Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is a public technological university in the west and north-west of Ireland, established on 1 April 2022 from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo and Letterkenny Institute of Technology.[1] ATU reports 30,600 students across more than 600 programmes, while the HEA gives over 20,000; we could not reconcile the two.[2][1] We could not confirm a position in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[3]
For 2026/27, ATU’s fee schedule lists non-EU annual fees of €12,000 and €14,000, and its postgraduate page gives €14,000 for full-time taught postgraduate courses.[4][5] Undergraduate course pages show €12,000 to €13,000 a year.[6] The usual English requirement is IELTS Academic 5.5 for undergraduate and 6.0 for postgraduate study.[7]
Key facts
| Official name | Atlantic Technological University (ATU) |
| Location | Campuses in Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal[2] |
| Type | Public technological university; one of the largest multi-campus universities in Ireland[2] |
| Established | 1 April 2022, from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo and Letterkenny Institute of Technology[1] |
| Students | 30,600 across 600+ undergraduate and doctoral programmes (ATU); the HEA gives over 20,000 students and over 2,200 staff[2] |
| Campuses | Eight according to the HEA; ATU’s About page names campuses in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway[1] |
| Faculties | Business; Design, Education and Social Science; Engineering and Computing; Science and Health[8] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Position could not be confirmed[3] |
| Tuition 2026/27, non-EU | Fee schedule lists €12,000 and €14,000 per annum; full-time taught postgraduate €14,000; individual undergraduate course pages show €12,000 or €13,000[4] |
| Tuition from September 2027 intake, non-EU | €13,000 undergraduate (€17,000 for BArch Architecture); €15,000 on-campus postgraduate[9] |
| Student contribution, EU students | €2,500 per year on ATU’s page; €2,350 on the HEA page (see fee section)[10] |
| English requirement (minimum) | IELTS Academic 5.5 undergraduate, 6.0 postgraduate; course pages may ask for more[7] |
| Official website | atu.ie |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Atlantic Technological University
ATU was established on 1 April 2022 and incorporates the former Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo and Letterkenny Institute of Technology.[1] It describes itself as one of the largest multi-campus universities in Ireland, with campuses in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway.[2] The HEA counts eight campuses across Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal.[1]
Student numbers differ by source. ATU’s About page states a student body of 30,600 across more than 600 undergraduate and doctoral programmes,[2] while the HEA gives a student population of over 20,000 supported by over 2,200 staff.[1] Neither page says how students are counted, so we show both figures.
How is ATU ranked?
We could not confirm a position for ATU in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026; QS’s site blocks automated access. A news report on the results lists eight Irish institutions, and ATU is not among them.[3] We do not read that as proof that ATU is unranked, because the report may list only the better-placed Irish institutions. The ATU pages we read state no ranking position. Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at ATU?
ATU teaches in four faculties:[8]
- Business: schools of Law, Accounting and Business Analytics; Global Enterprise; and Management.
- Design, Education and Social Science: Creative Industries; Education Sciences; and Social Science and Humanities.
- Engineering and Computing: the Built Environment; Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; and Computing.
- Science and Health: Life Sciences; Health, Sport Science and Nutrition; Veterinary, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; and Nursing and Healthcare.
ATU states that it offers more than 600 programmes.[2] International applicants can also choose fully online master’s programmes, which have their own tuition fees and application windows.[11]
How much does ATU cost for international students?
The sources give different figures depending on the page and the intake:
| Source | Undergraduate (non-EU) | Postgraduate (non-EU, full-time taught) |
|---|---|---|
| Fee schedule 2026/27 (approved 19 June 2026) | €12,000 and €14,000 per annum (rows not labelled in the text we could extract) | |
| Postgraduate fee page, 2026/27 | not stated | €14,000 |
| Course pages (year not stated) | €12,000 (BA Design, Donegal) or €13,000 (Bachelor of Business, Galway) | not stated |
| Fee policy, September 2027 intake onwards | €13,000 (BArch Architecture €17,000) | €15,000 |
The postgraduate page notes that some programmes cost more than €14,000 and that students on a Stamp 2 visa stay on the non-EU rate.[5][4] ATU reserves the right to change fees for future intakes, and some courses add material fees.[9] Always read the fee on your own course page.[6]
Deposits listed on the fee policy page are €1,000 for undergraduate and €2,000 for on-campus postgraduate courses; the application fee is €20 (undergraduate) or €30 (postgraduate) for applications made direct to ATU, not through an agent.[9]
EU students and the student contribution
Under the Free Fees Initiative, first-time EU undergraduates generally pay no tuition and pay the student contribution, which ATU’s page gives as €2,500 a year.[10] Those not eligible pay an EU tuition fee, for example €1,319 for most honours degrees.[10] The HEA’s Free Fees page states €2,350 for 2026/27; the two pages differ and we could not reconcile them.[12] For living costs see our Ireland guide.
