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Computer Science in Ireland —for Indian students — Dublin's tech sector needs engineers

Dublin is home to the European headquarters of Google, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and hundreds of fast-growing tech companies. An MSc in Computer Science from an Irish university is one of the most direct paths to a well-paid tech career with a clear route to Irish residency.

€45k–€75kGraduate starting salary
1 YearTypical program duration
€13k–€18kAnnual tuition (before scholarships)
8+Irish universities offering this program
Program Overview

Computer Science in Ireland — what you need to know

Software engineers are the single most in-demand professional category in Ireland. Dublin's tech sector has grown consistently for 20 years and shows no signs of slowing — and every tech company in the city needs engineers at every level. For Indian students with CS or engineering backgrounds, Ireland offers one of the strongest return-on-investment pathways in the world.

Irish MSc Computer Science programs range from research-focused tracks at TCD and UCD to highly practical conversion programs at DCU and NCI designed to get students job-ready quickly. Most programs cover software engineering, cloud computing, distributed systems, databases, and either a research dissertation or industry project.

Critically for Indian students, software development roles are firmly on Ireland's Critical Skills Occupations List. This means the path from Stamp 1G to CSEP to Stamp 4 is well-worn and well-understood by Irish employers. Most major tech companies have established processes for sponsoring CS graduates.

At a Glance

LevelMSc / Level 9
Duration1 year full-time
Fees€13,000–€18,000/yr
ScholarshipUp to €5,000
IntakeSeptember & January
IELTS6.5 overall min
Post-study visa2 years Stamp 1G
Avg grad salary€45k–€75k
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Where to Study

Top Irish universities for Computer Science

T

Trinity College Dublin

TCD's MSc programs in CS are research-led with strong links to industry via the ADAPT and CONNECT research centres. Best for students targeting research or senior engineering roles.

€18,000/yr
U

University College Dublin

UCD offers a range of MSc CS programs including Cloud Computing, Software Engineering, and Computer Science (broad). Strong graduate employment and excellent alumni network in Dublin tech.

€17,500/yr
U

University College Cork

UCC's MSc in Computer Science and MSc in Software Engineering are well-regarded. Strong links with Apple's Cork campus and the growing Cork tech sector.

€14,500/yr
D

Dublin City University

DCU is located beside Google, Meta, and LinkedIn campuses. Highly practical MSc in Computing with excellent employment rates. Conversion programs available for non-CS backgrounds.

€14,000/yr
N

National College of Ireland

NCI is in Dublin's Silicon Docks. MSc in Computing programs are practical and employment-focused. Lower fees and accessible entry requirements make it popular with Indian students.

€13,500/yr
G

University of Galway

Galway's MSc in Computer Science offers strong value with a research culture and growing connections to Galway's tech sector including SAP and Apple operations.

€13,000/yr
Career Outcomes

What you'll earn in Ireland after Computer Science

Graduate Software Engineer €40k–€55k
Full Stack Developer €42k–€60k
Backend Engineer €45k–€62k
Cloud Engineer / DevOps €48k–€68k
Software Architect €65k–€90k
Senior Software Engineer €70k–€100k

Who hires Computer Science graduates in Ireland

Google
Amazon
Meta
Microsoft
Salesforce
HubSpot
Stripe
Workday
Accenture
Deloitte
Intercom
Zendesk

Software development is on Ireland's Critical Skills list. Every major tech employer in Dublin is an approved CSEP sponsor. The path from Stamp 1G to work permit to Stamp 4 is well-understood and widely supported by Irish tech employers.

What You'll Study

Curriculum & Entry Requirements

Core modules (typical)

Software Engineering Agile methodologies, software architecture, design patterns, testing and CI/CD
Cloud Computing & DevOps AWS/Azure/GCP, containerisation (Docker/Kubernetes), infrastructure as code
Distributed Systems Microservices, APIs, message queues, fault tolerance, scalability patterns
Databases & Data Engineering SQL/NoSQL, data modelling, query optimisation, big data pipelines
Algorithms & Complexity Algorithm design, computational complexity, problem solving under constraints
Research Project / Dissertation Industry project with a real company, or supervised research dissertation

Entry Requirements

Bachelor's degree2:2 or above (55%+) in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field
ProgrammingProficiency in at least one language — Java, Python, C++, or JavaScript. Conversion programs available for non-programmers
Conversion programsSome programs (DCU, NCI) specifically accept graduates from non-CS backgrounds with strong analytical skills
IELTSOverall 6.5 with no band below 6.0
SOPDescribe your technical projects, specific CS interests (cloud, ML, systems), and career goals in Ireland
FAQ

Computer Science in Ireland — questions answered

Yes — software engineers and developers are among the most in-demand professionals in Ireland. Dublin's tech sector employs over 100,000 people and continues to grow. Every major global tech company has a significant presence, and Irish SMEs are increasingly tech-dependent. Graduate employment rates for CS programs are consistently above 95%.
Yes — several Irish universities offer conversion MSc programs specifically designed for graduates from non-CS backgrounds (Engineering, Science, Mathematics, even Commerce). These programs bridge the gap with foundational CS modules before advancing. They typically require a strong quantitative background but not prior programming experience.
Graduate software engineers in Ireland typically earn €40,000–€55,000 in their first role. With 2–3 years experience, this rises to €60,000–€80,000. Senior software engineers at major Dublin tech firms earn €85,000–€120,000+. Ireland has some of the highest software engineering salaries in Europe outside of London.
Yes — software development and related roles are on the Critical Skills Occupations List. Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and hundreds of Irish tech companies are approved CSEP sponsors. CS graduates have one of the highest CSEP success rates of any graduate cohort in Ireland.
MSc CS is typically broader — covering theory, algorithms, systems, and a range of applied areas. MSc Software Engineering focuses specifically on software development practices, architecture, and engineering processes. Both lead to similar graduate roles in Ireland. Check the curriculum of specific programs rather than relying on the title alone.
Next Step

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