Undergraduate fees

The student contribution charge is an annual charge directed by the Higher Education Authority. The student contribution charge is €3,000*. All third level undergraduate students pay this fee, unless they qualify for a SUSI grant.

To note: In accordance with the Budget 2023 announcement, the Government has decided to make a once off contribution of €1,000 towards the student contribution paid by each Free Fees eligible students in academic year 2023/24 as a cost-of-living measure. You can find out further information regarding this reduction here. 

Generally, first time undergraduate students pursuing a full-time programme will qualify for free tuition fee funding. This means in most cases the tuition element of the fees is claimed from the Department of Education and the student does not need to pay tuition fees to SETU. A student who qualifies under the Free Fees Scheme will be exempt from paying tuition fees to SETU. Students who do not qualify under the Free Fees Scheme will be due to pay all tuition fees depending on the programme they choose to complete.

Where a student has previously commenced, a third level course, they will be required to complete the student fee declaration form. The student fee declaration form is available here for students studying on the SETU campus in Waterford. Completed forms must be returned to the relevant fees office so that eligibility under the Free Fees Scheme can be assessed.

Examples of students who will not qualify under the Free Fees Scheme include those who:

• Already hold any undergraduate qualification or Postgraduate qualification
• Are repeating
• Already hold an undergraduate ordinary degree and commence an Honours degree from year 1
• Tuition fees will be paid in respect of eligible students who, having attended but not completed approved courses, are returning following a break of at least five years in order to pursue approved courses at the same level.

First year Irish/EU undergraduate students beginning their studies in SETU in September, who wish to find out if the state will pay the tuition component of their fees, can access www.studentfinance.ie or www.citizensinformation.ie or free fees eligibility.

Where a student needs to be assessed for determination of EU/Non-EU status, please read the EU/non-EU fees assessment guidelines below and complete the relevant form.

Full details on fees and how to register for repeat modules is available here.

Undergraduate non-EU fee assessment guidelines

EU nationality/citizenship does not automatically confirm EU fee status. You may be asked to provide further documentary evidence to confirm your status, e.g. year-end tax returns for 3 of the past 5 years issued by an EU country Government tax office, or letter from an EU country Department of Social Welfare. Where an applicant holds an EU passport and does not have residency but attended primary/secondary school in the EU for at least 5 years, then a letter from that school confirming the dates of attendance is required.

A non-EU fee assessment form will be issued by the SETU fees office prior to registration to all non-EU applicants. This form must be completed and returned with all supporting documentation for assessment.

In order to be eligible for free fees, students must meet one of the following criteria plus the residency criteria:

Criteria List

Student must hold EU nationality

EU nationality is confirmed by one of the following:

A) A passport

B) A national identity cards

C) A birth certificate from another EU state does not suffice as it does not always confer citizenship rights on the holder. If in doubt, check with the embassy of the State concerned.

Student must hold official refugee status in Ireland
​Official Refugee Status is confirmed by an original letter from the Department of Justice confirming the bearer holds official refugee status.
 

Student must have been granted leave to remain in the state under family reunification
Family Reunification is confirmed by an original letter from the Department of Justice confirming the bearer holds Family Reunification.
 

Student must have been granted leave to remain in the state under humanitarian grounds.
Leave to remain in the state under Humanitarian Grounds must be confirmed by an original letter from the Department of Justice confirming this. The letter must state (a) that the person has humanitarian leave to remain in the State (if granted prior to Immigration Act 1999 or (b) that they have been granted permission following a determination not to make a deportation order under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999.
 

Student must have been granted leave to remain in the state as a family member of a Union citizen under the provisions of the EC (Free Movement of Persons) regulations 2006 and 2008 and Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Leave to remain in the state must be confirmed with an original letter from the Department of Justice confirming this and student must hold the GNIB card bearing the code 4EUFAM.
 

Student must have subsidiary protection with permission to reside in the state
The European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 518 of 2006) provides for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to grant subsidiary protection to certain persons. Such persons are then granted permission to reside in the State – Regulation 4(4).
Therefore, any person who has permission to reside in the State by virtue of these regulations should be deemed as having met the nationality clause for free fees purposes. As is the case with Irish/EU/EEA/Swiss nationals/official refugees such persons with permission to reside in the state must meet the other criteria of the free fee's schemes.
In relation to the residency requirement of the schemes it should be noted that it is the date of the declaration issuing in respect of subsidiary protection that is the operable date for residency purposes.

Residency Criteria

EU fee rates apply only to non-EU students who meet the following residency conditions:

For students aged under 23 on 1st September of year of entry:
Parent(s) must have been permanently resident (that is - principal residence for the purpose of taxation) in an EU member state for three of the five years prior to student’s entry, and student must have been permanently resident in an EU member state for three of the five years prior to entry.

For students aged 23 or over on 1st September of year of entry:
Student must have been permanently resident as a tax-payer (that is - principal residence for the purpose of taxation) in an EU member state for three of the five years prior to entry. Any period of residence as a student, or as holder of a student visa, is not included in the assessment of years of residence.

Detailed information about assistance with tuition fees is available on www.studentfinance.ie

All students who are to pay fees must pay 50% of the total fees in order to register, the remaining 50% must be paid on or before 31st January of that academic year. Students who are awaiting approval of a SUSI grant application must provide their SUSI application reference number at time of registration. If they are subsequently not successful in their SUSI application, they will be liable for their fees.

A receipt will be issued to your specified email address. There is a daily limit on some payment cards. Check with your bank prior to starting the fee payment process to ensure you have a sufficient limit facility. 

Consequence of non-payment of fees

Where a student continues to have an outstanding debt, their registration record will have a “hold” placed on it and will cause the following restrictions to apply:

• Examination results will be withheld.
• Access to transcripts, statements of result, registration letters etc. will be withheld.     
• Continuing students will not be permitted to register for subsequent academic sessions.
• Students will not be permitted to graduate until outstanding debt (including fines, where applicable) has been cleared in full.
• Students will not receive information about conferring, or be conferred, until their fees are paid in full.

A “hold” on a student record will only be removed when all outstanding fees have been paid.

It is important that students maintain their accounts in good order and make payments when due. Billing reminders will normally be issued but it is the obligation of the student to ensure timely payment of fees. Students have live access to their accounts at all times.   

It is advisable to clear your account by the end of the academic year at the latest in order to avoid difficulties with continuation, graduation and access to results etc.