International Fee Assessment
What is International Fee Assessment:
The designation of a DCU student as EU or Non-EU fee status at the point of entry to DCU, determines the fee liability for each student.
There are two criteria which are required to be satisfied. These are the Nationality/Citizenship requirement and the Residency requirement.
Please note that if you are holding a Conditional Visa (For example a Stamp 2), then any period of residency in the EU cannot be counted towards this requirement.
When can an International Fee Assessment be carried out:
A review of a current designation as EU or Non-EU fee status can only be carried out once a full offer has been issued. The full process is outlined below.
Who can request to have an International Fee Assessment:
All new DCU student's are automatically designated as EU or Non-EU fee status, based on the information they have provided on entry to DCU. This status is determined by the self declared information provided at application stage based on your nationality and country of birth.
International applicants may request a review of their fee status based on new information that was not provided at the time of application. Please note that new information provided in support of a fee assessment application must be submitted prior to registering at DCU. A review of a fee assessment will not be conducted once an applicant has completed registration.
A fee assessment can only be carried out once an applicant receives a full offer and prior to registration at DCU.
EU Fee Status - International postgraduate and undergraduate applicants must meet DCU's published criteria at the point of entry to be eligible for EU Fees. Applicants must present adequate documentation to evidence the following criteria:
- they are a national of an EU/EEA member state, Swiss confederation or UK, and will be ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA member state/Swiss confederation or UK for three of the five years prior to the commencement of the programme.
- they are a national of an EU/EEA member state, Swiss confederation or UK and have received all their post-primary education within an EU/EEA member state, Swiss confederation or UK and have resided in an EU/EEA member state, Swiss confederation or UK for three of the five years prior to the commencement of the programme.
- they have been in full-time employment in an EU/EEA member state, Swiss confederation or UK with correct permissions for three of the last five years prior to the commencement of the first year of the course. This applies to candidates over the age of 23.
- they have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA member state, Swiss confederation or UK for three of the five years prior to the commencement of the programme and their parents have been in full- time employment in an EU/EEA member state, Swiss confederation or UK for three of the five years prior to the commencement of the programme. This applies to candidates under the age of 23.
- Fee assessments will only be carried out if appropriate supporting documentation is provided following receipt of a full offer and prior to registering at DCU. Early application for a fee assessment is advised to avoid delays in registering and paying for your programme.
Postgraduate Applicants
- Students who completed all years of their undergraduate degree programme at Dublin City University paying non-EU fees, and proceed to postgraduate study at DCU on a self-funded basis, may qualify for EU rate fee [following assessment of fee status]
- If a student holds EU/ EEA/ Swiss or UK Nationality or official Irish refugee status, and has received ALL of his/her full-time post-primary education in the EU / EEA / UK/ Switzerland (whilst parents were resident as tax payers), they are eligible for the EU rate of fees. This applies even if the student has not been resident in the EU for three of the five years immediately prior to university entry.
Other Applicants
- The dependents of non-EU diplomatic staff based in the EU may be eligible for EU fees (Consideration is on a case by case basis) This includes the minor/dependent adult children who are in full time post-primary education and the spouse/the civil partner of the non-EU diplomatic staff.
Important Note: Incomplete fee assessment applications cannot be processed.
Non EU Fee Status - International postgraduate and undergraduate applicants that do not meet the DCU nationality and residency rules above at the point of entry to DCU are deemed to have a Non EU fee status.
Non EU Fee Status defined at point of entry cannot be changed during the duration of study.
If you have undergone a 'Change of Nationality' then please be aware that you would have been required to satisfy the Residency requirement prior to completing your DCU registration. If this requirement was not satisfied then your fee status cannot be amended.
For further information on a 'Change of Nationality' then please click on the 'Undergraduate Free Fees Initiative' option below.
Free Fees Initiative - The Free Fees Initiative is for full-time undergraduate applicants only. Under the terms of the Free Fees Initiative, first introduced in 1995, the Irish Exchequer will pay tuition fees to the University on behalf of students registered for the first time on qualifying full-time undergraduate degree programmes.
The critieria for the Free Fees Initiative is defined and regulated by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The criteria for eligibility is assessed by DCU and must be met in full prior to commencing a programme. Further detailed information about the Free Fees Initiative can be found using this link.
