Last updated: 2 November 2026. Rupee figures use €1 = ₹106 (ECB reference rate, 30 October 2026) and are rounded.
Want an Irish master’s in a smaller, friendlier city with a serious job market? Many Indian students now choose to study in Galway.
Galway sits on Ireland’s west coast. It’s home to the University of Galway, an Atlantic Technological University (ATU) campus and a world-class medtech cluster.
A double room here averages €789 a month, against €1,021 in Dublin city centre.
In this guide, you’ll learn what each institution charges, what rooms and campus beds cost, your monthly basics, bus fares, jobs, healthcare, weather and IRP registration, plus how Galway compares with Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
In a Hurry? Read This Quick TL;DR Summary
- Institutions: University of Galway (QS 2027: 275th) and ATU’s Galway City campus.
- Fees: University of Galway master’s often cost €21,640–€29,450; ATU’s standard non-EU fee is €14,000.
- Rent: a double room in Galway City averages €789 a month (₹83,600), per Daft.ie.
- Campus beds: new international postgraduates can apply for Corrib or Dunlin Village, by lottery.
- Jobs: Boston Scientific and Medtronic employ close to 8,000 people in Galway, says IDA Ireland.
- IRP: your first registration is in Dublin, at Burgh Quay, not in Galway.
Still planning your move? Start with our complete guide to studying in Ireland from India.
Which Universities Can You Study at in Galway?
You have two main public options. One is a ranked research university; the other is a cheaper technological university.
1. University of Galway
The university says it is ranked 275th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 326–350 by Times Higher Education (University of Galway rankings).
It has more than 19,000 students and strong links with Galway’s medtech employers (University of Galway).
2. Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway City
ATU covers Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal (ATU). Its Galway City campus is on the Dublin Road.
ATU isn’t in the QS 2027 table, but its fees are far lower.
| Example course | Non-EU fee | In rupees |
|---|---|---|
| University of Galway MSc Business Analytics (2026/27) | €21,640 | ₹22.9 lakh |
| University of Galway MSc Cybersecurity Risk Management (2026/27) | €21,640 | ₹22.9 lakh |
| University of Galway MSc Applied Clinical Data Analytics (2026/27) | €24,140 | ₹25.6 lakh |
| University of Galway MSc Computer Science–AI / Biomedical Engineering (2027/28) | €29,450 | ₹31.2 lakh |
| ATU MSc Computing, Galway (full-time) | €14,000 | ₹14.8 lakh |
| ATU standard full-time postgraduate (2026/27) | €14,000 | ₹14.8 lakh |
Sources: University of Galway fees, ATU postgraduate fees and the ATU MSc Computing page.
ATU offers non-EU fee discounts of €3,000 (based on your country’s GDP) or €4,000 (merit) (ATU scholarships).
Our calculation: a €4,000 discount cuts ATU’s €14,000 fee to €10,000 (₹10.6 lakh).
The University of Galway says visa-required applicants must pay €6,000 (₹6.4 lakh) towards tuition to get visa approval (Pre-Arrival Guide 2026).
ATU lists 1 May 2027 as its application deadline for non-EU visa-required applicants (ATU International Quick Guide).
Comparing more colleges? See our list of the best universities in Ireland for Indian students.
Which Courses Fit Galway’s Job Market?
IDA Ireland says Galway, Mayo and Roscommon host 130 multinationals employing more than 31,000 people (IDA Ireland).
Match your course to the sectors that actually hire in the region.
- Medtech: Boston Scientific and Medtronic employ close to 8,000 people in Galway, says IDA. Dexcom, Aerogen and Zimmer Biomet also operate in the region.
- Tech and software: IDA counts about 40 tech companies employing nearly 7,000 people in the West, including Genesys, HP Enterprise and Diligent.
- Finance tech: IDA notes Fidelity Investments uses its West of Ireland operations for software development.
- Pharma: larger pharma sites sit in Mayo and Roscommon, so expect to commute or relocate.
The University of Galway says the city hosts 8 of the world’s top 10 medtech companies (Galway MedTech Hub).
That makes biomedical engineering, data analytics and regulatory or quality roles natural fits.
How Much Is Rent in Galway in 2027?
The latest Daft.ie Rental Report (Q2 2026) gives these Galway City averages.
| Galway City (Daft.ie, Q2 2026) | Monthly rent | In rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Single room in a house, no ensuite | €660 | ₹70,000 |
| Double room in a house, no ensuite | €719 | ₹76,200 |
| Double room in a house, ensuite | €795 | ₹84,300 |
| Double room in an apartment, ensuite | €923 | ₹97,800 |
| Studio (whole home) | €1,157 | ₹1.23 lakh |
| 1-bed apartment | €1,647 | ₹1.75 lakh |
Daft’s city-wide map shows a Galway City double room at €789, the same as its average for a double room in an apartment without an ensuite.