How do you apply to ATU?
- Non-EU applicants, on-campus courses: apply through ATU’s dedicated international application portal. You can start from a course page via its International Applications button, and you may list up to three programme choices in order of preference.[11][9]
- Fully online master’s: apply through the button on the course page; they have their own application windows.[11]
- EU applicants (undergraduate): use the Central Applications Office (CAO); the course pages link to ATU’s CAO hub.[6]
ATU lists separate dates for applicants who need a visa and those who do not, and for September and January starts. We give no deadlines here because they change every year; see the ATU application page.[11]
Which English level do you need?
All courses are taught in English, and ATU does not accept a medium-of-instruction letter as proof.[7] Minimum scores:[7]
| Test | Undergraduate | Postgraduate |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 5.5 overall, 5.0 in each component | 6.0 overall, 5.5 in each component |
| Duolingo English Test | 95, at least 90 in each section | 105, at least 100 in each section |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 51 | 55 |
| TOEFL iBT | 70 (3.5 on the scale used after January 2026) | 80 (4 on the new scale) |
Certificates are valid only if completed within two years of the course start. Applicants must also meet the English requirement of their chosen course, which can be higher; the visa authorities may set different requirements.[7]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are ATU fees for international students?
What IELTS score does ATU require?
Minimum IELTS Academic 5.5 for undergraduate and 6.0 for postgraduate study, with some courses asking for more.[7]
How many students does ATU have?
Is ATU ranked in the QS World University Rankings?
We could not confirm an ATU position in the 2027 edition. A report on the results lists eight Irish institutions, none of them ATU.[3]
Which institutions merged to form ATU?
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo and Letterkenny Institute of Technology, on 1 April 2022.[1]
More about studying in Ireland
- Ireland: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Ireland
- Dublin City University (DCU)
- Maynooth University
- Munster Technological University (MTU)
- National College of Art and Design (NCAD)
- RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM)
- South East Technological University (SETU)
- Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
- Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Cork
- University College Dublin
- University of Galway
- University of Limerick (UL)
Sources
[1] Higher Education Authority: Atlantic Technological University (page without a date)
[2] ATU: About (page updated 26 Feb 2026)
[3] TheJournal.ie: Six Irish universities rise in global rankings (QS 2027) (article of 18 Jun 2026; lists eight Irish institutions, ATU not among them; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access)
[4] ATU: Fee Schedule, Academic Year 2026/27 (PDF) (approved by the Governing Body 19 Jun 2026; the extracted text does not show which row each non-EU amount belongs to)
[5] ATU: Full-Time and Part-Time Postgraduate Fees (page updated 2 Sep 2026; states the non-EU fee for 2026/2027)
[6] ATU: Bachelor of Business (Honours), Galway course page (page updated 4 Nov 2026, fee €13,000 per annum with no year; the BA Design (Common Entry) Donegal course page, updated 4 Nov 2026, shows €12,000)
[7] ATU Global: English Language and Entry Requirements (page updated 21 Oct 2026)
[8] ATU Global: Undergraduate Courses (Non-EU) (page updated 20 Oct 2026)
[9] ATU Global: International Fee and Refund Policy (page updated 21 Oct 2026; tuition figures labelled September 2027 intake onwards)
[10] ATU: Full-time Undergraduate Fees (page updated 13 Oct 2026)
[11] ATU Global: How to Apply (Non-EU students) (page updated 20 Oct 2026)
[12] Higher Education Authority: Free Fees Initiative (page without a date; states the 2026/27 student contribution)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.