The Free Fees Initiative does not permit a change of fee status, except in the case where the student changes citizenship/nationality during the period of study. In order to be eligible under this ‘Change of Nationality’ clause students must have met all other criterion of the Free Fees Initiative, apart from nationality, at date of entry to their course of study.A change in nationality must be communicated to feestatus.assessment@dcu.ie at least two weeks in advance of the dates outlined below, to avail of the related fee status change. Changes cannot be carried out retrospectively.
- Students who acquire EEA citizenship up to 30th of September in an academic year may be entitled to free tuition fees for the full academic year.
- Students who acquire EEA citizenship up to 31st January in an academic year may be entitled to free tuition fees from the second half of the academic year.
- Students who acquire EEA citizenship from 1st February may be entitled to free tuition fees from the commencement of the next academic year.
Additional notes in relation to Free Fees:
Non-EEA nationals who are not naturalised:
- such nationals who have approved residence in the State are not eligible for free fees or grants, however once naturalised such persons are regarded as fully meeting the nationality requirements of the schemes.
- non-EEA nationals without permission to remain in the State (including those still in the asylum process) or those with permission to remain on a short-term or temporary basis (such as work permits or study visas) are not eligible for free fees or grants.
EU citizens - not meeting residency criteria:
- EU fees may apply for EU, EEA , Swiss or UK citizens, who do not meet the normal residency requirements but who completed at least 5 academic years of study in EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation /UK (at either primary or secondary education). Please note that this relates to students being eligible for the EU fee rate rather than the Non-EU fee rate for their programme. This does not affect the rules governing entitlement to free fees for undergraduate study
Special Categories:
- Minor and dependent adult children who are in full time post-primary education, the spouse/the civil partner of Irish State Officials, and comparable EU/EEA/Swiss State officials, who reside with that State official while posted outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland on diplomatic or consular missions, shall be deemed to be resident in their home EU/EEA/Swiss State for the purposes of the residency clause of the Free Fees Initiative.
- A child of an Irish Semi-State Agency Official,
- Article 9 of Decision 1/80 of the Association Council made pursuant to the Ankara Agreement 1963
A child of a Turkish national in respect of whom the Minister of Justice has granted a permission to reside and who, in accordance with Article 9 of Decision 1/80 of the Association Council made pursuant to the Ankara Agreement 1963, is residing with their parents, who are or have been legally employed within the State and can satisfy the conditions relating to employment laid down in Articles 6 and 7 of Decision 1/80.
Applicants who wish to have an assessment of their fees conducted must:
1. Have a Full Offer from Dublin City University.
2. Fully complete the Fee Status Assessment Form.
The form can be accessed here.
Once you have completed the form you must send it to feestatus.assessment@dcu.ie along with all supporting evidence for your application.
Applications will be processed within 2 weeks of receipt of the documentation and applicants will be notified of the outcome by email. This email should be retained and presented to the Registry at the time of registration. Incomplete applications cannot be processed and applicants will be contacted with a request for any additional documentation if required.
Important Note: Incomplete fee assessment applications cannot be processed.
DCU Student Fees
Please follow this link for information information about DCU student fees and payments. The academic year 2024 - 2025 https://www.dcu.ie/fees/dcu-fees-schedule-2024-2025.
Fees for the International Foundation Programme are listed here.
DCU Scholarships
DCU welcomes the brightest and best students from Ireland and globally each year. The University offers a range of scholarships that are intended to cover full or partial payment of tuition fees or living costs. DCU scholarships are usually awarded on the basis of merit, recognising excellence in academic achievements and sporting ability, or financial need. Some DCU scholarships have to be applied for and others may be awarded automatically, depending on information provided in the application form or at registration.
For further information about DCU Scholarships, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/scholarships.
Temporary Tuition Fees Support Scheme
In order to be considered for eligibility for this scheme the requirements below must be met:
- Permission to reside in the State has been granted by the Minister for Justice pursuant to section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015;
- Present and residing at an address in the state.
- Intending to pursue an approved Full Time degree programme at DCU.
Please note that further requirements of previous study will be carried out by DCU to determine eligibility for this scheme. Further supporting evidence may be requested of applicants in order for a decision to be confirmed of eligibility for this scheme.
This scheme is only permitted for students registering for the 2024/25 academic year.
For further information on the Temporary Tuition Fees Support Scheme please visit this webpage - https://www.dcu.ie/fees/noticeboard-fees.