Supply is tight. On 1 August 2026, Daft found just 293 rooms to rent across Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford cities combined.
What Are Your Student Accommodation Options in Galway?
1. University of Galway Campus Villages
New-entrant international postgraduates can apply only for Corrib Village and Dunlin Village (Campus Accommodation booking).
Rooms go by computer lottery. If you’re picked, you pay a €250 deposit within 48 hours. The 2026/27 postgraduate window ran from 6 May to 5 June 2026.
| Room (2026/27) | Monthly, 9 payments | Our year total | In rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrib basic single, shared bathroom | €509.89 | €5,189 incl. €600 utilities | ₹5.5 lakh |
| Corrib standard double, private ensuite | €680.78 | €6,127 + utilities (TBC) | ₹6.5 lakh+ |
| Dunlin single ensuite | €746.80 | €7,196 incl. €475 utilities | ₹7.6 lakh |
Sources: Corrib Village and Dunlin Village. Year totals are our calculation; utility prepayments are adjusted to actual use.
2. Private Student Complexes (PBSA)
- Here! Galway Central: 2026/27 rooms from €316 a week (Classic En Suite), with Twodios at €302 on a waitlist, including utilities capped at €50 a week (Here).
- Mezzino The Westwood: €174.42–€290.70 per person per week, plus a €55 weekly services charge (Mezzino).
Our calculation: Here’s Classic En Suite costs about €12,956 (₹13.7 lakh) over the 41-week stay shown, far above campus rates.
ATU’s international guide points Galway students to nearby purpose-built student villages, digs and private rentals, via its Students’ Union.
3. House Shares and Digs
The University of Galway recommends Studentpad, Daft, MyHome and Findahome, and warns never to pay before viewing (Pre-Arrival Guide).
Popular student areas include Newcastle, Shantalla, Rahoon, Salthill and Knocknacarra. A standard lease runs 9–12 months.
For scam checks and deposits, read our student accommodation guide.
What Does It Cost to Live in Galway Each Month?
The University of Galway doesn’t publish a monthly total. It lists sample prices instead (University of Galway cost of living).
| Item (University of Galway) | Euro | In rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 litre) | €1.55 | ₹160 |
| Rice (1 kg) | €1.98 | ₹210 |
| Chicken (1 kg) | €9.96 | ₹1,060 |
| Hot lunch on campus | from €10 | ₹1,060 |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | €20 | ₹2,120 |
Our calculation: a €719 double room plus a €42 student bus pass comes to €761 a month (₹80,700) before food, bills and phone.
Cooking at home is the single biggest saving. For a full monthly and yearly budget, see our cost of studying in Ireland guide.
How Do You Get Around Galway by Bus?
Bus Éireann and City Direct run Galway’s city buses under TFI. The university notes Galway is compact, so you’ll walk a lot.
| TFI Galway city bus (Leap) | Adult | Young Adult / Student |
|---|---|---|
| Single fare, Bus Éireann | €1.35–€1.55 | €0.65–€0.80 |
| Red 7-day ticket | €16.80 | €13.40 |
| Red monthly ticket | €60 | €42 (₹4,450) |
Source: TFI Leap Card Galway. That page’s intro quotes a €0.75 student fare, so the exact single fare is unclear.
Unlike Cork and Dublin, Galway doesn’t yet have the TFI 90-minute fare.
Use the Young Adult card if you’re 19–25, or the Student card if you’re 26 or older.
Can You Find Part-Time and Graduate Work in Galway?
Yes. On Stamp 2, you may work 20 hours a week in term and 40 hours in the official holiday windows.
The minimum wage is €14.15 an hour (₹1,500) until 31 December 2026, and €14.94 (₹1,584) from 1 January 2027 (S.I. 533 of 2026).
Our calculation: 20 hours a week at the 2027 rate works out to about €1,295 a month (₹1.37 lakh) before tax.
Students typically find shifts in retail, hospitality, cafés and campus jobs. Galway is small, so apply early.
Our part-time jobs guide covers PPSN, tax and the gig work you can’t do.
After your course, the Stamp 1G lets you stay and work full-time while you job hunt.
IDA notes Ireland fast-tracks employment permits for skilled hires from outside Ireland, which matters for medtech graduates.
