🇬🇧 UK vs Ireland 🇮🇪 for Indian Students
UK or Ireland for an Indian student? Funds to show in rupees, visa fees, work hours, post-study work after a 1-year or 2-year master's, and the route to PR, side by side.
The short answer
Both offer 1-year master's in English. Ireland gives up to 2 years of post-study work after a master's and a clear route to residence through the Critical Skills permit; the UK's Graduate route drops to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
Side by side
| 🇬🇧 UK | 🇮🇪 Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| First-year money needed: tuition + living + travel funds (example) | £36,539 ≈ ₹46.3 lakh | €30,000 ≈ ₹31.9 lakh |
| Example tuition | £26,000 a year (example: a one-year taught master's) | €20,000 a year (example: a taught master's) |
| Visa fee | £558 + £776 a year health surcharge | €60 (+€300 residence card on arrival) |
| Work while studying | 20 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks | 20 hours a week; 40 in holiday periods |
| Typical pay | £12.71 an hour (National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over from 1 April 2026) | €14.15 an hour (national minimum wage from 1 January 2026) |
| Post-study work after a 1-year master's | 1 year 6 months | 2 years |
| Post-study work after a 2-year master's | 1 year 6 months | 2 years |
| English test | Some universities accept Class 12 English or their own assessment | Usually needed |
| Medical | TB test certificate | None for the visa (private insurance needed) |
| Route to permanent residence | Graduate route → Skilled Worker → settlement (10-year baseline from 2027 under Earned Settlement; 5 years above £50,270) | Stamp 1G → Critical Skills Employment Permit → Stamp 4 residence after 2 years |
First-year money is example tuition plus the official living-cost funds (and travel money where required); the UK uses the outside-London rate, which rises to £1,203 a month for applications from 30 November 2026. Rupee values at approximate 29 October 2026 rates. Post-study work assumes an Indian graduate of a coursework master's applying in 2027.
Choose the UK if…
- You want the widest choice of universities and courses
- You want a 1-year master's and a large job market in London and beyond
- You earn, or expect to earn, above £50,270, which keeps a 5-year settlement route
Choose Ireland if…
- You want 2 years to find a job after a master's
- You want an EU base with English as the working language
- You target a Critical Skills job, which leads to Stamp 4 residence after 2 years
Work out your own numbers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UK or Ireland better for Indian students?
Both offer 1-year master's in English. Ireland gives up to 2 years of post-study work after a master's and a clear route to residence through the Critical Skills permit; the UK's Graduate route drops to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
Which is cheaper, the UK or Ireland?
On our example courses, Ireland needs less money in the first year (tuition plus the living-cost funds you must show): UK about ₹46.3 lakh and Ireland about ₹31.9 lakh at 29 October 2026 rates. Your own tuition changes this.
How long can I stay to find a job after a master's in the UK or Ireland?
After a 1-year master's: UK 1 year 6 months, Ireland 2 years. After a 2-year master's: UK 1 year 6 months, Ireland 2 years (Indian graduate, applying in 2027).
How many hours can students work in the UK and Ireland?
UK: 20 hours a week in term; full-time in breaks. Ireland: 20 hours a week; 40 in holiday periods.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these sources on 3 November 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official site before you apply.