The single biggest accommodation trap in Ireland is timing: on-campus rooms and the best private blocks fill in spring, but CAO Round 1 offers don't land until 26 August 2026. Plan housing on the assumption you'll get your course. Almost every university allocates on-campus rooms by lottery (not first-come), digs are usually the cheapest route, and commuting is a genuine first-class option. Pick your university below for costs, deadlines and a step-by-step plan.
Choose your college
Pick your university, technological university campus or specialist college for costs, deadlines and a step-by-step plan.
Universities
Ireland's eight largest universities.
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin
University College Dublin
Dublin
University of Galway
Galway
University College Cork
Cork
University of Limerick
Limerick
Dublin City University
Dublin
Maynooth University
Maynooth
TU Dublin
Dublin
Technological universities & campuses
ATU, MTU, TUS, SETU, DkIT and IADT — searchable by campus town.
ATU Galway
Galway
ATU Sligo
Sligo
ATU Donegal (Letterkenny)
Letterkenny
ATU Mayo (Castlebar)
Castlebar
MTU Cork (Bishopstown)
Cork
MTU Kerry (Tralee)
Tralee
TUS Athlone
Athlone
TUS Limerick (Moylish)
Limerick
TUS Thurles
Thurles
SETU Waterford
Waterford
SETU Carlow
Carlow
DkIT (Dundalk)
Dundalk
IADT (Dún Laoghaire)
Dún Laoghaire
Specialist colleges
MIC, RCSI, NCAD, NCI and Marino.
Mary Immaculate College (Limerick)
Limerick
RCSI (Dublin)
Dublin
NCAD (Dublin)
Dublin
National College of Ireland (Dublin)
Dublin
Marino Institute of Education (Dublin)
Dublin
Cross-college quick comparison
| College | Cheapest option (indicative) | Allocation | Apply from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity | Trinity Hall from €178/wk | Random lottery | 1 Jul 2026 |
| UCD | Village twin ~€5,722/yr | Lottery (~25%) | 6 Apr 2026 (CAO) |
| Galway | Corrib twin ~€368/mo | Computer lottery | 14 Apr 2026 |
| UCC | Castlewhite twin €3,816/yr | Random lottery | Feb–Mar (closed for 2026/27) |
| UL | Plassey 8-bed €5,489/yr (bills incl.) | Lottery (60 km rule) | 1 Mar 2026 |
| DCU | St Patrick's €6,155/yr (+ utilities) | Lottery | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Maynooth | Shared-bathroom €4,988/yr (bills incl.) | Timed booking events | Summer booking events |
| TU Dublin | Digs from ~€559/month | StudentPad / PBSA / digs | Rolling (book early) |
| ATU Galway | Glasán twin €3,229/yr | Private (lottery) | Spring 2026 (most closed) |
| ATU Sligo | Gateway twin €3,856/yr | Private (lottery) | Spring 2026 (closed) |
| ATU Donegal | Contact providers | Private (first-come) | Open for Sep 2026 |
| ATU Mayo | Contact provider | Private | Contact provider |
| MTU Cork | Parchment Square €4,600/yr | Private (lottery/first-come) | 5 Mar 2026 (Parchment) |
| MTU Kerry | Contact providers | Private | Contact providers |
| TUS Athlone | Wellmount €725/mo (bills incl.) | Private (first-come) | Spring 2026 (now full) |
| TUS Limerick | Contact provider | Private | Contact provider |
| TUS Thurles | Digs via Tussu | Private / digs | Via Tussu (rolling) |
| SETU Waterford | Contact office (2026/27 TBC) | Lottery | Spring 2026 (now full) |
| SETU Carlow | Carraig Abhainn €721/mo | Private (first-come) | Open for 2026/27 |
| DkIT | Contact providers | Private | Contact providers |
| IADT | No on-campus (digs sweet spot) | Private / digs | Via StudentPad (rolling) |
| MIC | Courtbrack twin €3,660 pp/yr | Lottery (1st-years) | Lottery drawn Jan 2026 |
| RCSI | Mercer twin €9,020/yr | College-owned (apply to RCSI) | Contact RCSI accommodation |
| NCAD | No on-campus (PBSA nearby) | Private / digs | Contact providers (first-come) |
| NCI | No college-owned (Canvas nearby) | Private / first-come | Contact providers |
| Marino | MIE bursary twin €130/wk | Bursary (means-tested) + standard | Bursary opens Autumn 2026 |
Figures are indicative and mix 2025/26 and 2026/27 — always confirm on the official pages linked in each guide. Where a provider hasn't published a confirmed 2026/27 price, each guide shows an "Enquire directly" card instead.
Money, rights & how-to guides
Student grants & costs
SUSI, Rent Tax Credit, SAF and what it really costs to live away.
Tenant rights & scams
Tenancy vs licence, RTB, deposits and avoiding rental fraud.
How to apply
The four routes, the 2026 timeline and viewing checklists.
International students
The guarantor problem, Stamp 2, IRP and the safe first-year strategy.
Accessible accommodation
Why DARE isn't accommodation priority and how to get adapted rooms.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start looking for student accommodation in Ireland?
Start in spring 2026. Most on-campus lottery windows and the best private blocks fill between February and June — long before CAO Round 1 offers on 26 August 2026. Plan housing on the assumption you'll get your course.
Which Irish university has the best on-campus accommodation availability?
The University of Limerick has the largest on-campus residential community of any Irish university, with eight villages and bills included — though a 60 km rule prioritises students living far from campus.
What is the cheapest way to live as a student in Ireland?
Digs (a room in a family home, typically €120–€165/week, often with bills included) are usually the cheapest route, followed by commuting from home using a Student Leap Card.
Is student accommodation allocated first-come-first-served?
Mostly no. Almost every Irish university allocates on-campus rooms by lottery, so applying early gives no advantage — but you must apply inside the window. Maynooth is the exception, using timed first-come booking events.
Still deciding on a course?
CourseCompass matches Irish students with their best-fit CAO courses before they commit to a city.
Last updated: June 2026 · Researched against official college, SUSI, Revenue and RTB sources. Prices and dates change each cycle — always confirm on the college's own page before paying.