Is There an Indian Community and Indian Food in Galway?
Yes. Census 2022 counted 1,392 Indian citizens in Galway City, the second-largest non-Irish group after Polish citizens (CSO).
Across Galway city and county, 4,627 people gave their ethnic background as Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi.
That’s smaller than Cork City’s 3,016 Indian citizens, so expect a tight-knit community.
Big supermarkets stock rice, lentils and spices. Ask senior students where to find atta, paneer and fresh masalas.
What Are the Weather and Safety Like in Galway?
Wet and mild. Met Éireann says rainfall in the west generally averages 1,000–1,400 mm a year (Met Éireann).
Met Éireann publishes no 1991–2020 table for Galway itself. At nearby Shannon Airport, means are 6.1°C in January and 16.0°C in July (Met Éireann Shannon).
Pack a waterproof jacket, layers and good walking shoes.
- Walk home in groups at night and stick to well-lit streets.
- Keep your passport and IRP card at home.
- Never send a rent deposit for a room you haven’t viewed.
- In an emergency, call 112 or 999.
How Does Healthcare Work for Students in Galway?
You need private health insurance, including hospital cover, before your visa and immigration registration (University of Galway).
At the University of Galway Student Health Unit, doctor and nurse visits are usually free. Some services cost extra, such as €15 lab tests (Health Unit fees).
ATU’s Galway City campus has an on-campus medical service, which ATU says is completely free (ATU Student Health).
Neither replaces a family doctor, so find a local GP through the HSE GP finder.
You must hold private medical insurance for your visa and IRP. Student plans cost about €177 (₹18,800) a year with Vhi at age 18–20, or from €229 (₹24,300) with Study and Protect. Our health insurance guide compares them.
Budget for things going wrong, too. A public A&E visit without a GP referral costs €100 (₹10,600), and an injury unit visit costs €75 (₹7,950) (Citizens Information).
Where Do Galway Students Register for the IRP?
In Dublin. Every first-time registration now happens at the ISD Registration Office, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Responsibility moved from local Garda stations to ISD (ISD announcement), so plan a day trip.
The fee is €300 (₹31,800). Booking is free, and anyone selling slots is running a scam (ISD).
Renewals are online. Our IRP registration guide lists every document you need.
How Do You Get to Galway From India?
There are no direct flights from India to Galway. The University of Galway recommends flying into Dublin, as onward transport is more frequent.
Coaches leave Dublin Airport for Galway every hour. The trip takes about 3 hours and usually costs €13–€25.
Trains from Dublin Heuston take about 2 hours 25 minutes and cost €17–€25, per the university’s Pre-Arrival Guide.
Shannon Airport is the other option, about an hour away by car, says IDA Ireland.
Should You Study in Galway, Dublin, Cork or Limerick?
| Factor (Daft map, Q2 2026) | Galway City | Dublin City Centre | Cork City | Limerick City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double room | €789 | €1,021 | €773 | €682 |
| 2-bed home | €2,282 | €2,801 | €2,119 | €1,961 |
| IRP first registration | Day trip to Dublin | Local | Day trip to Dublin | Day trip to Dublin |
Census 2022 counted 2,341 Indian citizens across Limerick city and county (CSO).
Weighing the bigger cities? Read our Dublin guide and Cork guide.
Pros of Galway: cheaper rooms than Dublin, a walkable city and a global medtech cluster.
Cons of Galway: a small rental market, wet weather and fewer jobs outside medtech and tech.
The Bottom Line: Should You Study in Galway in 2027?
If you want medtech, data or engineering careers, study in Galway deserves a serious look.
Budget for fees of €14,000–€29,450 and rent near €700–€800 a month.
Why pay Dublin prices if Galway’s employers match your goals?
Join the campus lottery early, line up a backup room, and book your Burgh Quay slot as soon as you arrive.
Ready for the next step? Go back to our complete guide to studying in Ireland from India.
Disclaimer: IrelandStudyGuide.com is an independent guide. This article is general information, not legal, financial or immigration advice. We have no relationship with the University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University, QS, Times Higher Education, Daft.ie, Campus Accommodation (Corrib, Dunlin and Goldcrest Villages), Here, Mezzino, Studentpad, MyHome, Findahome, Transport for Ireland, Bus Éireann, City Direct, IDA Ireland, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Dexcom, Aerogen, Zimmer Biomet, Genesys, HP Enterprise, Diligent, Fidelity Investments, Met Éireann, the CSO, the HSE, Citizens Information, Immigration Service Delivery or any employer named. Fees, rents and fares change, so always check the official source before you decide.