterproof jacket/coat/poncho, suitable warm clothing and footwear. The stores above have clothing sections too but the city centre and the Crescent Shopping Centre have a large selection of other retailers.

Supermarkets

• Lidl, Childers Road, Limerick City (a five minute walk from MIC)
• Aldi, Childers Road, Limerick City
• Dunnes Stores, Henry Street, Limerick City
• Tesco, Crescent Shopping Centre, Dooradoyle and Arthur’s Quay Limerick City
• Casey's Londis - a convenience store on Dock Road near Courtbrack /MIC

Information Guide for International Students 24-25

This Information Guide is updated regularly and compiles all the relevant information and links for international students at MIC.

Information Guide for International Students 25-26

The 25-26 Information Guide is updated regularly and compiles all the relevant information and links for international students at MIC.